Bosencheve
National Park
Getting to Bosencheve´s
park from Valle de Bravo, is a 45 min ride more or less; you have
to take the free-way Valle de Bravo-Villa Victoria, 30 minutes
later you get to an intersection where you will easily see a statue,
make a left turn towards Zitácuaro, freeway 15, straight
ahead there is a detour
sing to the left.
First you get to the
Bosencheve's "port"; it is a mountain pine passage
through two valleys. The pine trunks dance freely with out branches,
crowned at the top by hughe tufts that remind us of palm trees.
This is only the hallway to the 15,000 hectares park, which has
an altitude of 2,900 mts. over the sea level. The climate is
cool during the mornings but as the sun goes down it gets cold
and at nights the temperature descends several degrees. The vegetation
is exuberant and the zone is covered by pine forest, two wonderful
lagoons welcome the visitors, their names are “Green” and “Dry”,
there are two rural ways to get to the lagoons, the first one
is right after the sign that reads Bosencheve, the other one
is continuing on highway 15 for more than 2 km till you meet
a sign that reads “a las lagunas” (to the lagoons);
it is a 14 km ride on a rural way in good conditions.
Actually there is only one lagoon named “Carmen” but in the dry
season it is divided in two “Green” and “Dry”
Services are not available in this National Park, but it is worth a visit.
You may fish and enjoy the site seeing, or go trekking through its evergreen
vegetation.
Donato Guerra
Facing
south coming out from Villa de Allende on highway 2 and 20 km from there
you
will meet this colonial typical looking town. In the main square
the XVII century Assumption Temple is worth a visit. You can
also visit the surroundings, “El Salto” a cascade
of regular proportions, “El molinito” and “La
Peña”, a cliff with spectacular views.
Villa de Allende
The Park Villa de Allende
is close to Bosencheve, a splendid Vacational Camp is located in it, it
belongs to the community of the same name.Only 74 km from Toluca, the capital
city of the state, on highway 15. Several artcrafts may be bought at very
good prices, manufactured by the “Mazahuas” (local native community),
such as, traditional embroidered table linen, bags, and blouses. Since
the weather is template it is ideal for camping, among other facilities
there is camping zone, bbq, playground, sport fields, meeting room, campfire
zone and surveillance 24 hrs a day
Temascaltepec
72 km. Southeast from
Toluca on highway 134 towards Tejupilco. This quiet and peaceful town located
in middle of a knott formed by several forest mountains. Surrounded by
dales , vegetation, water spings, rivers and water falls. Temascaltepec
in náhuatl is "Cerros de los Temascales", wich means the “bath
hill”. During the XVI century several mines were found in the zone,
the still cave for gold and silver, and this pintoresque towns still loks
like a colonial mine town.
Walking around the main square you will find several stores where you can buy
jewelry, knitting, unweaves and palm work. Across from the plaza the Templo del
Consolador, dated from the XVI century, simple stile church where a Christ named “Lord
of Forgiveness” is venerated.
There are hotels, restaurants and gas station in Temascaltepec.
The region is ideal for trekking, the most famous places are Brinco de León,
el Peñón, Las Juntas y Real de Arriba.
You can also get to Temascaltepec by bus from Valle de Bravo’s bus terminal.
Tejupilco
Continuing
to the south from Temascaltepec, you get to this town once founded
by the “matlalzincas”,
some archeological vestiges are in the zone, during the Spanish Colony,
it was also a mine town, and now days is an important economical place
for the zone.
The surroundings are beautiful and thanks to the climate the agriculture
is an important task.
In the main square there is the Temple of the order of h olly Funeral,
constructed by Franciscans during the XVIII century, and as well as in
other churches in the state the images of Christ is made out of cane paste.
From Tejupilco you can continue south to Bejucos, this zone neighbors the
state of Guerrero, fertile zone with ponds and brooks, or you can use a
local road to Nanchititla, place of "nanciales" “boggy”,
for ages this place remained completely incomunicated. The population is
enclaved in the range of Nanchititla, where a spectacular cascade formed
By five different waterfalls, with a considerable flow on its 85 mt. Width.
It is the highest in the State of Mexico.
