Aquismón

Aquismón is a small town in the Huasteca area of eastern San Luis Potosi (state). It is a town with strong cultural traditions and a gateway to some of the most scenic natural wonders of the Huasteca region. A magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. The town is one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos.

Understand
Aquismón is part of a region called the Huasteca (the traditional lands of the Huastec culture). It is one of several towns in San Luis Potosi where the population is predominantly indigenous people, not mestizos or hispanics. Most indigenas in Aquismon are Huastec (not a given in today's Huasteca, where most indigenas are Mexica and other Nahuatl speakers). Among themselves, the Huastec often speak a dialect of the Maya language they call Tenek. They are almost always conversant in Spanish as well. You may also encounter some Mexica speaking Nahuatl.

By car
Aquismón is a remote town in a forested mountainous region, but easy to get to since it is less than a mile off federal highway MEX 85 (Carratera Mexico-Laredo). By car, it is 4 hours to the state capitol, San Luis Potosi. The nearest city with a commercial airport is Tampico, which is 2½ hours away.

By bus
Servicio Expreso Metropolitano (part of Grupo Vencedor) runs 4 buses daily between Aquismón and Ciudad Valles. The 2-hour trip will cost about M$100.

Get around
Walk or use a taxi. Some of the nearby natural attractions will take you almost an hour to reach.

Do
If you want to explore more caves, there are several in the area, including Cueva Linda, Cuevas de Mantetzulel, and Sótano de las Huahuas, and El Aguacate, famous for its historic mystical rituals. Ask a local guide for details and additional suggestions.
 * White water rafting - explore the four canyons of the Río Tampaón.
 * Canoeing - paddle the smoother sections of the Rio Tampaón.

Buy
Local Huichol handcrafts are available in the market, particularly textiles such as tablecloths, napkins, and handstiched blouses and sweaters.


 * La Mora - an outdoor area where you can often find indigenas selling handcrafts

Go next

 * Ciudad Valles
 * Xilitla
 * Tampico