A great number of visitors to Real de Catorce make their way to the Catorce Railway Station - Estacion de Catorce, which is accessed by the "back road." Yes, there is a little known "back road" in and out of Real de Catorce. However, it is only accessible with the most rugged 4-wheel drive vehicle. The road can be found directly in front of the main plaza, leading down to the creek and then up the mountain on the other side, before traversing down to the small settlement of Estacion de Catorce.

Estacion de Catorce was settled as a way station on the old railway connecting the north and south of Mexico to points beyond. The Catorce Railway Station is still standing and should be seen. There are plans in place to restore some of the village and to create a museum for visitors. A visit to the Estacion de Catorce is an unforgettable experience.

If you decide to venture to Estacion de Catorce you can easily do so by hiring one of the Willy's Jeeps parked at the Plaza. You can choose to either sit inside the Jeep on the cushioned seats and be protected from the elements or you can ride on top of the Jeep. Be sure to hold on to the railing, whether you sit inside or on top as the truck will jostle you quite a bit. Unless you make plans otherwise, you will be sharing the Jeep with other visitors from Mexico, United States, Germany, Switzerland, England, Australia and just about every conceivable corner of the world. The Jeeps also act as taxis in the village for residents to go up and down from Real de Catorce to Estacion de Catorce, along with their groceries and small animals. You can decide on the level of your experience before hiring the Jeep and driver, but we hope that you decide to share your journey with others for a more complete experience.

You may choose to simply go down the Estacion de Catorce and return with the same driver or spend all day taking photos. Some decide to spend the night in the very primative hotel and then spend the next day exploring the desert and the various plants, such as the peyote.

A city of 70,000 in the North of San Luis Potosi State. It is the only city of any size between Saltillo and San Luis Potosi on Highway 57 and the nearest town to Real de Catorce. Driving south from Saltillo for 155 miles, you enter Matehuala at the bottom of a 12-mile descent.

As you enter Matehuala, you will notice the speed limit drops to 30km per hour. Unless you want to risk a speeding ticket, you should slow down. Forget the locals who fly past you at 70km per hour - they are related to the traffic police and will not be stopped. Coming from the north, there are two turnoffs to the right to Real de Catorce. The first marked road will take you to Cedral where you will make a right turn to Real. There is a Pemex gas station just to your right where you should fill up before continuing on to Real. The second turn is closer to Matehuala and is better marked as there is a motel on the corner. If you arrive in Matehuala, you have missed the turn. You will notice an arch off to the right as you enter Matehuala, and there is another arch at the far end of town. These are not McDonald's Restaurants.

If you arrive in Matehuala by bus, you can catch a second bus to Real de Catorce three times a day.

If you arrive in Matehuala late at night, it is suggested that you spend the night at Las Palmas Midway Inn, where you will find nice rooms and a wonderful restaurant. They also have a swimming pool. To arrive in Real de Catorce after midnight is not suggested as most hotels do not have a night clerk to rent you a room.

The town of Matehuala boasts a Super Walmart where many residents of Real de Catorce buy the items that cannot be purchased in Real - clothing, camping gear, office supplies, appliances and large quanities of groceries. There are two other large grocery stores in Matehuala. There is also a market in the central part of town where you can buy fresh produce.

Matehuala was colonized as San Francisco de Goahtemala in July, 1550 in the Altiplano Potosino. What is now the Altiplano had been the territory of the Guachichil Indians, a sub-group of the generally unfriendly Chichimeca since the 13th century.

The Guachichiles were hunter-gatherers, often camping around a spring some four kilometers northwest of present-day Matehuala, which is known as Congregación de Ojo de Agua. Several Spaniards under Juan de Lahija, perhaps in their quest for gold founded the tiny settlement and San Francisco de Goahtemala came into being. The Guachichiles were understandably aggravated at having the Spaniards move so close to their homes. Within a year the Spaniards moved a few kilometers away and founded the new settlement of Matehuala.

Matehuala became a way stop, as it is today, for those traveling between the newly established cities of Monterrey and San Luis Potosí.

After you have traveled to Real de Catorce and visited the charming Parish of the Immaculate Conception, the Palenque de Gallos and Plaza de Toros you will want to hire a Willy's Jeep to take you to Catorce Estacion where you will get a second Jeep to take you to Wadley. Sometimes you can hire a Jeep in Real to carry you to Wadley, but remember to have them pick you up when you are ready to return.

Once in Wadley, you can explore the desert on foot or on horseback to learn the native Huichol way of life. You may also hire cowboys in Real who will take you to search the desert for the magical peyote cactus used by shamans during Huichol ritual and spiritual ceremonies. If you decide to go on horseback, you will want to head out early in the morning for the small town of Wadley where you will set up camp next to the lake and then relax or go for an afternoon hike through the desert. Campfires are forbidden and will draw police and army patrols to your site. Simply be happy to get in touch with nature, contemplate the mystery of life and create unforgettable memories with your friends under the starry night sky.

Be sure to not bring back any souvenir peyote or other items from the desert as you may encounter army patrols who do not take the use of peyote by tourists as a laughable matter.

Located about 80 miles south of Real de Catorce, Guadalcázar is a point of supreme importance among the "Potosino" Highlands. The village is near the mining towns of Realjo and Abrego and there is mining in Guadalcázar as well.

The talabartery, agriculture, cattle and goat raising are important activities in the area as well the sweet candies that are produced in the village.

Two Franciscan Temples exist in Guadalcázar - The Old Baroque Parish of the seventeenth century and San Pedro's Apostle New Church built in a neoclassic style. They have in their interior 12 paintings that are neither dated nor signed by the artist. However, their inscriptions are written in several languages including Hebrew, Greek, both old and new Latin; which are not usual in Mexico.

Tres Haciendas is not to be missed if you travel to the area. The wonderful Rosario's former country hacienda; which once held a liquor distillery. It is very near there the Treasury of San Diego and Guadalupe Cieneguilla are located.

For those that are browsers the Grottos of the Old Church or the Cathedral; with stalactites and stalagmites, the Ángel's Grottos and the hacienda of Big Cañada, are worthy of visiting.

If you want to visit the interior of the mines you will need to request permission from the mining companies and if granted you will guided by mining experts.

This a very beautiful and calming village that will be a pleasure to visit and experience.

The church of San Nicolás in San Pedro's Hill is an excellent example of the seventeenth century temple architecture. It harmonizes aesthetically with the hill located just behind the church. The facade of San Pedro's parish church with its three niches is related to the parishes of Charcas and of Mexquitic.

Located to 32 miles due south of Real de Catorce, near of Villa of Guadalupe, Charcas is the site of the Charcas Ponds where they mine onyx and marble. They are well known for their craft items which are exported to the United States and Spain.

Today, visitors can enjoy the Charcas Ponds, and the grottos of the blue cave where they will find beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites in the caves. The old church is also a place where many visitors find solitude.