Real de Catorce by bus: travel guide
A silver-mining ghost town at 2,700 metres in the Sierra de Catorce, reached through a 2.3 km tunnel. Take a Senda bus to Matehuala, the gateway town.
Top things to see and do
Our pick of the places to visit in and around Real de Catorce:
Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción
Túnel de Ogarrio
Pueblo Fantasma
Casa de la Moneda
Wirikuta desert
Horseback ride to Cerro del Quemado
Jeep ride to Estación de Catorce
Gorditas and enchiladas potosinas
Sunset over the Altiplano
Best time
October to April; nights are cold all year
How long
2 nights to see the town and Wirikuta
Senda to
Matehuala, then regional bus
Plan your trip to Real de Catorce
Senda takes you to Matehuala. Search your date, choose your seat and pay online; your e-ticket arrives by email.
Getting to Real de Catorce with Senda
Senda bus to Matehuala
about 13 a day from San Luis Potosí
From 6 cities
San Luis Potosí, Monterrey, Saltillo, Mexico City
From San Luis Potosí: about 2h 35min
fares from MX$293
How to get to Real de Catorce by bus
Senda buses arrive at Matehuala Bus Terminal. Departures in the next 30 days, as shown in the booking flow:
- San Luis Potosí: about 13 buses a day, around 2h 35min, from MX$293
- Monterrey: about 10 buses a day, around 4h 40min, from MX$424
- Saltillo: about 4.2 buses a day, around 3h 55min, from MX$334
- Mexico City: about 4 buses a day, around 9h, from MX$774
- Querétaro: about 3 buses a day, around 5h 30min, from MX$534
- Nuevo Laredo: about 3 buses a day, around 8h 10min, from MX$813
Schedules and fares change by date and season; search your date to see live times and prices.
The last stretch
From Matehuala, regional buses and taxis climb to Real de Catorce in about an hour and a half; the last stretch is a cobblestone road and the single-lane Ogarrio tunnel. Many travelers spend a night in Matehuala if they arrive late.
Related guides
Matehuala Bus Terminal guide · Matehuala to Monterrey bus · Matehuala to San Luis Potosí bus
Travel tips
Arrive at the bus station at least 30 minutes before departure with your e-ticket and an official photo ID.
Senda allows up to 2 bags of up to 25 kg each in the hold, plus a small carry-on.
About Real de Catorce
Real de Catorce grew from the silver strikes of the late 18th century into one of the richest mining towns in New Spain, with a mint, a bullring and a theater. When the mines closed in the early 20th century the population almost disappeared, leaving stone streets and roofless houses that gave it the name “ghost town”. Today it is a Pueblo Mágico that lives from pilgrims, travelers and the Wixárika pilgrimage to Wirikuta. Pack warm clothes: at around 2,700 metres, nights are cold even in summer.