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    13 Best Things to Do in the Magic Town of Valle de Bravo, Mexico

    By Mayra Carvajal

    When you see the sun going down behind the mountains surrounding Lake Avándaro after a day hiking in the forest, it’s easy to understand why Valle de Bravo, a large town with a small town charm in the state of Mexico, is a top weekend destination for people living in Mexico City.

    The cobblestone streets lined up with white houses and tiled roofs, the delicious food at the many restaurants, the art galleries, the ceramics and basket weaving created by the artisans, and the relaxed vibe earned it a place on the list of “Magic Towns” in Mexico.

    Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through those links I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you (zero, nada). To check the full disclaimer, click here.

    This is what to do in Valle de Bravo, Mexico

    An image of a lake in the mountains and a garden with a banner saying "Top things to do in Valle de Bravo Mexico"
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    Table of Contents

    • Walk around Valle de Bravo’s Centre
    • Stop at the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asís)
    • Visit the Church of Santa María Ahuacatlán (the Black Christ Church)
    • Check Out the Valle de Bravo Archaeological Museum
    • Have Fun in Lake Avándaro
    • Enjoy the View of Lake Avándaro from Mirador de La Peña 
    • See Valle de Bravo from Mirador Cruz de Misión
    • Soar the Sky Paragliding or Hang-Gliding in Valle de Bravo
    • Go to El Molino Waterfall (Cascada El Molino)
    • Hike around Bridal Veil Waterfall (Cascada Velo de Novia)
    • Relax at the Artsy Carmel Maranathá Prayer Center
    • Visit the Piedra Herrada Sanctuary
    • Indulge at Valle de Bravo’s Cafés and Restaurants
    • How to Get to Valle de Bravo from Mexico City
      • How to Visit Teotihuacan in Mexico: A Complete Guide

    Walk around Valle de Bravo’s Centre

    An aerial view of a colonial town with a big church
    Valle de Bravo

    Taking into consideration that I love colour and that the exterior walls of Valle de Bravo are all painted white, my appreciation for the aesthetic of this town breaks my mold.

    Maybe the signature red stripe on the lower section of the walls, the orangey roof tiles, and the texture of the cobblestone streets disrupting the colourlessness has something to do with it. 

    Maybe it’s the mountains in the background disappearing into the lake. Or the lovely squares,  the inner patios full of plants, and the balconies featuring beautiful wrought iron inviting you to enjoy the scenery.

    A cobblestone street with colonial houses on each side
    The town centre
    A balcony in a colonial house with wrought iron front
    The romantic balconies
    A cobblestone street in a colonial town
    I loved the cobblestone streets

    Walking was my preferred method to explore Valle de Bravo. Except for a couple of spots where you’ll need a taxi, it’s easy to walk everywhere. Take some time to explore Valle de Bravo on foot and discover the little gems hidden in its hilly streets.


    Stop at the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asís)

    A church with neoclassical columns in the façade and two bell towers
    The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

    Make your way through the pair of tall neoclassical-style columns flanking the entrance of the church to see the monumental murals in the apse and the stained glass windows. The small statue of Saint Francis standing inside the little niche is from the 17th century.

    A mural in the central apse of a church
    The mural in the apse of the church of Saint Francis (by Ismael Ramos and Carla Ramos)
    A mural on a church surrounding a niche
    More murals
    A stained glass window in a church
    Come to check out the rest of the stained glass windows

    The Church of San Francisco de Asís is right next to the Jardín Central or main square of the historic centre. A rather small, picturesque, and lively square with mature trees surrounding the traditional kiosco (gazebo).

    A square with a gazebo and a church in the background
    The main square (Jardín Central) of Valle de Bravo

    A great spot to have an ice cream, relax and see cultural events, festivals, art and dance.


    Visit the Church of Santa María Ahuacatlán (the Black Christ Church)

    A church with two bell towers
    Church of Santa Maria Ahuacatlan

    If you’re in a hurry and you can only visit one church, go to Saint Francis. If you have enough time it’s worth making a stop here and see the large paintings depicting the legend associated with the Black Christ, a black statue of Jesus on the cross placed on the main altar and worshiped by the locals. 

