Nombre de Dios is a surprisingly lush and green oasis in often harsh desert climate of Durango. It\'s an old colonial town, roughly an hour southeast of the state capital. The town is actually older than the state capital and was originally known as the Villa de los Cuatro Templos. For all that, it\'s long been something of a weekend getaway for Duranguenses, and it\'s increasingly attractive for people from all over.
The San Antonio de Padua Chapel at the former Hacienda de Juana Guerra was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state. It\'s a remarkable old historical site and the hacienda itself is a popular place for residents and visitors.
The town is actually named for a Franciscan mass said sometime between 1555 to 1556, and dedicated to the "name of God." The name has been used since then.
Today most people come to take in the Saltito waterfalls that shower from 20 meters up. They\'re pouring into the rare verdant valley just northwest of the town center. It\'s a rocky and spectacular landscape. The waterfalls just make it that much more inviting.
There are a number of balnearios catering to visitors of all stripes. Trips into the former monasteries and haciendas mean that Nombre de Dios is an excellent place to contemplate humankind\'s relationship with nature that is often stark and even forbidding. Don\'t miss out on the traditional gorditas filled with a variety of fillings, and the town specializes in mezcal and craft beers.
People will generally arrive to Nombre de Dios from the state capital at Durango. It\'s just about an hour to the southeast. Valle del Guadiana bus lines runs two buses every day. A number of bus lines service the route from Fresnillo or Zacatecas. That trip can take a little more than three hours.
