RideMexico

"After traveling for more than six months with my girlfriend Nadja throughout Mexico, we got so lucky to meet Norberto and his wife Monica. We have no doubts about it, they were the most fantastic and interesting people we met on the whole trip. The knowledge about horses and the amazing area of the Sierra Madre and the included Canyons are enormous! No matter if you talk about the Tarahumara Indians, the plants or animals or just about life, he always is possible to surprise with deep knowledge and fascination. I work by myself as a mountain tour guide in Switzerland, so I know what a good guide is all about and I know how difficult it is to find a good one at the right place. I promise, the one who likes to travel in the Sierra Madre and gets Norberto as a guide, he just had the luck to get the BEST one! He will spend a trip he will never forget. To travel in one of the world's most beautiful landscapes with great horses, untouched Indian culture, unforgettable impressions and adventures with Norberto, is like diving into one of the last frontier lands. Like a dream come true."

"Bull rider Norberto, his lovely esposa by his side and his cowboy guide expertly helped us mount our horses, down the Copper Canyon trail we did ride, we rode by the Madroña trees so sensual and exotic, the pine of which there are 26 or so kinds…down and up until we dismounted, ate our snacks, told stories, laughed and sighed at all the beauty that surrounded us…then we hiked a ways and sat on rock pillars so high up you'd think you were on a cloud…we continued down to where the "Ancient Ones" painted on the cave cliffs' old hide...two eagles flew over us as we lay, looking up, resting after our hike to the petroglyphs…bits of history, legend…geography and geology lessons all gifts for us from our guides. They made sure we were always safe and in stride…all along the way from time to time we saw the Tarahumara Indians, standing out dressed like bright flowers, loudly in their gentle way, …Norberto speaks fluent English and is on his way to the mastering of French…bright stars he and his gang…I came home happy and planning for a trek with them again…Do it, go there, make memories…"

"The trip with Norberto was so beautiful that I'm still dreaming about. It was amazing how peaceful the area was. The nature is so great that you almost forget to ride the horse. For me it was always a dream to make something like this. This was a week like I was dreaming so often about, and it was so great because Norberto is such a good guide. I never was afraid about something because he organized everything so good but still it was an adventure and you never know what will happen in the next minute. But I had so much confidence in Norberto that I know what ever will happen Norberto will find a solution. And that gave me such a good feeling. He is such a nice guy and guide, that we really became friends. We are still in contact and I hope I can make soon a tour with him. I really miss this adventure feeling. It is so beautiful when you stand up in the morning and see the horse grazing, smell the taste of coffee, feel that there are so nice people around and you know soon everybody will make ready his horse and this is one moment I very miss. And also the evenings after a beautiful day is unforgettable. So I can only say when somebody will make a dream holiday I recommend a tour with Norberto, it is a thing you won't find somewhere else. It is personal. I stand for this!"

I'll never forget my packtrip with your groups last fall. Horses, mountains, hot springs and music around the campfire - that's the best way to explore the Copper Canyons! My only regret is that the trip was too short - three days just whetted my appetite for more!

"Well! That riding we did out of Creel Mexico was fabulous.
Me encanta La Tierra de La Tarahumara y el Caballero guapo, Norberto. El y su esposa son muy amable. Norberto sings like a true cowboy. His voice wraps around you like a velvet cloak. As we rode through country that surpasses the beauty of Sedona, Norberto kept us smiling and at ease in a land so new to us. His voice is truly beautiful in Spanish and English. So is the land with its towering pinnacles, spires and deep canyons. The Tarahumara people are colorfully interesting and were quite gracious as we rode past their homes. The horses were happy to do our bidding, as well-trained, sturdy, healthy horses ought to be. They carried us for many hours across varied terrain. Norberto and Monica, his darling "esposa", told stories of Norberto's rodeo days, Monica smiling sweetly as she championed her husband's competitive days when they would travel far on the rodeo circuit, in the USA and Mexico. Norberto was very humble about those days. His skill with horses and people shows that he is a star, even beyond the arena. He has buckles and photos to share if you stick around long enough to enjoy the hospitality back at the stable, and can coax him to share that part of himself.
El pueblo Creel esta muy encantada tambien. Hay muchos lugares para comer Buena comida, y muchas hotele s para descansar tambien. La gente se habla ingles. Hay todo que desea para negocio, un banco, tiendas, transportes, y el tren. Creel es una lugar especial en Mexico. Estas muy amable para Americanos. Comio comida sabrosa en las restorantes y los precois estan baratos.
We had so much fun! I'll be bringing my family and friends to experience the charm of the RideMexico experience."

