At 2,728 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains and desert, is a Magic Town suspended in time. So magical, that to get here you will have to go through the Ogarrio tunnel, a dark, humid and cold tunnel that during the tour you feel is transporting you back in time to another era.
Hotel El Real
Royal of Fourteen
Hotel Shantiniketan
Royal of Fourteen
Inn of Abundance
Royal of Fourteen
roman shelter
Royal of Fourteen
It is that Real de Catorce is a ghost town so well preserved, with all its colonial architecture and cobbled streets that you will truly feel in another time. In addition, the cell phone signal does not reach the town and there are very few places that have internet, so yes, you will feel frozen in time.
Dare to cross this magical bridge and discover the wonders of Real de Catorce!
If you want to plan your getaway to Real de Catorce, click here.
Upon entering this damp and cold tunnel, you will barely be able to make out the way by the headlights of the cars and the occasional lamppost suspended from the walls. The route is 2,300 meters and you can really feel the mining past of this town in the environment.
Upon leaving, the desert, the mountains on the horizon and the colonial houses will welcome you to one of the most incredible towns in Mexico. Real de Catorce is rich in tradition, legends, gastronomy and ghost stories. It is the right place to disconnect from the routine and embark on a magical adventure.
Why visit Real de Catorce
- Despite the fact that the town is small – you can walk around it in a single day – it has a lot to offer. From religious tourism, adventure to paranormal.
- The saint of the town is San Francisco de Asís. Every Holy Week and October the faithful gather in the Church to thank and ask for favors from the Saint.
- If you are a fan of the paranormal, you are going to love this place! We recommend you visit the town’s pantheons to learn about their legends. Also, you can ask for various tours that tell you the stories of the ghosts of the mines.
- Also, if you are interested in spiritual tourism, Real de Catorce is ideal for learning more about the Wirikuta culture. Even here is the Cerro de Quemado, which is considered a sacred place as it is the beginning of the universe. You will be able to learn more about their legends and customs and admire their cosmology.
If you want to plan your getaway to Real de Catorce, click here.
The History of the Ogarrio Tunnel
The idea for the tunnel arose during El Porfiriato and its construction took from 1997 to 1901. The inauguration took place on April 2, 1901 and the construction cost approximately one million pesos at the time. It was named Ogarrio in honor of the town of origin of Vicente Irizar, who designed the bridge.
Historians say that before the tunnel, there was a tunnel called Dolores, which was used to access the mines and transport materials and minerals. The initiative to drill to make the tunnel belonged to the Counts of La Maza, Santos, Gregorio, Joaquín and Pedro.
The perforations began in July 1897 and ended on April 2, 1901. Currently the tunnel is 2,300 meters long and is the only way to access and exit the Magical Town.
The Ogarrio tunnel has a single lane that allows cars to advance in only one direction. There are people who are dedicated to monitoring the entrance and exit of the tunnel through radios. During Holy Week and the San Francisco de Asís Festival, the tunnel is closed to cars and it is necessary to cross on foot.
Why crossing the Ogarrio Tunnel will make you feel as if you were traveling in time
- Although you can cross by car, going through the tunnel on foot is a unique experience. Taking into account that it is a humid, cold and dark tunnel, you must be open to adventure and to travel the 2,300 meters of the tunnel. When you cross it like this, you can imagine the route of the old miners and the route they took every day.
- If you decide to cross it by car, you will still be able to enjoy the tour with the little light from the hanging streetlights and the lights of your own car.
- As you exit the tunnel towards Real de Catorce you will be greeted by the view of the mountains on the horizon and the town stretching out in front. You will not have a cell phone signal and, in most cases, you will have to leave the car at the beginning of the town. Therefore, you will have to walk around the town and enjoy the fresh air and calm atmosphere that exists here.
