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.
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This is what to do in Valle de Bravo, Mexico
Table of Contents
Walk around Valle de Bravo’s Centre
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.
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)
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.
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 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)
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.
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
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
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 20 to 30-minute climb will reward you with this view from the cliff.
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
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
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 75 5-star reviews, or this hang-gliding tour, with more than 20 5-star reviews.
Go to El Molino Waterfall (Cascada El Molino)
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.
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)
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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:
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
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. Are you ready to explore this town? What activities would be on your “must do” list?
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Oh my goodness, Lake Avandaro looks like so much fun! I’d love to visit one day!
There’s tons of things to do in this area. It’s Mexico City’s playground!
Wow! The pictures are absolutely gorgeous 😍😍 there’s so much to do!
Thank you!
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.
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. 🙂