The photos are in my album, the memories in my mind and the beauty of the trip to Copper Canyon on horseback in my heart! The ride down 3,000 feet to the hot springs was breathtaking. I felt very secure with you as a guide and the sure footedness of my horse who was always energetic even at the end of a two day ride! Thanking you and Susan Shields for a wonderful adventure!

All the best,
Barbara Bruccoleri
French Teacher
Age 54
New Jersey

"Norberto and Monica, Never have we had such an excellent ride through such stunning scenery, and on such fabulous, responsive horses as well! We hope to see you again, for longer, some time. Your English is excellent!"
Victoria and Jackie

"Hola, Norberto! Thanks for the trip. The horses, landscapes and guides were wonderful. How lucky you are to live in such a place! You MADE THIS TRIP!"
Carolina

"Norberto, Je te remercie toi et ton ami pour cette magnifique balade a cheval, ainsi que ces magnifiques paysages, et je voulais te dire que toi et ton ami vous etes tres beaux et vous etes les premiers mexicains mignons que je vois."
Lydia ( France)

"Norberto, Thanks a lot for a magnifico trip in a virgin tierra con horses. We have had a lot of fun encantando ‘Davy Crockett.’! Hasta luego in Sin Frontera o in Creel. Muchas gracias for bedos, for la bonita valley de Creel by horse."
Lyse

"Thank you Norberto for your kindness and also for sharing your beautiful country. We really enjoy discovering it with you and your horses (Pelussa). I will always remember it. Gracias,"
Vincent

"Norberto, me descubierto un pequeño paraiso. Espero que un dia podrio volver aqui. Por tres dias me realisado mi sueño, vivir con los caballos, los vacas, y los cow-boys! Si un dia no me gustamas Francia, vendre a vivir aqui! Todo lo que hemos hecho me gusta (bailar, las comidas, las histanas de miedo!) Gracias a Luiz por haberme piestado su caballo que es muy bonitos y que me permitte creer par un momentito que era una vacquera. Gracias tambien a tu por el paseo con Chacal. Creel y el rancho Viejo es el lugar que mas me gusto me acordare de esos tres dia durante mucho tiempo. Muchas gracias por todo."
Karine (Grupo de Sin Fronteras de Francia)

"Monica and Norberto, I’m so happy that we met you two. It was the most beautiful time in my travels. It was always a dream of mine to ride horses every day. In the last three weeks I was a very happy person to be able to talk with you Monica about so many things. Thank you. Norberto, I would like to say thanks, thanks, thanks that you let me ride such a long time on Arrete, and that you took such good care of me on your tour. I liked it very much and I will miss the horses and this kind of lifestyle. Thanks for your friendship, Monica and Norberto. I will miss you! I hope to see you soon when we come with the big group from Switzerland in March."
Nadja (Switzerland)

"Dear Friends, after three weeks traveling through Mexico, we arrived at Creel. We were very lucky to meet Norberto Padilla and his great horses ( the best in the country!) Not to forget the nice company of Esmirelda, the dog. Thank you very much for the breathtaking tour and for your friendship. We are looking forward to meeting up with you in September."
Oliver

