Ciudad Valles
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Ciudad Valles is a city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. It is near the Sierra del Abra Tanchipa, a biosphere reserve natural area. Ecological tourism is practiced in the region.
Understand
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The city had population of 177,000 as of 2014 and has an elevation of 1,800 m.
Ciudad Valles and other towns in the Huasteca Potosina region are known for their unusual Day of the Dead celebrations leading up to November 1. Locals celebrate the holiday as Xantolo. The holiday includes cemetery visits, a parade of spooky looking costumed characters, a catrina contest and more. The celebration is more serious than many towns in Mexico and it observes traditions of the Husastec indigenous culture. Important traditions are observed in nearby towns such as Aquismón and Xilitla.
Get in
editFrom San Luis Potosi buses to Ciudad Valles are operated by Futura Select and Omnibus de Oriente for around M$640 (Jan 2022). You can also check Grupo Vencedor and Omnibus de Mexico.
Blablacar rides from San Luis Potosi cost around M$290 (Jan 2022).
From Xilitla, Frontera operates buses to Ciudad Valles for about M$118 (Jan 2022). You can also check Grupo Vencedor.
- 1 Central de Autobuses, Elvira. Large bus station served by seveal lines including Senda, Futura, Vencedor, Frontera, and Transpais. Clean waiting area, good restrooms.
Get around
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Between small cities and towns in the Huasteca region, Grupo Vencedor is the largest bus line with the most frequent service.
See
editThe Tantocob Park has a boardwalk next to the river, trails for walking, spaces for children and for practicing sports.
Do
editYou can do extreme sports such as kayaking or rapelling (abseiling).
On the outskirts of the city to the south, there is the water park called - El Coy - this place is very popular by inhabitants of the same region and by tourists, the park has several aquatic areas, such as pools, slides, restaurant, the place how much with a hotel and sports facilities.
To the northeast of the city, is the Protected Natural Area with the category of Biosphere Reserve " Sierra del Abra Tanchipa ", where the limestone soil of the mountains has allowed the creation of caves and basements, such as the cave of the ejido Los Sabinos.
Micos waterfall
editThese waterfalls are known for their steep falls in the middle of hills surrounded by vegetation.
These waterfalls are located 18 kilometers (11 mi) from Ciudad Valles and are part of Tampaon river, best known as the Micos River. This name was given due to the abundance of spider monkeys that inhabited this area. This river goes down through a large series of falls with a vertiginous acceleration. Rafting through the rapids of this river can be done. At the top of the waterfall there is a scenic viewpoint.
Tamasopo
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Another destination for adventure tourism for the Verastegui Sierra, where the spectacle of the Espinazo del Diablo (Backbone of the Devil) and its ravines which are up to 300 meters (980 feet) deep can be seen. In this place, access is difficult due to the rough terrain.
Tamasopo waterfalls are nearby, a group of three waterfalls that form a 20-meter (66-foot) waterfall that falls violently into a 5-m-deep well, in whose banks there are beaches.
Tamul waterfall
editFrom the town of Tanchachín, the Tamul waterfall is about two hours by boat. With a 105-meter (344-foot) drop, it is the highest waterfall in the state of San Luis Potosí. It is known for its height and its crystalline turquoise water. Formed by the waters of the Gallinas River at its confluence with the Tampaon, Tamul Falls cascade into the Tampaon River. 40 km downstream from the falls, the Tampaon meanders past the ancient pyramid site of Tamtoc. Archaeologists believe that Tamtoc is the northernmost pre-Columbian city with pyramids in Mexico, and some speculate that it could be the place of origin of the Aztecs from which they launched their migration to the Valley of Mexico. The best time to visit the waterfall is during the low water season from July to October, when it is easily accessible.
Tancanhuitz de Santos
editThis town is 65 km (40 mi) from Ciudad Valles. The Huehuetlan Sierra creek is located here, which is a natural frontier that divides the huastecas to the south and the nahuatlacos native groups.
These two indigenous groups nowadays still preserve their languages, dress and customs from their ancestors. When going down from their communities towards the "tianguis" (street market) every Sunday, women wear their quetzquemaletls (v.-shaped ponchos) that they knit and embroider. The languages spoken here mix Nahuatl, Huasteco and Spanish.
Buy
editEat
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editThere are many small hotels and hostels in Ciudad Valle. A few are:
- 1 Grann Hotel Ciudad Valles, Blvd. Mexico - Laredo 47, Rotarios, ☏ +52 481 382 0016. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with clean but small rooms, basic amenities, on-site restaurant. M$1900.
- 2 Hotel Boutique Portal de Jose, C. Tetuan 202, Tetuan, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 481 153 4599. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean comfortable rooms in a modern hotel with off-street parking and a pleasant pool area. M$1000.
- 3 Hostal Casa Huasteca, Calle Gral Blas Escontria 610, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 481 152 8010. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Hostel with shared rooms/baths. Clean with lockers and off-street parking (extra fee). M$1100.
Go next
editAll of these places have hostels and private rooms:
- Xilitla – 90 km in the south
- San Luis Potosi – 290 km in the west
- Ciudad Tula - historic Huastec town in Tamaulipas