Concrete sculptures in the jungle at Las Pozas, Edward James’s surrealist garden in Xilitla

Xilitla and Las Pozas by bus: Edward James’s surrealist garden

Concrete flowers, stairways to nowhere and waterfalls in the cloud forest. Take a Senda bus to Axtla de Terrazas, the closest Senda stop to Xilitla.

Top things to see and do

Our pick of the places to visit in and around Xilitla and Las Pozas:

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Las Pozas

The surrealist garden Edward James built in the jungle between 1949 and 1984, with dozens of concrete sculptures among pools and waterfalls.
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Museo Leonora Carrington

A museum in town dedicated to the surrealist artist, a friend of Edward James.
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El Castillo

The house of Plutarco Gastélum, James’s collaborator, now a guesthouse full of surrealist details.
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Ex-convento de San Agustín

A 16th-century Augustinian convent in the town center, one of the oldest buildings in the region.
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Coffee farms

Xilitla grows coffee on its steep hillsides; several farms offer tastings.
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Mirador and cloud forest

Viewpoints over the Sierra Gorda foothills, often wrapped in mist.
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Nacimiento de Huichihuayán

A spring-fed river nearby with clear pools for swimming.
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Sótano de las Huahuas

A deep pit where birds fly out at dawn, close to Aquismón.
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Enchiladas huastecas

Local dishes and the region’s famous zacahuil.
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Best time

November to May; misty, green and cooler in winter

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How long

1 to 2 nights

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Senda to

Axtla de Terrazas

Plan your trip to Xilitla and Las Pozas

Senda takes you to Axtla de Terrazas. Search your date, choose your seat and pay online; your e-ticket arrives by email.

Find Senda buses to Axtla de Terrazas

Getting to Xilitla and Las Pozas with Senda

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Senda bus to Axtla de Terrazas

about 5.4 a day from Monterrey

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From 3 cities

Monterrey, Ciudad Victoria, Nuevo Laredo

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From Monterrey: about 9h 40min

fares from MX$521

How to get to Xilitla and Las Pozas by bus

Senda buses arrive at Axtla de Terrazas bus stop. Departures in the next 30 days, as shown in the booking flow:

  • Monterrey: about 5.4 buses a day, around 9h 40min, from MX$521
  • Ciudad Victoria: about 4.4 buses a day, around 5h 45min, from MX$589
  • Nuevo Laredo: about 1 bus a day, around 13h 15min, from MX$1,962

Schedules and fares change by date and season; search your date to see live times and prices.

The last stretch

From Axtla de Terrazas, local buses and taxis climb to Xilitla in around 30 to 40 minutes. Las Pozas is a short taxi ride or walk from the town center.

Related guides

Huasteca Potosina guide

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.

Tamul waterfall seen from the Santa María river canyon

About Xilitla and Las Pozas

Edward James, a British poet and patron of surrealist artists such as Dalí and Magritte, settled in Xilitla in the 1940s. Over more than three decades he built Las Pozas, a garden of concrete columns, arches and stairways set among natural pools in the jungle. Xilitla is now a Pueblo Mágico and the most visited town in the Huasteca. Visits to Las Pozas are guided and the number of visitors per day can be limited, so arrive early and check opening hours before you go.

Xilitla and Las Pozas: frequently asked questions

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Nuestra empresa de transporte de pasajeros ofrece servicios seguros y confiables para todas sus necesidades de viaje.

logo senda

Nuestra empresa de transporte de pasajeros ofrece servicios seguros y confiables para todas sus necesidades de viaje.