The average annual rainfall is recorded at 616.6 mm and dominates much of the region west of the semi-dry-weather semi-warm center, semi-warm, and humid east semicálido-wet with rain in the summer.

Its average annual temperature is 26.9 °C, reaching a maximum in summer of 47 °C and a minimum in winter of 5 °C.

The first settlers were the friars, who occupied the ground in the first third of the 17th century, they occupied rancherías and farms, including the huge Ciénega de San Nicolás, allegedly founded by Luis de Cardenas.

In those years referred to as the Ciénega Nicholi and the name of his owner was called after Hacienda de Cárdenas.

Origin of the city

For more than a century it was owned by the Bacon family.

Throughout that time, and years later there was a rise in its population in those that had families of all castes, but most were pames and few spoke Spanish, were not concentrated in one locale but in several rancherías dispersed, and one or two friars of the mission of Alaquines served as religious.

In the year 2752 finances of the Ciénega were owned by Don Manuel Antonio Rojo del Río, Lafuente, and Vieyra.

By being confiscated and purchasing their property, they came to power by Félix María Calleja and then Don Felipe Barragan. Upon the death of the latter was that property held by their children and Luisa Juan Barragan.

In the war of Mexican Independence, there were several facts weapons on the territory of the finances of Cardenas.

It is mentioned in various fighting forces commanded realistic Don Cayetano Quintero and Don Felipe de la Garza and guerrilla insurgents Desiderio Zarate.

The Railway in Cardenas

In 1933 became one of the projects from town as one of the most modern states, rail, the project would include the construction of the railway San Luis Potosí – Tampico; the work progressed slowly, both in the extreme as Potosino from Tampico.

There were subsequent interruptions, contracts unfulfilled, insufficient funds, and court trouble.

In these works had to overcome the difficulties presented by the laying of the road from Tamasopo until Highland Potosino built several tunnels, penetrating mountains. This bold work that defied saw, finally found the paths ahead of the current population of Cardenas, in the Labor, April 1890.

Since then became totally life in Cardenas; and soon settled in workshops of the Cardenas Division.

He grew population, was founded neighborhoods Rasconcito, and Colonia Americana, was activated remarkably trade with the influx of many families who came from Alaquines, Rayon, Lagunillas, and other more distant locations, it was a time euphoric that desbordaba joyful in all areas of the region.

This situation lasted until 1910.

By the beginning of the year, 1911 Cárdenas was heard in the first outbreaks of revolutionaries led by Higinio Olivo, a native of The Work, and Juan Torres Perez, up arms in El Corito.

The forces of Peter Montoya and brothers Juan and Cardenas Victorian Torres entered in 1911. In 1912 brothers Cedillo, Magdaleno, Saturnino Cleofas and began a series of tropelías in open rebellion against President Francisco I. Madero.

In 1914 cedillistas were posesionados de Cardenas, it had established its headquarters and committed all kinds of abuses. It seized the station and the trains and cargo.

The most important battle in Cardenas recorded during the Mexican Revolution, was developed on May 27, 1917.

The square was defended by a garrison commanded by Colonel Fidel Garza and the captains first Ramon Hernandez and Margarito Negrete when he was violently attacked by forces of cedillistas.

The fighting spread to the entire population, the attackers took installations of the railways, burned the tank chapopote and the scale, and tried to burn down the station.

This cave was discovered in 1966, by a team of ornithologists from Texas.

Ornithologists discovered in this grave a more than eloquent example of the importance that such graves have for the bird populations of the region, by providing shelter from predators in their steep walls.

The first Mexican expedition was carried out in 1974 by the Mexica speleologist Lorenzo García Gallardo who was the first to descend. In 1978, Isabel Vivian was the first Mexican woman to descend this cave.

Despite the initial purely scientific interest, the pit soon began to attract speleologists looking for an interesting experience, and later tourists, due to the spectacular descent and views.

However, it is possible that the place was a victim of its popularity since subsequent ornithological studies have confirmed a gradual decrease in the bird population inside the grotto, perhaps due to this influx of new visitors.

Currently, the basement and other similar graves are considered biosphere reserves by the Mexican government, a status that grants them relative legal protection, while privileging the measured exploitation of the site.

