Central Plateau (Altiplano)

Cactus forest near Real de Catorce

Altiplano (Central Plateau) is in San Luis Potosí. The Altiplano is a high desert with high mountain ranges and a moderate climate although it can have snowstorms in the winter. It boasts some of the most diverse varieties of cacti found anywhere.

Cities

• 1 Cedral
• 2 Charcas
• 3 Matehuala
• 4 Mexquitic de Carmona
• 5 Real de Catorce — this former silver mining boomtown is popular with tourists as an almost ghost town
• 6 Salinas de Hidalgo
• 7 Venado

Other destinations

Protected areas

• Wirikuta – the place of pilgrimage for the Huichol (Wirrárika).
• Sierra de la Mojonera
• Real de Guadalcázar – the largest variety of cactus on the American continent.

Understand

The advent of the railroad extended advancement from the capital of the state to the other parts of the Altiplano.

The native Guachichiles occupied the largest territory of the Chichimecas (a generic term for less civilized tribes of the north) but have been greatly impacted by development of the region. The Huichol are thought to have come from San Luis Potosí and engage in an annual migration to Real de Catorce.

Although plateau or altiplano might indicate that this region is flat, it is far from it. High mountain ranges are found throughout the Altiplano and many of the towns are located adjacent to them.

Go next

• Centro – Includes the Capital City with the Seven Historical Neighborhoods (Siete Barrios) that formed the original city, the historical center with colonial architecture and the commercial and political center of the state.
• Medio – A rich agricultural region of mostly rural character.
• Huasteca Potosina – Coastal plains and the eastern reach of the Sierra Madre with a distinct culture greatly influenced by the Huastec Indians.