Price
2026
8 nights – $4,753 per person, sharing
Dates & Prices
MEXICO
Day of the Dead Ride
Overview
During The Day of The Dead Ride you will be immersed in one of the most representative Mexican traditions of all time! You will be able to discover this treasure of syncretism in a unique way, riding on horseback and participating actively the celebrations, in a way that will allow you to discover why this tradition has conquered the empathy in the world and why it has been an inspiration for fashion and various international films.
Day of the Dead is celebrated passionately throughout Mexico, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities. It is one of Mexico’s most important religious holidays, celebrated on All Saint’s Day (November 1) and All Soul’s Day (November 2) traditionally known as, Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead. November 1st honours deceased children and November 2nd, deceased adults. Day of the Dead is celebrated passionately throughout Mexico, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities.
Far from being a morbid event, Day of Dead emphasizes remembrance of past lives and expresses celebration of the continuity of life. This acknowledgement of life’s continuity has roots which go back to some of Mexico’s oldest civilizations including the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Purépecha. The Aztecs also celebrated Day of the Dead, although earlier, in August, on the current calendar.
Local families plan for Day of the Dead celebrations’ days, weeks, and even a whole year in advance. A focal point of the remembrance ritual is families creating ofrendas —altars with offerings to the deceased— which are set-up in homes or public spaces like parks or plazas, and at local cemeteries where family members are buried.
The Catrinas are the artistic symbol of Day of the Dead celebrations. This character on which La Calavera Catrina “The elegant skull”— was conceived by Mexican engraver José Guadalupe Posada. The original Catrina was titled La Calavera Garbancera: in the form of an artistic etching in zinc, composed for use as political satire around 1910, intended to poke fun at a certain social class of Mexicans who the artist portrayed as having European-aristocratic aspirations; thus, the Catrinas archetypal grandiose plumed hat of a style which passed through a period of high fashion in Europe during that age.
The first three days of the trip is dedicated to discovering and living the tradition of “Dia de los Muertos” in two of the most beautiful cities of Mexico: San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Cities recognised for preserving the oldest traditions of Mexican culture. On the 4th day your horseback adventure begins, riding in the footsteps of these ancestral traditions. From the saddle you will discover authentic villages, their traditions, and their inhabitants.
However, that is only the beginning. In addition of discovering in situ the value of this ancestral tradition, you will enjoy the warmth and hospitality that distinguishes the Mexican people. You will taste a variety of dishes of the ancestral gastronomy of Mexico, you will enjoy the best tequilas, listen to mariachi music, and discover from the saddle sites of great historical value, heritage cities, magical towns, and villas with great legends. Experts in the mixology of ancestral drinks will guide you during tasting. Drinks that will prepare you to accept the body painting as Catrinas.
This is undoubtedly, cultural-wise, the most unique riding holiday ever!
Location
Guanajuato region, Central Highlands of Mexico
Airport
Guanajuato, Mexico
Duration
8 nights
When to go
End of October
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Weight
110kg / 17.3 stone / 243 lbs
Group size
12 max
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses
Included
All riding, accommodation, 3 meals per day, 2 nights open bar.
Extras
Single rooms cannot be guaranteed, you should be willing to share.
Excluded
Flights, transfers and tips.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
Transfers from Guanajuato airport to San Miguel de Allende $135, paid locally.
Departure dates
2026
26 October – 3 November
Riding & Itinerary
Note: The itinerary may change due to dates, but all the days below will be included, maybe just in a different order.
Day 1
Meet and greet in the city of San Miguel de Allende, a city characterized by its rich traditions, in which popular events and festivals play an important role throughout the year. San Miguel is a town full of magic and mysticism preserving very old traditions. It is a place full of culture and art, traditions and customs. It is registered by Unesco in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
4pm welcome at the hotel and check-in.
5pm welcome cocktail, briefing for the week ahead and welcome kit.
8pm visit of the historic centre, artistic representation of the council of culture and traditions.
9pm welcome dinner.
Day 2
We will live and breathe the day of the dead traditions. We will take a walking tour, guided through the route of “offerings” allusive to the day of the dead. We will visit the historic pantheon of San Juan de Dios, where we can see and live this unique tradition. Later we will enjoy a fun mixology workshop, specialized in pre-Hispanic drinks. Your senses will be overjoyed by the essences, flavors and textures as you will be served four distinc cocktails that have transcended the history of Mexico: Tepache, Pulque, Pox and Raicilla. In the afternoon, we will attend the theatrical performances alluding to the Day of the Dead, which are held in the main square, organized by the House of Culture and the Arts.