Colorines
To get to Colorines, you have to take highway 2 passing in front of San Gaspar.
Definitely the name is a lot more picturesque than the place it self, it is
settled along a dam, that, as an unusual fact is built on a superior level
from the town itself. Past the town and along the highway, you will see nice
views and find a lot of Pochote trees, its fruit looks a lot like cotton, and
is used as well for clothing.
Ixtapan el Oro
Continuing on highway
2, near the limits of the state, 90 kms. From Toluca, this beautiful coffee
plantation town is located, 1,800 mts over sea level, with mild climate,
around 24° C.
The surroundings of this town have exuberant vegetation, fertile and flowered
camps, and several waterfalls, among them the most beautiful is “Salto
de Chihuahua”, where you can fish trout and enjoy the cold and transparent
waters. There are facilities for camping, or for a bbq pic-nic.
The town is known because
of their whitewash andalusian stile houses, with balconies and iron forged
fences, with colorful flower climbing plants, and abundant orchards,
where they grow mango and banana. Ixtapan del Ororo counts with small
rustic cottages, restaurant as well as a small thermal.
Other zone attractions are El Pedregal where archeological vestiges are located,
interesting calcareous formation on the gold mines, in one of the water forms
perfect spheres of half inch diameter. You can admire stalactites and stalagmites.
In the main square an interesting prehispanic monolith represents the a god
emerging from the jaws of a serpent.
Nuevo Santo Tomás de los Plátanos
Continuing on
the same road and mid way from the next town you will enjoy splendid
views
of the range and dam. The town lifted up on the top of a mountain
is the new Santo Tomas de los plátanos, this town is formed
now a days mostly by a colony of workers from the Federal electricity
company.
In the past it was founded in a small valley 10 kms, from there,
after they built the hydroelectric complex, they had to deluge the
valley.
The town is not really worth a long visit, but behind the church there is a belvedere
with great views.
Going on the same highway you will see a dam with a church tower coming from
the water, that is where the first Santo Tomas de los platanos was .
Please be take your precautions, because there are no gas stations near by, the
nearest is in Colorines.
Centro de Espiritualidad Carmel Maranatha:
6 km. From Valle de
Bravo on the highway to Amanlco de Becerra.
Visiting hours: everyday from 9:30 -13:30 and 16:30 to18:00
Catholic service: Saturdays 18:30 pm, Sundays 11:00 am.
It belongs to the Carmelite monks, in the Catholic Church, they receive a special
recognition for keeping places where they promote that the human being can live
in the grace of God and the knowing of one itself, through meditation, silence
and prayers. Some examples of Carmelite Sanctuaries are in Lions Desert, and
in Tenancingo.
The construction of this houses started 20 years ago, and is still under construction.
In the various chapels there are exquisite religious pieces with great artistic
value.
There are always seminars and seclusions going on conducted by specialists in
the matter, for more information please contact:
México City Mrs. Rebeca Rodríguez
Carlos B Zetina #61. Col Escandón
México, DF. c.p. 11000
Tel. (0155) 55 15 38 61
Valle de Bravo Carmel Maranatha
Tel. (017) 26 246 03
Ex
Hacienda de Santa María Pipioltepec:
A few miles from Maranatha you will see the remains of the Hacienda and
part
of the aqueduct that goes from Amanalcos lagoon to the hacienda’s patio.
In 1611 the Viceroy Luis Velasco gave this lands to Pedro Valencia. In 1808 Don
Lorenzo de Angulo Guadarrama bought it and built the interesting chapel in the
beginnings of the XIX century. In 1841 Don José María Garay got
the property. During the second world war it became a prison for German marines
hold by the Mexican authorities.
Now a days summer camps, and school camps are carried out there.
Rancho Feshi
On the high way Valle
de Bravo- Amanalco de Becerra-México, after passing by Amanalco
de Becerra you will meet a sing that reads Rancho Feshi. It is one of the
tout farms in the zone, it has a rustic restaurant, where you can eat the
trout you fish in their ponds, or just get one fresh from the kitchen,
the place is clean and nice, you can walk around, and let the kids enjoy
the playground.
Feshi in autochthonous language means “Singing Water”.
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