San Luis Potosí, also known as just San Luis, is located 400 kilometers north from Mexico City, and is becoming a popular destination for visitors looking for an exciting adventure and a taste of the real Mexico. The capital, growing at an amazing rate, has positioned itself as one of the ranking industrial cities in the country and in Latin America.
Plenty cultural and natural attractions are located throughout the State, from museums and colonial buildings to lagoons, caves, and ghost towns. Thanks to its location in central Mexico it offers different climates ranging from desert to tropical jungle. When in San Luis, whether relocating or just visiting on vacations, there are some places you really must see. Are you up for an adventure?
“Las Pozas”, in the Garden of Edward James
In the town of Xilitla, located in the Huasteca, eccentric English poet and patron of surrealist art Edward James created an incredible sculpture park. Las Pozas, Spanish for The Pools, has 9 interconnected pools and waterfalls that flow naturally through the property. The gardens, which are over 20 hectares, are operated by a local foundation and are open for visitors year-round, and offer guided tours for a small price. To make the most of this experience you can find hotels nearby.
Jumping, Rafting and Rappeling
Also in the Huasteca, you must visit the town of Tamasopo where you can find the 105-meter Tamul waterfall, which by the way you can climb down if you dare! If a 105-meter descent is not your cup of tea you can head to El Naranjo where a 50-meter waterfall called Minas Viejas is located. Smaller waterfalls surround the area, especially Micos, where you can jump into the lagoon below and then get on a raft to do some white-water rafting in the rapids.
Try some real Potosino mezcal
While driving on Highway 57 and just a couple of miles before Matehuala, take a turn onto Highway 63 where you can find the former hacienda of Laguna Seca which is now a mezcal distillery. At Laguna Seca you can have a taste of mezcal and learn about the artisanal process involved in creating this traditional and globally- acclaimed Mexican drink.
San Luis has much to offer: both in culture and natural attractions; from museums to lagoons and caves, ghost towns and colonial architecture.
Visiting an old Mining Town
About 3 hours north of the capital, or a little over an hour from Laguna Seca, you can find Real de Catorce, one of the first cities to receive the designation of Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) by the Mexican government. This is a ghost town, a pilgrimage site and a popular location for filmmakers. An interesting fact is that the only way into the town is through a 2 kilometer tunnel: once it ends it seems as if you’ve gone back a 100 years in time. You can visit the Templo de la Purísima Concepción, an impressive neoclassical building, or the Centro Cultural, a classic monument from the mid 1800’s. There’s also a cockfighting ring, a bullfighting ring and a funky bar named Amor y Paz. From the end of September to the end of October, over 150,000 pilgrims pay homage to the figure of St. Francis of Assisi in the town’s church, and every year the Festival del Desierto showcases music, dance and theater. If you are feeling a little more adventurous you can take a tour around town on top of a Willys, with the best views of the abandoned mines.
Be part of the Huichol Heritage
Twice a year the Huichol people go on a 25 day pilgrimage across the desert from Nayarit, Durango, Jalisco and Zacatecas to visit the Cerro Quemado (Burned Hill) and the Wirikuta desert, located just below Real de Catorce. Part of the pilgrimage involves collecting and eating peyote, a hallucinogenic cactus that grows in the region. As part of a sacred ritual, the Huichol eat the peyote, which picking and transporting is against Federal Law save for the Huichol, and connect with their ancestors and nature. If you are looking for a life changing experience, get in touch with a Huichol shaman for an energetic cleansing and healing and meditating rituals.
Stuck in the City
Not every day you are able to take a trip somewhere around the State, but you still need to blow some steam and relax. A nightcap is definitely a good idea. You can find colorful bars and local craft brews, maybe even some live music near the Jardin de San Francisco, right downtown; also in Semana Santa (Holy Week), Easter week and December you can find 3D mapping light shows in some of the churches downtown.