Discovered in 1966 by a team of ornithologists, the cave gained popularity among cavers and tourists for its stunning descent and views. Initially a site of scientific interest, its appeal led to a decrease in bird populations.

The Mexican government designated the cave, as a biosphere reserve. Despite concerns about the impact of visitors on bird populations, the site continues to be legally protected, balancing conservation with measured exploration.

The cave is a popular vertical caving destination. Cavers anchor their ropes on the low side, where bolts have been installed in the rock and the area is clear of obstructions. Rappelling to the floor can take up to an hour.

Climbing back out may take from 40 minutes to more than 2 hours.

The Cave of Swallows is considered the world’s largest single-drop cave with 512 meters of depth. The cave is admired by spelunkers of various nationalities as one of the most beautiful vertical caves globally.

The descent into this subterranean world begins at dawn, accompanied by the mesmerizing flight of thousands of swifts and parrots. The film “Point Break” (2015) briefly references this cave and its vast dimensions.

It takes almost 10 seconds for a person without a parachute to freely fall from his mouth to the floor. The pit is popular among extreme sports enthusiasts for base jumping, who later can get out in about 10 minutes using a winch.

This area has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. In the winter Ciudad Valles has mild temperatures, a few times a year the thermometer registers less than 10°C.

Dry Season (November – April): During this period, the weather is generally warm and dry, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities and exploration. Daytime temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C.

Wet Season (May – October): This is the rainy season in Ciudad Valles, and it’s when the region receives the majority of its annual rainfall. While it can be wet, it’s also a time when the landscape is at its most vibrant and lush.

Expect occasional heavy rains, with daytime temperatures between 28°C and 33°C.

The best time to visit

The ideal time to visit Ciudad Valles region largely depends on your preferences.

Here are two distinct recommendations:

November – April: This is the peak tourist season. The weather is pleasant, and outdoor activities like hiking, exploring waterfalls, and river adventures are at their best. Book accommodations in advance.

May – October: If you’re a nature enthusiast and don’t mind occasional rain showers, this season is a treat. The landscape is incredibly lush, waterfalls are at their fullest, and you’ll encounter fewer crowds.

Just be prepared for rain and check the weather forecast before planning outdoor activities.

Ciudad Valles is one of Mexico’s favorite destinations for people searching for exotic natural beauties or adrenaline and adventure.

Some of Ciudad Valles attractions include:

Micos waterfall

These waterfalls are famous due to their steep falls in the middle of hills surrounded by vegetation, which offer a harmonious landscape.

These waterfalls are located 18 km from Ciudad Valles and are part of the Tampaon River, best known as the Micos River. This name was given due to the abundance of spider monkeys that inhabited this area.

This river goes down noisily through a large series of falls with a vertiginous acceleration. Rafting through the rapids of this river is a popular activity. At the top of the waterfall, there is a scenic viewpoint.

There is nearby lodging such as hotels, motels, and trailer park areas.

Tamasopo

Another destination for adventure tourism for the Verastegui Sierra, where the marvelous spectacle of the Espinazo del Diablo (Backbone of the Devil) and its ravines which are up to 300 meters deep can be seen.

In this place, access is difficult due to the rough terrain.

Tamasopo waterfalls are nearby, a group of three waterfalls that form a 20-m waterfall that falls violently into a 5 m deep well, in whose banks there are nice beaches appropriate for children. It is an ideal place for camping.

Tamul waterfall

From the town of Tanchachín, the Tamul Waterfall is about two hours by boat. With a 105 m drop, it is the highest waterfall in the state of San Luis Potosi and one of the most beautiful in Mexico, for its height and its famously crystalline turquoise water.

Formed by the waters of the Gallinas River at its confluence with the Tampaon, Tamul Falls cascade into the Tampaon River. Twenty-five miles downstream from the falls, as the crow flies, the Tampaon meanders past the ancient pyramid site of Tamtoc.

Archaeologists believe that Tamtoc is the northernmost pre-Columbian city with pyramids in Mexico, and some speculate that it could be the place of origin of the Aztecs from which they launched their migration to the Valley of Mexico.

The Tamul Falls to Tamtoc region is a seven-hour drive south of McAllen or Brownsville, Texas, making it the most vehicle-accessible ancient Mexican city in the United States.

