Activities in Northeast Mexico
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Aventúrate Coahuila
Mónica Silva leads bird-watching tours around Coahuila. Warthen sparrows and maroon-fronted parrots are two highly sought species.
reviewed
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Río Los Mezquites
Just before the Poza Azul visitors center there’s a turnoff on the left for Río Los Mezquites. Follow the rough track for 2km past salinas (salt flats) until you see a sublime stretch of slow-flowing blue water. Swimming here with the fish and turtles amid the desert landscape is a surreal, revitalizing experience. There’s an overabundance of palapas (thatched shelters) for shade, plus toilets and barbecue spots. It’s usually deserted during the week but it’s popular with families on weekends. Camping, which is free after paying the entrance fee, is sometimes permitted. Ask the entrance attendant.
reviewed
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Casa Madero
The first winery in the Americas was established at Parras in 1597, a year before the town itself sprang up. Now called Casa Madero, it’s 7km north of the center, in San Lorenzo on the road to the main highway. It’s now an industrial-sized operation exporting vino all over the world. Free half-hour tours take you past winemaking equipment old and new. You can buy quality wine and brandy on-site too. From near the main plaza in Parras, catch regular buses (M$20) that pass the winery, just tell your driver where you want off. Or take a taxi (M$90).
reviewed
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A
Cuauhtémoc Brewery
The Cuauhtémoc brewery, the oldest brewery in Mexico (established in 1890), fills six million bottles of Bohemia, Dos Equis and Tecate and other beers every day. Free brewery tours are given more or less hourly. Reservations are recommended (especially if you’d like a tour in English), but you can just show up and see if there’s space. Tours start in front of the pleasant outdoor beer garden where you might get a free mug of Carta Blanca.
reviewed
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Poza La Becerra
Poza La Becerra was the busiest and most developed (bathrooms, showers, snack shop) recreational facility. At the time of research, the facility was temporarily closed due to a dispute between a local politician and the owner. It’s supposedly slated to open sometime in the winter of 2010. The water temperature here is a balmy, constant 32°C, but there are cooler areas where springs feed the pools.
reviewed
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B
Paseo Cultural en Tranvía
Monterrey’s Paseo Cultural en Tranvía zips around the Gran Plaza and Zona Rosa in a classic-style trolley. You can join the 45-minute narrated tours at several marked stops, including in front of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo and on Padre Mier at Garibaldi.
reviewed
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Rancho El Chuzo
About 65km west of Saltillo in General Cepeda is Rancho El Chuzo which is an organic farm that teaches courses on sustainable farming practices and has rustic accommodations and a camping area for volunteers. Meals are vegetarian.
reviewed
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Roccatti
Roccatti is a serious culinary school that irregularly has three-hour and three-day classes throughout the year. More practical is arranging a private lesson. A taxi from Monterrey is M$70.
reviewed
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Sertuco
Sertuco rents two-person kayaks (Monday to Friday half-day M$300, Saturday and Sunday per hour M$130) at Río Los Mezquites; it’s best to arrange this beforehand or at the office in town.
reviewed
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Ruta Tranvía
You can take a narrated, 1½-hour tour of the city on this historic-looking trolley, which departs the Plaza de Armas daily. Buy tickets at the tourist kiosk.
reviewed
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Xaman Tours
Runs regular canyoneering, kayaking and rappelling trips on weekends, and can connect you with guides for anything else in the mountains around town and beyond.
reviewed
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Spanish Language Center
Spanish Language Center normally does private tutoring, but will try to match you with other students if you prefer small-group study.
reviewed
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Estanque La Luz
Estanque La Luz is the cleanest estanque (large pools where spring water is stored) and is on the way to Iglesias del Santo Madero.
reviewed
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Bodegas Ferriño
Bodegas Ferriño is 1km north of the Plaza de las Culturas along Carranza, pressed its first grapes in 1860.
reviewed
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Vinos Vitali
Staff at the neighboring Vinos Vitali will gladly show you around their little operation.
reviewed
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Geo Aventura
Has the biggest variety of outings and is the only one offering trips every weekend all year.
reviewed
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Boat Rides
Boat Rides down the canal from the Paseo Santa Lucía are very popular.
reviewed
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C
