Ale’s Week: Cook, Hike, Sip, Dance, Repeat! (Feb 21-28, 2027)

Tepoztlan, a “Pueblo Magico” (magic village) and one of Mexico’s most unique destinations is located about 5280 ft. above sea level and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes south of Mexico City making transportation easy (we pick you up in the Mexico City airport and bring you back).  Because of its incredible “eternal spring” climate, Tepoztlan is a year-round destination where our award-winning packages take place.

La Villa Bonita is located on the upslope of the Tepozteco mountains with a privileged perch above the town and an incredible view of the ex-convent below. We are a 15-minute walk to the central downtown circuit so there is not an excessive amount of traffic in front of La Villa Bonita but we are just minutes away from the centro and zocalo.

Due to its year-round average daily temperature of 83 F/28 C, Tepoztlan has become an off-the-beaten-path destination for those who want a wonderful climate with a picturesque, authentic, and traditional Mexican backdrop. Tepoztlan’s temperate climate with prevailing sunshine, its wonderful adobe facades, incredible local festivals, and ancient cobblestone streets attract Mexicans and foreign tourists from all over the world who seek a traditional, small-town environment.

Tepoztlan is one of the most unique, authentic, and safest places you can visit and has a lower crime rate than most cities and towns in the US.  You will get this understanding in the first 15 minutes after setting foot in the village. It is a place that time seems to have forgotten with time-honored culinary traditions, wonderful local produce, and a very enjoyable pace of life focused on family and friends.

Tepoztlan is made up of stubborn townspeople and subsistence farmers who vigilantly guard their traditions from change, which makes it an ideal destination for the “foodie” and the traveler seeks to experience a wonderful culture. “Tepoztecos,” as they are known here, appreciate the foreign tourist because you appreciate their culture. You can walk anywhere day or night and people will say “hello” to you, be cordial, but not overburdening.

This Magic Village with its mystical vibe is known as the “Sedona of Mexico” and consists of a very small, tight-knit community where people are very content with their lifestyle — a full social calendar that consists of constant cultural events, celebrations, and festivals during both the week and weekend. Tepoztlan is a piece of art without comparison – exquisite but not commercial.  In Tepoztlan, you will hear the enveloping sounds of the community, the church bells,  the rooster crowing, the occasional firecracker and the music wafting through the valley.  So, enjoy your stay and when you go home, please tell everyone about your experience in the “hidden culinary jewel of Mexico.”

Ale’s Week: Hike, Cook, Sip, Dance, Repeat!

February 21-28, 2027

Welcome to Chef Ana´s mountain home that was specially designed for her culinary program. La Villa Bonita was built in a citrus orchard on a hectare of terraced land and consists of 8 guest rooms all with private baths. Each of the guest rooms has a different design and all are very comfortable.  All rooms have a king bed and some rooms have the possibility of 2 twin beds or 1 king and french doors that open up to a common courtyard with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and steps from the open-air kitchen. Chef Ana and her family live on the property as well in their townhouse.

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The specially-designed open-air kitchen is complete with a living area, three sinks, lots of cooking and prep space as well as a 360-degree view of the majestic mountains.  Above the kitchen sits our 16-person-capacity glass table with an incredible panoramic view of the Tepozteco mountains, the ex-convent, and the town below. La Villa Bonita is located in a very quiet residential area of town away from the downtown hum.

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This is the general information or frequently asked question section!  If you have a question, it is most likely answered here!

Important!  Chef Ana’s presence and guests with Mobility Issues.  This is Ale’s week so Chef Ana may or may not be there but you are in great hands and our staff as always will be there to assist.  As well, this is an active experience.  There are hikes in the mountains and lots of walking so this is not recommended if you have mobility issues

Time Difference. Apart from about 3 weeks out of the year, we are in the Central time zone. Around the change of hour in spring and fall there will be a period of about 2 weeks where our time zone will be in the Mountain time zone temporarily. Remember that we are in the Mexico City/Guadalajara time zone.

Climate. Our climate is known as “the land of eternal spring” so it is not generally too hot or too cold. However, we are also a mile high and in a mountain climate. It may be chilly in the early morning or night. We suggest a light jacket for the early morning or evening. April and May are our hottest months potentially reaching the 90s F during the day and cooling off at night. June to September is a very temperate time to join us. It is NOT HOT! It rains at night at about 10:00-11:00 pm and the sun comes out during the day reaching 70-80 F. In the winter months (November to February), it can be chilly at night and in the early morning. The rooms do not have air conditioning or heating as the temperatures are never extreme. Your room is equipped with a ceiling fan and an extra blanket. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.

Amenities and Laundry. We provide very nice amenities for the rooms – local soap, shampoo, and lotion. We also provide bathrobes and hair dryers. Feel free to pack light. We have laundry facilities on the property and we can wash your clothes for you.

Cancelation Policy.  We understand that something may come up at the last minute and you may not be able to make your trip.  While we do not allow cancellation or return of money already paid, we do allow for changes to different dates subject to availability.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to change your date so that we may offer the space to others.

