REAL DEALS
Colombia Tour, 11 Nights, $1,145
Immerse yourself in this emerging South American destination—from colonial Cartagena and hectic Bogotá to the easy-going San Bernardo Islands and the equatorial rain forest of Tayrona National Park.
Ghosts of the Sierra Madre
In the remote mountains of central Mexico, the old mining town of Real de Catorce is being reborn as a mystical outpost of the counterculture. Whether you go to eat peyote, soak up the hippie vibe, or commune with the spirits, visiting is always a trip.
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November 2005 issue
The road to Real
The nearest airports, in Monterrey and San Luis Potosí, are a three-hour drive away. Turn off Hwy. 57 (Pan-American Hwy.) just north of Matehuala and follow signs to Real de Catorce (by way of the village of Cedral). From Matehuala, it's 40 miles to Real, but the drive--over windy, cobbled roads--takes at least an hour. Once you've passed through the Ogarrio Tunnel, you're there.
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Lodging
El Mesón de la Abundancia Lanzagorta 11, 011-52/488-887-5044, hotelabundancia@hotmail.com, doubles from $55
Hotel El Real Morelos 20, 011-52/488-887-5058, hotelelreal.com, doubles from $51, includes breakfast weekdays only
Food
El Mesón de la Abundancia Lanzagorta 11, 011-52/488-887-5044, chiles rellenos $5
La Esquina Chata Lanzagorta 2, 011-52/488-887-5060, focaccia sandwich $4
El Malambo Lanzagorta at Allende, empanadas de picadillo with salad $2
El Cactus Plaza Hidalgo 3, 011-52/488-887-5056, cabuches pizza $3
El Tolentino Teran 7, tortilla chips and guacamole $3, margarita $4
Activities
Don Boni's Jeep Willys Tour Contact through El Mesón de la Abundancia; from $20 for two hours
Cine Club El Café Mañana, corner of Morelos and Constitución, $1 donation
Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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