"Thank you, thank you, thank you and THANK YOU SO MUCH for the best horseriding we have ever done. After six hours of horseriding one day, we though it was so good we booked a couple of horses for a two-day tour in the canyon. Norberto organized everything with food, sleeping bags, tent, etc., and an absolutely fantastic trip! Great, realiable and nice horses and ‘Beto’ was very keen on telling us all about places, history, and people of the canyons. He also knew where to take us for some really adventurous riding. I had not been doing much horseriding before, and was a bit worried to begin with, but after five minutes, I felt really safe and well-taken care of. This is horseriding for the beginners as well as the experienced. Definitely coming back for more horseriding soon. Thank you so much."
Silje (Norway) and Magnus (Sweden)

"Norberto,
I have to say that this was my best
ride in my life so far! I enjoyed it very much. Thank you."
Pavla and Radel (Czech Republic)

"Este dia ha sido una experiencia muy especial para me! Despues estos horas con este grupo, este guia y sobre todo con los caballos ya se que un dia tengo que volver aqui. Cuando se va el dolor en las piernas solo se quedan las bonitas memorias…Muchas gracias!"
Sebastian (Munich, Germany)

"We say thank you very much for this wonderful horseback trip. The area is beautiful and it is very quiet."
Carola and Berid (Berlin, Germany)

"Muchas gracias para este vaccaciones a Creel y para los paseos de caballos que esta muy bien. Gracias tambien para me aprende ‘music country.’ Todos estan agradable ( Martin, Omar, Salvador y todos los otros ). Quiero pasado otras dias aqui, pero no es possible por lo tanto digo a todo hasta luego y muchas gracias!!!"
Carlos (Mexico)

"Dear Friends, To travel in an exciting country is one thing, but to be known with such good people as you two are in such a great land is to make it a dream. It was different for my girlfriend, Nadja, who knows about horses; but for me, I was even scared at first. But the sierras were similar to my country, the horses were so great, the landscape unforgettable, the people fantastic and the many adventures will always stay in my heart. I hope I get the chance to return your hospitality in my country, Switzerland and show you around. Surely it would be a good time – Monika could go shopping and spend the money Norberto earns; and you, Norberto, would have to climb the Alps with me! You know there is no bigger joy for me than to travel around the world and learn, as I have, that wherever I am, there are great people like you two, Monica and Norberto."
Chris (Switzerland)

"I must say that riding on a horse all day wasn’t what I really wanted to do here. However, after all my cuts, scratches, and bruises, I think I came to realize that I have a small sense of cowboy in me that brought me here! Now I expect to walk away with something special to remember and be a bit more bull-legged, but in the end, I can say I had a WONDERFUL TIME. Until the next time,"
Angel Bustamante (Mexico)

Susan:
Thanks for the note, it reminds me that I wanted inform you what a "Great Adventure". Noberto is really an outstanding young man. The best way for me to explain or describe my trip is: It was a National Geographic Adventure. The astounding scenery, the wonderful people we met everywhere made it all fantastic. Here is what I would like to do. First of all I lost the cameras I brought by the second day, purchased one in Creel and at least got one of Norberto. I asked him if I sent a few throw away cameras would he mind taking some pictures of the area we visited next time he is in area. In addition I want to send some basic medical supplies for the canyon village people that invited us into their homes and were so hospitable to us. I also will send a little money that can be used as a emergency fund. There were some young children that might enjoy some hard candy so thought I could also send that to express my appreciation. For Norberto and his wife I plan on sending something for that new born girl. I will also include a tip to Norberto for providing such a wonderful trip. Hope to have all ready before the end of the month. Susan thanks so much for everything.
J. Mueller

