Getting there & around

Getting there

Real de Catorce is remote, and that is part of the point. There is no way in that does not involve the mountain.

Nearest airport. San Luis Potosi (SLP) is the closest airport, roughly a 3 to 3.5-hour drive away (approximate). From there you drive or bus toward Matehuala, the last real town, then turn up into the sierra.

By bus. Buses run from San Luis Potosi city and from Saltillo/Monterrey to Matehuala. From Matehuala, local buses and shared vans (combis) head up to the tunnel, taking roughly an hour on a winding road (approximate). Service thins out in the afternoon, so aim to arrive at the tunnel by mid-afternoon.

By car. Drive to the tunnel entrance at the village of La Maroma/Ogarrio. The last stretch is cobblestone and slow. The Ogarrio tunnel is a single lane just over a mile long, and traffic alternates directions, so you may wait for oncoming cars to clear. Cars usually park at the tunnel; many visitors transfer to local transport for the final entry.

Getting around

Once inside, you walk. The town is tiny, steep and cobbled, and no tour of it needs a car. For trips beyond the center:

• Willys jeeps run up to the viewpoints and ghost-pueblo ruins.
• Horses with guides wait near the plaza.

Honest notes: the cobbles are brutal on ankles and small suitcases, so pack light and wear real shoes. The altitude makes every uphill block harder than it looks, so give yourself time and go slow on day one.