    A mural in dark tones inside a church
    One of the large paintings inspired in the legend of the Black Christ

    Check Out the Valle de Bravo Archaeological Museum

    This small museum located on the waterfront has a photographic exhibit of the archeological sites of the state of Mexico (including the famous site of Teotihuacan) and a display of small and medium artifacts, including jewelry, pottery, architectural ornaments, weapons, and more. It only fed the bug to visit other sites we had no idea existed. No photos allowed. Free admission.


    Have Fun in Lake Avándaro

    Sunset over a lake with boats
    Enjoy the sunset over Lake Avándaro

    You have options regarding how you want to experience Lake Avándaro. You can join a boat tour, book a kayak tour, rent a SUP, or you can stay on the shore and enjoy the view from the waterfront or watch the sunset from one of the restaurants overlooking the lake.

    By the way, this is a man-made “lake”. In 1937 the government flooded 2,900 hectares to build a water reservoir.

    It would have been great if city planners would have proposed a long promenade along the shore, but it didn’t happen. Or maybe they did and someone said “Shut up!” Or maybe it wasn’t feasible. All this to tell you that the boardwalk along the lake is limited to a small square and a short run so long walks along the lakeshore aren’t on the list.


    Enjoy the View of Lake Avándaro from Mirador de La Peña 

    Mayra at a lookout from where you can see a lake
    Enjoying the view at Mirador de La Peña

    Mirador de La Peña is the lookout in town with the best view of Lake Avándaro.

    We walked all the way up there from the centre (or you can take a taxi). Once we hit the Camino a la Peña street, on the northwest side of town, we walked uphill on the steep road until we saw the sign welcoming us to the Peña de Bravo. 

    We went up the narrow and rocky trail and the steps carved on this 110-million-year old monolith seeing trees, birds, and pockets of views offering a taste of what was to come.

    A trail with boulders in a mountain
    The trail leading to the lookout
    View of a lakeshore from a trail
    Enjoy the view as go up

    A 20 to 30-minute climb will reward you with this view from the cliff.

    View of a lake and the mountains from a lookout
    View from Mirador La Peña

    This is also a historic site as the Matlatzincas founded the first neighbourhood of Valle de Bravo right here in the early 14th century.

    Note: we did this hike with a dog and a local warned us that there were many street dogs around (some not that friendly), so we brought a long stick to keep them at bay. You may want to do the same, just in case.


    See Valle de Bravo from Mirador Cruz de Misión

    View of a town next to a lake with mountains in the background
    View of Valle de Bravo from Mirador Cruz de Mision

    Although the view from the Cruz de Misión lookout is less spectacular than the one from Mirador La Peña -visible from here, it offers a better view of the town of Valle de Bravo, including the lake and the surrounding mountains.

    If you have time to visit only one lookout, go to La Peña.

    The lookout isn’t far from the centre, on the east side. It’s an uphill walk on a street with big, luxury houses.


    Soar the Sky Paragliding or Hang-Gliding in Valle de Bravo

    A statue of a bird with someone paragliding above
    Paragliders populating the sky

    Valle de Bravo is known for being an ideal location to do paragliding and hang-gliding. 

    Look up in the sky and it won’t be long before you see a brave soul cruising the sky in colourful wings.

    The weather and the topography of the area make it an ideal spot for this exhilarating sport. So ideal that, for years, Valle de Bravo has hosted international paragliding and hang-gliding competitions and even World Cup finals. 

    If you’ve ever thought about giving these activities a try, this is the place.

    Check out this paragliding tour, with more than 120 5-star reviews, or this hang-gliding tour, with more than 20 5-star reviews.


    A short video about Valle de Bravo

    Go to El Molino Waterfall (Cascada El Molino)

    A waterfall washing over boulders and shaded by trees
    El Molino Waterfall is right on the road

    From the road you’ll see El Molino waterfall, shaded by tall trees and cascading over giant boulders.

    To see more, enter the trailhead to the left of the falls for a 15-minute walk along the stream until you reach El Salto (the highest waterfall). The cascades are pretty and as long as you don’t expect something like Niagara Falls, it’s worth taking a short trip to check them out. 

    Mayra next to a stream in a forest
    Enjoying the walk along the stream
    A waterfall over rocks with trees around
    A relaxing sight

    We walked to El Molino waterfall from Valle de Bravo’s centre. It’s about 45 minutes away on a road with great views of the lake. However, you lose the sidewalk quickly and you end up walking up and down narrow streets, sharing the road with cars at times, but still doable. If that makes you uncomfortable you can always take a taxi.

