La Huasteca Potosina y La Sierra Gorda

I recently returned from as awesome backpacking trip into the Huasteca Potosina, an area south of SLP and west of Tampico and southwest from there. Hands-down, one of my best Mexican exploring trips ever! I told CB I would post about it and I have lots of photos but have no idea how to post them here, links will suffice. I'm happy to answer any questions as well.

I made a huge loop: Guad to SLP to Rioverde to Tamasopo to Ciudad de Valle to Xilitla to Las Pozas to Jalpan de Serra to Bernal to Querétaro to Guad and home. I took a week and went by luxury bus, 2nd class buses, taxis, combis and the kindness of strangers. I stopped and hung out in Rioverde, Tamasopo, Xilitla, and Jalpan.

I saw jungle, wild parrots, roaring turquoise rivers, more waterfalls than I could swim in in a year, caves with parrots, caves with swallows, wonderful unspoiled local people, amazing Huastecan music and unique Huastecan food. Not only have I never been here before, I'd never even heard of it before.

I can't wait to go back and will probably go around the end of the year. I'm told the best time of the year to go is NOT during the coming rainy season as the rivers are too rough and they won't let you swim in the muddy falls and the jungle rains are horrendous. This time of year was brutal, the humidity was around 90% every day.
So the best climate window when the air temps are pleasant and the the water temps are too is from around Thanksgiving to around Easter.

First, this was the map I used:
https://www.google.com.mx/maps/@21.6295009,-99.3363555,10z

La Huasteca:
https://www.google.com.mx/maps/@21.6295009,-99.3363555,10z

Xilitla was my only real destination as I wanted to see Las Pozas too and use it for a base. This link on Xilitla gives you an idea of what the area and little villages have to offer if you scroll down.
http://www.xilitla.org/gettingthere.php

Magical, whimsical, historic Las Pozas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Pozas

I met wonderful people and never saw another gringo/a the whole time I was in the Huasteca. This is their music, not unlike Appalachian hill country music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6zl6kHDqbc

I left Xilitla one morning on Premiera Plus to climb the Sierra Gorda to Jalpan de Serra. Jalpan is the village where Fr. Junipero Serra the Franciscan padre started building his missions then went on to build many more up and down California. His first 5 amazing missions are in Jalpan and you can tour them as well as the very well done museum. There is a river and awesome outdoor activities there too. Left Jalpan at dawn climbing the Sierras for Bernal, but it was covered in clouds, so continued on to Q. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalpan_de_Serra

If you're an outdoor person at all, or just want to see something unique and fun, GO!

I stayed in 3 hotels I heartily recommend:
Rioverde - on main drag into town about 2 blocks before the plaza Hotel Morelos. 250 pesos
Xilitla - Hotel Aurora on main drag. 450 pesos
Jalpan - Hotel Real Aurora behind mercado publico and 2 blocks from plaza. 450 pesos
All these hotels had AC, hot water pressure, wifi, good beds and good nearby food.

GO! lol It's great!

Sounds amazing - thanks for sharing

You would love it.

Thanks for the report. Looks like an awesome adventure. If you want to e-mail me some pics I can post them for you.

Pictures posted above.