Butterfly Trails; Hike and Fly in Mexico

Dec 12 to Dec 15, 2024

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Butterfly Trails; Hike and Fly in Mexico
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Things to keep in mind

Embark on this immersive 4-day adventure guided by the alive watercourses as you traverse the picturesque valleys of Amanalco, leading to the Valle de Bravo dam. Enjoy sweeping views of Corral de Piedra Dam and Old Chapel. Experience the exhilaration of paragliding, enjoying panoramic vistas of Valle de Bravo and Monte Alto. Engage in a Matlatzinca workshop and indulge in authentic regional cuisine. Immerse yourself in a profound temazcal ceremony amidst the forest. This journey is a tapestry of unforgettable experiences that intimately connect you with nature and the rich tapestry of local culture.

Discover the world through movement

We look for new perspectives within cultures and communities in remote places that exist outside of modern societal structures which are focused only in progress and gains.

Embark on this extraordinary adventure, exploring the Valle de Bravo Natural Protected Area and witnessing the mesmerizing Monarch butterfly migration. This unique experience promises deep engagements, including a temazcal ceremony, nocturnal forest immersions, and regional workshops, all culminating in an exhilarating paragliding flight over Valle de Bravo. It’s a journey within, offering a profound connection with both nature and the rich local culture.

**Please note that the Monarch Butterfly Migration is a delicate natural phenomenon which is highly weather-sensitive. Due to climate change and varying weather conditions, butterfly sightings may change or not occur.

About

Transportation throughout the whole experience.

All meals and accommodations for the duration of the experience.

Specially designed trails along the magical landscapes of the Valle de Bravo Protected Natural Area.

Carefully curated culinary experiences and regional cuisine.
We can accommodate all dietary preferences.*

Professional and experienced paragliding instructor/pilot

Knowledgeable and professional local guides.

Entrance tickets to all national parks and ejidos are included in the experience.

Merchandise.

Complimentary La Familia Global Community Membership ($25 value)

Airfare for your inbound and outbound flights to Mexico City.

Travel Insurance. We highly recommend securing personal travel insurance for your peace of mind.

Alcoholic beverages and any additional meals beyond the provided ones.

Throughout our journey, we will enjoy carefully chosen lodgings to ensure a deep and intimate connection with nature.

On the first night, we will find ourselves in shared cabins nestled in the heart of the coniferous forest. These refuge-style cabins come equipped with bunk beds and can accommodate 4-8 people, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The second night will see us nestled in the heart of the forest, resting in Safari-style tents, specially set up for this unique experience and shared among groups of up to 4 people.

For the third night, we will find comfort in a retreat house, in shared rooms, resembling a refuge, with bunk beds and double beds.

These accommodations offer a complete immersion in the serenity of the environment, ensuring restorative sleep as we forge a deep connection with nature in its purest form.

“If you’re on the fence, just go for it! The guides are exceptional and the experiences are so authentic. I felt like I was on the trail with my family. At first, I was intimidated by the meditation sessions as someone who doesn’t practice mindfulness…. but it was gentle and a great, relaxing complement to the hiking adventure. I went for the butterflies, stayed for the adventure, and would go back in a heartbeat for the people!”

- Hannah Campbell, Participant Of Our February 2024 Edition

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About The Host
Santiago

Santiago

Resides in Valle de Bravo and hails from a family of passionate mountaineers. Both his grandparents and parents were avid mountaineers and ultra-distance runners. Santiago’s deep-rooted love for nature and physical activity was instilled in him from a young age. For years, he has been engaged in mountain trail running, not merely as a sport but as a means of healing and exploring new horizons.

He has been actively involved in alternative education initiatives, forest therapy, sustainable tourism, and nature guiding for several years. Collaborating with organizations, universities, and the private sector, Santiago believes that transformative experiences in nature can heal our relationship with ourselves and, consequently, with the environment affected by the environmental crisis.

Personally, Santiago is a natural explorer and harbors a boundless curiosity about nature. His passion has led him to set records on many of the country’s highest mountains, including Pico de Orizaba, Iztaccíhuatl, Nevado de Toluca, and Tacaná, among others. When with Santiago, expect engaging conversations about mountains, history, mythology, plants, ecology, and various sensory activities to rejuvenate the body. Santiago is one of our Lead Guides.

Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from Mexico City - 14 km Hike - Matlatzinca Workshop

We will depart from Mexico City in transportation provided.

Starting at the foot of Nevado de Toluca, our first day unfolds with a 14 km hike, tracing the river’s path amidst mountains and canyons. We’ll pause for lunch in enchanting pine forest clearings, serenaded by the melody of the nearby river. 

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the local culture with a Matlatzinca* artisan workshop, followed by a delightful sampling of regional delicacies. Afterward, take time to unwind and explore the picturesque surroundings before engaging in a session of mindful stretching. 

The day culminates in a satisfying regional dinner, where we can relish our culinary creations, bringing a perfect end to the day’s adventures. 

*Depending on the season, the workshop may focus on Pulque, bread, mushroom foraging, or embroidery*

Accommodation: Shared cabins in the pine forest.

Snacks, Lunch & Dinner: Included.

Day 2: Morning Riverside Meditation - 18 km Hike - Restorative Stretching and Cold Plunge in the River

Embrace the second day of our journey with a tranquil morning meditation by the river, setting the tone for a new day. Savor a delightful breakfast featuring regional Matlatzinca delicacies in a picturesque dining area overlooking the forest.

Our adventure continues with an 18 km hike through the monarch butterfly-guarded forests, offering sweeping vistas of Corral de Piedra Dam and Old Chapel. A brief pause awaits us for a light lunch beside natural springs before we resume our exploration.

Upon our return, we’ll be welcomed with a bountiful feast, showcasing the flavors of the land we’ve tread upon, crafted by the very family nurturing this terrain. In the afternoon, surrounded by the pristine beauty of this locale, we’ll unwind with a stretching session amidst the forest and then immerse ourselves in the cool embrace of the river.

As night falls, we will relish an organic regional dinner in the heart of the forest.

Rest awaits us in a campsite specially arranged exclusively for this unique experience.

Accommodation: Safari-style tent camping

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner: Included.

Day 3: Sunrise Meditation - 13 km Hike - Waterfall Immersion - Wirrariká Temazcal Ceremony - Nocturnal Forest Therapy

On this day, you can choose to start your morning with a serene sunrise meditation, awakening your senses to the day’s possibilities. Later, relish a final organic regional breakfast amidst the enchanting forest before embarking on a 13 km trek towards Valle de Bravo. Along this hike, we’ll journey through temperate forests, connecting with natural springs and dense woodlands.

We’ll have the chance to submerge ourselves in the enchanting beauty of the local waterfalls, savoring the delights of this hidden paradise. Afterwards, a warm welcome awaits us at a retreat house, where we’ll relish a regional meal featuring a fresh and plentiful menu to replenish our energy.

In the afternoon, engage in a Wirrariká temazcal ceremony, symbolically stepping into the “womb” of Mother Earth for a transformative rebirth. The day concludes with a nourishing, conscious, and delectable regional dinner at the retreat house, followed by a unique nocturnal forest therapy session. Explore the forest’s nighttime sounds, energies, and movements, fostering a deep sense of self-awareness within this natural sanctuary.

Accommodation: Retreat house with shared rooms, resembling a refuge, with bunk beds and double beds. 

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner: Included.

Day 4: 8 km Hike - Paragliding Adventure - Return to Mexico City

Our final day begins with a nutritious breakfast at the house, where nature and architectural beauty surround us. Fueled with energy, we set out on an 8 km hike from the forests of Valle de Bravo to the charming town, reaching the paragliding launch site.

In order to soar, one must let go… We release all that we’ve experienced during these days and embrace the adventures that lie ahead. This paragliding flight is a tribute to the monarch butterfly and its endless journey. With a pilot who undertakes around 400 jumps annually, we’re in the most capable hands to relax and relish an unforgettable 45-minute flight, offering unparalleled views of Valle de Bravo as we float through the air.

Following our flight, we gather for a concluding experience meal, brimming with the forest’s healing essence that has enriched our journey. Subsequently, we begin our trip back to Mexico City, marking the culmination of a rewarding and unforgettable expedition.

Breakfast & Lunch: Included.

*Important note: Please be aware that the paragliding activity mentioned in the itinerary is optional. Participants are encourage to refrain from participating in this activity if they have any concerns, reservations, or personal preferences. Ensuring the safety and comfort of our participants remains our highest priority. As an alternative activity, we offer a delightful 45-minute walk through streets and alleys, ensuring a fulfilling and enjoyable journey for all.

