The Sierra Madre Occidental

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When I first arrived in Puerto Vallarta, I was awestruck by the massive Sierra Madre mountain range that greeted me. To this day, I still find myself admiring the majestic peaks and rich biodiversity of this panoramic wonder.
Sierra Madre literally means “mother mountain range” and it includes a number of ranges throughout Mexico: Sierra Madre Oriental (northeast), Sierra Madre del Sur (south), Sierra Madre de Oaxaca (south-central), Sierra Madre de Chiapas (southeastern) and the Sierra Madre Occidental, which runs from southern Arizona into northwestern Mexico.
With an approximate length of 1,500 km (931 miles) and elevation of 3,311 m (10,863 feet), the Sierra Madre Occidental continues to give Puerto Vallarta a dramatic backdrop. You, too, will be awed by its high crests, deep canyons, pine-oak forests, stunning desserts and rivers, including the longest river in Mexico, the Rio Grande de Santiago.
While you are visiting, take some time to discover the Sierra Madre Occidental. Your family will love conquering its rough terrain with an ATV tour or flying through the trees on a zip-line adventure. Go for a hike or visit the many villages sprinkled throughout the mountainside. Whatever you choose, be sure to bring a camera. You will certainly want to capture the Sierra Madre’s 517 species of plants and wildlife.
To help your family learn more about the creatures of the Sierra Madre Occidental, try a little crossword fun. You may just discover some new and exciting mammals, reptiles and insects, oh my!