First Day:  Depart the Rio Grande Valley, clearing Mexican customs at Reynosa. Purple sage and mesquite line the highway leading to the mountains of Monterrey. Look out your window at scenes of daily life in villages along the way. Board your motor coach for the drive between impressive mountain ranges to Saltillo. This used to be known as the "adobe city," since most of the buildings here were made from handcrafted adobe bricks.  It is a sister city of Austin, popular for many years  with Texans escaping summer heat and with Texas students enrolled in summer classes at the university.  There is a colonial look to the buildings and an atmosphere of progress.  You will visit the ornate cathedral on the main plaza, a sarape workshop and store, plus other points of interest.  Take home a loaf of Pulque Bread made out of Mexico's potent liquor. Then return to Monterrey for check-in and welcome cocktails at Grand Ancira Hotel.

Second Day: Take your camera with you today on the city tour. Look up at nearby mountains to see if you can get a photo of Cerro De La Silla (Saddle Mountain), the famous city landmark. Explore the expansive Gran Plaza, favorite gathering place for locals and international visitors. At the center )f the plaza gardens is Neptune's fountain, a fanciful celebration of water and voluptuous sculpture. In sharp contrast, the city theater and other new buildings stand as massive abstract works of art lining the plaza. The government building, cathedral and city Social Club add the elegance of antiquity, all adorned with graceful carved stone. There will also be time for shopping at the silver shop, glass factory and other spots. Evening at leisure.
Breakfast Included.

Third Day: Continue your city tour this morning before stopping at the historic Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc brewery. There will be a beer waiting for you in the garden and/or a visit to the city art museum located there. Next drive out of the city into the foothills for a look at the village of Santiago, a quaint colonial treasure tucked away in its own quiet corner. Now follow the road up into fragrant pine-covered hills to Horsetail Falls, the favorite attraction in this area. Most prefer to stroll the lush park walkway to the falls. For those wishing some extra fun, burros and horse-drawn carriages are available for rides to the falls or just a photograph. Misty water cascades into small pools creating a feeling of enchantment in this rich green place. You will want to return again, but it's time to board your motorcoach for the ride back to Texas. Arrive back in the Rio Grande Valley at around 5:30 p.m.
Breakfast Included.

Sofia Parra, Sanborns Tour Conductor
Monterrey is famous for its glass making.

Get to know your neighbor; Monterrey. It's closer to us than San Antonio and a breeze to get there on the new toll road. First time visitors often find they've underestimated the bold beauty of Mexico's third largest city. Even Pancho Villa must have admired the city's impressive landmark, Saddle Mountain. Visit Horsetail Falls, an unforgettable place, dreamlike and misty. Then visit quaint little Santiago village founded in the 1600's. On the city tour you'll notice the contrast between ornate traditional buildings, gardens and fountains of the Gran Plaza and the new style monolithic buildings. These elephantine concrete beauties are harmonious with even the smallest flowers near them. You' II stay at the attractive Gran Hotel Ancira in Monterrey. Majestic mountains line the highway to Saltillo, the colonial city famous for colorful sarapes. You'll see the traditional looms that make these Mexican blankets along with all the other attractions on the city tour: Take home some Pulque bread made out of the local "hootch".

El Sarape De Saltillo - Artesanias Mexicanas