Hi Susan,
Finally got back home this past weekend, and now catching up on work, emails and sleep. It was a good vacation, with a few of life's challenges thrown in. Actually, I did not miss out on anything because of the lost luggage. Fortunately, Norberto got in touch with me at the hotel and we went to Plan B. I arrived a day later than planned (on Monday instead of Sunday), we went out for lunch, went to a store to buy a few clothes, and then we went riding in the afternoon. In essence, I did get my 5 days of riding in, riding each day from Dec. 1-5. I paid him the balance of the trip, and he kindly refunded me the cost for the hotel night of Nov. 30. He was also gracious enough to allow me to use his phone to call once or twice a day to Chihuahua to find out about my luggage.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The weather cooperated and was great - nice and sunny (but not too hot) each day. Saw the various rock formations, the caves where the Tarahumara lived.... Beautiful countryside. We talked sometimes on the ride, and then rode in silence as I looked around and just soaked up the peace and quiet during the ride. We went up trails and the sides of the mountains, and then down again. At times it was a bit scary as I thought the horse would not make it, but Norberto said trust the horse, and we made it through. Back home here, we do not have trails like that, and it was nothing like I have ever experienced before. In my book, those 5 days were the ultimate in trail riding. Cannot wait to come again and try a pack trip one day.
Norberto and his wife were very gracious and so nice. I felt bad about imposing on them for the calls to the airport to track down my luggage. Do you know if they had the baby yet? I hope all went well for her during the delivery.
Cabaña Del Aventurero was very nice as well and I enjoyed staying there. The room was nice, and had a very efficient heater for when the temperatures dipped down at night. Loved the murals on the walls and the colorful bedspreads. The architecture of the buildings there were very nice and I loved the spiral-carved posts on some of the units. Have to visit in the spring/summer sometime when all the trees and such are in bloom. All in all, I enjoyed myself. Sure, I got a little sore in my thighs from riding for hours at a time, but it was worth it and it did not last long once I got out of the saddle. Now the blisters I got on my toes while dancing every night on the cruise ship later on is another story......
Take care and have a great Xmas.
Vicki

Sorry we have been tardy in writing this note and expressing our thanks for the great trip in the area around Creel and the overnight down into the canyons. It was truly an “adventure” and one from which we have brought back many memories and some good stories to relate to friends. We will do our best to give accurate details in the telling, but just might embellish here and there.

We can truly say that we have not met more accomodating or genuinely nice people than you folks. It’s obvious that you really enjoy what you are doing and work hard at making guests feel comfortable. The country is spectacular and needs to be seen to realize what is there. A hidden jewel in the Sierra Tarahumara. Norberto, your horses are just amazing in the way they scramble through the rocks; tough little guys that are gentle and well trained, and move like cats.

Now, about the weather. If you could get the sun to maybe shine a bit more and snow a bit less, you would have a real paradise to talk about. But that just makes for more interesting stories, huh? Learning about the Tarahumara culture and their way of life was fascinating when seen for real versus just reading books and seeing pictures. Those people are amazing with their endurance in those steep canyons. Still can’t get over those two kids packing those corn stalks for horse feed all the way down into the canyon and then climbing out the same afternoon. I do believe I might still be down in there gasping for air if it was me.

Creel is a great little village with polite people that have a good sense of humor; especially when we were working with our very limited Espanol. I hope the village has many years of being itself yet before the tourist world fully discovers it. And thanks, Susan, for showing us around the village, joining us for dinner and interpreting the menus. Veronica’s Restaurante is a wonderful place for some really good grub. I’m still not sure about the menudo at Lupe’s casa and maybe don’t want to know the exact ingredients, but it seems to have done the trick because I felt much better after eating it our last morning. Sure was a nasty little bug we picked up on the plane/train, wherever we got it.

Norberto, thanks also for letting us tag along with you, Monica and Paloma to Cuatemoc and showing us the Mennonite colony, cheese factory, jerky store and the town in general. That was a real treat, not to mention the taquitos at the road junction; those little things were great. Can’t say that we have ever before had tongue taquitos and Fresca for breakfast. Another story!

I could go on for another page at least, but enough rambling for this time. The invitation remains open to visit up here in our country and come ride with us. Oh, yeah Norberto, you can still bring that little chocolate horse Frigor, with you and we can probably make a trade for this good Morgan. Thanks again for a great trip and we wish you folks continued success in your ventures. I hope we can make it back at least once more for some additional “exploring”.