The best time to visit the waterfall is during the low water season from July to October, when it is easily accessible.

Tancanhuitz de Santos

This town is located 65 km from Ciudad Valles. It is a place truly full of vegetation that creates beautiful landscapes. The Huehuetlan Sierra Creek is located here, which is a natural frontier that divides the Huastecas to the south and the Nahuatlacos Indians.

These two indigenous groups nowadays still preserve their languages, dress, and customs from their ancestors.

When going down from their communities towards the “tianguis” (street market) every Sunday, women wear their “quetzquemaletls” (V-shaped ponchos) that they knit and embroider themselves.

An interesting thing is to listen to how the languages spoken here mix Nahuatl, Huasteco, and Spanish.

Visit the Temple of San Miguel de Arcangel, which you will reach by going up 149 steps. From its atrium, you will see the town located in a narrow ravine, where streets and alleys have taken the capricious shape of the land.

The Pan-American Highway or Interamerican Highway built in the 1930s represents Ciudad Valles’ most vital corridor. The Highway leads north to Nuevo Laredo via Monterrey, and to the south to Mexico City.

Ciudad Valles connects San Luis Potosi with Tampico. Both cities are politically and economically interrelated with Ciudad Valles.

Real de Catorce (‘Royal Fourteen’) is named after 14 Spanish soldiers killed here in an ambush by Chichimeca warriors.

Other sources say that in the beginning, the name was “Real de Álamos de la Purísima Concepción de los Catorce” (Real de Alamos of the Immaculate Conception of the Fourteen).

Although a town had been there for many years, silver was discovered in the local mountains in 1772 and a few years later in 1779, the village was officially founded. The parish church was built between 1790 and 1817.

Real de Catorce’s heyday was in the late 19th century, when it had a population of 15,000, with some of Mexico’s richest silver mines and a mint, as well as a bullring and shops selling European luxury goods.

It was almost completely abandoned when the price of silver plummeted after 1900.

Only a few people remained in this ghost town, eking out a living from mine tailings and an annual influx of pilgrims to a reputedly miraculous image of St. Francis in the parish church. Today, its main income comes from tourism.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the Parish of Immaculate Conception the week around the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 to express their gratitude for the favors granted. Inside the church are hundreds of Retablos attesting to the miracles that have been performed.

Wixárika (Huichol) indigenous peoples walk across miles of desert from Nayarit, Durango, Jalisco, and Zacatecas to visit the valley of Catorce every spring to leave religious offerings at the “Cerro Quemado”, a ceremonial center to the east of their mystical religious territory. Quemado is, according to their ancestral beliefs, the birthplace of their “Tatewari” or Grandfather Fire.

During this time, they also visit the Wirikuta, or desert below Real de Catorce to gather a year’s supply of sacred nourishment in the form of peyote or “hikuri”, the magical cactus that they use to guide their path and consciousness.

Though found throughout the region, the cacti in the Wirikuta purportedly produce the most desired crop.

At other times of the year, there is a continuous pilgrimage of people of all ages and nationalities. They travel thousands of miles to arrive at this sacred site and experience a mystical communion with the magical cactus.

So much so, in fact, that the government has mounted a campaign to protect the cactus from these so-called “peyote tourists”. It is illegal for anyone but Huichol Indians to gather, or possess, the peyote cactus.

Others come to Real de Catorce for health reasons.

At almost 2,700 m the city is an excellent training ground for bicyclists and runners.

Although in the southern range of the Chihuahuan desert, due to its altitude, Real can be very cool at night. Although days, particularly in summer, can be very hot, it is advised to always bring a jacket, even in summer.

San Luis Potosí features a semiarid climate. Its high altitude makes the city experiences only a handful of hot days each year. While the climate exhibits noticeably cooler (January and February) and warmer periods (April and May) of the year, temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course of the year.

The bulk of the city’s precipitation is seen from May through October. San Luis Potosí receives, on average, 400 mm (15.75 in) of precipitation annually.

Pre-colonial period

In pre-Hispanic times the territory now occupied by the state of San Luis Potosí included two cultural areas: Mesoamerica and Aridoamerica. While the south of the state was occupied by the Otomi kingdoms, its northern and central-west regions, where the city of San Luis now is located, were inhabited by Chichimeca. Chichimeca is a generic term given to various nomadic ethnicities which inhabited the northern fringes of the Aztec Empire which is now northern Mexico. As they were nomadic peoples they did not build large cities or have permanent settlements like most Mesoamerican civilizations. They are described by historians as very warlike peoples, living in continual wars among themselves. These tribes spoke different languages but their customs were similar.