Day 3
After breakfast, we will have 1-hour car transfer to the colonial city of Guanajuato, considered the most beautiful colonial city of Mexico. It was created by two main cultures, Indian and Hispanic, marking the source of the Mexican nation. Protected by its inhabitants and government, state and municipal, Guanajuato was declared by UNESCO as the “Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines” in December 1988. We will visit the historic centre, walk through its narrow alleys, discovering the magic of the celebration of the Day of the Dead in alleys, squares and gardens. We will visit the “monumental offering” of Guanajuato and “El Tapete de la muerte” (The death carpet) as well as “La Catrina Vive Festival”, and we will enjoy live music with local mariachis.
Day 4
After breakfast, we visit the “Museum of the Mummies”. Here you will learn about the mummified remains of Mexican ancestors, some of which date back to 1870. It is considered the current largest collection of natural mummies in the world with 57 items, and a cultural heritage of the Municipality of Guanajuato.
After the museum, we will be transferred to Rancho Colomitos where our horses are waiting for us. We will have a short assessment ride and get to know our horses before dressing horses and riders up in the form of catrinas. Catrina is the symbol of death and the icon of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. We will do a ride at the ranch all dressed up and take photos and videos to memorise this moment. We end the day with a “Catrinas and catrines themed dinner” at the ranch.
Day 5
We begin our journey on horseback towards the Mystery Villages, where the Chichimeca culture, mining and a Cristero region converge, and where the legends and traditions of the region live strong. What a better theme than mystery to continue our Day of the Dead celebrations!
Rancho Colomitos – Calderones 21 kilometres
Day 6
We continue our journey through the Mystery Villages, visiting the ancient communities nestled in a mountainous area and recognized for its richness in minerals. We will visit the ancient cemeteries of Peregrina and Monte San Nicolás that date back centuries and have some of the most romantic and mysterious legends. These legends will be narrated by our guides. Calderones – Santa Rosa 21 kilometres
Day 7
Today, our journey on horseback takes us to discover one of the greatest biodiversity areas in the region, through oak forests, pine trees and small communities full of history, nestled in the middle of high mountains, and surrounded by majestic natural landscapes. We reach our destination, one of the oldest communities in the region, Sangre de Cristo. (Christ blood). Santa Rosa – Sangre de Cristo 26 kilometres.
Day 8
Today we will live a journey on horseback through the oldest communities in the state of Guanajuato that contain great historical and cultural value and, which during the 17th century, was one of the most prosperous mining enclaves in the region: the communities of Sangre de Cristo, Mineral de la Luz and San Ignacio. We will pass by the old mine of San Juan, El Zócalo de La Luz, and The old Sangre de Cristo cemetery. At the end of the 19th century, these three towns became ghost towns. Sangre de Cristo – La Luz – San Ignacio – Tiros de San Juan 19 kilometres
Day 9
Breakfast, check out at 12pm and end of the trail.
Please ask about
It’s a great idea to add-on a night or two in Mexico City either on your arrival or departure, it’s a vibrant city to explore.
We would also recommend staying an extra night at the last night hotel which is absolutely beautiful, giving you time to chill out, lay by the pool and generally decompress before the long journey home.
Horses
Azteca, Quarter horse and Mexican Criollo
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Type of riding
Western style neck reining
Tack
Mexican, very similar to Western
Weight limit
110kg / 17.3 stone / 243 lbs
Group size
12 max
Accommodation & Meals
Most nights spent in comfortable and authentic local haciendas and hotels along the trail route, in double/twin rooms. For one of the nights you will stay in a multi-shared room. Single rooms may be available on request and at an extra cost, but cannot be guaranteed.
Food is very important, you will experience an abundance of locally prepared delicious meals with lots of tequila and mescal.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses
Single Supplement
Single rooms cannot be guaranteed, you should be willing to share.
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Soft drinks and mentioned two nights open bar included. Other alcoholic drinks payable.
The Destination
The Central Highlands of Mexico, also known as the Mexican Altiplano, is a vast, high-altitude plateau region that spans much of northern and central Mexico. It's characterized by arid-to-semiarid conditions, vast open spaces, and is bordered by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. The region is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, with diverse landscapes ranging from deserts to forests.
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