Discover a unique Mexican ghost town on a budget – This is Real de Catorce

Real de Catorce is a must for anyone looking for an offbeat adventure. Although today Real de Catorce exists mainly for tourists, there are still ways to make your stay affordable. Discover hidden treasures in and around the ghost town affordably.

In Mexico, you can find many small villages – Pueblo Magicos are magical towns with an important history or spectacular landscapes. Real de Catorce has both. Real de Catorce was once an important place for mining, silver and mint mines. But after 1900, when silver prices crashed, the town got abundant. In 2001, the town got named Pueblo Magico and became a tourist hotspot.
Although it seems to be more known by national tourists than foreigners. With this tourist rush, you can also expect higher prices. This blog post will give you an insight into how to get to Real de Catorce, where to stay, affordable activities and restaurants in the former ghost town.

How to reach the Mexican Ghost Town Real de Catorce

There are two opinions: either from Estacion Catorce or Matehuala. From Estacion Catorce, so-called Willis drive up the windy and steep mountain road. The journey takes one hour and costs 50 $MX, a fair deal. If you are going with your own or rental car, be aware that only 4×4 vehicles can drive up this road. Those Willis are leaving from Estacion Catorce from this spot and only run during the mornings. If you arrive in the afternoon, like me, at 4 pm, it is not possible to take a Willi anymore. However, there is an option to pay more for a private off-road car that can bring you to Real de Catorce. But staying on night in Estacion comes down to a price of around 14 €.

From Matehuala, more comfortable buses are leaving for Real de Catorce. The road is also a bit better, at least in the beginning. The journey is around 1 ½ hours and the cost is 100 $MX.

I took a Willi from Estacion de Catorce to Real de Catorce and travelled onward to Matehuala. Unfortunately, my bus from Monterrey was delayed, and I needed to stay in Estacion Catorce for one night. The journey onwards from Real de Catorce to Matehuala I took in the early morning. To everyone more sensitive to road conditions, my advice is not to have any food before your trip, especially since the journey’s beginning is very bumpy.

That’s the most budget option to reach Real de Catorce. You can also try hitchhiking, although it might be very difficult as mainly tourists visit this town.

Sleep in a stone house surrounded by the Sierra de Catorce

As mentioned earlier, there are two Hostels in this ghost town. Namely Hospedaje Alex and Casa de Sulahue. I arrived on a Monday and unfortunately, Casa de Sulahue was wholly booked and Hospedaje Alex seemed closed. So, I stayed in the lovely Hotel Ogarrio for 30 € a night. My room had a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains. Most of the hostels have the same prices and amenities. The Wifi of the hotel was also working quite well. Hot showers were available after informing the receptionist, and the only payment method is cash. So make sure you bring enough cash!

Another option would be to stay at an Airbnb. Although I haven‘t seen any significant choices. There is a small Airbnb hut outside the town, which seems excellent for everyone who wants to stay in the middle of nature and might consider doing digital detox.

As there are only two budget options in Real de Catorce and Couchsurfing is kind of death, I advise you to book accommodation beforehand, especially from Thursday to Sunday.

Discover Real de Catorce – those activities you shouldn’t miss

A small hike up next to the tunnel will lead you to a real ghost town, Pueblo Fantasma. Amazing views of Real de Catorce from above await you on this hike. Only the first 30 minutes are uphill. Then the path leads you on a plain terrier to the Pueblo Fantasma. Here you can see substantial empty stone houses. A real ghost town surrounded by mountains in the vast country of Mexico.

Another option is to explore the hilly desert landscape on a Jeep roof: the Willy Tour costs around 200 $ MX per person and lasts about 3 hours. Horseback riding would be a different option. The 3-hour tour is 700 $MX, including lunch.

If you are on a budget like me, it is also an excellent option to explore the town yourself. The viewing platform Mirador „El Templo“ is a highlight that Real de Catorce has to offer. However, the glass floor is not for weak nerves. This view platform belongs to a restaurant and bar. If you aren’t consuming anything at the restaurant, you need to pay 50 $MX. It gives you a little adrenaline kick to walk on the glass floor but offers spectacular views. 

There are hand sculptures close to the glass platform, where people usually like to take pictures. But to go there, you need a pay an additional 100 $MX. Between those attractions is a zipline, from where you probably also have an incredible view of this ghost town and the surrounding mountains.

Lastly, Real de Catorce is famous for a specific type of cactus. Peyote is a small, spineless cactus and contains a chemical called mescaline that causes hallucinations. It grows not in Real de Catorce but in the region of northern Mexico and the South of the USA. The Native Americans use it for ceremonies. If you are interested in that, you can do some research and go on the hills of Real Catorce yourself to find this so-called hallucinogenic cactus.

Eating out in Real de Catorce?

Real de Catorce has a few lovely places to enjoy a great meal. However, it is also overpriced when it comes to food. I went to a small café at the corner of the town square. The interior was lovely, and the food was tasty. They could also make some adjustments and serve me vegan dishes, to my surprise. So, on my first day in Real de Catorce, I enjoyed a big breakfast while talking to my mother on the phone.

On the other days, I ate at local restaurants with more affordable prices. However, the only vegan options there were very limited. You can recognize the local restaurants by their simple furniture and open spaces.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Real de Catorce and I hope this blog post will help you to decide whether to go there or not. If you want to read more about my Mexico’s travel experience, click here.