Coahuila

Coahuila is a state in Northern Mexico. Coahuila is not a very touristy state when compared to other parts of the country, but it has several attractions, especially related to outdoor activities in the semi-desert climate.

Cities

• 1 Saltillo — the state capital is a beautiful small colonial city, known for its thick, lightly glazed, earthen ceramic floor tiles, and the brightly colored shawls known as sarapes
• 2 Candela — small village with mountain vistas and aquatic recreation
• 3 Ciudad Acuña — a small city on the U.S. border across from Del Rio, Texas
• 4 Melchor Múzquiz — a small city known for its American indian tribes, a designated Pueblo Magico
• 5 Monclova — an industrial powerhouse in the region, Monclova is the third largest city in the state
• 6 Parras de la Fuente — location of wineries that were established by the old Spanish Dons
• 7 Piedras Negras — a beautiful city with a high quality and standard of living, on the Texas border
• 8 San Pedro de las Colonias — it is considered the "Cradle of the Mexican Revolution", a title claimed by several towns
• 9 Torreón — the second largest city in the state is a modern city with several natural, cultural, historical and religious attractions

Other destinations

Santa Ana de los Hornos, Viesca

• 1 The Sierra del Carmen — the largest wilderness area in Latin America north of Patagonia, lying just across the river from Big Bend National Park
• 2 Cuatro Ciénegas — a unique ecosystem, the spring-fed pools that fill the valley of Cuatro Cienegas are host to a number of plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth. Much of the valley is a protected natural reserve, though some of the larger pools (called pozas) are open to the public for snorkeling and swimming

Understand

The Sierra Madre Oriental runs northwest to southeast through the State, and the higher elevations are home to the Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests. The northernmost fingers of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra del Burro and the Sierra del Carmen, reach to the border with the United States at the Rio Grande.

East of the range, the land slopes gently toward the Rio Grande, and is drained by several rivers, including the Salado and its tributary, the Sabinas River. The Tamaulipan mezquital, a dry shrubland ecoregion, occupies the eastern portion of the State, and extends across the Rio Grande into southern Texas.

The portion of the state west of the Sierra Madre Oriental lies on the Mexican Plateau, and is part of the Chihuahuan Desert.

History

The name Coahuila is derived from native terms for the region, and has been known by variations such as Cuagüila and Cuauila. Some historians believe that this means “flying serpent”, “place of many trees”, or “place where serpents creep”. The official name of the state is Coahuila de Zaragoza, in honor of General Ignacio Zaragoza.

The Spanish explored the north of Mexico some decades after their victory in Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs. The first Spanish settlement in the region now called Coahuila was at Minas de la Trinidad in 1577. Saltillo was settled by the Spaniards in 1586, to form part of the province of Nueva Vizcaya of the Vice-royalty of New Spain. Later it became one of the first provinces of Nueva Extremadura to be explored by Europeans.

Talk

As in the rest of the states of Mexico,the official language is Spanish. In Coahuila, some people speak Kikapú and other indigenous languages.

Climate

The climate is generally dry and semi-warm to extremely hot in much of the state of Coahuila, with some variations throughout the regions of the state.

In the southeast, the climate is hot, in spring and summer generally in Saltillo, Arteaga and more, the rainy season is in July and August, in winter the weather is cold and foggy. In the Lagunera Region the weather is hot in spring and summer, hot and dry in the fall and with relatively mild winters, eventually cold. In the central region, the weather is hot in spring and the temperature in summer is very high. In summer there are rains that can be intense. Winters are cold. In the north, the climate is hot in spring and summer and cold in winter, with rains in the region in July and August. Snowfalls are frequent in the northern part of the state, in the Múzquiz mountain ranges, and in the Arteaga mountain range in the southeast of the state during the winter season.

In the northeast, conditions can be favorable for the development of severe weather in the spring, including the possibility of tornadoes.

Get in

By bus

Senda Coahuilenses Group provides coach services through the state.

Transportes del Nazas is a bus line in the Torreón Metropolitan Area, better known as los Rojas. Their routes go to the surrounding area of the Lagunera Region.

Transportes Moctezuma de La Laguna is a bus line of the Lagunera Region. They are known as los verdes.

By plane

Saltillo International Airport (SLW ^IATA) is the main airport in the state.

Mariano Escobedo de Monterrey Airport (MTY ^IATA), which is 50 minutes from Saltillo, has flights from a wider variety of cities and has regional flights to some Coahuila destinations.

Francisco Sarabia International Airport (Torreon) (TRC ^IATA) and Piedras Negras International Airport (PDS  ^IATA) have limited flights.

See

In Cuatro Cienegas, the Cuatro Cienegas Biosphere Reserve displays 150 different endemic plants and animal species.

The capital, Saltillo, has various historical sites and buildings such as the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace and the Cathedral of Santiago. The Museum of the Desert also stands out.

The city of Torreón has as main attractions the Cristo de las Noas, which can be reached using the first cable car in the state; and the Corona Stadium, home of the Santos Laguna soccer team.

Parras de la Fuente stands out mainly for its walnut trees, its old architecture and its vineyards.

Do

Catch a baseball game! Coahuila has 3 professional baseball teams playing in the Liga Mexicana (summer league). You can catch a game in:

• Monclova - The Acereros got their start i 1974 as the Minereros, they play in the 11,000 seat Estadio de Béisbol Monclova
• Saltillo - The Saraperos joined the Mexican League in 1970 and have 3 championships under their belt, they play at Estadio de Béisbol Francisco Madero in Saltillo
• Torreón - The Algodoneros de Unión Laguna have been playing since 1940, their home field is Estadio Revolución in Torreon

Eat

• Asado de chile colorado – pork with ancho and guajillo chilies and cumin
• Charro beans – cowboy-style beans with bacon and chilies
• Coahuila sausage – made of pork seasoned with ancho chiles
• Enchiladas de olla – ancho chili, tortillas, poblano and grated cheese
• Menudo norteño – tripe soup with ancho and guajillo chilies
• Cajeta de membrillo – caramelized milk candy flavored with quince

Drink

Ice cold beer is the most popular drink everywhere in Northern Mexico, and Coahuila is no exception. In Coahuila, Modelo operates a large brewery in Piedras Negras, near the Texas border. The brewery exports most of its production to the United States.

Mezcal is fast becoming as well-known as tequila among the world's cocktail cognoscenit, and for good reason. Mezcal is made from a wider range of agave species than is tequila and is produced using different methods that create a rich palette of flavors that often display enormous depth and complexity from the variable roasting and preparation stages. In Northern Mexico, a sub-style of mezcal called sotol is produced in the arid mountains. In Coahuila, the Fabriquero Coahuila produces a young silver sotol. It is produced by roasting the pinas underground for 4 days before hand crushing them. Fermentation is done in concrete tanks and then distilled in copper alembic stills.

Coahuila may seem an unlikely climate to find a successful winery, yet the state is home to Casa Madero, which is the oldest winery in the Americas (established in 1597). Their historic vineyard welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. The vineyard is located in Parras de la Fuente.

Stay safe

Coahuila is one of the safer Northern Mexico states. Although it shares a long border with Texas, the high-profile violence of drug cartels is rare. The border crossings at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras and Del Rio/Ciudad Acuna are generally safe, although common sense dictates crossing during daylight hours and getting as far south as quickly as possible. Tourist friendly cities in the southern part of the state, such as Saltillo and Torreon are generally safe for travelers, though roaming outside the cities at night is ill-advised.

For most travelers, staying cool and well hydrated is the more significant safety issue since much of the state is a desert.

Go next

• Nuevo León
• Chihuahua
• San Luis Potosi