A boutique property in a colonial city in central Mexico offers an off-site excursion that is far removed from its counterparts in the country’s coastal resort destinations.
Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato invites its guests to saddle up for a half-day of horseback riding lessons and a visit to the 50-acre Rancho Santa Emilia, owned by a retired Swiss perfumer and his wife. The ranch has bulls, horses, stables and a riding ring.
The Classy Cowboy and Cowgirl package also includes a lot of pampering back at the 37-suite Casa de Sierra, an Orient-Express property in the heart of San Miguel.
The hotel itself is a mix of Spanish colonial buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries. Accommodations are spread among six mansions, including Casa del Parque, a 17th century fort and later a customs house catering to the silver trade, and Casa Principal, the former residence of San Miguel’s archbishop in 1580 and now a historical landmark.
Each casona (mansion) features five to seven guestrooms or suites and outdoor courtyards with fountains and small gardens.
The three-night package, priced from $1,900 per suite, double, includes accommodations, riding lessons, the ranch visit, a cooking class, a tequila tasting and a massage at Laja Spa. The package can be booked through Dec. 20 and pays 10% commission.
For details, visit
www.orient-express.com.