Things to keep in mind

Cancellations and Refunds.In the event of a cancellation, either by the User and/or Participant, or by Activ Retreats, the following shall apply:

1. Cancellation by the Client:
In the event that the Client decides to cancel an Experience subsequent to its booking, such cancellation shall be governed by the following terms:
a. Cancellation of Experiences with a duration of 4 (four) or more days:

Notification period prior to the start of the Experience

Fee charged by Activ Retreats

180 days or more

$0.00 USD

91 days or more

30% of the Experience total cost

90 to 60 days

60% of the Experience total cost

59 to 0 days

100% of the Experience total cost

b. Cancellation of Experiences with a duration of 3 (three) days or less:

Notification period prior to the start of the Experience

Fee charged by Activ Retreats

91 days or more

$0.00 USD

90 to 60 days

60% of the Experience total cost

59 to 0 days

100% of the Experience total cost

In case of cancellation by the User, the User shall be entitled to be reimbursed, subtracting the outstanding commissions, non-refundable deposits and the corresponding cancellation fee, in accordance with items “a” and “b” above.

2 Cancellations by Activ Retreats
In the event that Activ Retreats cancels an Experience, whether for lack of minimum participation or for any other reason, the User may take the following actions:
I) Request the transfer of the deposit to a different Experience, up to two times, as long as the transfer date is at least 90 calendar days prior to the start date of the Experience. In the event that the Experience preferred for reimbursement has a higher amount of Consideration than the originally contracted Experience, the User and/or Participant must pay the difference between the two prices.
II) Request a refund, from which any expenses, cancellation costs or commissions made to suppliers on behalf of the Participant will be deducted.
In the event that a Participant abandons the Experience by his/her own decision, he/she will in no case be entitled to a refund and Activ Retreats will not be obligated to reimburse any additional amount.

In the event that Activ Retreats cancels an Experience during the course of the Experience, due to acts of God or force majeure, Activ Retreats shall not be liable to carry out the refund of any amount to the Participants, however, it may offer, at its own discretion, voluntary compensation.

In the event that the User and/or Participants have contracted travel insurance, they should review the terms and conditions of such insurance in order to carry out the corresponding reimbursement process.

Activ Retreats shall not be liable for any expenses, expenses and/or losses incurred by the Participant in connection with the booking of the Experience, including but not limited to, obtaining visas, vaccinations, flights, trains, car rental, gasoline, travel expenses and any other expenses incurred by the Participant.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be construed as an obligation of Activ Retreats to provide the Services, but Activ Retreats shall provide the Services as it sees fit.

3 Refunds
In the event that the User wishes to request a refund from Activ Retreats, in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, the deadlines for the execution of the refund will be as follows: (i) International Refund up to 10 (ten) calendar days; (ii) Domestic Refund up to 5 (five) calendar days from the approval of the request.

4 Credit Roll-outs
90 days prior to the retreat start date:
Clients have the option to transfer the payment credit to a different Retreat or Getaway upon request. The credited amount must be utilized within a maximum of 365 days from the original purchase date. An administrative fee of $100 USD per person will be applied for this transaction.

This agreement describes the general terms and conditions (hereinafter, the “Terms and Conditions”) that regulate the use of the set of digital media made available to the users of the said media (hereinafter, the “Users”) by the company called Activ Retreats (hereinafter, “Activ Retreats and/or the Holder”), through the Website located at: https://activretreats.com/ (hereinafter, the “Website”). The Website is called “Activ Retreats”, and may be accessed through any Internet browser. Any person wishing to access or use the Web Site and/or any of the Services offered therein (as such term is defined below) may do so subject to these Terms and Conditions.

1. General Data of the Holder

Activ Retreats is a company legally incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the United Mexican States (“Estados Unidos Mexicanos”), fully empowered in accordance with its corporate purpose to provide the services detailed in this Terms and Conditions.

