Last Updated on March 17, 2023

All-inclusive Ranch holiday in the heart of Mexico

Have you ever considered an equine ranch holiday, exploring the unspoilt countryside and stunning landscapes of the Mexican highlands on horseback? I hadn’t ridden a horse since I was 10 years old, so when I was offered the opportunity to travel to a ranch in Mexico, I was naturally a little apprehensive, but I need not have worried as this trip turned out to be an incredible adventure, which I would happily embark on all over again.

Rancho Las Cascadas location

Rancho Las Cascadas is in the heart of Mexico, 90 minutes drive north of Mexico City. It is located on a central mountain plateau at 7,500 feet in the Mexican open-sky country surrounded by mountains, forests, flat grasslands and lakes. The temperatures during my stay in February were perfect, but they are pleasant all year round with an average daily temperature of 75F/ 22°C.

This picturesque rural ranch is an all-inclusive wellness resort which offers up to six hours of horseback riding a day, across wide open plains, providing a culturally immersive experience which takes you through local farms and towns with panoramic vistas. The rides are all led by professional wranglers, known here as charros, Mexican Cowboys dressed in traditional cowboy gear. 

Accompanied by a friend, I flew into Mexico City, where we were met by our driver.  The seamless transfers were arranged directly with the ranch. We drove north out of the city, through the Mexican countryside, villages and towns before arriving at the ranch.  There we were warmly met by wrangler Max, who fortunately spoke excellent English, which was a real bonus, as my Spanish is ashamedly atrocious. Max showed us to our room before giving us a guided tour of the property and its magnificent grounds. 

Accommodation at the ranch

We were staying in the main house, an attractive low-level building, with bedrooms set around the charming cobbled stone courtyard which has a ventral water fountain and a small seating area. Our Classic room, included in the package for two people sharing, provided two comfortable double beds. The décor had a stylish Mexican vibe with rustic stone walls, bright orange and yellow rag-rolled walls and vibrant coloured rugs, wooden furniture and two colourful upholstered chairs.

The ensuite had a tiled shower room and a pretty enamelled sink set in eye-catching Mexican tiles. There was a safe in the room, but no TV which we found refreshing, however, the Wifi is good. Fresh filtered water is provided daily.

There are eighteen rooms in all, some in the main House and others in the Pueblito area of the Rancho. Different types of rooms are available including a Deluxe room and options for singles, couples, friends and family groups of up to five.

History of the ranch

Rancho Las Cascadas is the brainchild of Swiss owner Urchi Wiprachtiger Schreyer who fell in love with Mexico many years ago, going on to become a Mexican citizen. She bought land and built this beautiful ranch, gradually extending the property until it was opened up to riders from around the world, creating an international guest experience brimming with Mexican hospitality. I met with Uschi during my stay.  She talked passionately about the ranch and its early inception and said that lockdown, as for many businesses, was a difficult time. You can’t keep a good thing down and guests are happily returning.  It’s easy to see why!

Riding at Rancho Las Cascadas

If you ride regularly I would recommend bringing your own riding gear -jodhpurs or jeans, riding boots and a helmet. Although the ranch does have a selection of spare clothing, boots and hats which guests are able to use during their stay, there is no guarantee they’ll have your fit. All the horses at the rancho are geldings, they are either Criollo, Quarter Horse or Azteca, a breed of horse originally purely bred for charros (Mexican cowboys!).

The Criollo herd at the rancho are an excellent example of this hardy, athletic breed. These are well-looked horses, each with its own personality, all very well-trained, sure-footed and of gentle disposition making the ideal trail riding companions. The calmer horses are more suited to beginners like me, whereas for experienced, more seasoned riders there are feistier horses with great stamina who will gallop with liberty across the open grasslands where there are no gates or fences to hold you back.

At the stables we met with the horses for the first time, I was provided with a handsome-looking, good-natured stallion horse called Aramis. Before setting off we were given a few tips on riding western style, by our wrangler Louis took us out on our first two-hour ride. He also later showed off some of his impressive lassoing skills!

The scenery is absolutely breathtaking… wide-open terrain, low steams, parched corn fields with dusty mountains on the horizon and shepherds in sombreros rounding up their herds. We rode at a slow and gentle pace to start with, stopping at a small store for refreshments en route. On each successive ride, I gained confidence, I changed horse mid-week and by the end of my stay, I was happily cantering with great gusto and relishing my newfound sense of freedom in this spectacular yet peaceful oasis.

