My wife’s youngest sister got married this past year. The wedding was in the beautiful town of Santiago just south of Monterrey, Mexico but it was the after-wedding vacation with extended family to Bosques de Monterreal after that was the real surprise.
Nestled more than 8,000 feet up in the Sierra de Arteaga mountain range, the resort bills itself as the only ski resort in Mexico. It’s a family destination that reminded me of one of my favorite vacation places, Sunriver, Oregon.
A little more than two hour drive from Monterrey, Bosques de Monterreal is a scenic community tucked into the side of a gorgeous valley, where tree-lined ridges fill your view in all directions.
The fresh air, mountain sounds and the occasional wild bear all help make this experience one of the most fun trips our family has had in some time. Yes, there are real wild bears roaming the area, just don’t leave your trash out and you’ll be fine.
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Bosques de Monterreal Most Famous Attraction – Skiing
Mexico isn’t necessarily known for having ski resorts, however, Bosques de Monterreal is the one place where you can strap on real ski boots and skis and tackle the downhill slopes.
To be clear, while it can get cold enough to snow during certain times of year, these picturesque mountains don’t see much of it.
This skiing is on a “carpet” designed to simulate skiing. There is a ski lift and rope tow to get beginners and advance skiers to the top for a long run down the hill.
The cost is quite reasonable at about $45 ($695 Mexican Pesos) for an hour of skiing, per person, including equipment rental.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have world-class skiing just hours away, so we chose not to ski while at Bosques de Monterreal but we did watch many folks who stepped into their skis and had a ton of fun.
There are even ski instructors on site to help beginners who want to learn.
The ski hill at Bosques de Monterreal may be the main attraction but it certainly isn’t the only activity to indulge in during your stay.
Adventure, Play, Relaxation All Waiting for You
Bosques de Monterreal is a complete resort that has almost anything you’d desire at a mountain escape.
We traveled with 19 people and found our cabin to be more than spacious enough to house everyone. Yes, you read that right, 19 people in one cabin…with some room to spare.
Our party included an infant, multiple children under 9, teens and adults. All had enough space to have their own privacy and big enough to gather for meals and games together.
Skiing might not be your speed, so there are plenty of other activities that are easily enjoyed by all ages. From inter-tube sledding, a ropes course, playground, large indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and more all thoughtfully built around a clubhouse and restaurant.
If you’re feeling adventurous, a short drive from the main building is a ranch that hosts a petting zoo and a large group of horses for a ride through the mountains.
We had an incredible time riding the horses up and down the hills, even if my horse was a bit of a daredevil and wanted to peer down the side of the mountain more than I did.
I doubled up with our six-year-old who rode on the same horse with me and we had a fantastic time. The tour took us in a big loop that allowed us to experience the forest and see the sights of the area.
Additionally, there is a spa to pamper yourself and the highest elevation golf course I’ve ever been to. At more than 9,000 feet in elevation, the golf course at Bosques de Monterreal is literally at the top of a mountain.
The drive to get to it is quite the adventure but once there you are treated to a beautiful course and a cabin feel clubhouse.
When we stopped in, the course was in good shape and the greens fees are robust at about $90 (MX$1,500), plus another $55 (MX$945) if you want to rent clubs and a cart. The course is fairly flat and is more than reasonable to walk, which would easily shave a few dollars off your experience.
The clubhouse hosts a small restaurant, full bar, lots of photographs and a beautiful view of the course. It’s worth the hike to the top of the mountain to experience this one-of-a-kind course.
Log Cabin Vibe is Perfect For Its Surroundings
The cabins at Bosques de Monterreal are built out of stone and logs and come in a variety of sizes to accommodate all family sizes, including a studio up to four bedrooms.
The cabins also feature pull-out couches that increase the amount people they can sleep.
They are a perfect experience for extended families who all want to stay together.
Featuring a large wrap around deck, outdoor fireplace, large kitchen and dining room table, it has all the features you need to be comfy and cozy in the mountains.
During our stay in October 2022, the weather was a perfect blend of warm during the day in the mid-70’s and cool at night in the low 50’s to upper 40’s.
Each cabin is equipped with space heaters (which are quite different than those in the States, so keep kids far away), fireplace and even a sauna.
Our cabin also featured a downstairs bar, pool table and media room, which kept the teens in our group occupied while the pool table had frequent activity in between tequila tastings.
It’s hard to believe we had as many people in the cabin as we did but we fit and fit comfortably.
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Bosques de Monterreal is a Family Experience We Won’t Soon Forget
Our experience at Bosques de Monterreal was filled with family, fun and memories that will last a long time.
It’s rare that you get to bring so many people together under one roof, especially those you don’t get to see very often in their home country.
Our boys loved the experience and while young, I’m hopeful they’ll be able to have memories of the trip for some time to come.
We did quite a bit during our stay but I would love to return and visit again. Mostly to experience the enjoyment of being with extended family but also because the trip provided just enough relaxation and adventure to fill everyone’s bucket.
Bosques de Monterreal may not be well known outside of Mexico but if you ever find yourself in Monterrey, Mexico and are looking for a unique and special experience, then take the drive and create some special memories of your own.