The present Terms and Conditions are directed to clients of Activ Retreats and/or any of its controlling entities, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of Activ Retreats that use the Website and/or any other extension of the platform, property of Activ Retreats

2. Definitions

a. Privacy Notice: Refers to the privacy notice of Activ Retreats, drafted in terms of article 28 of the Regulations of the Federal Law for the Protection of Personal Data in Possession of Private Parties (“Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales en Posesión de los Particulares”), and article thirty-eighth of the Privacy Notice Guidelines (“Lineamientos del Aviso de Privacidad”), by means of which the User expressly grants or denies the processing of his/her personal data.

b. Activ Retreats: The company named Activ Retreats and/or any controlling entities, subsidiaries, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of Activ Retreats.

c. Website: All digital media, people and physical means made available to the User in order to promote the Services, in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

d. Parties: It refers jointly to Activ Retreats and the User.

e. Participant: Refers to the natural persons who are registered as participants in the booking of Experiences or those persons who will participate in the contracted Experience through the Website.

f. Services: Set of services offered by Activ Retreats in compliance with these Terms and Conditions, comprised by the activities set forth in these terms and conditions, as well as the use of the Website.

g. User: Refers to any natural person who wishes to acquire rights and obligations with Activ Retreats, in relation to the Services offered by Activ Retreats.

3. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

The access and/or use of the Website, and/or any other extension of the platform, property of Activ Retreats, implies the acceptance by the User (as such term is defined below) of all the clauses and policies established in these Terms and Conditions. Likewise, by using the Website you will be communicating with Activ Retreats through electronic means, so you agree to receive communication under this modality using various mechanisms such as: email, notices, phone call and WhatsApp (software made available by the company WhatsApp, LLC., hereinafter, “WhatsApp”); by virtue of the foregoing, the User acknowledges that the forms, contracts, notices, messages, as well as any type of notification and/or communication sent by electronic means satisfy any legal requirement and have full legal effects and validity.

Any person who does not accept these Terms and Conditions, which are mandatory and binding, must refrain from using the Website, and/or any other extension of the platform, owned by Activ Retreats.

4. Services
Activ Retreats offers Customers and/or Users, through the Website, the possibility to access and/or acquire services consisting of experiences that may include, but are not limited to, the following activities (hereinafter, the “Experiences”):
1. Planning of trips and retreats; 2. Planning and management of sports activities; 3. Planning and management of recreational, social and cultural activities; 4. Planning and management of culinary activities; 5. Booking of accommodations.6. Booking of means of transportation at the Experience site. 7. Specialized guides at each destination.Photography services. The User accepts and acknowledges that the activities listed in this Clause may vary in each of the Experiences offered by Activ Retreats, therefore, the User must review in the Activ Retreats Website which activities are included in the Experience that the User wishes to book.

5. Operation of the Website and General Conditions
5.1 Catalog of Experiences
In case the User wishes to contract an Experience offered by Activ Retreats, he/she may do so by entering the Website. Once logged in, the User must select the “Experiences” tab, where the User may view the catalog of Experiences that are available at that moment. The Experiences will be catalogued in one of the following categories:
(i) Retreats; and (ii) Getaways, which will depend on the duration of each Experience. The User must select the Experience he/she wishes to hire, and once selected, he/she will be redirected to the specific tab of each Experience, in which he/she will find the information and specifications of the selected Experience, including but not limited to: (i) Information regarding accommodation; (ii) Itinerary of the Experience; (iii) A recommended list of items for the trip; (iv) A list of services and resources included and/or not included by Activ Retreats within the Experience; (v) Specifications of the Experience; and (vi) Relevant informative notes about the Experience.

5.2 Booking of Experiences
To book an Experience, the User must select the “Book Now” button within the specific tab of each Experience.

Please note that throughout most of the trip, there will be limited phone signal or internet access, given the remote nature of our destination. Keep in mind that this experience involves rural and indigenous community tourism, so access to hot water may vary, although it is generally available

Currently, Mexico’s international borders remain open.

A valid passport is required for entry.

A Visa may be required depending on your nationality.

Foreigners might be required to present a return ticket.

Weather

In the central-northern region, a temperate climate dominates, offering generally mild weather. Elevated areas experience cold and humid conditions, yet winters in these locales tend to be dry, with temperatures spanning from 7°C (44°F) to 14°C (58°F). This climatic variation creates a diverse environment, where the majority of the region enjoys moderate temperatures while higher elevations embrace cooler and more moisture-laden atmospheres. This nuanced weather pattern contributes to the region’s overall climatic balance, providing residents and visitors alike with a mix of comfortable conditions and distinctive landscapes.



Activity level: Nature’s Rhythms (Intermediate) - Ranging daily from 8 to 18km