Bugs. We are a mountain climate and do not have any standing water, lakes or ponds in the village. As a result, we do not have an overabundance of mosquitos but there can be a few depending on the time of year. If you are susceptible to bug bites we suggest insect repellent and we suggest not leaving the door to your room open, especially in the early evening.

Whatsapp. Please download and install Whatsapp on your cellphone. We will use this app to stay in communication before and during your stay. Please download and install. This entails receiving an SMS text message to confirm your phone number. You will need to enter that code in the app. Once you have done so, please send us your cellphone number. As we get closer to the date, we will send out a confirmation message. Please send us a photo of yourself so that we can identify you at the airport. We will send a picture as well of your driver.

Passport and Visa. You need a valid passport to travel to Mexico with 6 months of validity beyond the date of entry into the country. Countries such as the US, Canada, Japan, England, the European Union, do not need to have a visa prior to arrival in Mexico. You will fill out a form either on the plane or upon arrival in Mexico. Keep this form in a safe place during your stay. Do not take it out with you on excursions. Upon departure, you will return this document to the airline. If you are coming from a country not listed, please check with the Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country.

Our address for the purposes of filling out your VISA is:
La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacation
Prolongacion Aniceto Villamar #150
Col. Tierra Blanca
Tepoztlan, Morelos 62520
Phone: 739-395-1515

Airport Pickup. Airport pickup and return are provided to the Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) if you can meet our guidelines for our group shuttle. The trip will take about 1.5 hours depending on traffic on a very nice toll road. Once you have made a reservation, we will send you specific instructions on how to meet our shuttle.

For arrival in MEX, please arrive before 4:00 pm. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm is ideal. You may arrive earlier, but there may be some wait time as other guests arrive. You can wait in the Urban Corner restaurant in terminal 1 which is our pickup point.  We will give you detailed instructions on how to get there.  If you cannot meet our pickup requirements, Uber is very good, reliable, and reasonably priced. If you do not want to wait for other guests or arrive after 4:00 pm, you can take an Uber at about 80 USD which can fluctuate depending on demand or exchange rates. The fare does not include tolls that are reimbursed to your Uber driver through the app afterward (about $10 USD). So do not pay your driver for tolls as you will be charged twice. If you want to tip your driver feel free to do so.  I generally tip 100 to 150 pesos for good service.

Airport Departure. For departure, we have more flexibility. If you would like to use our shuttle, your departure time should be after 12 noon. You may leave earlier for an additional fee. We have an Uber driver on call who charges $1900 pesos per trip (currently about 95 USD).

Health. Tepoztlan has a small clinic and private doctors if you would like to see one during your stay. We suggest that you check with your insurance company prior to your trip or purchase an international policy. As well, some credit cards include some international coverage. Major hospitals are 40 minutes away in Tepoztlan and 1 hour away in Mexico City. If there is something that you need to have on hand at LVB prior to your arrival, please let us know and we would be happy to arrange for that.

Vegetarian, Vegan, allergies, or special diets. We can accommodate special diets. Please contact us prior to arrival so that we may accommodate your diet. There is dinner on the first night which is prepared prior to your arrival. Please let us know through Whatsapp if you have anything you do not eat.

Clothing. We will do walking in town so please bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, shorts, a light jacket, sunscreen. This is “the land of eternal spring” so it never gets too hot or too cold but since it is a mountain climate (about a mile high) there will be swings in temperature as the sun goes down. It may be chilly in the morning/night and hot in the afternoon so layers or a light jacket are advisable. Our kitchen is open air. We suggest appropriate footwear in the kitchen as we are dealing with hot items and cutlery.

Getting Around in Tepoztlan. Tepoztlan is very safe and you are free to walk around both day and night.  We can also call for a taxi for you or you can take the Combi which runs on a route to the center of town for 10 pesos.

Electricity. Mexico has the same plugs and current (110) as in the US and Canada.

Money Matters. The Mexican currency is the peso. There are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 peso bills along with 10 and 50 centavo coins, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 peso coins. The current spot exchange rate as of SEPTEMBER 2021 is about 20 pesos per USD. We do not suggest exchanging money in your home airport as you will not receive a good exchange rate. Exchanging USD is limited now in Mexico and many banks do not allow for the exchange of dollars anymore for non-account holders. In the airport, you can exchange a limited amount of dollars but we suggest taking money out on your ATM card. This can be done at the airport or in Tepoztlan. As far as credit cards are concerned, most established restaurants and stores will accept cards but they are not accepted in the market or with smaller shop owners.

Cellular/Telephone. We have VERY GOOD wi-fi in the house but it is great to have data when you are outside of the house and walking in town. Since we use WhatsApp for group announcements it is handy to have some data when outside of the house. Many cellular companies including roaming in your plan while others you can add a limited amount of data to your plan. Please check with your cellphone company.

If someone would like to call you, our house line is +52-739-395-1515. People may call you at any time on that number although our house staff may answer in Spanish. Guests can make calls to the US and Canada free of charge on our house line. Just ask us to access the outside line.  You can give our main line number +1-631-994-3436 US for emergencies but it is transferred to Robb´s cellphone and he may not be with you at the moment of the call.