Tequila and horses in Mexico
I return to possibly my favourite destination in the world. Rancho Las Cascadas is a luxury riding ranch 7,000 feet up in the Sierra Madre mountains, and more than 5000 miles away from the UK. The weather in January is perfect for riding here. The sun climbs high into the sky in the middle of the day and can be pretty hot, but it cools down quickly in the evenings.
Idyllic riding in the shadow of the Sierra Madre Mountains
Rancho las Cascadas is a very special place to ride beautiful horses in stunning, sunshine filled countryside. This is not just a ranch but a luxury, all inclusive hacienda experience. Delicious Mexican cuisine is served at every meal made from the freshest of local ingredients. No one goes hungry at the rancho! All wine and drinks are also included. There is tequila for every occasion Everyone loves a frozen margarita on a hot day.
Charming rooms and casitas delight guests in and around the main ranch house. Exquisite Mexican artefacts, tiles, paintings and designs furnish the inside of the ranch. Gardens are full of witty colourful ceramics and there are pools and water features everywhere.
Enjoy meeting the other guests and talking about your day over dinner as you sip your tequila or your wine.
Other activities
A lovely pool, outdoor Jacuzzi and sauna are available, and you can even book a yoga class or a massage if you want a change from riding one day. This makes the climate here temperate year round with cool nights and warm days in winter. refreshing breezes mean it doesn’t get too hot in the summer either – perfect!
Guests come for a weekend, a few days or a few weeks. It’s also a great holiday for solos as you are never on your own and there’s always something you have in common with the other guests – the horses! There is a high percentage of repeat visitors here. Without doubt, this is a winning formula.
The landscape
The landscape here is very special. There are few fences and miles and miles of open land to ride across at your leisure. It is largely open agricultural land but much of it is pretty untouched. Indeed you may even come across some of the wild horses that live out here on the plains.
You can go for a long ride (four hours) in the morning and a shorter ride (two hours) in the afternoon. Or you can just go for the morning or the afternoon. Some rides are all day when you have the chance to explore further afield. You will see fields of aloe plants and ride through through small colourful villages which always have a cute church at the centre.
Ride to the waterfalls
One fabulous trail ride is down to the Cascadas (waterfalls) themselves, where you pass ancient trees dripping with Spanish moss and stop for a surprise picnic next to the river. Ranch staff greet you there with a three course lunch and of course the obligatory shot of tequila as you dismount!
In the spring the plains of the Sierra Madre are carpeted with pink cosmos and wild sunflowers. Later in the year the fields are full of the golden corn which makes up Mexico’s staple diet.
No day’s riding passes without a few calls of Buenos Dias to someone in the fields or the villages. You will meet sheep, cows, goats and horses and quite a lot of dogs too. Stop at a tiny village shop for a Cerveza or some water. This is a mesmerising sundrenched landscape far away from the buzz of the city.
The horses
Rancho Las Cascadas horses suit all types of riders including beginners. They are tough sure footed Criollo, Azteca and quarter horses with great temperaments. Although many of the horses are stallions, they are generally steady and easy to ride. However they can certainly put on a turn of speed if required. Some of the new boys present more of a challenge for the experienced rider. There is no nose to tail riding here.
The Criollo is the native horse of the Pampas known for its endurance and stamina and these are delightful animals. You ride Western style here and Max, who is in charge of the stables, will match your ability to your horse on arrival. Safety is of paramount importance. The wranglers are all locals, and know the terrain well.
The Rancho herd is multi coloured. There are Bays, Jet blacks, Palominos, Roans and Grey horses. There is even a stunning leopard Appaloosa here, Capriccio. He is a very popular horse, as he has a sweet nature and is so pretty. They all have great names. Navaho, Dakota, Cherokee, Machete, Casparine, Azteca, Calypso. Of course there is also a horse called Tequila!
Excursions from the ranch
There are a number of excursions from the ranch available. Do not miss the trip to the local Friday market where you will find everything from cactus paddles to cowboy hats, leather goods and antiques. Graze on fresh mango and papaya laced with lime and chilli as you walk around the many stalls. This is the essence of the taste of Mexico for me. Along with Tequila of course!
Other trips include visits to ancient historic sites nearby. The town of Tula is only about half an hour from the ranch and it is a significant Mesoamerican archaeological site. Tula was once the capital of the Toltec Empire. There is a small museum there, but the highlight is the pyramid of Quetzalcoatl topped by four metre high basalt columns carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. They gaze out majestically over the horizon as if they just arrived yesterday.
The Tequila Afionadao!
Max Ramirez Silva is one of the Guest Relations Managers at the ranch. He was born in Mexico City and has worked at Rancho Las Cascadas for 14 years. Max knows a bit about Tequila brands! Tequila is in his blood, and he is always ready to give guests recommendations as to which tequila is best when they visit the ranch from the US or Europe.
Max’s favourite bottle is a four year old Herradura Seleccion Suprema tequila. This tequila is very smooth, smells sweet and has a strong but not aggressive flavour, with a long finish. Max is saving it for the next big family celebration. Apparently the Mexicans believe tequila gives you super powers. I’m not so sure it doesn’t.
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