After the arrival of Spanish conquistadores into the territory now formed by the Mexican nation, it still took them about a century to colonize the northern territories in Aridoamerica. When the Spaniards founded the first settlements in the region in late 16th century, they had to struggle against constant attacks from Guachichil tribes. Extremely belligerent, these tribes attacked traders who traveled to Zacatecas in newly created routes. Conquistadores and religious missionaries called the place where San Luis now is located “El Gran Tunal” (Grand Place of Tuna fruit). Finally, in 1589, peace between Chichimeca peoples and Spanish settlers was reached thanks to efforts made by Miguel Caldera and Brother Diego de la Magdalena, which marked the end of the Chichimeca War.

Colonial period

A Franciscan mission was established in the zone in 1583, nine years before the city’s founding. In early 1592 the mines of Cerro de San Pedro were discovered. The lack of water in Cerro de San Pedro made impossible a new settlement in that specific area, as well as the proper exploitation of the minerals. A short distance away there was a valley where water was abundant. This originated the creation of a new township to facilitate the labors of mining extraction. The legal foundation of the town of San Luis Potosí was made in November 3, 1592, according to a charter commission raised by Viceroy Luis de Velasco and given to Miguel Caldera (considered the historic founder of the city) and Juan de Oñate.

Independence

For a time in 1863, during the French invasion of Mexico, San Luis Potosí served as the capital of the republican government, under President Benito Juárez.

The Plan of San Luis Potosí, issued November 20, 1910, was the opening shot of Mexico’s revolution against the dictator Porfirio Díaz. The 1910 presidential election was stolen when Díaz had his opponent Francisco I. Madero arrested and imprisoned. Madero fled and issued the Plan of San Luis Potosí, declaring the election void and calling upon Mexicans to take up arms against the government.

Today, the downtown is one of plazas and colonial architecture. The “Plaza de Armas” is the site of a cathedral and governor’s palace (1770). The nearby “Templo de Nuestra Señora del Carmen,” with its colorful-tiled domes and famous altars, is considered among Mexico’s finest churches. In addition, San Luis is home to the bullring Plaza de Toros Fermin Rivera.

Outside the center, a modern industrial city has begun to grow.

The Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP) is in the city. Based on a Jesuit College founded in 1624, the Instituto Científico y Literario was raised to the category of a university in 1923, and is recognized as one of Latin America’s best universities.

Besides having hundreds of classically designed buildings, the city is also home to some of the most modern and interesting buildings in Mexico.

Cathedral of San Luis Potosí
Casa de la Cultura, in Av. Carranza
Iglesia de San Agustín
National Museum of the Mask, view from la Paz theatre
San Francisco Garden
Monument to the Flag in the Avenida Venustiano Carranza

In recent years the city has faced a boom in the construction of buildings and museums. Among the most prominent are the Laberinto Museum of Science and Arts, which was an investment of more than $200 million pesos, in 9000 m2 of land in the Tangamanga I Park. The project was designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta and promoted by the governor of San Luis Potosí, Marcelo de los Santos Fraga. It is a museum of aesthetic proportions similar to that of the Papalote Museum of Children in Mexico City, with the addition that the materials used in its construction, especially the quarry, make it a real Potosino manufacturing building. The floor of the museum occupies a total of 6.5 ha, which have gardens with species endemic to the region and a central source. Its interior is divided into a total of six rooms arranged in galleries. Their proportions will allow visitors to make an interactive tour that will switch themes of the art museum with samples of science and technology.

Currently, the two tallest buildings in the city are the EME Building and the Muniz Werger Building. The EME Building was built in 1988 and measures 64 m to the top floor, with the spiral 75 m, with the antenna 98 meters. It has 17 floors, with 10 levels of parking at the street for a capacity of 1500 cars, and it houses mixed offices. The Muniz Werger Building, which measures 58 m for the top floor, 65 m with the spiral, and 80 m with the antenna, has 15 storeys and 2 elevators. Its construction began in 1991 and finished in 1993 and it is considered the most modern building in the city.

