The sacred Maxauhata spring is used by the community of El Mastranto. Together with its location at the foot of the Sierra de Catorce, it offers insight into the spiritual significance of the landscape and the place’s connection to Wixárika traditions.
Landscape, Spring, and Pilgrimage Routes
El Mastranto is located at the foot of the Sierra de Catorce. Its significance is not limited to its location in the mountains: the community uses the sacred Maxauhata spring. A route through the town is also used by Wixárika pilgrims climbing to Cerro El Quemado. Another route through El Mastranto leads to Cerro El Lucero, which Wixárika pilgrims also use for the ascent. These two named mountains illustrate the religious connection between the routes and the surrounding landscape.
In the broader travel region, the Wixárika route to the sacred sites of Wirikuta is also an important regional reference point. It is a serial UNESCO World Heritage property comprising 20 sites and extending for more than 500 kilometers across five states in north-central Mexico, including San Luis Potosí. This places the region in a broad geographical context.
Ceremony and Cultural Heritage
A ceremony was held in El Mastranto that brought together ancestral Wixárika traditions and Catholic ecumenism. It included Wixárika songs. A small Wixárika-style temple building was also constructed during the ceremony. The ceremony can thus be described as bringing together different religious traditions, rather than as a regularly occurring event.
The community of El Mastranto donated a plot of land to the Wixárika people. It was located at the foot of a mountain; through dialogue with the singers, the donation was intended to affirm respect for the demands of nature. An interpretation published in 2017 understood the donation as a sign of alliance between the mestizo peoples of the Wirikuta Altiplano and the Wixárika people. The land and the ceremony offer different facets of the place’s cultural heritage: one a gesture of community, the other a religious gathering.
Carving lechuguilla is also part of El Mastranto’s history. In 2017, it was still a living craft that provided a livelihood for young families. This time reference is important for placing the craft tradition in context, without presenting it as a current offering. Together with the accounts of the ceremony and the land donation, the craft shows that the place’s cultural significance cannot be attributed solely to individual buildings.
Catorce and Real de Catorce: The Bigger Picture
In the wider Catorce destination, Real de Catorce offers its own historical focus. The former mining settlement in the Altiplano was founded around 1778. It is located in the Sierra de Catorce, in the state of San Luis Potosí, at an elevation of 2,750 meters. The 2.3-kilometer-long Túnel de Ogarrio passes through solid rock to Real de Catorce.
On November 29, 2012, Real de Catorce was declared a zone of historic monuments; it includes 123 historic monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Antigua Casa de Moneda was built by Santos de la Maza starting in 1863, opened in 1865, and closed a year later. The temple dedicated to the Purísima Concepción houses an image of Saint Francis of Assisi, which is venerated by hundreds of pilgrims every year on October 4. The stone seating at the Palenque de Gallos and the remains of the Plaza de Toros are also part of the town’s historic character.
Walking is one way to get around Real de Catorce: various tourist attractions are close to one another. Visitors who want to explore the surrounding area can rent Willys in Real de Catorce, rugged vehicles that predate the Jeep. They are used to explore rough tracks and trails, as well as the semi-desert plains and mountain ranges in the area. The surroundings can also be explored on horseback; the availability of such activities may vary by provider.
Pueblo Fantasma consists of the ruins of former ore-processing haciendas belonging to the Minas de Concepción and the Compromiso mine shaft. A visit includes an approximately one-hour walk with views of the hills and a panoramic view of the town.
Discover More Destinations
El Naranjo, San Luis Potosí, Herradura, Soledad De Graciano Sánchez, Tamasopo, Los Puentes, Refugio, Alfred M. Terrazas
Back to the main travel overview: San Luis Potosí.
