Prismas Basálticos, Hidalgo

The Prismas Basalticos, or simply the Basalt Prisms, are a spectacular geological formation just about equidistant between Pachuca and Tulancingo, the two biggest cities in Hidalgo.  The prisms are arguably the most famous thing about the old hacienda of Santa María Regla itself a fascinating historic site. All of this is just north of Huasca de Ocampo, the very first town inducted into the Pueblos Magicos program. 

The Prismas are one of the most distinct parts of the giant Geoparque Comarca Minera. The park is a series of some 34 important geosites that are noted for their importance to the history of metallurgy and mining across the region. The park is one of the biggest in the world, but not one that is well-known to visitors. The Prismas are a big exception to that general understanding. 

The columns of basalt can be greater than 40 meters in height and they date from some 2.58 million years ago when molten lava cooled very rapidly upon contact with water. With between five and eight faces, the prisms are remarkable and were first described by no less than Alexander von Humboldt after his visit in 1803. 

Today the prismatic canyon warrants its own museum, whimsically called the Centro de interpretación. The center provides a geological background to understanding the unique landscape and much more of the giant Geoparque, but it remains just one part of the historical settlement of Santa María Regla. 

The entire area is built up with lodging establishments catering to the many visitors, and food establishments catering to those among them who get hungry. There are facilities for swimming, hiking trails, and even a quite-old abandoned hydroelectric plant. One of the only golf courses in the Tulancingo area is just to the south of the lake that resulted from the damming of the San Antonio river. That lake provides a dramatic and calming tone for the rest of the often bustling valley. 

The Prismas Basalticos area is a charming and temperate vacation zone just outside of ruddy hardworking Tulancingo. Most visitors will arrive through there. There are occasionally tour groups that will arrive direct from the Terminal del Norte in Mexico City. That trip can take just over two hours. But even from Huasca de Ocampo, the trip in a taxi is only about 15 minutes.