12 Best Things To Do In Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Are you looking for the best things to do in Valle de Bravo?

Deemed the “Mexican Hamptons” for its rich and elite residents, Valle de Bravo is about a couple of hours – or about 156 kilometers – southwest of Mexico City.

This village, situated on the shores of Lake Avándaro, is an upscale retreat for the affluent upper class. The relatively short distance from the Mexican capital makes Valle de Bravo a popular weekend getaway for privileged residents of Mexico City. It is a popular retreat for many wealthy foreigners and movie stars as well.

Valle de Bravo and the surrounding area are among Mexico’s well-known tourist destinations, thanks to its proximity to the capital. This colonial town is definitely a must in your Mexican itinerary.

Here are the best things to do in Valle de Bravo, Mexico.

12 Best Things To Do In Valle de Bravo, Mexico

1. Walk around the historic downtown of Valle de Bravo

With Valle de Bravo’s cobblestone streets and the town square called the Plaza Principal, this activity is a sure breeze. You will be delighted with the Kiosko (Gazebo) in the Plaza Principal, the Jardín Principal or Main Garden, and the town’s white-walled and terracotta tile-roofed buildings that are centuries-old.

The San Francisco de Asis Church is also in the Plaza, so you might as well stop by. There are street foods galore in the area and lots of shopping opportunities.

For refreshments after your stroll, there are various bars and restaurants down the main streets of Calle Joaquín Arcadio Pagaza and Calle 5 de Mayo. A few streets from there, you will have an access to the Lake Avándaro.

To book this tour click here.

2. Go on a boat tour around Lake Avándaro

Lake Avándaro is a great lake with incredible views and every other tourist activity in Valle de Bravo seems to revolve around it, so this is truly the town’s centerpiece and a must-explore for all visitors.

At the Valle de Bravo town center, you will be met by a lot of boat tour offers so it’s easy to go aboard and explore the lake. Some tours will take you to various points around the lake and different towns and areas where you can rent lakeside cabins if you like.

You can buy a ticket at one of the ticket booths on the Municipal Embarcadero right by the lake in the town center. The tickets are not expensive and you can choose which areas you want to explore.

3. Try kayaking or paddleboarding in Valle de Bravo

Apart from the boat tour, renting a paddleboard or a kayak to take out on the water yourself is a fun way to enjoy Lake Avándaro.

Same with the boat tour, you can get a ticket for a kayak or a paddleboard from the ticket booth on the lakeside Municipal Embarcadero in the town center.

4. Eat local seafood dishes on a floating restaurant

The Municipal Embarcadero, where boats depart and offer tours of the lake, is Valle de Bravo’s pier with various restaurants.

For a better dining experience, head to one of the floating restaurants that offer typical Mexican seafood dishes. These seafoods are harvested from the Lake Avándaro itself.

5. Enjoy Valle de Bravo’s nightlife

Valle de Bravo is also noted for its fabulous nightlife, which attracts visitors frequently. There you will find an avenue full of clubs, bars, and karaokes, and everything it takes to fill your night with fun.

Don’t worry about going out in the dark for a drink or two; the local police make sure it is safe to wander through this area at night.

6. Paragliding

Because of the region’s lakefront breezes, Valle de Bravo has become a well-known spot for paragliding. It is one of the most iconic experiences you can have in Valle. If you’re paragliding for the first time, it’s recommended that you fly with an instructor. Flumen Paragliding in Sin Nombre offers courses to fit your skill (or lack thereof).

Gliders usually start off inside the Monte Alto State Park. Flying off the paraglider over the dam and the forest usually takes 20 minutes. These 20 minutes will sure last in your memory for a very long time.

Buy your ticket online here.

7. Explore Monte Alto State Park

The Monte Alto was formed by the eruption of three volcanoes during the Mezoic era. Lava molded the hills seen there today.

The Monte Alto State Park is a protected area near Valle de Bravo. It has about 20 kilometers of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The Monte Alto State Park also has various points for paragliding.

You can take refuge in cabins found in the reserve if you want to experience dozing off to the sounds of the forest.

8. Visit the oldest church in Valle de Bravo

Templo de Santa Maria Ahuacatlan, the oldest church in town, dates back to the 1600s. Here you will find the famous Black Christ or Cristo Negro that attracts a lot of pilgrims. The Cristo Negro statue is one of the very few artifacts to have miraculously survived a Colonial-era fire that destroyed the rest of the original church.

9. See the Cascada Velo de Novia Waterfall

Situated in the village of Avándaro just nearby, the 35-meter high waterfall named Velo de Novia or Bridal Veil Falls awaits – and which you shouldn’t keep waiting.

The waterfall is tucked away in Velo de Novia Park and set in the middle a grove of fir trees. It is a fairly easy hike from the park entrance.

10. Explore the Village of Avándaro

When you’re done taking in the beauty of Velo de Novia, it is time to explore the village of Avándaro.

Avándaro, like Valle de Bravo, is on the shores of the lake, 5 kilometers from the town center. The village offers a wide range of restaurants and places to rent motorcycles or bicycles, so exploring the village is a cinch.

11. Hike to the Mirador La Peña

La Peña is the best and most popular hiking trail you can find in Valle de Bravo. Please note that the hike to the Mirador La Peña (“La Peña Lookout”) is a bit steep. It is a short climb, however, and with stairs along the way.

Getting to the large cross at the top requires climbing up a few boulders, but once on top you will be rewarded with splendid panoramic views of Lake Avándaro.

12. See the monarch butterflies

Valle de Bravo is noted for the massive number of monarch butterflies that pass the town from the forests of the northern United States and Canada during their winter migration.

Valle de Bravo houses Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Reserve, one of the few monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico. To get there, you must pay a 50-peso entrance fee, or about 2.5 USD. This includes a guide inside the sanctuary, which is necessary as the climb to the sanctuary takes one hour through the forest and is a little steep.

If you do not want to go on foot, there is an option to pay for a horseback ride and with a guide. This is a more exciting experience; however, please note that the final 45 meters is too too steep and rocky for the horses so you have to hike it yourself.

If you happen to be in town between the months of November and March, the migration of the monarch butterflies is a show that you shouldn’t miss. The best time to see these marvelous migratory butterflies is from about December until March.

Travel Tips And Resources

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