Ciudad del Maíz is a town of a little more than 10,000 people in the northern state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.
Understand
[edit]The town was founded in 1617 by Spanish missionary Fray Juan Bautista de Mollinedo. At the time, the local area was populated by indigenous people of the Pame culture who called it the valley of corn.
Get in
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By bus
[edit]From the main bus station in San Luis Potosi, Grupo Vencedor operates 3 Autonaves buses per day to Cardenas. It is a 3-1/2 hour trip that will cost about M$300. From Cardenas, Transportes Frontera operates two buses per day to Ciudad del Maiz. The 30-minute trip will cost M$50. If a Transportes Frontera bus is not leaving Cardenas soon, taxis are available for about M$200.
- 1 Terminal de Autobuses, Blvr. Miguel Barragán 16, Deportiva. Informal bus "terminal". Really just a stop for passenger drop-off and pickup for Transportes Frontera buses. This is also where you can catch the combis operated by Transpais to other destinations in the region.
By car
[edit]From San Luis Potosi, it is a 2-1/2 hour drive to Ciudad del Maiz on a mix of highways, mostly modern and in good condition. Drive northeast of San Luis Potosi on federal highway MEX-57 for about 60 km, then take the state toll highway SLP-75D toward Cd. Victoria, then take MEX-80E for about 100 km to Ciudad del Maiz. As always, check road conditions locally and verify directions with a GPS app.
Get around
[edit]Ciudad del Maiz is a small city, and while the core downtown Centro area is easily walkable, you will want a taxi for some activities and outlying sites. Your hotel staff can call a radio taxi for you, or you will find a sitio near the Zocalo.
See
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- 1 Templo de la Purísima Concepción (Church of the Immaculate Conception), Manuel José Othón 41, El Callejon. Colonial era church established in 1765. The 350-year old church is known for its late baroque-style cupola, and beautifully rustic interior with a wooden altar and elaborate rococco altarpiece ostentatiously covered in gold leaf.
- Plaza de Armas. The town's main square (zocalo) is a pleasant place for an evening stroll or for people watching, particularly on Sunday afternoons. The plaza's centerpiece is a wrought-iron bandstand that was imported from France. The plaza is also site of a bust of Miguel Hidalgo, father of the country.
- 2 Casa de Cultura, Manuel José Othón 5, Centro. Small cultural center housed in a restored colonial-era hacienda. Features a few exhibits about the town's experience through the colonial, revolutionary, and modern eras of Mexican history. Exhibits are mostly dioramas depicting events. Art exhibitions featuring local photographers or artists are frequently available. The venue is used for classes and civic functions.
Do
[edit]- Cueva Vetada de San Bartolo - cave containing obsidian tools and cave drawings that pre-date the known indigenous cultures of the region (like the Huastec and the Pame)
- Laguna de Patos
- Laguna Agua Zarca
- Rio Rancho Nueva
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Regional dishes include guiso borracho (drunken stew) which is a mix of meat and vegetables cooked in pulque. Enchiladas potosinas are popular even if they aren't prepared quite the same way as they are in other parts of the state. Local cooks use long tortillas stuffed with a mix of red chile, potatoes, carrots, chorizo, tomato, onion, cheese and salsa. Tamales and tacos are often topped with goat cheese.
- 1 Pescados y Mariscos "Mary", Blvr. Miguel Barragán, Deportiva, ☏ +52 482 102 5013. Daily 09:00 - 05:00. Friendly, casual local seafood restaurant. Big shrimp cocktails.
- 2 Restaurante Valle del Maiz, Blvd. Miguel Barragán 52, El Senegal. Casual eatery serving basic Mexican antojitos like tacos and tortas. Some of the fried foods are a bit greasy.
- 3 Taqueria Dona Juana, Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza 47A, La Villa. Casual taqueria known for their golden tacos (taco de oro). Also serves tortas, enchiladas and basic Mexican antojitos. M$100.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Casa Grande, Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza 50, Centro, ☏ +52 482 378 0836. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with large, clean, comfortable rooms with air conditioning. Off-street parking available. Accepts credit cards. M$650.
- 2 Hotel San Jose, Felipe Berriozabal 72, La Villa. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Basic utilitarian hotel with minimally furnished rooms. Often lacks hot water. Small off-street parking lot. M$500.