There are currently two buildings under construction and five buildings in the project. Corporate Tangamanga, which measured 41 m, will have 14 floors; its construction began in 2005 and will end in 2008. This building houses offices and mixed Star Medical Tower, 40 m and will have 8 floors.

Potosinos (as residents of the city are referred to) are proud of their bright orange enchiladas potosinas, often served fried with refried beans and guacamole.

The nearby town of Santa María del Río provides the state with its sparkling mineral water, Agua de Lourdes. The water fills both store shelves and the cocktails of Potosinos, who claim the water can cure a hangover.

Silence Procession

This event is an annual event commemorating the passion and death of Christ. It occurs on the night of Good Friday, starting at the Templo del Carmen, from where it originates, and the route goes through the streets of the historic center of the city of San Luis Potosí. This event includes sounds of drums and bugles, but no participant or spectator speech, meriting its name. It is one of the most important celebrations of Easter and Mexico was declared part of the cultural heritage of the state of San Luis Potosí in 2013.

The city’s transportation consists of a public system, based on urban buses that move throughout the metropolitan area. Besides, the city contains one of the highest concentrations of taxis.

Ponciano Arriaga International Airport is the city’s main airway point. It is around 17 km (11 mi) from the city’s downtown and it is the state’s most important airway terminal.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The ancient city of Tamtoc settled on the Tamuín plain, in the meander of the Tampaón River. The geographical environment favored the production and collection of food that ensured the subsistence of numerous settlements settled around it. The Tampaón River, an important source of food, was the axis of merchandise exchange and social interaction with other regions.

The people of Tamtoc hunted and collected various products in the nearby mountain ranges. The Sierra de Tanchipa was also a sandstone quarry that served the artists as raw material to carve sculptures of rulers, priestesses, and various public stelae that showed relevant events, the memory of social and symbolic order. From the Cerro del Murcielago, greenstone or tinguaíta was extracted that was transformed into corporal ornaments and utilitarian objects.

The plains and mountains that make up the landscape of Tamtoc were the scene of its historical evolution, guaranteed its economic sustenance, and played a relevant role in the ritual and ideological aspect; Highlights in the topographic relief were indicators of astronomical phenomena and important references that influenced the design of the city itself.

Tamtoc, Tamtok or Tamohí (Téenek for “place of the water clouds”).

Local history

Tamtoc is considered the pre-Hispanic capital of the Huasteca for its regional, military, and commercial importance. Until now, at least three periods of occupation have been identified: the oldest occurred around 600 BC, which corresponds to the time of the emergence of the city.

The second occupation took place between 600 AD and 900 AD, it is distinguished by the arrival of a cultural trend without antecedents in the region that was in charge of redesigning the urban aspect of Tamtoc, strongly marking the regional leadership of the city.

The last period happened between 900 and 1350 AD, it was characterized by an important population increase and an intense constructive activity that accounts for an increasingly powerful and complex society. At the end of this period, for reasons still unknown, the site lost regional hegemony and was abandoned.

Temporality

Tamtoc flourished in a very ancient time. While the Priestess was being carved, in Greece they were in the Peloponnese Wars, Rome did not exist, the Olmecs were at their peak, Egypt was in its late period, Babylon had already been abandoned and the Incas had not yet reached Peru.

More than seventy structures have been discovered at the archaeological site, which has been recorded on drawings and maps. In the perimeter open to visitors there are thirty of them. There is a central square that probably functioned as a civic or administrative center, built in the last moments of the city.[4] The main structures with:

East Structure or El Tizate, which has an altitude of 36 m.

East Structure or Paso Bayo, has an altitude of 21 m, and is considered a religious structure.

The Corcovado, a circular structure, considered a commercial and political point.

Monument 32, also known as The Priestess.

Monument 22, is also known as “El Robernante” “Cinco Caracol” or “Tomás”, is a stone that represents the lower part of a naked man with a pierced penis and protected with an ixtle cover, that is to say, it is an allusion to the creation of the man of the Fifth Sun by Quetzalcóatl.

The sculpture of the Scarred Woman or Venus of Tamtoc, is a fragmented female sculpture dating from 600 BC. C.

