Adventure Tourism
NORTHWEST GUANAJUATO STATE Northwest Guanajuato contains the most spectacular mountain scenery in the state. About 35 miles from San Miguel de Allende, on highway 57 heading north to San Luis Potosí, lies the townlet of San Jose Iturbide. It is impossible to resist the temptation to explore further the villages and "pueblos" of this area, such as Atarjea, Santa Catarina and Xichú and relish the breathtaking mountain landscapes, or the ‘magnetic’ zones, gorges and canyons of Tierra Blanca and the rock formations in Victoria such as Cerro de Tortuga (Turtle Hill). Also, the Chichimeca inhabitants of this area resisted the Conquistadors to the very last, leaving us some fascinating examples of indigenous rock painting. It is well worth the trouble to visit Pozos, close to San Luis de la Paz. This is the ghost town that served as the location for the film version of the classic Mexican novel "Pedro Paramo". Its fortunes have recently been revived by the opening of a number of workshops producing native Mexican musical instruments. One experience not to be missed is the New Year's celebration in Xichú, where the party lasts all night long to the accompaniment of groups playing lively Huapango music.