Ranch of the month: Rancho Las Cascadas, Mexico

Mexico horse riding holidays don't come much better than at Rancho Las Cascadas, which is why Top50 has chosen this luxury dude ranch as January's Ranch of the Month.

Each month Top50 scours its selection of horse riding holidays and guest ranch vacations to pick out one which it feels surpasses its standards of excellence - and, most importantly, offers something unique. That could be anything from ultra-luxurious facilities, to personal touches than make a ranch vacation, to fast-and-furious cattle drives that'll be etched in your memory forever.

For January 2012, Top50 has chosen Mexio dude ranch Rancho Las Cascadas as Ranch of the Month!

Located in a valley on a high mountain plateau lays Rancho Las Cascadas - here it's all about horseback riding over rugged terrain and diverse landscape, for as many hours in the saddle as a guest wishes (or can endure!). Venturing to Mexico for your dude ranch vacation is well worth the mileage, with the extinct volcanic geology of the region creating landscape crisscrossed with ancient lava flows, which have partially eroded over millennia and evolved into a rich landscape of micro-environments. In the 'green season' this measns a colorful riot of wild flowers, while flat fields and quiet, unpaved roads offer exciting galloping opportunities for confident riders.

Just reading about the horseback riding offered at Rancho Las Cascadas on its Top50 profile is enough to send a rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins. Thrilling doesn't even come close to describing the sense of freedom you experience riding over unfenced landscape - there are certainly no artificially constructed trail rides here.

Of course, Rancho Las Cascadas has so much more to offer - year-round sunshine, cocktails in the hot tub and authentic Mexican food, to name just a few. But it's this Mexico dude ranch's unique and thrilling horseback riding opportunities over simply stunning and diverse land that wins it the accolade as Top50's January Ranch of the Month.

Rancho Las Cascadas: In a nutshell

• Internationally renowned equestrian experience in the Americas
• Great open-range horse riding for any ability level of rider
• For the true rider and those who would like to become one!
• Luxury ranch
• Cultural Tours
• Affordable prices
• Phenomenal hospitality and service
• Great food
• Gorgeous waterfalls
• Visit Various famous landmarks such as Teotihuacan, the famous pyramids of the sun and the moon, to the beautiful colonial town of San Miguel de Allende
• Solar-heated Infinity Pool with Integrated Jacuzzi
• Hot Tub
• Hiking/Running, Biking, Bird Watching, Yoga, Photography and Painting
• Cultural Experiences

Is there a ranch that stands out for you? Tell us why and we'll consider for upcoming Ranches of the Month!