Cuatro Ciénegas

Cuatrociénegas (Four marshes) is a desert oasis in northern Mexico. It is a protected natural reserve where unique plant and animal species thrive in the cool pools, called pozas, fed by underground waters percolating up through the desert floor. The area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has been designated as a Ramsar wetland.

Understand
Cuatro Cienegas is a fragile ecosystem. The number of pools, called pozas, in the valley varies seasonally and a precise count is never completely accurate. The biodiversity of Cuatro Cienegas and its unusual ecosystem has earned it labels like "Desert Aquarium" and "Galapagos of Mexico".

Get in
Buses run regularly from the twin border towns of Eagle Pass Texas and Piedras Negras Coahuila. Grupo Senda serves the area through its Coahuilenses buses, and ticket prices from the border are approximately US$20. You can also bus in from the city of Monclova, about an hour away or other points in Coahuila and neighboring states.

Driving to Cuatro Cienegas is more practical, especially if you have a 4WD SUV or pickup. Some pozas and recreational areas are far off the main road. The protected area lies about 4 hours from the U.S. border.

Get around
You can walk around the area near the visitor center at Poza Azul. Some of the more remote pools require 4WD or a good pair of legs (preferably those of a horse). Pools are no longer open for swimming, since new legislation was passed to protect them in 2008.

See

 * A series of fresh water springs and marshland surrounded by sweeping desert vistas.
 * Massive white sand dunes of pure gypsum.
 * The tranquil small town of Cuatro Cienegas
 * The statue of former president Venustiano Carranza, who was born in Cuatro Cienegas

Do

 * Picnic at the banks of the chilly Rio Mezquite
 * Climb the gypsum sand dunes at Dunas de Yesu.
 * Learn about the fragile local ecosystem at the Poza Azul.

Buy
There is a small store set up near the camping area at Poza la Becerra. Has very basic grocery items, but plenty of cold beer. Other small stores can be found in the town of Cuatro Cienegas.

Eat
There are a couple of small restaurants in the town of Cuatro Cienegas, but no noteworthy restaurants exist there.

Drink
Bring a cooler of cold drinks with you: this is in the desert.



Sleep
A few small hotels can be found in Cuatrocienegas, none have more than about 20 rooms and none cost more than about US$50. The Hotel Santa Fe is on the main road as you come into town. It appears to be a well-kept motor court style motel. There are also a couple of small inns on Ocampo Street, and there is a lodge called El Nogalito that rents family-style cabins outside of town.



Go next

 * Monclova is the nearest town of any size or significance. It is 80 km east of Cuatro Cienegas.