Ceramics

The ceramic remains that have been found in Tamtoc speak of elaborate and decorated work. Common use vessels have been found in the houses that have been excavated, as well as offering ceramics in the Great Laguna de Los Patos, and also in funerary offerings.[5]

The pieces found are in warehouses under the protection of the INAH, while resources are being sought for the Tamtoc Site Museum.
Sculpture

In Tamtoc, several sculpture workshops have been found in the La Noria area, among which a fragment of a stela of a zoomorphic character stands out, of which only the legs of a human being with the claws of a bird instead of feet can be seen. The sculptural fragment measures approximately one meter high by 1.5 wide and weighs 90 kilos.

The lapidary workshops add to the evidence that sculptures of the highest quality were made on the site by highly specialized artists.

Painting

Like all pre-Hispanic cities, the buildings of Tamtoc were also covered with illustrious and colorful murals and paintings. In the Northeast Plaza, remains of murals with red, orange, blue, and green colors have been found in some structures.

Procession of Spirits

For the Teenek community, the Tamtoque has a particular meaning because, until the 1930s, the deceased was still buried in this place. Currently, various indigenous communities in the country, mainly Teeneks, meet in Tamtoc in November to hold the event known as the “Procession of Spirits.” In this event, various dances take place for two days and each group places an offering at the foot of the Tamtoque in memory of their ancestors.
Excavations

Tamtoc is still excavating and finding an endless number of artifacts that are taken to the INAH laboratories in Mexico City, its main promoter has been the Architect Guillermo Ahuja O., who made the work that grows since the beginning of the current century is done on-site.

The ruins of the city have been investigated, preserved, and made available to the public thanks to the Trust for the Archaeological Rescue of Tamtoc, made up of the Fomento Cultural Banamex, AC, the Government of the State of San Luis Potosí, and the National Institute of Anthropology and History.

East Structure

Also known as “Paso Bayo” or “Tamtoque” it has a height of 21 meters. Elevated structures, such as this one, commonly served as the basis for very important temples, from which various rituals related to the measurement of time and the movement of heavenly bodies were conducted. This structure is the second tallest on the site and marks the eastern limit of the monumental area.
Main Plaza

This group is made up of 23 architectural structures, of which 18 are around a plaza and five in the central part, all associated with administrative and religious activities.

The remaining structures have been identified as habitation bases belonging to the ruling elite, with the exception of structure AW3, which is identified as a small altar. Almost all the structures in this group have stairs that led to the upper part, where a temple or the housing complex was located.

Structures AC1, AC2, and AW3 stand out because human burials were deposited inside them and in each of these two twin anthropomorphic stelae were found as an offering.

The square has at least two construction periods, the first occurring between 600 and 900 AD. C. represented by circular structures most of these were covered by more recent structures. The buildings that can be seen today correspond to the last period between 900 and 1350 AD, when the city reached its peak.

Northeast Plaza

This group is made up of 10 mounds, nine of which surround a plaza, and one is somewhat separated to the north. This set is associated with housing functions and the production of textiles.

North set

Canal del Manantial with Monument 32 (The Priestess) in the background and Structure 10 on the right

This area is made up of several structures and stands out for the discovery of different monuments such as the tombstone of the Flamingos, The Giant, the Castrillón Stela, La Venus de Tamtoc, and the megalith of La Priestess (Monument 32). In this place there are springs that, through a system of old channels, distribute water to different parts of the sector, ending in the Laguna de los Patos.

Recent archaeological excavations carried out at the foot of structure C3, allowed to identify a place of production of beads for necklace and other ornaments.

Ferris Wheel

The area of La Noria is an important place in the city of Tamtoc, which has undergone constant changes due to the times that the city passed. Mainly the three main uses that it had over time can be differentiated, which were the following:
Fountain

Also known as Caja de Agua, it is part of the North Group sector and is where the ancient city of Tamtoc originated, because here the water is born and, due to its importance for life, it was considered a sacred place. The inhabitants of Tamtoc built a series of water distribution channels from the spring, from which a number of offerings have been recovered, including the monumental sculpture of The Priestess. These elements correspond to the first occupation, approximately in 600 a. C.

Work area

The Water Box was modified during the following period (600 and 900 AD), the space was desacralized and used in daily tasks represented by two ovens recovered in recent excavations, which could be used for food processing.

