Valle de Bravo

Location: Southwest region of Mexico State, central Mexico
Closest major airport: Benito Juarez International aka Mexico City Intl (MEX)
Population: 60,000
Other important cities/sites nearby: La Peña, Temascaltepec, Toluca, capital of Mexico State, Mexico City

Click on the image for larger version Photo by Carlos Sanchez

Valle de Bravo is a charming mountain village adorned with cobblestone streets, white stucco colonial houses, wrought-iron balconies and red-tiled roofs. It is located on the shores of a beautiful lake surrounded by pine trees, just one hour away from Toluca. As a result of its breathtaking beauty and numerous attractions, the city is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination.

Valle de Bravo offers a variety of activities for visitors. The lake lends itself to a wide range of water sports including skiing, sailing, canoeing and fishing, while the high hills surrounding the lake are a great setting for paragliding and flying ultra light planes. The village itself, on the other hand, is perfect for walking. Its narrow streets, archways, plazas, unusual wood and tile bandstand, handicrafts market and parish church of San Francisco, are only a few of the sights worth visiting for a glimpse of the charming, picturesque town.

Click on the image for larger version Photo by Carlos Sanchez

Adventure travelers also have a variety of options in Valle de Bravo. Hiking and climbing, for example, are available at the rocky promontory La Peña, located northeast of Valle de Bravo and at Peñon del Diablo, a cliff over 2000 feet high. The village of Temascaltepec, 15 miles away from the city, is another great spot for outdoor activities. It is where the Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is located, attracting millions of breeding butterflies from the United States and Canada annually. Visitors can also camp on the small hills surrounding Valle de Bravo where the monarch butterflies spend their winter.

The neighboring village of Avandaro is also popular among visitors. It offers luxury housing developments, deluxe hotels, and exuberant surroundings ideal for mountaineering, rock climbing, cycling, cross-country motor cycling, gliding and hang-gliding. Visitors interested in relaxation can head to the Avándaro Golf and Spa Resort, offering top-quality spa service with saunas, steam rooms and small hot and cold massage pools all managed by friendly, trained personnel.

Valle de Bravo offers handicraft shopping at the numerous boutiques lined up along the main street. Textiles, cotton embroidery, pottery and woodwork are available at the Sunday open-air market. Cuisine is another local specialty, with restaurants like La Parrilla and Las Torres serving Mexican specialties and a wonderful view of the town’s picturesque houses and red-tiled roofs.

Valle de Bravo is a quaint city adorned with picturesque architecture and magnificent landscapes, all complimented by lush vegetation perfect for outdoor activities.