Hacienda Alta and Rancho del Paso

But there are two local companies who do offer rental horses and trail rides.  

For group trail rides on the north shore of the lake, just east of Chapala, at Vista del Lago/Chapala Country Club, contact Stephanie Decker at 331-466-7753, and see Rancho San Francisco on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Rancho.SanFrancisco.mx   

For trail rides on the south shore of the lake, outside of Mazamitla Celina Reynolds offers riding lessons, overnight stays in her cabins, and trail rides.  Contact her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/haciendadetaos.rancho

Rancho del Paso ("RDP")

• HISTORY:  The land at RDP was once part of the enormous Hacienda La Labor, which was a working hacienda up until the 1930s.  Then the land became "ejido" land (communally owned), and most of it has since passed into private ownership, including RDP's acreage.  The little town of Hacienda La Labor, which you pass through on the road up to RDP, is the remnant of the hacienda's nucleus.  It has about 200 inhabitants, an elementary school, and a brand new plaza built by the government a few years ago.

• EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES: Grass-covered turn out areas (irrigated in the dry season to stay green), 125' x 90' riding arena, 50' round pen. Large, secure tack/equipment storage, roomy stalls with private paddocks.  Wash area and vet stocks.  Access to miles of trails and dirt roads.  Boarders' parking lot inside the secure walled perimeter.  Fee based trailer parking available.

  •  ACCESS FROM CHAPALA:  RDP is reached via paved asphalt roads heading 1 mile east from Chapala and then 1 mile north into the hills above the lake.

  PERIMETER: RDP is fully enclosed by stone walls along the paved public road, and 6 foot high chain link fences covered with bougainvilleas on the other 3 sides.  The stone wall has a wrought iron topping with security alarm wiring on top of it.