Take a walk back in time and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in one of the most picturesque mountain villages in Mexico. Hear the church bells ring as you take a stroll on the ancient cobblestone streets. Cook dishes handed down over generations.
Tepoztlan is one of Mexico’s most unique destinations because of it’s beautiful mountain profile, it’s history and the traditional culture of its people. Tepoztlan was one of the first Pueblos Magicos and many simply come to Tepoztlan to absorb its small-town vibe and wonderful food.
IMPORTANT: This schedule is posted to give the guest a general idea of our TRUE FOODIE 7-night package schedule on a normal week. Please check your package details for included elements. The schedule and lineup of dishes may change to take advantage of seasonal dishes, ingredients or the interests of our guests. LVB reserves the right to modify this schedule and the dishes contained therein.
Guests arrive at MEX (Benito Juarez Mexico City International) with airport pickup provided. The trip takes 1.5 hours from Mexico City to La Villa Bonita and guests will be greeted upon arrival with a delicious homemade cocktail such as Chef Ana’s famous Margarita made with her own Calamondine Orange liquor as well as snacks such as guacamole, cheeses, home-made salsa, and tortilla chips.
Later that afternoon/evening guests will enjoy Chef Ana’s 4-course chef’s table gourmet dinner made from primarily local ingredients grown in the garden or from local providers. Dinner is served within our ample open-air kitchen with a view of the valley below or above our kitchen in the elevated dining area with a 360-degree view of the mountains. Chef Ana will explain her dishes to the guests and also discuss how the week will unfold.
The day starts with Chef Ana’s famous big breakfast with fresh fruit, biscuits, homemade jams and jellies along with a new traditional Mexican main dish each morning. Guests will go to the local Tepoztlán market to select the best ingredients from Chef Ana’s local providers and bring these ingredients back for the cooking session in the open-air kitchen. Today one of the dishes will be Tinga.
Check out our new kitchen!:
After returning from the market with our ingredients cooking will take place from 11 to 2:30 in the afternoon with lunch of dishes prepared in the open-air kitchen or elevated terrace with wine or beer service as well as coffee or tea with dessert. Every day you will make at least one main dish, side dishes, an agua fresca, a signature cocktail, salsas. Today we may make a feast with Tinga de Pollo (Chicken Tinga), Cortadillo de Res, Frijoles de la Olla (Claypot beans), agua de jamaica, cactus paddles with mushroom and corn, chile de arbol as well as roasted green salsa. Learn to make signature cocktails like Ancho Reyes Gavilan (Ancho Reyes Liquor with Grapefruit). Today as well we will start the process of nixtamalization of our local corn to create masa. Learn how to use red, white or blue masa made from ancestral corn varieties produced locally and make your own tortillas and place them on the comal with Mari your “ama de llaves” during your stay at La Villa Bonita.
Today is a day to learn the local Tepozteco dishes. Guests can take an optional yoga class at the beautiful studio at the Hotel La Buena Vibra ($15 USD) and return to LVB to cook up a storm dishes such as huanzontles in a chile pasilla sauce as the main dish of the day. Huanzontles are the pre-hispanic protein powerpack made from the young stems of the young amaranth plant that are wrapped around cheese and an egg batter. An example of other dishes that may accompany the huanzontles are refried beans, cecina (slightly salted beef cut in thin sheets), guavas in syrup with fresh cream for dessert. We will also have pineapple water with mint and our signature cocktail of the day is a margarita with jalapeno. Today we will practice our tortilla-making technique as well.
Guests enjoy lunch of dishes prepared with drink service in the open-air kitchen or the elevated terrace. After late lunch, guests will have an opportunity to take a walk into the downtown, relax around the pool with a good book or take a great nap! You are on vacation, it is up to you!
Today guests will join Chef Ana on a walking/eating tour of the Tepoztlan market, visit the Ex-Convent and museum as well as try a wide variety of local delicacies in the market. Walk, learn and eat like a native, delicacies such as itacates, pancita, cecina, and traditional Morelos quesadillas. This is the farmer’s market day in Tepoztlan with an opportunity to see the wide variety of ingredients and dishes that Tepoztlan has to offer.
Breakfast starts a day of pottery and incredible local cuisine. After breakfast guests will witness a demonstration of how to make traditional lead-free artisan pottery from a producer in Tlayacapan by the name of Dona Chayo. Her family has produced pottery in the traditional way for generations. Almost all of Chef Ana’s earthenware in the house Dona Chayo. Learn how these noble vessels are made! Guests will have an opportunity to purchase his traditional rice and bean pots, flatware, cazuelas among many other great items.
