Host 2024 - San Luis Potosí

SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, "Contrasts that Unite"

The greatness of San Luis Potosí is present in the natural beauty of its land, in the traditions of its people as well as in the cultural expressions of each region, which makes it a fascinating State.

The contrast and surrealism of our State is present in every corner: with landscapes that dazzle its visitors as they go from the desert plateau to the tropical forests with rivers and waterfalls in Huasteca; or from walking the History and Art of the capital city to swimming in the springs of the Middle zone of the State.

The cultural diversity extends from the pre-Hispanic era that goes from classical art in our Historic Center, a World Heritage Site, to the surrealism of Leonora Carrington in its different museums, contrasting tradition and modernity in each destination; aridity and abundance, which exalt the Contrasts that Unite.

Mezcal and Wine Routes

Mezcal route

All around the San Luis Potosi desert plateau and close to the capital city the mezcal distilleries have a long history of more than two hundred years. Visiting them and seeing their imposing masonry ovens and smelling the honey from the freshly cooked maguey heart will forever mark the way you drink out of a mezcal horn. Two centuries of experiences contained in an elixir clear as water, but stronger than thunder.

Wine route

In recent years, the state of Potosí has ventured into wine production; on different occasions its products have won international awards, positioning the state alongside different highly prestigious wine brands.

During the time of the Virreinato, San Luis Potosí was a land of wine, which was interrupted during independence. Although San Luis Potosí has an ancient wine history, until approximately 10 years ago some businessmen began to resume wine production in the entity and among them we have the vineyards:

Cava Quintanilla
Pozo de Luna
Viña Cordelia
Parras del Altiplano
La Malanca

San Luis Potosí Gastronomy

The Altiplano Potosino is a region rich in resources, not just minerals. The flora of the desert is very varied and changes with each season. In spring it offers us typical Easter products, such as cabuches (biznaga flower button) and chochas (izote or maguey flower) prepared in stews, in brine or in piloncillo honey.

August is prickly pear season and many varieties are harvested in the highlands. The most sought after are the white prickly pear, very juicy and sweet; and the cardona prickly pear, red and small. The latter is used to make one of the typical drinks of the highlands: colonche. It is also the time to collect garambullos, the small red fruit of a cactus, similar to blackberries.

Throughout the year, apart from mezcal, the highlands offer us nopales, jacubes and hearts of palm, which are prepared in various stews with pork, chicken, rabbit or in pastas and cakes, or canned or pickled. It also offers us such exotic dishes as rabbit and field rat, either prepared in broth or with dried chili sauces or simply roasted. The exploitation of the red maguey worm for human consumption and escamoles is recent, but they have been widely accepted.

The traditional cuisine of the highlands, apart from using products from the desert, makes use of a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and products from the orchards near the water sources. Typical are oven-baked gorditas (which in some communities call condoches), cheese gorditas, goat in multiple presentations, and goat and cow's milk cheeses. One of the most famous dishes is the wedding asado, a marinade based on dried chilies, herbs and spices.

Finally, there is no shortage of typical sweets based on milk and nuts, jams, jellies and preserves made from orchard fruits, such as figs, quinces and even cactus and prickly pear.

The Central Region offers enchiladas potosinas, stuffed gorditas, red taquitos, lamb barbacoa, carnitas, cheeses and wedding roast; as an aperitif, mezcal, colonche and aguamiel; for dessert, Costanzo chocolates, prickly pear cheese, dulce de leche and covered sweets.

In the Middle Region is suggested not overlooking the Rio Verde enchiladas, the cecina, the drunk stew, the drums, the tamales, the revoltillo and the caramelized peanut and chancaquillas shake.

The Huasteca Potosina has many representatives on the table: zacahuil, huasteca enchiladas, acamayas, caldo loco, sarabanda tamales, bocoles and palmito. To drink: jobo, passion fruit, orange, lychee and capulin liqueurs, without missing the aromatic coffee, fruit atoles and fresh waters.

San Luis Potosí Magic Towns

Aquismón

In this Magic Town you can find cultural, craft and gastronomic manifestations of the indigenous cultures of the Huasteca region, as it is inhabited mostly by Teenek indigenous people, and to a lesser extent, by Nahuatl and Xi'u or Pame speakers.

Its most important monument is the Parroquia dedicated to San Miguel Arcángel, patron saint of the town, whom the inhabitants celebrate on September 28th and 29th with large dances accompanied by regional music and dances. But if adventure activities are your thing, from Aquismón you can embark on the conquest of spectacular rivers, waterfalls and impressive basements and caverns that are very abundant in the area such as El Aguacate, where traditional doctors still perform cleansing, healing and other rituals.

Enjoy its natural wonders, navigate its turquoise rivers, walk among paths surrounded by coffee plants, enjoy the smell of vanilla, meet its people!

