Valle de Bravo, Mexico

We just spent a week in Valle de Bravo near Mexico city. It is a large "Pueblo Magico" town (pop: 61K) very reminiscent of Mazamitla or Tapalpa. It is on the shores of Lake Avandaro about 7200 ft high. Unlike Lake Chapala, Lake Avandaro is about 40 meters deep with no underwater obstructions or commercial fishing (I didn't see any nets at all). This lake is filled with watersports (boating, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing (bass and tilapia) and the area is surrounded by adventure sports (paragliding, ziplining, ATVing, hiking, etc.).



The town is very busy all the time. It make Ajijic seen like a ghost town. The traffic is a nightmare in the plaza and waterfront areas.























The lake is beautiful and great for watersports. We took a nice boat ride around the lake.

Looks gorgeous...did you price property just for fun?

Yes we did. The lakeview and lakefront properties are very expensive. Most on the lake were well over a million USD with some being multi-million. This is the playground of the wealthy from Mexico City. We rented a 4 bed/5 bth "Mexican style house" with an amazing view for $200 USD per night. I saw some lakefront mansion's for $600 to $1200 USD per night. They were really swank.


I forgot to add that it took us about 6 hours to drive there all on toll highways. It was an easy, pleasant, very scenic drive. The tolls were not cheap though...... $1200 pesos each way.

I can see why it's a Pueblo Magico. It looks much more interesting than Ajijic and has the mandatory oxblood and white paint on the older buildings. And it appears to be clean with good sidewalks and some streets with interlocking stone/cobblestones cemented in place. Nice.

Honestly, I hate that look. Very boring. I prefer the way Ajijic or Guanajuato or SMA look with the vibrant colors, murals etc. I was kind of looking at Valle as maybe another option to live but I will take a pass. Too busy, too cold and I don't like the look/feel of the town. I do wish that Lake Chapala was as usable as Lake Avandaro is though.

I've never been interested in the place based on what I've heard about it, but still curious since I've never been. So thanks for the photos! It's obviously a beautiful spot, and it's understandable why it's so popular with wealthy Chilangos, etc. Still, not my thing.

I cannot temember what was the season when we went there but it was deader than a door nail when we were there..

I cannot temember what was the season when we went there but it was deader than a door nail when we were there..

Kind of a "Beverly Hills", Mexico style. Must be a nice getaway from D.F.
Thanks for the photos.

brigitte wrote:I cannot temember what was the season when we went there but it was deader than a door nail when we were there..

I was told it would be "dead" during the week so we booked Monday to Friday. The place was booming every day however many of the restaurant's/businesses are only open on the weekends so I guess the "boom" we observed is just the local's doing their thing. I can't imagine how busy this place gets on the weekends.

Great pics, CB! Thanks. I too have always wondered about Valle. Now I know.

Beautiful lake, everything looks so much cleaner and well cared for. Unlike . . .   This looks like the tourist hub are there little villages along the shoreline?

Man, it's very clear that we've sure elected all the wrong people to govern and manage our area. Taken a ride through Riberas lately on the carretera? Deadly. Head-on or pothole. Bache o choke?

There is only Valle on this lake. The rest of the shoreline is either undeveloped or has very expensive little housing communities. I noticed many small marinas and multi-level boat storage facilities around these marinas. There are literally thousands of pleasure boats in storage. I can only imagine how many boats would be in the lake, on the weekends, during the warm season.

I have friends who have a business there and the place is very seasonal some period are quiet and some are way overcrowded ..Week-ends are usually crowded same when they have the paragliding events or season and other events..too bad it s a pretty area.. a little cool but pretty