The mine train
Into the mountain.
Lunita28mx — CC BY 4.0 · JavierDo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jacksnif — CC BY-SA 4.0 · JavierDo — CC BY-SA 3.0
An old silver mine in the heart of Zacatecas, worked for centuries from colonial times, when Zacatecas itself became one of the world's richest cities thanks to its silver. Today the mine is visited on a guided underground tour that tells the story of the city and its workers. The tour starts with a small train that carries you into a tunnel inside the mountain, then you walk with a guide through passages, galleries and levels of the mine, over hanging bridges above deep shafts, seeing mining tools and models of the harsh conditions the miners endured, children among them. The mine holds a large museum of rocks and minerals, said to be among the biggest in Latin America, with colourful crystals from around the world. Tours are mainly in Spanish; English tours are arranged in advance. The temperature underground is steady and cool, and passages can be damp, so wear comfortable shoes. You can exit at the far end near the cable-car station and combine the visit with La Bufa.
Into the mountain.
Over deep shafts.
Colourful crystals.
Cerro del Grillo, central Zacatecas, near the cable-car station
Yes, the train and passages fascinate children, and the tour takes about an hour. Passages can be narrow and dark, though, so it may not suit the claustrophobic.