After a hearty breakfast, guests will have the option of a leisurely morning or optional yoga class at La Buena Vibra Hotel ($15 USD). Our foodie guests will dedicate then the day to the poblano chile creating Chiles Rellenos stuffed with cheese in a red tomato sauce. Learn how to properly blister the poblano to make the useful vessel for so many dishes in Mexican cuisine. We may also create dishes such as traditional white rice, chayotes in white sauce, a squash blossom soup, and flan for dessert. The signature cocktail will be a jamaica flower martini and watermelon water to accompany our meal.
We start with a fabulous breakfast as usual (with departure to the airport for 5-night guests) and begin our preparations to enjoy the grandeur of Mexican mole. Guests will learn the technique that is necessary to make any type of mole. This particular mole is from the state of Veracruz in the area called the Huasteca. Guests will also make red rice and natilla for dessert. The signature cocktail of the day is a tamarind margarita and the water to accompany lunch is Mint with Lime and Cucumber. Today we will also visit the tortilla mill to grind our nixtamal into masa.
After your delicious breakfast, you have a day to enjoy on your own. Take a hike, enjoy the weekend artisan market, go out for lunch or just relax. Today is a day to do whatever your heart desires . . .
After breakfast, we will organize our return to the Mexico City airport and count the days until we see each other again for a new culinary adventure.
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 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 rich 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.”
Chef Ana Garcia offers you a glimpse into a world that few outsiders ever experience. Become a part of Chef Ana’s culinary family for a week at her specially designed culinary hotel in the foothills of the Tepozteco mountain. Access a rich side of Mexico that few outsiders have ever seen – not as a tourist – but as a real member of the family.
As you select your daily ingredients, you will be warmly greeted by the butcher, the cheese maker, the fruit vendor, the baker, the strawberry producer as if you have lived in Tepoztlán forever. Take your corn to the mill with the local Tepozteco women to make the freshest tortillas you have ever tasted. Pick fruit on the grounds of La Villa Bonita’s organic orchard to use as an ingredient in the day’s meal. For Chef Ana, every great meal starts with great ingredients and at La Villa Bonita you will learn from the expert.
The local kids will say ¨buenas tardes” to you as you walk the ancient cobblestone streets in search of the perfect gift to bring home. Maybe after lunch, you will take the hike up to Tepoztlán’s pyramid perched on a mountain top. Or maybe you will just relax by the pool carved out of volcanic rock with a good book. La Villa Bonita offers a fun, safe, and culturally-interesting vacation all in one.
We want you to enjoy your vacation at La Villa Bonita and we know that things may come up that preclude you from joining us. While we do not accept cancelations or refund payments, if you need to change your reservation for any reason you can do so once without penalty and subject to availability. You will receive a credit towards the same experience that you can apply to a different date or different experience. If you choose a more expensive experience you will need to pay the difference. Please contact us for further details.
You can receive an additional 5% discount by paying in full upon making your reservation or you can pay full price paying half to reserve and half due on the first day of the month prior to arrival. The 5% discount is not valid with any other discount, sale or promotion. We will send you an invoice by email that you can pay online or you can call us and we will receive your payment information. Prices do not include 16% sales tax which will be added to the final price of your package. Tips for the staff are not included.
Welcome to Chef Ana´s mountain home that was specially designed for her culinary program. The property consists of 6 guests rooms all with private baths. Each room has a different design and are very comfortable. All rooms have a king bed and some rooms have the possibility of 2 twin beds or 1 king. All rooms have french doors that open up to a common courtyard with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and steps from the open-air kitchen.
La Villa Bonita is built in a citrus orchard on a hectare of terraced land, complete with an herb and vegetable garden. 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.
Check out our new kitchen!:
This is the general information or frequently asked question section! If you have a question, it is most likely answered here!
Time Difference. Mexico does not follow daylight savings so sometimes we are in Mountain and sometimes in Central. 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 95 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 115 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 July 2024 is about 17 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.
Mobility. Important to Know. If you have mobility issues, please let us know prior to your trip. Although there is walking in the market and going back and forth, we can arrange for a taxi or our vehicle to pick you up and return you to the house. We are happy to accommodate to have you participate in as many of the activities as possible. We will let you know what activities require walking and which do not. We are not wheelchair accessible because of the steps to enter the house as well as the kitchen.
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La Villa Bonita offers Chef Ana Garcias’ award-winning culinary and cultural vacation experiences in our specially-designed resort in the foothills of the Tepoztlan valley.
Start your Mexican culinary adventure now! Dates available year-round. Contact us for the most up-to-date availability.
+1 (631) 994-3436 // US
email: [email protected]