• SANCTUARIES OF THE SIERRA MADRE ORIENTAL

A tour through the most eco-diverse Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and the Huasteca Potosina region.  Must-sees on this tour include the Surrealist Garden designed by Edward James and trails with trees representative of both the northern and southern hemispheres, and tropical sub deciduous forests

The day before

Arrive in the “Pueblo Magico” (magical town) of Jalpan de Serra at the hour that best suits your needs.  Your accommodations have been reserved at the Sierra Gorda Cabins (250 meters from the Jalpan Dam and just 1.5 km from the center of town).

Day 1

We will start the day early, to arrive in time to see sunrise at the Cuatro Palos Lookout.  Located atop the Cerro de la Media Luna, it offers a panoramic view of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range.

Then you have the choice of breakfast on the Flavour Trail or to make a stop in Puerto del Cielo before our next destination: the private reserve of El Cedral.   Our hike will take us through a temperate forest where we can observe flora from the northern and southern hemispheres.  We will have time to eat in the town of Pinal before going to Rio Escanela to walk through narrow canyons to Puente de Dios.  We will then bring you back to the Sierra Gorda Cabins to rest for the evening.

Day 2

We start the day with a delicious breakfast on the Flavour Trail.  Then off to Xilitla, to visit Las Pozas, the surrealist sculpture garden of the eccentric English aristocrat, Sir Edward James.  Where the monuments, pools and waterfalls will envelop you in their magic and mystery.  Then we will explore the gastronomy of the Huastec region in the historic town center.

After lunch, we will head northeast of Xilitla to the community of La Trinidad.  The inhabitants custodian an ancient cloud forest that is dedicated to conservation and ecotourism.

Lodging: La Trinidad Cabins

Day 3

We will hike the preselected hike in La Trinidad.  This zone is one of the most spectacular and wild of the Sierra Gorda.  Visiting here is almost like going back in time.  You can see the splendor of the forests of the Sierra Madre from times past.

Its confer, oak and cloud forests are covered in orchids and bromeliads.  The best way to discover the biologic treasures is through the different trails.

At noon, we are going to return to the cabins and then head back to Jalpan.  On the way home we will visit the El Madroño forest and the Mission Santa María de las Aguas de Landa.

Lodging: Sierra Gorda Cabins

Day 4

After breakfast, we will go enjoy free time in the Historic Center of Jalpan de Serra, and try a traditional artisanal snow cone.

Then we will go to Concá where we will visit the Thousand-year-old tree, the natural springs, and the San Miguel Concá Mission.  The smallest of the five Franciscan temples, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with its façade which ties together iconography from different elements of the Pame indigenous group´s worldview.

After visiting the community, we will go to Ayutla to rest in the camping area Los Sauces to enjoy local cuisine.

Our tour will end in Jalpan de Serra.

SITES AND LODGING