We knew we would be visiting Bosques de Monterreal after my sister-in-law’s wedding. What I didn’t expect was just how much our family would enjoy it.
We traveled to the Monterrey area for the wedding, then 19 of us—adults, teenagers, young kids and an infant—headed into the Sierra de Arteaga mountains for a few days together.
I didn’t know much about Bosques de Monterreal before the trip. By the time we left, it had become one of the biggest surprises of our visit to Mexico.
About two hours from Monterrey and more than 8,000 feet above sea level, Bosques de Monterreal feels much more like a mountain resort in the Pacific Northwest than what many Americans might picture when they think of a Mexico vacation. There are large cabins, horseback riding, an indoor pool, golf, spa, outdoor activities and, most famously, an artificial ski slope.
Here’s what our family experienced, what surprised us and what we’d want to know before booking another trip.
What is Bosques de Monterreal?
Bosques de Monterreal is a gorgeous mountain resort with many of the activities you’d expect from a traditional mountain getaway. What makes it different is that there isn’t a traditional hotel at the center of the property. Instead, the community is made up of rentable homes and cabins in a range of sizes.
There are pine-covered mountains, crisp mornings and evenings depending on the season, and warmer afternoons framed by a beautiful mountain backdrop.
Our Bosques de Monterreal Cabin Fit 19 People – Comfortably
We traveled with 19 people, and somehow our cabin was large enough that it never felt like 19 people were piled into one vacation rental.
Our group included an infant, several young kids, teenagers and adults. There was enough space for people to spread out when they wanted privacy, but also large gathering areas where everyone could eat, play games and spend time together.
The cabin had the mountain-lodge feel you’d expect here, with stone and wood throughout, a large kitchen and dining area, a wraparound deck and an outdoor fireplace. Ours also included a downstairs bar, pool table, media room and sauna.
The teenagers naturally gravitated downstairs, the pool table stayed busy, and the adults had enough room to actually sit around and enjoy being together.
For us, that was one of the biggest advantages of Bosques de Monterreal. Instead of putting a large family group into separate hotel rooms, we could actually spend the trip together.
Things to Do at Bosques de Monterreal with Kids
Bosques de Monterreal has enough going on that families can build very different trips around the same resort. We spent time swimming, horseback riding and exploring the community, while other guests may come specifically for skiing or golf.
Beyond the ski hill, the resort offers a mix of family activities including an indoor pool, playground, ropes course, tennis and other seasonal recreation.
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 through the forest and gave us another way to see the surrounding mountains.
Golf at 9,000 Feet
Bosques de Monterreal also has a golf course sitting at more than 9,000 feet in elevation. We stopped by during our visit and found a scenic, mostly flat course with a cozy mountain-style clubhouse and expansive views.
Even if golf isn’t a major reason for your trip, the drive up and the setting make it one of the more unusual parts of the resort. Current greens fees, rentals and cart pricing can change, so I’d check directly with the resort before planning around a round of golf.
The clubhouse hosts a small restaurant, full bar, lots of photographs and a beautiful view of the course. It’s worth the drive to the top of the mountain to experience this one-of-a-kind course.
Can You Really Ski at Bosques de Monterreal?
Yes—but probably not the kind of skiing you’re picturing.
Bosques de Monterreal is known for its artificial ski slope, which uses a specialized surface designed to mimic skiing on snow. There is a lift and beginner area, and ski equipment and instruction have been available at the resort.
We live in the Pacific Northwest and have easy access to traditional mountain skiing, so we decided not to ski during our visit. We did spend time watching other guests use the hill, though, and it was clearly a big part of the experience for many families.
When we visited, an hour of skiing with equipment rental was about $45 (USD) per person. Because pricing and operating schedules can change, I’d check directly with Bosques de Monterreal before building your trip around the ski hill.
Ski instruction was also available during our visit, which makes the hill approachable for beginners who want to try it.
What Surprised Us Most About Bosques de Monterreal
The biggest surprise was simply how different Monterreal felt from other places we’d visited in Mexico. Instead of beaches, palm trees and swimming pools surrounded by lounge chairs, we were surrounded by pine trees, mountains and cool evening air. There were moments when it felt much closer to a mountain getaway in Oregon than a vacation in Mexico.
