Real del Monte is easy to reach — it’s essentially a short, steep hop above Pachuca, and that’s how nearly everyone arrives. Nobody flies in for it; it’s a road trip, and a short one.
Getting there
From Pachuca (the usual way)
About 30 minutes up the mountain by car, taxi or ride-app, climbing fast the whole way. If you don’t drive, colectivos and local buses run up from Pachuca frequently through the day — look for the combis marked Real del Monte / Mineral del Monte near the centre and the Central de Autobuses. They cost only a handful of pesos (approximate: 15–25 MXN), run often, and are the simplest option, just a little slower with more stops. The road is windy and gains altitude quickly, and it fogs in — allow extra time in bad weather and don’t be surprised if the last stretch is white-out.
From Mexico City
Roughly two hours total, done in two legs. First, take a bus from the northern terminal, Central de Autobuses del Norte, to Pachuca — ADO and Futura/ADO-group lines run this route constantly; it’s a comfortable, frequent ride of about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes and costs roughly 150–260 MXN (approximate). From Pachuca’s Central de Autobuses, connect up to Real del Monte by colectivo, taxi or ride-app. Driving yourself is straightforward via the Mexico–Pachuca highway (85D), then the mountain road up.
Flying
The nearest airport is Felipe Ángeles (NLU), north of Mexico City, roughly an hour and a half from Pachuca by road. Mexico City International (MEX) works too but fights traffic across the city. Either way, you’re renting a car or busing to Pachuca first — no one flies for Real del Monte alone.
Getting around
Once you’re in town, it’s a walking place — the centre is tiny and best done entirely on foot. The catch is the terrain: streets are steep, cobbled and often slick with fog, so wear real shoes with grip and take the downhills slowly. At 2,700 metres the climbs will also leave you breathing harder than you expect, so pace yourself the first hour.
For anything on the edges — the Panteón Inglés up the hill, the Acosta mine, or a run out to Mineral del Chico — you’ll want a car or a taxi. The cemetery is a genuinely stiff uphill walk that most people would rather drive; the mine and the national park are short drives, not comfortable strolls. In the compact centre, though, a car is more nuisance than help: park once near the plaza and walk everything.
Honest comfort notes
The mountain road is a motion-sickness road — tight curves, constant climbing. Sit in front, look ahead, and don’t read in the car if you’re prone to it. Avoid driving it after dark or in heavy fog if you can; visibility drops to almost nothing and there are no shoulders to speak of. If the fog is thick, low beams beat high beams — high beams just bounce back at you. And whatever the season, keep a jacket in the car; you’ll want it the moment you step out.