    There are a couple of decent restaurants with a view, just steps from the site, to relax after your walk.


    Hike around Bridal Veil Waterfall (Cascada Velo de Novia)

    A waterfall washing over dark rocks in a nature reserve
    Bridal Veil Waterfall

    The Bridal Veil waterfall is located inside a nature reserve where you’ll also find trails, arts and crafts stalls, food stalls, a picnic and a camping area, a children’s playground, and horse rides to explore the forest.

    To get close to the waterfall you’ll walk downhill following the stream on a shaded paved trail that leads to a dirt trail with viewpoints, from where you can see the 35 metre-tall (114 feet) fall. You can go down all the way to the rocky bottom.

    A trail with steps descending into a waterfall in the woods
    The trail leading to the Bridal Veil waterfall

    This is the type of waterfall that will make you wonder “Is that all?” if you visit during the dry season as it will look like a trickle.

    To visit Bridal Veil waterfall you’ll need to drive or take a taxi from Valle de Bravo’s centre, which is an approximately 20-minute ride. Some tour operators include a visit to this site as part of a trip to the nearby Monarch butterfly sanctuary.

    Free admission.


    Relax at the Artsy Carmel Maranathá Prayer Center

    A monumental gate in stone at the entrance of a prayer centre
    The Carmel Maranatha Prayer Center

    The Carmel Maranathá Prayer Center is the perfect place to unplug, meditate, or pray surrounded by artistic pieces that could very well be displayed in the Met Cloisters, despite the sign clarifying that this place isn’t a museum (but it could very well be one).

    If you make your way here (totally recommended), keep in mind that it’s a retreat and meditation centre and that while you delight in the stained glass and the spectacular woodwork they expect you to be quiet and respectful. Photography is not allowed in some rooms.

    A painting of a religious figure with silver inlaid
    Beautiful silversmithing
    Stained glass window with religious scenes
    Some rooms feature stained glass
    A painting of a seraphim
    The decorated ceilings

    In addition to the beautifully painted ceilings in different colours and the decorative pieces with intricate design, you can enjoy great views of the mountains and stroll the gardens filled with sculptures and fountains.

    A fountain in the shape of a cross in a covered patio
    One of the fountains in the centre
    A garden with a pond and mountains in the background
    The central garden
    A cross in carved stone
    A sculpted cross in the garden

    Check out if there are any (free) choir concerts here while you’re in town.

    The best way to come here is by taxi, as the centre is on a busy highway in the outskirts of Valle de Bravo with no space to walk.

    Open Tue. to Fri.: 10AM-1:30PM, 4PM-6PM; Sat.: 10AM-8PM; Sun. 10AM-6PM. Free admission (donations welcomed). 


    Visit the Piedra Herrada Sanctuary

    Monarch butterflies in flight
    Magic in the sky

    From late November to early March millions of Monarch butterflies escape the cold to seek refuge in this region. At the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary you can see them covering trees and turning the sky orange during their flight, and it’s one of the reasons why Valle de Bravo is a famous place.

    To plan your trip (there are important things you must know before you go) read my blog post dedicated to the Valle de Bravo butterflies, full of useful tips.


    Indulge at Valle de Bravo’s Cafés and Restaurants

    If you’re looking where to eat in Valle de Bravo you won’t run out of places to have a good meal in a lovely ambiance. Here are my favourites:

    The inner patio of a colonial house with a fountain and tables with umbrellas
    The inner patio at La Batucada Hotel

    Weekend breakfast at La Batucada: “You must have breakfast at La Batucada!” said the local we met in Valle de Bravo. And she was right. It’s a must. Not only is breakfast superb (I loved the fresh bread and jams and the chilaquiles), but the food is served on the inner patio of a 19th-century colonial house.  