I was also surprised by how well it worked for such a large group. We had 19 people ranging from an infant to teenagers and adults, which can make finding a place everyone enjoys pretty difficult. The kids could swim or play, some of us went horseback riding, the teenagers had their own space at the cabin and the adults could actually sit around together rather than constantly coordinating where everyone needed to go next.
And then there was the bear.
We saw a black bear near our cabin a few times during the trip, which certainly wasn’t something I had on my Mexico vacation bingo card. It was a memorable thing to see, especially for the kids, but also a reminder that this really is a mountain environment. Be sure to follow the resort’s guidance about storing food and trash and give wildlife plenty of space if you encounter it.
Maybe the biggest surprise, though, was how much we enjoyed simply being at the cabin. Monterreal has plenty of activities, but some of my favorite memories aren’t from anything we paid to do. They’re from having our entire extended family under one roof, sitting outside, playing pool, eating together and letting the kids hang out with their cousins.
That’s ultimately what made Monterreal memorable for us.
A Few Things We’d Want to Know Before Going Back
Monterreal was one of the surprises of our trip, but there are a few things I’d keep in mind if we were planning another visit.
First, this is a mountain trip. Bosques de Monterreal sits more than 8,000 feet above sea level, and some areas around the property are even higher. You’re also not walking out of a hotel and into a busy tourist district. Things are spread out, and the entire experience feels much more remote than a traditional resort vacation. That isn’t a drawback, but it does mean I’d plan the trip differently than I would a beach resort or city stay.
The weather deserves some planning too. We visited in October, and our days were generally comfortable, with temperatures reaching into the 70s, while evenings dropped into the upper 40s and low 50s. Those were the conditions during our trip—not a guarantee of what you’ll experience—so I’d check the forecast carefully and pack for temperature swings. Shorts during the day and long sleeves in the evening were typical.
I’d also go into the trip understanding that some of the activities cost extra and availability can change. Skiing, horseback riding, golf and other activities shouldn’t be treated as automatically included just because you’re staying at Monterreal. If there’s something your family absolutely wants to do, I’d check current pricing, hours and reservation requirements directly with the resort before arriving.
Finally, I wouldn’t over-schedule the trip. That’s something I understand better looking back on it. Part of what made Monterreal so enjoyable was having time when our large group wasn’t trying to move together from one activity to another. Having a big cabin gave us somewhere everyone actually wanted to spend time.
For a family trip here, I’d pick a few activities everyone is excited about and leave plenty of room for doing absolutely nothing.
Who Will Enjoy Bosques de Monterreal Most?
I don’t think Monterreal is the right Mexico vacation for everyone—and that’s part of what makes it interesting.
If your idea of a great Mexico vacation is a beautiful beach resort, with days at the beach and restaurants and entertainment within a short walk of your room, there are obviously much better places to find that experience.
Monterreal is something completely different.
I’d especially recommend it to families traveling together in a larger group. The ability to stay together in a big cabin was a huge part of our experience. Instead of saying goodnight and disappearing into separate hotel rooms, our family could keep hanging out after the day’s activities were finished. Tequila tastings may or may not have been part of the evening activities.
It’s also a great fit for families who enjoy being outside and don’t need every minute of a vacation programmed for them. Between horseback riding, swimming, golf, the artificial ski slope and simply spending time around the cabin, there was enough variety to keep a group ranging from small children to adults entertained.
I’d be more hesitant to recommend Monterreal to someone looking for the classic Mexico beach-resort experience. This isn’t that. I also wouldn’t book a trip here solely because you want to ski. The artificial hill is fun and unusual, but Monterreal makes more sense as a mountain getaway with several different things to do—not as a substitute for a traditional ski vacation.
For families who like cabins, outdoor activities and a slower pace, though, that difference is exactly what makes the resort appealing.
Would We Return to Bosques de Monterreal?
Absolutely.
Bosques de Monterreal wasn’t the reason we traveled to Mexico—we were there for a family wedding—but it became one of the parts of the trip we remember most.
A lot of that was because we had 19 family members together in one place. But the resort itself made that possible. We had room to spread out, activities for different ages and just enough adventure mixed with time to slow down.
I wouldn’t travel there expecting a traditional ski vacation or a typical Mexican resort experience. That’s actually part of the appeal.
If your family is spending time around Monterrey and wants something completely different from the city vibe, Bosques de Monterreal deserves a serious look.
We’d go back.
