Los Catorce is considered a spring and an oasis in the middle of the desert. The settlement once consisted of several haciendas, where ore extracted from the mines was processed to obtain silver. Lush vegetation and orchards can be found among the ruins of former ore-processing haciendas. Traces of silver processing and the present-day landscape together shape the character of the place.
Haciendas and Landscape
The haciendas represent the former processing of ore; the orchards and lush vegetation are part of the settlement’s present-day appearance. An old church is located in one of the haciendas. If you would like to visit the church, check in advance whether this is possible and under what conditions.
Location and Historic Routes
Los Catorce is about four kilometers from Real de Catorce, along the Camino de los Arrepentidos, which runs between Real de Catorce and Estación Catorce. The Camino was once the only route to Real de Catorce, before the Túnel Ogarrio was built. This historic dirt-and-stone road winds through the mountains between steep slopes and once connected Real de Catorce with Estación Catorce.
The route can therefore be understood in both geographical and historical terms: it runs between the two places mentioned and played a special role on the way to Real de Catorce before the tunnel was built. In the wider Catorce destination, the Túnel de Ogarrio runs for over 2.3 kilometers through solid rock to Real de Catorce.
Sightseeing Tour or Horseback Ride
Willys vehicles leave Estación Catorce daily and offer sightseeing tours that include Los Catorce, among other places. For horseback rides, specialized guides from the Municipio Catorce, accredited by SECTUR, offer tours that include Los Catorce.
The two options differ in how they are experienced: the sightseeing tour departs by Willys from Estación Catorce, while a specialized guide accompanies the horseback ride. This lets you experience a vehicle tour and a horseback ride as different ways of including Los Catorce in a tour.
More History in the Wider Catorce Destination
Real de Catorce, in the wider Catorce destination, is a former mining settlement in the Altiplano, founded around 1778. The town lies in the Sierra de Catorce in the state of San Luis PotosÃ, at an altitude of 2,750 meters. On November 29, 2012, Real de Catorce was declared a Historic Monuments Zone; it encompasses 123 monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Antigua Casa de Moneda was built by Santos de la Maza starting in 1863, opened in 1865, and closed a year later. The temple dedicated to the PurÃsima Concepción is also one of the historic landmarks of the wider Catorce destination: it houses an image of Saint Francis of Assisi, which hundreds of pilgrims venerate every year on October 4.
Pueblo Fantasma offers another glimpse into the mining history of the wider Catorce destination. Its ruins are those of former ore-processing haciendas belonging to the Minas de Concepción and the Compromiso mine shaft. A visit includes a walk of about an hour, with views of the hills and a panoramic view of the settlement.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Villa De Reyes, La Pila, Ciudad Valles, Tierra Nueva, Los Puentes, Herradura, Antiguo TamuÃn, Matehuala
For the overview of the wider destination: San Luis PotosÃ.
