Real de Catorce

Real de Catorce is a town in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Understand Real de Catorce is a small and compact mountain town nestled between the dramatic and austere mountains of the Sierra de Catorce range. Formally a prosperous silver mining town, the area became deserted after a crash in the price of silver at the end of the 19th century. A hundred years later, the town is gradually being restored and is reinventing itself as a tourist destination. The area has long attracted pilgrims, those of catholic and indigenous persausions alike, and has now caught the attention of not only Mexican tourists, but European new agers too, who travel here for the reported spiritual energy. Whatever your beliefs, the town and surrounding region are stunning and the area certainly possesses a unique atmosphere that requires at least a week to soak up. Get in Matehuala, around eight hours from the D.F. and around four from Monterrey, is the nearest transport hub. Real de Catorce is under two hours (approx M$77.00 single) from there. To enter the town, you must pass through a tunnel and in high seasons (Oct. and Apr.) expect long delays as the tunnel can only accommodate one-way traffic. Get around The town is compact and despite some steep roads, is easy to explore by foot. For the surrounding area, horse rides are easy to arrange in town. You can also hike the surrounding hills by foot if you are reasonably fit. Keep to the paths and leave enough time to find your way back to town, as the temperature drops dramatically at night. See Quemado hill (Cerro el Quemado) is around a two or three hour round hike from town. As of 2013, entry was M$20.00. The best time to go is sunset but factor in the time it takes to return to town. Las Ruinas - various deserted villages and mines scattered around within hiking distance from town. The graveyard Purisima Concepcion Church Ogarrio Tunnel Palenque Coin House Do Just explore the town and soak up the atmosphere or take to the hills, either by foot, horse or mountain bike (you can rent bikes near the main square). In spring time, Real14 is a popular place to celebrate Santa Semanas (The Week of the Saints). During in this time, expect accommodation options to be fewer and more expensive and the towns typical quiet ambiance is transformed into something rather different. Buy There are plenty of shops and street vendors selling homemade arts and crafts. Eat You can find street restaurants in the town centre that serve up cheap and tasty gorditas. Drink There are several bars and cafes ran by Europeans along the main street that serve coffee, drinks including beer and wines. Sleep Houses can be rented in the surrounding small ghost towns (without electricity or running water) for about $100 USD monthly, it is a popular option for artists and craftsmen. There are plenty of accommodation options in town. For budget travelers, you can rent (very) basic private rooms for as little as M$50.00 per days. Otherwise, the going rate for a budget room in a posada is around M$100-150 per day and upwards. Casa Ram, ☎ 488 8875154.  edit Casa Sierrra Catorce, ☎ 488-887-5086, [1]. Casa Sierra Catorce has comfortable apartments centrally located one block from the Plaza.  edit El Ángel Y El Corazón, Iturbide No. 3 (Zona Centro), ☎ 488 8875062 (elangel@realdecatorce.net), [2]. checkout: 12 PM.  edit Hoteles Teléfono.  edit Hostal Alcazaba, ☎ 488 1010244 (alcazabatorres@gmail.com).  edit Mesón Del Refugio, ☎ 488 8875068 (mesondelrefugio@gmail.com).  edit hotel el real (www.hotelelreal.com.mx), morelos # 20 (one block from main plaza), ☎ 01800-836-6006. checkin: 2pm; checkout: 12pm. 28 rooms ,divided in two houses, hotel el real 1 and hotel el real 2. best social club in town ,featuring weddings,birthdayparties,live music etc. $55.-+.  edit Contact Free Municipal Wi-Fi in Real de Catorce, [3]. Free Internet access throughout the pueblo. Try Cafe Azul on Calle Lanzagorta for cappucino and Internet access, featuring Asus netbooks for rent. Get out There are several ruined ghost towns surrounding Real14. You can explore these by foot, or hire horses and a guide in town. From near the town square, you can catch vintage jeeps (Willys) that ply the bumpy route down to the small peublo of Estación de Catorce (approx 1h, M$40.00 single). From there you can catch onward transport to Zacatecas or make a foray into the desert. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!