Mexico’s Paso de Cortes Trail

DAY 1 Depending on your time of arrival, you will have lunch or dinner with your host. There will be time for a walk, a relaxing swim in the pool, to see the stables and meet the horses.

DAY 2 You can choose to ride Western, or try a Mexican saddle. Your ride of 2 to 3 hours will be close to the property in order for you to become familiar with the town of Tepecoculco, the ranch area and your horse. You will ride through the cornfields, flower filled meadows, and on trails which gently climb up through stands of oaks into fragrant pine and fir forests. The views of the snow capped mountains soaring overhead and undulating valleys below are spectacular. You will stop for a trail-side picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the neighboring towns of Chimalhuacan and Ozumba.

DAY 3 Over breakfast, your host or guide will talk to you about Hernan Cortes, one of the greatest conquerors in history. You will learn how Cortes overcame many obstacles to finally triumph over the last major pre-Hispanic empire. You will depart to ride into the National Forest to retrace some of the route of the famous “Paso de Cortes”. This is the lowest part between the two volcanoes at 12,000 ft. above sea level. The legend behind these two volcanoes is a Mexican Romeo and Juliet love story about an impossible romance. The legend says that when Istaccinuatl died, Popocatepetl vowed to stand over her throughout eternity, in hopes that one day she will awaken. Your four hour ride will take you up into the clouds as you climb closer to the pass. Your surefooted horse will be sweating from the exertion in spite of the cooler climate. As you return to the ranch, you will visit Amecameca, another old Indian settlement.

DAY 4 Day off for a tour either to Cuernavaca or to Tepotzlán. Cuernavaca is world famous as “the city of eternal spring” due to its magnificent weather all year round. You will visit the Cortes Palace with Diego Rivera’s murals depicting the Conquest of Mexico, the war of Independence and the Mexican Revolution with Emiliano Zapata. Tepotzlán is a small town built on top of a previous pre-Hispanic settlement whose inhabitants were also dominated by the Aztecs. It is a town with a mystic aura which has traditionally attracted artists, writers, musicians and esoterics. It boasts of a beautiful 16th century fortress-like monastery and an interesting archaeological museum.

DAY 5 Today’s ride starts near Cuautla, an agricultural town in the State of Morelos and leads to an abandoned hacienda, Cuahuixtla. After seeing the opulence in which the owners lived, you will be amazed at how a humble peasant like Emiliano Zapata could rally enough support to overthrow such a strong system of 300 years of feudal lords. His cry for “land and liberty” was taken up throughout the nation. This hacienda has recently been the film site for a Mexican movie on Emiliano Zapata. Nearby to the hacienda is a little town named Anenecuilco, where Zapata was born. This exhilarating ride culminates at the Hacienda of Chinameca, where this revolutionary hero was ambushed and killed.

DAY 6 Today’s ride takes you to the deep forest of the Popo volcano with ancient trees and large rock formations. Your trail ends up at a shady box canyon where one can only continue on by foot. Back at the ranch you and your “amigos” will enjoy a farewell dinner.

DAY 7 Breakfast and transportation to Mexico City airport with the ranch staff. Your host will bid you a sentimental “vaya con Dios y hasta luego”, God speed and hope to see you again soon.