Santa Maria del Oro

Santa María del Oro (Durango) is a small, historic gold mining town in Durango, Mexico. It has been designated as one of the country's Pueblos Mágicos.

Wulfenite mineral from the mines at Santa Maria del Oro

Understand

History

Santa Maria del Oro was founded on August 14, 1758, when Don Pedro Manuel de Acosta granted lands for the establishment of a mission for the Mercedarian friars to be named Our Lady of the Mercies (Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes). Gold was discovered soon after, and by the end of the 18th century, the town's population had burgeoned and the former mission was elevated in status to parish church (parroquia).

Get in

By car

It's about 340 km from Durango (Durango) to Santa María del Oro and will take about 4 hours to drive. Take federal highway MEX 45 towards Parral. Near the kilometer 284 marker (in El Carrizo), you'll turn left onto the road to Santa Maria del Oro (Durango state highway 44).

By bus

Valle del Guadiana has buses from Durango that make the trip to Santa Maria del Oro in 3 hours, 40 minutes. A one-way ticket costs M$432 (Mar 2023).

• 1 Central de Autobuses Santa Maria del Oro, located on Av. Mexico at the corner of Robles in Colonia La Compuerta. You can't miss it: it's a big ugly concrete block of a building that says "Camiones el Oro".

Get around

It's a very small town. Walking is best within town. Taxis are good for places further out.

See

• 1 Iglesia de la Mercedes (Church of the Mercies), Av Juarez 70, Centro. Main parish church of the town, built from 1758 to 1770. 19th century renovations changed the interior style from baroque to neoclassic. The church contains a number of significant religious artifacts and important works of art, including a 17th century sculpture by Juan de Sepulvede, which was brought to Mexico in 1625. A side niche contains an enormous wood altarpiece (the largest in the diocese) dating from the 18th century: it includes a painting of Our Lady of Mercy. The altarpiece is dedicated to the founding saints of the church. Depicted in it are St. Peter, St. Anthony of Padua, the Virgin Mary, who is flanked by a number of other saints. The church is a beautiful sacred place, but sadly in need of repairs, maintenance, and love. (updated Mar 2023)

Eat

A typical regional dish served in Santa Maria del Oro is called El Sapo. It's like a sope in that it's a very thick tortilla of soft maize, fried in lard, and then topped by a stew of chilis and veggies.

• 1 La Carreta, López Mateos 79, Centro, ☏ +52 6495260346, lacarretaeloro@gmail.com. Basic, casual, family style restaurant. Burgers, fries, seafood, gorditas, dulce de leche. (updated Mar 2023)
• 2 El Costeno, Lirios LB, Alameda, ☏ +52 6491089987. 09:00 - 17:00. Shrimp, fried fish, menudo. (updated Mar 2023)
• 3 El Cedro Steakhouse, Hidalgo s/n, Centro, ☏ +52 6495260051. 13:00 - 22:00. Burgers and Steaks served with all the fixin's (grilled onions, jalapenos, salsa, tortillas). M$250. (updated Mar 2023)
• 4 Restaurante Bar Durango (on the unnamed side road that runs parallel to Av. Baja California as it rounds the curve near Supermercado Ahorra Mas), ☏ +52 6491176832. 12:00 - 23:30. Basic meat and potatoes kind of place. (updated Mar 2023)

Drink

• 1 Por Mis Bigotes, Esq. Jalisco y Penasco, ☏ +52 6491968653. 17:00 - 22:00. Specializes in micheladas. (updated Mar 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Rincon Mexicano, Carretera a San Bernardo Km. 1, Magisterial, ☏ +52 6495260426. Barebones motor-inn style hotel. Cheap and clean. Close to the bus station. M$250. (updated Mar 2023)
• 2 Hotel Palacio del Sol, Hidalgo 60, Centro, ☏ +52 6495260990. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Quiet, clean, friendly hotel with a convenient location in center of town. On-site parking. Oxxo next door. Nicer than most hotels in town, but prices are a bit higher too. (updated Mar 2023)

Go next

• Guanaceví
• Mapimi