Rides are planned at breakfast every morning where a member of the staff team comes and talks to all the guests and finds out what kind of ride you are in the mood for. They are led in groups of no more than six, we split into different groups as the more experienced riders went on longer and more challenging rides. There are over 30 different guided trails, the joy is that they are customised to suit your individual riding ability and preferences. Rides are available twice a day, but you can ride as little or as much as you want. At the end of the day, guests gather together for drinks in the bar before dinner, sharing their stories of the day.

Amenities at Rancho Las Cascadas

There is no doubt that riding is the focus of this ranch however there are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself too. The setting is absolutely magical, the grounds and gardens are beautifully kept and overlook three waterfalls with views of the mountains beyond, which can easily be explored on foot. There are plenty of great hiking routes and the staff are all happy to provide guides if you prefer. We took Calli one of the gorgeous ranch dogs with us who led the way over the river and along its banks before guiding us safely back to the ranch.

In the mornings we took yoga classes with Jenny in the elegant and spacious white-painted yoga studio which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows which provide a wonderful outlook over the countryside. It’s well-equipped with mats and rugs as well as giant white bean bags with an area where you can watch a film in the evenings. Or if it’s a massage you need, this can also be arranged.

There’s a stunning swimming pool, which is surrounded by sun loungers, and magnificent-looking cactus plants, perfect for a morning swim or just relaxing in the sun. But for those who really want to unwind, the hot tub is the ideal way to ease the muscles after a long ride, and if you fancy treating yourself as we did, you can enjoy it with a margarita in hand.

The staff at the Rancho Las Cascadas are lovely, everyone from the management through to the wranglers and kitchen staff looked after us with great attention,  care and flexibility. There are lots of areas to hang out including a spacious lounge stocked with books and board games and in the bar area, you can help yourself to both alcoholic and soft drinks, tea and coffee all day at your leisure. Plus there’s a particularly scrumptious cake made daily which is all too tempting!

There is a dart board and a pool table which provided good after-dinner entertainment. We also had a great cooking lesson with Valentine, who showed us how to make tortilla chips, guacamole, and chicken enchiladas, so now along with my Margarita recipe, I’m all equipped to host a Mexican-style dinner at home.

Dining at The Ranch

Dining in customary ranch style is part of the ethos at Rancho Las Cascadas, it’s a communal and social activity, which creates an opportunity to meet with other guests from all over the world in a relaxed and friendly manner. During my stay, I met some wonderful people, a couple of whom I hope very much to stay in touch with. All meals and drinks are included in your all-inclusive stay. They offer a large selection of national alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Breakfast is in the sunroom overlooking the pool, buffet style with a choice of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, freshly made springy pancakes and egg dishes with fresh juices, tea and coffee. Lunch is in an idyllic setting on long wooden tables underneath the shady trees and dinner is served in the dining room.

All the food is home-cooked, with three courses of authentic Mexican-style food prepared by Cook Juanita and the team, using fresh local ingredients with lots of chillies! Delicious soups, homemade tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole followed by a main course and dessert with wine on the table at dinner. We found that meals created a friendly shared experience where guests could welcome newcomers, catch up and talk about the day, and swap tips about the horses and rides.

Excursions from the Ranch

The ranch also provides a variety of cultural excursions on request, these include seeing the ruins at Tula, San Miguel de Allende and the Pyramids at Teotihuacan, as well as a trip to an art market or the Friday market where all the locals do their weekly shopping.

We loved the market, it’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, it’s full of life and colour, with stalls cooking fresh food, with everything from tortilla to cactus (a local delicacy) and traders selling livestock, food, clothes and household goods. You can get your hair cut for free or find the perfect sombrero, or you can return home really looking the part in a pair of handmade cowboy boots.

This is the perfect holiday for a seasoned rider or an adventure seeker like myself. At Rancho Las Cascadas your Wild West dreams can come to fruition, it’s all there for the taking…just don a sombrero, pull on those cowboy boots, mount your horse and discover your inner cowgirl. Add in a generous heap of hospitality, a relaxed atmosphere, yoga classes, swimming, hiking, Mexican-style dining and margaritas and you are almost guaranteed the holiday of your dreams.