Real de Catorce
Pueblo Mágico ghost town accessible only through a 2.3-kilometer tunnel
Overview
Real de Catorce is a former silver mining town turned Pueblo Mágico, perched at 2,750 meters in the Sierra de Catorce. The only vehicle access is through the 2.3-kilometer Túnel Ogarrio—a former mine shaft that creates a dramatic entrance to this haunting destination. Once home to 15,000 people during the silver boom, the town now has fewer than 1,000 permanent residents living among atmospheric ruins. The sacred Huichol mountain Cerro del Quemado lies nearby, drawing pilgrims seeking peyote visions. This is best experienced as an overnight trip rather than a rushed day visit—the desert light at sunrise and sunset transforms the town.
Highlights
Practical Information
Overnight or 2 days (rushed as day trip)
90 MXN
Buses from SLP to Matehuala 250–280 MXN, then Willys jeep 90 MXN to Real de Catorce through tunnel
October–April for pleasant weather. AVOID Semana Santa (2+ hour tunnel waits) and weekends when possible. Weekdays offer peaceful exploration.
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