Cemetery

In the last period of occupation (between 900 and 1350 AD), new architectural buildings, temples, walkways, and open spaces associated with religious ceremonies and sacred rituals were built in the same space as La Noria. A set of funerary tumults stands out from which around seventy human skeletons corresponding to individuals of different ages and sexes have been recovered.

The autopsies carried out on the skeletons have revealed that they suffered from severe infections, “In the bones of all individuals, noticeable deformations and traces of this type of pathology have been identified. So far, the population with these characteristics has only been located in this part of the site, “said Martínez Mora, who together with Guillermo Córdova Tello, coordinates the Archaeological Project of Origin and Development of the Urban Landscape of Tamtoc.

West Structure

It is one of the largest foundations on the site and has a front staircase. Formerly it was known as “El Tizate” because near this place, on the river bank, there is a deposit of crystallized carbonates or volcanic ash known locally as tizate, a material used in the production of ceramics.

From its top, it is known that previously a temple was located, the entire environment of Tamtoc is dominated. This structure was the western marker that delimited the monumental area of the city. This basement is associated with activities related to astronomical observations for the cosmology that characterized the Huastec peoples.
Great Lagoon of the Ducks

The Great Lagoon of the Ducks was thought at first to be a natural lagoon, but the hydrology and topography studies concluded that it was made by man. According to these investigations, it was prepared to avoid flooding by the Tampaón River.

During the recovery of the lagoon, various archaeological objects have been found that are part of offerings, which prevents working with heavy machinery to drain the lagoon, since it puts at risk the historical remains found there.

The priestess monuments

Monument 32, better known as the Priestess, is a monumental lunar calendar, larger and older than the one known as Piedra del Sol or “Aztec Calendar”. Its exact age is not yet established, but it is estimated that it was made between 1150 and 700 BC. apparently by the Olmecs, a culture that was not previously known had been established in this area at such an early time.

The calendar is a monolith of polymineral sandstone, eight meters long and four meters high, with a thickness of 50 cm. and a weight greater than 30 tons. It is found in the North Set, more specifically in El Manantial de La Noria.

It was found accidentally in February 2005 while working on the restoration of the hydraulic channel that already during a time before the Spaniards led water from a spring to an artificial lagoon created within the city and it was until November 2006 when it was achieved.

Monument 32, The Ruler or Thomas

Because the weather and excess humidity caused by the rain and the stagnation of the spring water had started a process of degradation in the rock of the sculpture, for this reason, the area of La Noria was subjected to intense conservation work; Currently, the work is focused on the recovery of a lagoon near the Spring, in order to integrate it into the public visit, since it is part of the natural environment where La Priestess was located.

The governor monument

Sculpture of the Scarred Woman as it is on display at the Tamtoc site museum, is over 2500 years old.

Monument 22, El Robernante or simply Tomás, is the lower part of a male human sculpture, this monument could represent an important character, perhaps a ruler of Tamtoc called Cinco Caracol since the position of his hand seems to be designed to carry a baton and the different inscriptions on the monument. Their nudity has been interpreted as an expression of the importance that fertility had among these peoples and the cult of the phallus.

The Scarred Woman monument

The sculpture of the Scarred Woman or the “Venus of Tamtoc” was found in 2005 during the rescue work of “Monument 32;” which was submerged in water for more than 2,500 years. This female sculpture of more than 2,500 years old in the La Noria area, in Tamtoc, is an unprecedented discovery, since there was no record of such a well-worked and detailed sculpture in Mesoamerica of that antiquity, as well as being from the female gender, which represents a rethinking of the role that women played in the social, political and religious life of pre-Hispanic cultures. The stonework of the sculpture rivals that of Ancient Greece, and has not been seen in any other sculpture in Mesoamerica.

The sculpture with feminine features and life-size, appears decapitated and is made of basalt stone, which does not exist in the region. This was fragmented for ritual purposes, instead of sacrificing an individual it was replaced by the object, in order to promote fertility, as it was placed in a water tank, archaeologists explain.

