Sep 12, 2024
Book with Rancho Xotolar - This a family owned business on a ranch that has been in the family for generations. This shows in their love for the land, the care for the animals, and the way they do everything possible to make sure you experience what they have experienced their whole lives — pure & unmatched joy and peace.
Tomas was the primary contact, & was my driver. I was picked up directly outside of my airbnb which isn’t common, usually there is a meeting point. The day started with café de olla & milking the cows they have on the land. After that, a brief but useful introduction to riding the horses.
The ride is absolutely amazing, we were able to trot and gallop! Go through the river multiple times! You have 1 break half way into the ride so take cash to purchase water, beer, or a snack. There were 12 riders and about 5-6 Xotolar riders to assist us in having a safe & pleasant experience. They do everything possible to capture videos & pictures of you.
After our tour, Tomas & his family welcomed us for lunch. The lunch can cater to vegetarians & potentially vegans depending on the meal they make. Our experience ended after out lunch, but it truly is a memorable one!
Thank you to Tomas, Gustavo, Felix, Maria Luisa & the rest of the Xotolar team for making me feel at home!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 27, 2024
Authentic San Miguel Adventure - Our excursion at Rancho Xotolar was the highlight of our trip to San Miguel. The family is lovely, the experience authentic, the food exceptional, and the horseback ride was fun. We will definite be back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 25, 2024
MIND-BLOWING and BREATHTAKING - This trip was awesome , mind-blowing and breathtaking. I book this for my wife’s birthday and she absolutely enjoy every second , the scenery was so beautiful , she shedded a few tears of joy as we passed the canyon. We were first time horse riders and This is well worth it , we would recommend it to everyone
Review provided by Viator
Aug 21, 2024
Great example of local tourism! - From start to finish, this horse riding experience was well-organized, fun, and safe! Highly recommend for anyone who would like to be in nature with gorgeous canyon backdrops. Great for kids as well. We had no experience riding horses and the family of experienced guides made us all feel comfortable. The horses are the stars - well-trained and they know the trails. Do not hesitate to make this part of your San Miguel experience. All of the money stays in the community and goes towards supporting this local, hard-working multi-generational family who have been caring for their land since their great grandfather’s time.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 18, 2024
Simply the Best - This was by far the best excursion I have taken in my life! From start to finish it was authentic and an absolute blast . The ranch which runs this excursion is family operated from top to bottom and you feel the history and love they have for the land , the horses and guests they welcome to their land . This is not your typical horse ride excursion , first they introduce you to their cows which you can help milk if you want and later during an incredible lunch after the horse ride you eat that cheese with a delicious traditional Mexican meal cooked in front of you by the family members .
The trail ride was over 2.5 hours over beautiful terrain , vistas and through water at times! I could not stop smiling at what I was seeing and experiencing. I am 63 and my daughters are in their mid and late 20’s , they had the same incredible and memorable time.
It was the best value I could hope for , and I want to thank Tomas ,,his brothers , sisters, nephews and other relatives for their kindness from the time we were picked up at our Airbnb to the time we were brought home.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 17, 2024
A special experience - Our family had a spectacular day riding with Gustavo and his ranchero family. After an easy drive to the ranch, we had coffee made over a traditional wood stove and then had a hands-on cow milking lesson.
On the trail, our horses were surefooted and attentive, which made it easy to trust them while we enjoyed the views. Our guides were extremely competent and entertaining at the same time. They have a strong connection with their horses that was evident throughout the trip.
The meal we had after returning to the ranch was my favorite during our entire stay in San Miguel de Allende. The freshness of the ingredients (including queso fresco made from the morning’s milk) and combinations of flavors (prickly pear pico de gallo) made a tasty meal. The meal’s authenticity was confirmed by our fellow guests who had grown up with these types of meals.
Any one of the days’ activities would have been great on their own, so it was special to have all of them in one day. Many thanks to Rancho Xotolar for a welcoming and memorable experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 2, 2024
Fantastic Half Day Riding at Rancho Xotolar! - Our half day horseback riding with Rancho Xotolar was the highlight of my family's trip to Mexico! I really could not be more positive about this experience. Tomas collected us from our AirBnB in SMA and drove us to the ranch (~40mins). His English is excellent and we enjoyed hearing about his life growing up on the family ranch. Once we arrived we had a brief cow milking session and learned how they make cheese from the milk. Not at all touristy and no sales pitch involved. We then mounted our horses and went on a 2-1/2 hr ride. The scenery was beautiful, the guides were great (we had 4 guides for the 4 of us - I don't know if that is normal, but it gave us additional confidence) and the horses were incredible. We went down and up some fairly steep and rocky paths, but the horses were so sure footed none of us felt uneasy despite the fact that we are not regular riders. We also rode through a river and had a couple of goes at cantering, which was particularly popular with the younger members of the family. Tomas took fantastic pictures and videos with my camera, including while cantering! After the ride we had lunch at the ranch, which was one of the tastiest and most satisfying meals we've had the entire trip. We are all vegetarian, so the meal was perfect for us. We were then dropped back in SMA, tired but smiling. There was no expectation of tipping, but we felt it was well deserved and gave 15% of the cost. Prior to this we had some negative experiences on our trip with police demanding bribes and an ATM machine eating our card. This experience was in complete contrast to all that. The family who run the ranch are very genuine and honest and have put together a fantastic experience. We have gone on a number of short horse riding trips on other holidays around the world and this was by far the best!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 30, 2024
Incredible Experience!! - Tomás and his family were warm and welcoming, sharing their family history and traditions. Our horseback ride was a highlight of our trip for all family members ranging in age. The vistas were splendid and the food delicious. I would highly recommend!! A fabulous time was had by all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 23, 2024
Wonderful - If you like riding horses, this is for you! Gorgeous scenery, riding the Rocky Mountains up and down, riding through rivers. Lio y los vaqueros are the best and a lot of fun. Milking the cow, and eating the authentic meal afterwards……
So many wonderful memories!!!
Review provided by Viator
Jul 22, 2024
Amazing Day - Amazing day with some wonderful people. First time on a horse for my 8 year old daughter and she already wants to go back. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
