The town of Tapalpa, 130km southwest of Guadalajara, makes an ideal base for a few days of relaxation amid upland pastures and pine forests. It is reached via a steep, winding road off the old highway, which climbs continuously until it crests a 2300-metre ridge at El Balcón. If you’re driving, stop here to check out the view back down the valley and to feel the near constant steady breeze, a phenomenon that drew World Cup paragliding events in 2002 and 2004. Pretty little Tapalpa, 10km further on, lies amid magnificent surroundings ranch country and tree-clad hills that are often covered in a gentle mist. With a population of only around 16,000, there’s a village feel to it, especially around the plaza. Here you’ll find eighteenth-century wooden-balconied houses, encircling portales and two impressive churches the larger with an unusually plain brick interior.

On the outskirts, clusters of cabañas dot the woods luring upwardly mobile Tapatíos, and a fair bit of desirable real estate has sprung up in recent years. There’s good walking in almost any direction from Tapalpa, with plenty of wildlife, especially birds, to spot; black vultures (urubu birds) are often seen soaring on the thermals. You can also hire horses (look for the signs) for the popular ride to the local waterfall. One especially pleasant hike is to Las Piedrotas (10km return; 2hr), which follows a decent but little used road towards Chiquilistlán (marked as you enter Tapalpa). It passes the romantic ruins of a fábrica an old water-driven paper mill and climbs towards a gorgeous valley of pasturelands, studded with wild flowers and huge boulders. Tapalpa is very much on the Guadalajara weekender circuit, so try to visit midweek when its old-world charm is little affected. It’s very cold in winter, and even the summer nights can become chilly. Locals brew their own mescal in the village, which may help warm you.

The climate is temperate, with autumn, winter and spring droughts, and semi-warm. The average annual temperature is 15.2 ° C, the maximum temperture is 30.5C, minimum temperatures of 4 ° C below zero. The rain registers between the months of June and October, with an average rainfall of 1,109mm. The prevailing winds are in direction of east and west.

Activities: Hiking and enjoy nature of the Sierra de Tapalpa. Taste the local flavors of Tapalpa, as the Borrego al pastor and ponche de granada. Bring home canned fruit in syrup or eggnog flavors. Tour the town on foot, enjoying its attractions. Festivities: Charro-Taurine Festival from 15 to 20 January, with rodeos. Tapalpa Outdoors in May, with sporting and cultural events. The Moon Festival in November, with cultural activities. The New Year on December 31, with bonfires in the streets.

There are natural wonders like springs, waterfalls and giant stones combined with manmade churches, alleys and old factories. Here you can visit the ruins of a exfundidora metal and an old stationery, majestic former haciendas, three temples of great beauty -the Temple of San Antonio, the Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Church of the Merced than traditional batteries locals used for water and many other sites of historical significance. If the contact with nature is your thing, you should not miss the spring "Agua Escondida" in the nearby town of Juanacatlán; Sierra de Tapalpa, The Piedrotas and Salto del Nogal waterfall.

Tapalpa experiences a place to experience the adventure. It has special features for extreme and off-road and sports such as triathlon, open water swimming, mountain biking, archery, hang gliding, paragliding and more. Also you can simply enjoy family outings to delight with its natural beauty and architecture and hospitality. Take the unforgettable experience of a mountain destination in a completely family atmosphere.

Tapalpa, a labyrinth of adobe walls, red tiled roofs and cobblestoned streets surround two impressive 16th century churches. It's no wonder that this old mining town just 130km southwest of Guadalajara has become a tourist magnet. Perched on the slopes of the Sierra Tapalpa and ringed by a tapestry of pastureland and pine forests threaded with streams, there is good walking in all directions. Don't miss Las Piedrotas are impressive rock formations in cow pastures 5km north of town. It's an easy walk along a country road to these megaliths, past a funky old paper mill. El Salto, a jaw-dropping, 105m-high waterfall, is about 13km south of town. Don't miss the Centro de Integration, a school for special-needs kids, dedicated to teaching self-confidence along with computer and art skills. Wonderful recycled art is made by the children from papel malhecho, a kind of papier-mache. You can buy these creations at the school, or at its small stall in the Mercado del Artesano on the plaza. Volunteers are welcome. Call the main phone number and ask for Hector Aguirre if you're interested in helping out. To get to the school, head 200m down Calle Pastores (from Ignacio Lopez) and go right at the fork after about 100m.