Bustamante: Timeless Charm in the Nuevo Leon Desert

Among the rugged mountains of northern Nuevo Leon, Bustamante emerges as a miracle of greenery in the middle of the semi-desert landscape. Just 75 kilometers from Monterrey, an oasis of tranquility transports you to a world where time seems to flow at the rate of the canals.

People visit for the majestic Bustamante Caves. These were discovered in 1906 by humble artisans and remain one of the most impressive cave systems in northern Mexico. Entering the cave system visitor marvel at the spectacle of limestone formations sculpted drop by drop over 150 million years. The famous Chamber of Crystals has walls that sparkle like diamonds, and the Hall of Silence lets you hear just the distant echo of the water filtering through.

Not so far away, the imposing Cañón de las Brujas is legendary for sightings of ghostly apparitions at sunset. The canyon offers a dramatic setting for trekking enthusiasts. But in the very heart of Bustamante, the San Miguel Arcángel church still stands as a guardian as it has since 1715. The venerated Cristo de Tlaxcala is at home in a remarkable interior where time seems to have stopped.

Feasts here begin with pulque bread baked in wood-fired ovens and family kitchens still serve cabrito al pastor, gorditas de horno, and walnut sweets. For those in search of authentic experiences, Bustamante offers:

Walks through the Tlaxcalan irrigation systems that transformed the desert into fertile orchards
Palm heart dyeing workshops, where you'll learn this craft that made the town famous
Storytelling evenings in the plaza, when elders share legends passed from generation to generation
Revitalizing baths in the hot springs that emerge at the foot of the sierra

Bustamante is often visited from Monterrey. It takes a little more than an hour to get here by bus. Transportes Frontera runs regular buses from the Central Monterrey station (Central De Autobuses de Monterrey) although there are also many organized tours leaving from the capital too.