The sculpture of the Scarred Woman or the “Venus of Tamtoc” was found in 2005 during the rescue work of “Monument 32;” which was submerged in water for more than 2,500 years. This female sculpture of more than 2,500 years old in the La Noria area, in Tamtoc, is an unprecedented discovery, since there was no record of such a well-worked and detailed sculpture in Mesoamerica of that antiquity, as well as being from the female gender, which represents a rethinking of the role that women played in the social, political and religious life of pre-Hispanic cultures. The stonework of the sculpture rivals that of Ancient Greece, and has not been seen in any other sculpture in Mesoamerica.

The sculpture with feminine features and life-size, appears decapitated and is made of basalt stone, which does not exist in the region. This was fragmented for ritual purposes, instead of sacrificing an individual it was replaced by the object, in order to promote fertility, as it was placed in a water tank, archaeologists explain.

The Venus of Tamtoc has scarifications in the form of tattoos in high relief, which are observed on the shoulders, breasts and thighs of the sculpture, which refer to the 52 years of the Mesoamerican calendar, as well as the 104-year cycles of the lunar and solar cycle. It is presumed that the sculpture is not of a goddess, but of a priestess, which indicates the importance of women as a bearer of time through menstrual periods.

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The rugged landscape has partly shielded Xilitla from industrialization, helping preserve its indigenous Huastec and Nahuatl cultures and traditional agrarian lifestyles.

Most of Xilitla’s residents live in over 100 rural villages of several dozen up to several hundred people.

About 30,000 people in Xilitla live in indigenous (Indian) households and about 20,000 of them speak an Indian language, principally Huastec. Most of the speakers of the Indian language also speak Spanish.

Augustine’s missionary activity in the Xilitla area began in 1537 and in 1553 construction began on the St. Augustine Convent.

It was built to serve as both a religious building and a fortress as the Chichimeca war was in progress and one of the hostile Chichimeca tribes, the Pame, lived to the northwest.

The convent was attacked and burned by the Indians in 1569 and 1587 and largely abandoned by the Augustines. In the 17th century, the Dominicans made another attempt to evangelize but were unable to overcome the hostility of the Indians.

Finally, in the mid-18th century, Fray Junípero Serra and the Franciscans succeeded in establishing a permanent missionary presence in the region.

The economy is primarily agricultural with the main crops being coffee and citrus. A coffee fair is held in August.

The town of Xilitla has an elevation of 676 meters and is located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Gorda mountain range, part of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Narrow valleys in the municipality dip to 400 meters.

La Silleta, a prominent thumb-shaped mountain, scalable only with mountain climbing gear, rises to 2,550 m six miles west of the city.

The land area in the municipality is largely steep but habitable slopes. To the south and west, Xilitla borders the mountains of Querétaro and Hidalgo states. To the northeast, Xilitla borders flat terrain along the Tancuilin river, and Mexican highway 85.

There are a number of caves and caverns in Xilitla, as well as many natural springs. Parakeet Cave, a short walk from the town, is home to a large number of green parrots which leave and re-enter the cave at dawn and dusk every day.

The land is largely sedimentary rock with striations visible on cliffs and roads.

Climate

Receiving more than 2,500 mm of precipitation annually, Xilitla is one of the most humid areas of Mexico.

Rainfall is seasonal, with maximum precipitation coming in summer, but winters are not as dry as in many parts of Mexico.

The climatic classification for Xilitla is subtropical.

Xilitla’s altitude moderates the tropical (A) climates of nearby areas at lower altitudes.

The natural beauty of Xilitla inspired eccentric English artist Edward James to create Las Pozas (“the Pools”), a garden in a subtropical rainforest just outside the town of Xilitla.

It includes more than 32 ha of natural waterfalls and pools interspersed with towering surrealist sculptures in concrete. James’ objective was to create a “Garden of Eden” at Las Pozas.

A foundation now owns and operates Las Pozas which is open to the public. Edward James’ house, near the center of Xilitla, is known as El Castillo and is now a hotel.

The highway to the southwest winds around tight curves through the mountains to Querétaro and Mexico City. Heading northeast from town, the highway winds 10 km to La Y Griega, a large T-intersection into highway 85.

Ciudad Valles is 100 km north along 85, and Tamazunchale is 50 km south. Buses run hourly from the town to Ciudad Valles and Tamazunchale and several times daily to Monterrey, Mexico City, San Luis Potosí and Tampico. More frequent buses are available at Y Griega.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700