Royal Inland Road: The Silver and Soul of Zacatecas

A first encounter with the mining history and cultural heritage of Zacatecas through its historic center and the Franciscan complex of Guadalupe.

Activities: Upon your arrival at the airport, bus station, or city access point, we transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Subsequently, we begin an interpretive guided visit through the historic center of Zacatecas, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. During the tour, we see its cobblestone streets, the Zacatecas Cathedral Basilica, as well as the temples of Santo Domingo and San Agustin. These buildings, along with their colonial palaces, allow us to understand the mining importance the city held within the historic Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.

The tour can be done on foot or aboard the Zacatecas Museobus, from where you can appreciate examples of “Barroco Mestizo” in pink stone. In the afternoon, we move to the neighboring municipality of Guadalupe to visit the Guadalupe Museum, located in the Ancient College of Propaganda Fide. Founded in 1707, this site was one of the main Franciscan teaching centers from which missions departed toward the north of New Spain. During the tour, we admire its art gallery, cloisters, and chapels, as well as the main plaza. At the end, we return to the hotel to rest. Overnight stay in Zacatecas.

A day that connects the mining history of the Royal Road with the winemaking and silver traditions of Zacatecas.

Activities: After breakfast, we head toward the Pueblo Magico of Real de Pinos, one of the most representative ancient mining towns of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. During the tour, we walk through its historic urban layout, among colonial temples and viceregal mansions that preserve the atmosphere of the 16th and 17th centuries. We visit the San Francisco Convent, the San Matias Parish, and the Tlaxcalilla Chapel. Afterward, we pause to taste traditional Pinedense cuisine in local eateries.

In the afternoon, we continue toward Tierra Adentro Vineyards in Campo Real. Here, we take a guided tour of the winery and vineyards to learn about the wine production process in this area of the Zacatecan high plateau. The experience concludes with a wine tasting accompanied by a gastronomic proposal at the vineyard restaurant. On the way back to Zacatecas, we stop at the Zacatecas Silver Center, a space dedicated to preserving the states mining and artisanal tradition. During the visit, we observe silversmith workshops and the process that shapes one of Zacatecas’ most representative trades. At the end of the day, we return to the hotel.

Departure from Zacatecas and trip closure.

Activities: After breakfast, we have the morning to calmly enjoy the historic center of Zacatecas, browse silver shops, or visit traditional cafes. If time permits, we visit the Zacatecas Silver Center to learn about silversmith workshops and the local jewelry exhibition that showcases the craft that has made Zacatecan silver art famous. Subsequently, we check out and, at the indicated time, transfer to the airport or point of origin to conclude the trip.