Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – From February 2nd through 6th, 35 of the best charro teams from both the United States and Mexico will gather in Puerto Vallarta to compete in the 10th Gran Premio Internacional Charro “Hacienda Serena 2022” (International Grand Prize Charro Tournament) at Arena Vallarta. This year also marks the return of skirmishes, with 28 teams competing.
The centuries-old tradition of Charrería brings together working skills, training and discipline, horsemanship, music and dance, and symbolic reenactment of Mexican values and customs. Like its rodeo cousin in the U.S., Charrería turns cattle farming skills into competitive stunts. Contending teams show off techniques of jumping through the air onto wild mares, riding bucking broncos and bringing down rampaging bulls with lassos.
At a press conference on Monday, Alfonso Bernal Romero, organizer of the event, announced the details of this championship, which returns with a record number of registered teams, after being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“This year there will be 18 teams from the United States and the rest will come from all around the Republic,” emphasized Bernal Romero. A total of 35 Charro teams will participate, plus 28 skirmishes. We are talking about 65 teams from both the United States and Mexico.”
Each Charro team, made up of all men dressed in traditional clothing, compete in 9 different challenges to demonstrate their skills at horse training and commands, roping of horses and livestock, bulldogging, bull riding, forefooting, speed challenges and bareback bronc riding.
This year’s tournament will once again feature teams made up of 8 to 12 women dressed in ornate Adelita or Ranchera dresses, who will compete in the Escaramuza (skirmishes), which entails performing a variety of precision horseback riding techniques while riding sidesaddle.
Throughout the 5-day tournament, attendees will also enjoy live music and dance performances, children’s areas, traditional food, charro accessories and souvenir stands, and more. For the full schedule of events, visit the Arena Vallarta Facebook page.
Make plans now to attend the 10th Puerto Vallarta International Charro Tournament “Hacienda Serena 2022”. With daily competitions and colorful events, this is the perfect way to enjoy the “real” Mexico and its traditions.
Entrance fees are just $100 pesos a day on Wednesday & Thursday, 200 pesos on Friday and Saturday and 250 pesos for the grand finale on Sunday, when there will also be a musical tribute to Vicente Fernandez. As a thank you to attendees, your ticket to Sunday’s competition automatically enter you into a raffle for a late model car to be given away at 8:30 pm on Sunday (You must be present with ticket in hand to win.) Tickets will be available for purchase at the Arena Vallarta box office on the day(s) of the event(s).
It should be noted that this event has been authorized by the Jalisco Board of Health and, since it will exceed 800 attendees per day, it will be necessary to present a vaccination certificate to enter Arena Vallarta, where mask-wearing will be mandatory, and all preventive measures (the taking of temperature and application of antibacterial gel) will be in place.
Located in El Colorado, just 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Arena Vallarta is handicap accessible ultra-modern facility that boasts seating for 8 thousand spectators, public rest rooms, a 600 car parking lot, a commercial area, and stables for the horses. Click HERE for Google map.