Tamul waterfall
Sótano de las Golondrinas
Main Square
Mantetzulel Caves

Ciudad Maíz

The Magic Town of Ciudad del Maíz is located in the Middle Region. Cradle of great characters such as the musician El Negro Marcelino Tovar, the golden age actor Noé Murayama and the first female aviator pilot María Marcos Cedillo.

Visit the municipal presidency in the BARRAGANEÑA house and the Parroquia of the Purísima Concepción, a jewel of Neoclassical style from the 17th century. Get to know the mills where a sweet tradition of more than 150 years is born: piloncillo!

In the Maicence gastronomy there are enchiladas, golden tacos, barbacoa de hoyo, red mole, wedding barbecue and the dish par excellence: the drunk stew. In addition, you can enjoy the sweets made from cane, milk and nuts that are made here.

In their crafts you find palm basketry, corn dolls and figures, chairs, rattan tables and carved wooden figures.

Estación Tablas
Papagayos mountain range
Main Square
Holy Week xi'ui
Burning of judas
Jorge Pasquel House murals
Parroquia of the Purísima Concepción

Real De Catorce

The Magic Town of Real de Catorce, the most shining jewel of the Potosí Altiplano, is an old mining town founded around 1778 and has become one of the greatest tourist attractions in San Luis Potosí, thanks to its mining past, Wirikuta Cultural Corridor and its indisputable charm.

It all begins by climbing the hill along the cobblestone path to reach the Dolores Trompeta parador and make a spectacular entrance through the tunnel.

You have to walk Real de Catorce to know it, to feel it, to enjoy its history, its streets, the Jardín Hidalgo with its Porfirian kiosk, the Palenque, the old Bullring and even film sets.

The must-sees are the Parroquia of the Virgen de la Purísima Concepción and the Casa de Moneda Cultural Center to see the ancient tombs and admire the murals inside the Temple of Guadalupe. Give yourself time to take a tour of the fourteenth desert.

To rest and eat, Real de Catorce has many hotels and restaurants suitable for all tastes and budgets.

Ogarrio Tunnel
Willis
Horse trips
Guardianes del Real
Parroquia of the Virgen de la Purísima Concepción

Santa Maria del Rio

Thanks to the fine silk shawls and other materials, this town is known as the Cradle of the Rebozo. It was founded in 1542 and received its designation as a Magic Town in 2020. Just 20 minutes from the city of San Luis Potosí, it is one of the municipalities with the greatest tradition in the State thanks to the production of these garments since pre-Hispanic times.
The most famous rebozo was born here: the bolita one, but there are also other popular designs such as the chin one, the palomo or the scarf, which is in a single color. In addition, you can find dresses, handbags, bowties and more, all made with the same material as the shawl.
During your visit you will be able to admire the magnificent parish church that dates back to the 18th century and the old Franciscan Ex-Convent. Have breakfast in the main square or enjoy traditional food at the market. And for dessert, you can find delicious dulce de leche, quince, muegano, walnut candy and prickly pear cheese.
• Santa María del Rio
• Handicrafts
• Bakery
• Casa del Rebozo Museum
• Cerro El Original
• Clock Tower
• Parroquia of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

Tierra Nueva

This Magic Town has a livestock, agricultural and artisanal vocation. Around 1680, more than forty Otomi families from the center of New Spain settled. On April 19th, 1712, San Nicolás de Tierra Nueva Río de Jofre was legally founded.

It is an area rich in biodiversity in the region, its fauna includes the wild cat, the eagle and the rattlesnake.

One of its main celebrations are the festivities to venerate San Nicolás, patron saint of the Town. Thus, in the month of September, fairs, bullfights, dances, charreadas, Aztec dances and rattle dances are held.

La Muñeca Dam
Palmoro Hats
Laja Minas de laja Sangre de Pichón Route
Cerro de León
Clay workshop (pottery)
Parroquia of San Nicolás de Tolentino

Xilitia

This Magic Town of Huasteca Potosina is nestled among dense tropical forests of the high coffee-growing mountains, while the town is surrounded by steep hills. Natural wealth, surrealism, adventure, coffee aroma and a lot of tradition complement an unforgettable place.

In its main square, admire the Former Convent of San Agustín, built in 1557 by missionaries of that same order, and which, with its military monastic architecture, is the oldest viceregal building in the State.

The abundance of fruits can be seen in its colorful markets. In its gastronomy you will find enchiladas with cured meat, beef barbacoa, chicharrones and carnitas, which are accompanied with drinks such as delicious coffee, liquor, jobo, capulín and orange wine, pineapple or corn atole and chayote candy.

If you like to explore, in the municipality there are caves such as El Salitre and Tlamaya, and if you like climbing and rappelling, there is nothing better than La Silleta, that enigmatic peak that can be seen from any angle of the town.