    This restaurant is inside the Hotel La Batucada, a great place to stay right in the centre of Valle de Bravo.
    Calle Francisco González Bocanegra 207, Agua Fría

    El Punto: the place to have Mexican food, healthy style. The artisanal kitchen uses local fresh products. This was my favourite restaurant, with tons of vegetarian and vegan options and an amazing inner patio with trees and plants. Calzada de Santa María Ahuacatlan #137

    El Soleado: this restaurant features international cuisine with a good selection of vegetarian dishes. I finished my meal with some mezcal and worm salt, and a killer view of Lake Avándaro from the terrace. # 314 Calle Joaquín Arcadio Pegaso, Zona Centro

    Two small clay jars with lemon quarters and dishes with salt
    Ending the meal with a mezcal with worm salt at El Soleado

    Pizza e Vino Dipao: the place to go if you’re craving pizza. They offer several vegetarian options prepared with organic ingredients. :# 100 Calle Joaquín Arcadio Pegaso, Zona Centro

    Trattoria Toscana: hand made pasta waits for you while you enjoy the view of a beautiful garden. Calzada Santa Maria 118

    ChoKLAT: if you’re in search of spectacular desserts (I’m always looking for desserts you can write a poem about) check out this place. Here, I wrote many poems. Calle de Joaquín Arcadio Pagaza 106, Zona Centro.

    La Machinhuepa: this café has good bread and cakes. Highly recommended. Callejón de La Machinhuepa


    How to Get to Valle de Bravo from Mexico City

    You can hop on the Zina bus departing from the Observatorio bus terminal (Mexico Poniente), and hop off two hours later at the Valle de Bravo bus station, which is close to the centre. Taxis are available outside. 

    Make sure to buy the tickets for the Servicio Excelencia which is the direct bus (and with more comfortable interiors). Otherwise it will be a four-hour trip. Buses leave every hour or so.

    For schedules and prices check www.autobuseszinacantepec.com.mx 

    Note: the Observatorio subway station will leave you at the Observatorio bus terminal in Mexico City. 


    Valle de Bravo is a Magic Town where nature, adventure, art, and good food are combined to offer an unforgettable experience to its visitors. When you visit Mexico City, plan a trip to this enchanting place.


    YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ

    A complex of pyramids along a long walkway with mountains in the background

    How to Visit Teotihuacan in Mexico: A Complete Guide

    A tree covered in Monarch butterflies

    See Millions of Monarch Butterflies in Valle de Bravo, Mexico


    BOOKING FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

    Book your flight without losing your shirt

    We check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights. Also, check Great Escape: it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, (and Skyscanner on the premium service) to find the best airfares.

    To find a place to stay for less

    Booking.com: you’ll find any type of property you can think of in their massive listing, with one of the most comprehensive filters. We’ve found great deals on boutique hotels, apartments, and private rooms in hostels.

    Hotwire: the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%.  Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.

    House Sitting: you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities… Are you an animal lover? It may become your new way to travel.

    To get travel insurance

    SafetyWing: travel medical insurance that gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and suitable for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.

    Check the full list of travel resources on my Resource Page for more options and savings

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    About Mayra Carvajal

    Hi, I’m Mayra. A full-time nomad with an appetite for travelling. Art and design are my salt and pepper, with a side order of nature and outdoors. When I’m not gazing at architecture or any other form of art, you’ll see me on a hiking trail, at the top of an ancient ruin, or under a beach umbrella. Here you’ll find practical tips for independent trips, travel stories, and images that may inspire you to explore a new place or high-five your creative muse. Read my About page if you want to learn more about how this site can help you travel more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Valery

      May 28, 2023 at 8:29 AM

      Oh my goodness, Lake Avandaro looks like so much fun! I’d love to visit one day!

      • Mayra Carvajal

        May 29, 2023 at 12:06 PM

        There’s tons of things to do in this area. It’s Mexico City’s playground!

    2. Catherine

      May 28, 2023 at 9:28 AM

      Wow! The pictures are absolutely gorgeous 😍😍 there’s so much to do!

      • Mayra Carvajal

        May 29, 2023 at 12:04 PM

        Thank you!

    3. Tracy McHugh

      May 28, 2023 at 1:48 PM

      Thanks so much for sharing! I hadn’t heard Valle de Bravo before. When I make it over to Mexico City, I’ll definitely try to check it out.

      • Mayra Carvajal

        May 29, 2023 at 12:04 PM

        Thanks for reading! It’s great for a day trip from Mexico City (even though I would recommend to stay overnight).And if you go between late November and early March you can see the Monarchs! If you do that go on a weekday. 🙂

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