Real de Catorce
A semi-abandoned silver-mining town high in the Sierra de Catorce, reached through a one-lane tunnel and revered as a Huichol pilgrimage site.
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Share a photoHistory & haunting lore
Real de Catorce produced royal Spanish silver from the 1700s until floods and revolution emptied its stone streets, leaving a ghostly shell that Huichol (Wixárika) pilgrims now associate with Wirikuta, land of the peyote sacrament. The 2.3-kilometer Ogarrio Tunnel still funnels traffic one way at a time into a plateau that feels cut off from the modern world.
Travelers report odd silence in the ruins above town and vivid dreams after visiting the desert cactus fields. Whether spiritual or suggestive, the combination of collapsed haciendas, wild horses, and sacred geography gives Real de Catorce a reputation unlike any other Mexican pueblo.
Current site status
The tunnel operates on alternating one-way schedules; accommodations are limited and altitude exceeds 2,700 meters, so visitors should plan for cold nights.