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 and the tunnel, and the last stretch is slow no matter how you come.
Nearest airport. San Luis Potosi (SLP) is the closest airport, roughly a 3 to 3.5-hour drive away (approximate). Some travelers instead fly into Monterrey (MTY) and drive down through Saltillo, which is longer but well connected. Either way, the pivot point is Matehuala, the last real town at the base of the mountain, about 2.5 to 3 hours north of SLP (approximate).
By bus. From San Luis Potosi city or from Saltillo and Monterrey, coach lines head to Matehuala; operators on this corridor include the Estrella Blanca family (Sendor, Futura) and other northern carriers, running frequent daily services. From Matehuala’s bus station you switch to local buses or shared vans that climb to the tunnel, a winding trip of roughly an hour (approximate). Service up the mountain thins out badly in the afternoon, so plan to be in Matehuala by early afternoon and at the tunnel by mid-afternoon at the latest.
By car. Drive to Matehuala, then turn west and up toward the tunnel entrance at the old mining village of La Maroma / Ogarrio. The final approach is cobblestone and slow. The Ogarrio tunnel is a single lane just over a mile long, cut straight through the mountain, and traffic alternates directions, so you will often wait for oncoming cars to clear before you are waved through. Most drivers park at the tunnel mouth and either walk in or transfer to local transport for the last stretch, because the town itself is no place for a car.
Honest road notes. The climb from Matehuala is twisting and can trigger motion sickness; sit up front and go easy on the last meal if you are prone to it. Avoid driving it after dark, as the road is unlit, narrow and shares space with livestock. In July, afternoon storms can make the cobbled sections slick.
Getting around
Once you are inside, you walk, and that is the only sensible option. The town is tiny, steep and entirely cobbled, so no tour of the center needs a vehicle. For anything beyond the plaza and church:
- Willys jeeps run up to the Pueblo Fantasma ruins and the cliff viewpoints; find them near the plaza and agree the price first.
- Horses with guides also wait near Plaza Hidalgo for rides into the hills.
- There are no taxi apps, no colectivos inside town, and no need for them.
Honest comfort notes: the cobbles are brutal on ankles and on wheeled suitcases, so pack light in a backpack or duffel and wear real shoes, not sandals. The altitude makes every uphill block harder than it looks, so give yourself time and go slow on your first day. Bring cash; card acceptance is patchy up here and the nearest reliable banks are back down in Matehuala. See is it safe for more on the terrain and altitude.