- The 10 main tourist places of San Luis Potosí
- 1- Tamul waterfall
- 2- Real de Catorce
- 3- Basement of the swallows
- 4- Federico Silva Museum
- 5- Las Pozas Park
- 6- Central region
- 7- Tamtoc
- 8- Temple of Carmen
- 9- The Monkeys
- 10- National Museum of the Mask
- References
The tourist places of San Luis Potosí include rivers, caves, waterfalls and picturesque towns. This city is the most popular tourist destination in the Huasteca region.
The historic center of its capital, the city of San Luis Potosí, was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. This city is decorated with pink quarry.
Among many other qualities, this region has an exuberant biodiversity and ecological reserves ideal for ecotourism. The main tourist regions are the center, the highlands, the middle lands and the Huasteca.
San Luis Potosí is a state in the northeast of Mexico. It has a fertile soil in which corn, wheat and cotton are grown; they raise cattle and export wool.
Many of the richest silver mines in Mexico are located there. There are also gold, bronze and zinc mines.
In pre-Hispanic times the indigenous of the Huasteca, Chimimeca and Guachile tribes occupied this territory.
You may also be interested in the typical traditions of San Luis Potosí or its history.
The 10 main tourist places of San Luis Potosí
1- Tamul waterfall
It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Huasteca potosina; the water falls 105 meters towards the Santa María river. It is located in a canyon, between two rocky walls of the forest.
To get to the falls, you can drive directly to the entrance, although the most popular method is to navigate the entire river by boat for about 3 and a half hours.
The towns closest to this tourist attraction are Tanchachín and La Morena.
2- Real de Catorce
This old mining city is located in one of the high mountains of the central plateau. This town seems to have been frozen in time and it is only possible to get there through a long and dark tunnel.
Although Real de Catorce is considered by many to be a ghost town, it is home to thousands of inhabitants.
This is a very popular tourist destination during the end of the year and the Easter holidays. The rustic villa is covered by a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
It is located at 2800 meters and is surrounded by magnificent mountains where the Huichol tribe resides.
Real de Catorce offers a spectacular view, fresh air and the opportunity to withdraw for a moment from busy everyday life.
There you will find the Real de Catorce Cultural Center, a historical museum with interesting exhibits on Mexican coins.
3- Basement of the swallows
It is an extraordinary limestone cave in the Huasteca potosina, specifically near Aquismón. It is one of the deepest holes in the world, as it is 500 meters deep.
It is known for the large number of swifts that nest in the cave. At dawn, flocks of birds leave the cave as they spiral toward the entrance.
In the evening they return to the cave and circle over the cave mouth before breaking into groups and plummeting into the abyss.
The cave of the swallows is also popular with rappelling and jumping practitioners, who jump from the mouth of the cave. To get there you have to walk about 20 minutes down some stairs.
4- Federico Silva Museum
This museum is very popular. It is an original 17th century building located on the north side of the San Juan de Dios Garden, in San Luis Potosí.
It was a hospital and later, during the Porfiriato, it functioned as a school. The building was later transformed into an art museum, integrating the neoclassical finishes of the original building with the monolithic sculptures of the Mexican artist Federico Silva.
The museum has temporary exhibits by contemporary international sculptors.
5- Las Pozas Park
The most famous attraction in the city of Xilitlas is the Jardin de Las Pozas. This attraction is made up of several surreal structures in the middle of the jungle.
In this place there are concrete temples, pagodas, bridges, sculptures, pavilions and spiral staircases built adjacent to a series of waterfalls.
This surreal creation is a monument attributed to Edward James, as well as the expertise of the site manager, Plutarco Gastelum, and his workers. Las Pozas Park was built in the 1960s.
Although the project was never completely finished, the jungle invades the half-finished structures, making it a very interesting and peculiar attraction.
6- Central region
The central region of San Luis Potosí is home to the Cerro San Pedro mines, the first to be discovered in the region.
Today some sections of the mines are open to visitors and various mountain bike competitions are held.
Another popular place is Santa María del Río, where various regional celebrations are held. Every August 15 the Virgin of the Assumption is honored.
Additionally, the Rebozo Fair is held every year and is internationally recognized.
On December 12, the Bird's Entrance is held, where people gather in the Santa María church, carrying cages with birds as offerings.
The central region of San Luis Potosí also contains the picturesque Mexquitic community of Carmona and the capital city.
7- Tamtoc
This important Huasteca ceremonial center flourished between 700 and 1500 AD. Today it is one of the few Huasteca centers that have been preserved.
The large square is made up of platforms made of river stones. There is also a low bench with two conical altars.
These altars are decorated with faded frescoes built over 1000 years ago. These frescoes are believed to represent Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god.
8- Temple of Carmen
The Plaza del Carmen is dominated by the most spectacular structure in San Luis Potosí, the Churrigueresque del Carmen Temple. The stone facade is carved with angels that demonstrate the touch of indigenous artisans.
The dressing room of the Virgin, with a splendid gilded altar, is located to the left of the main altar. The entrance and ceiling of this chapel have small plaster figures.
9- The Monkeys
It is the closest waterfall to Ciudad Valles, 24 kilometers from the city, and probably the most touristic waterfall in the Huasteca Potosina. There are 7 waterfalls of different heights along the river.
You can go on a boat tour, go on jumping expeditions along the 7 waterfalls or go on fishing excursions in search of catfish, carp and acamayas.
10- National Museum of the Mask
This museum has an interesting collection of ceremonial masks, both from Mexico and from around the world.
There are also videos of dances performed at festivals in the many Mexican communities.
References
- Top things to do- San Luis Potosi. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- Tamul waterfall. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- Attractions of San Luis Potosi. Recovered from explorandomexico.com
- Federico Silva Museum. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- Swallows basement. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- San Luis Potosi. Recovered from visitmexico.com
- The pools. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- The Micos. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- San Luis Potosi. Recovered from britannica.com
- Tamtoc. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com
- Temple of Carmen. Recovered from lonelyplanet.com