Manuel's Valle de Bravo Guidebook

Valle de Bravo is blessed with what’s called “Eternal Spring” weather, so there’s really no bad time to visit!. Temperatures are generally temperate year-round Winter and Fall Winters are cool to cold, so pack warm clothes and layers, as overnight temperatures can dip into the 40°Fs (6-8°C). January is usually the coolest month. November through April is mostly dry and sunny. Spring and Summer Rainy season runs from about June to September, and it can rain quite a bit, so consider bringing a windproof travel umbrella with you. April and May tend to be the hottest months.

The largest of the annual Valle de Bravo festivals is Festival de Las Almas (Festival of the Souls). It takes place at the end of October, coinciding with Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead — a festive holiday with costumes, traditional dancing, hot paper balloons, and an elaborate fireworks display.

No trip is complete without a visit to Mercado de Artesanías, the best Valle de Bravo Arts & Crafts Market. It’s also the best place to shop in Valle de Bravo for souvenirs. Here, you’ll find stall after stall with handmade goods from Mexican artisans and the indigenous Mazahua peoples. Don’t pass up the chance to purchase colorful Mazahua fabrics, Otumba pottery, Ocoxal baskets made from woven pine needles, handcrafted woodworks and more.

La Peña is the most popular and best hiking trail in Valle de Bravo. What you will want to do is take a cab to the trailhead, as the walk through town to reach that point is all uphill and you may be too tired to even do La Peña! The hike itself is a bit steep, though it’s a short climb with stairs along the way. To get to the large cross at the very top of the Mirador La Peña (meaning “La Peña Lookout”), you’ll have to climb up some boulders. Once at the top of Mirador, you’ll have spectacular, panoramic views of the town and lake.

Much like the advice you just got for the Mirador La Peña, you’ll want to take a cab to the trailhead for the El Salto waterfall. It’s a relatively easy 20-30 minute walk from the main road, through the woods. The trail is pretty clearly defined, and goes along the river. If you don’t want to hike at all, take a taxi to the Misión Grand Valle de Bravo hotel for lunch to eat at their restaurant right next to the waterfall! You can also head there after the hike for lunch, as you can access the restaurant from the trail.

Calle Joaquín Arcadio Pagaza has the best shopping in Valle de Bravo. This street is lined with high-end shops that specialize in artisan-made Mexican housewares and locally-sourced items. Here, you’ll also find great cafes like Soleado, Cocina del Mundo, art galleries and more.