Looking for the perfect family getaway from Mexico City? You’ve found it!
Less than two hours from Mexico City, there is a place where children chase chickens, fireflies dance over the grass, and the smell of freshly scraped maguey floats in the air. It is called Rancho La Mesa and is located in the State of Mexico, very close to Tlalmanalco. It is a tailor-made option for families who are not looking for luxury but connection: with each other, with the land, and inwardly.
Find out what a getaway to Rancho La Mesa is like and everything you need to consider if you are planning to visit this place.
A ranch with pulque history
Rancho La Mesa is not a tourist complex that appeared out of nowhere. Its story begins in the 19th century, when the region was famous for its pulque production. At its peak, these valleys produced up to 50,000 liters daily. Those days are gone, but the ranch preserves its agave vocation. Sometimes you can see the tlachiqueros extracting aguamiel directly from the heart of the maguey and taste fresh pulque served in season.
The current owners decided to preserve the original spirit. They maintained the old buildings, bet on local products, and avoided turning the place into just another theme park. And that decision is noticeable.
What to do at Rancho La Mesa
There are no noisy shows or mass activities here. What there is: open fields, wooden playgrounds, bonfires, farm animals, tractor rides, and views of Popocatépetl that look like oil paintings.
There is paintball for teenagers, ATV rides and zip-lining for the more adventurous, and an educational farm where little ones can feed rabbits or pet sheep. One of the favorite activities for families is horseback riding.
If you visit in June, you might experience firefly watching. In September, there are mushroom foraging expeditions. In winter, pulque weekends are a great excuse to savor this traditional drink.
You can also just walk. The terrain is vast, full of trees, dirt trails, and open views. Here children get their hands dirty, run fearlessly, and return home with real stories.
Accommodation at Rancho La Mesa
There are two lodging options at Rancho La Mesa.
The first is rustic cabins for two, four, or six people. If you choose this option, don’t expect jacuzzis or flat screens. The cabins have no electricity or hot water. Consider bringing lamps, extra blankets, drinking water, and portable chargers. Cell signal is only available in certain spots. There is no wireless internet. For many families, this disconnection becomes the best gift: no phones, no emails, no social media. Just a bonfire, a starry night, and conversation.
The second option is the Rancho La Mesa Hotel, which has all the comforts, including electricity, hot water, and wireless internet.
How to get to Rancho La Mesa
Rancho La Mesa is located in Santo Tomás Atzingo, municipality of Tlalmanalco. The easiest way to get there is by private car. The ranch is on the Mexico-Cuautla federal highway, at kilometer 18.5. From Mexico City, the trip usually takes between one and a half to two hours.
Services, security, and food
Inside the ranch, there is parking, controlled access, bathrooms in the main house, private security, and a very recommendable rustic restaurant. The menu includes oven-baked pizzas, molcajetes, typical snacks, country breakfasts, and pulque.
What visitors say
Reviews agree that the rustic cabin experience is not for everyone. If you are looking for luxury facilities, you will be frustrated. But if you are willing to sleep without plugs and wake up to a rooster’s crow instead of an alarm, it is an experience that leaves a mark. On the other hand, the hotel has good reviews highlighting the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms.
Visitors praise the warmth of the staff, the food, the cleanliness of the spaces, and the peace of the surroundings. Some suggest bringing your own snacks if you go in a group and being patient with the dirt road. But most end up saying the same: “We would return without hesitation.”
Useful information to plan your visit to Rancho La Mesa
- Location: Santo Tomás Atzingo, Tlalmanalco, State of Mexico.
- How to get there: Mexico–Cuautla highway, km 18.5.
- Recommendation: arrive by car. Bring flashlights, insect repellent, and a camping attitude.
Accommodation: rustic cabins (reserve in advance). - Pets allowed: Yes.
Rancho La Mesa is not a mass tourist destination, and that is precisely its value. It is a place to get your boots dirty, to look at the sky without filters, and to remember that Mexico has places where time still moves at the pace of the countryside.
