Xilitla Garden & Huahuas Abyss Tour from Ciudad Valles

Step into Edward James’s surreal garden where art and nature entwine seamlessly.

A full-day sightseeing tour from Ciudad Valles to Xilitla's surrealistic garden (Las Pozas) and Huahuas Abyss, with a Spanish-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch and snacks included. The 81 km journey covers the garden for roughly 2 hours, a stop in Xilitla Pueblo Mágico for lunch and free time, then a trek through Huahuas Abyss where thousands of swallows fly overhead. Moderate fitness is needed for the 1.2 km trek at the abyss. Children travel with an adult.

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your Ciudad Valles hotel around 8:50 am, or you can meet at the tour office. An air-conditioned van carries you 81 km toward Xilitla, and the drive itself is part of the experience: the guide shares information about the region and keeps the group entertained. A stop for pan de canela (cinnamon bread, locally made and at your own cost) breaks up the ride, with coffee available if you want it.

Las Pozas, the surrealistic garden Edward James created and sponsored by artists like Dalí and Magritte, is the centerpiece. You spend roughly 2 hours walking through it: concrete structures, pools, and staircases that seem to defy logic, all set into the landscape. It reads like Wonderland on the ground. After that, a short drive takes you into Xilitla Pueblo Mágico, where you eat lunch at a local restaurant and get free time to walk the town on your own before regrouping.

The final leg is Huahuas Abyss, about 40 minutes away. On the way, you stop for homemade ice cream at El Palmar. Once there, you trek roughly 1.2 km through the abyss for about an hour and a half. The main draw is the swallows, thousands of them, flying in and out of the rock face overhead. It's a sight most people don't forget. A small snack comes with the return drive to Ciudad Valles, which takes about an hour.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Ciudad Valles.
• air-conditioned van transport for the 81 km journey.
• Spanish-speaking guide for the entire day.
• 2-hour tour of Las Pozas surrealistic garden.
• lunch at a restaurant in Xilitla Pueblo Mágico.
• free time to explore Xilitla town.
• trek through Huahuas Abyss.
• snacks on the return drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesUp to age 75

GroupUp to 12

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Con Huaxteca.com...hasta el perro se divierte!

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both the surrealist garden and the abyss in one full day starting from Ciudad Valles. Choose the shorter Xilitla-only option if you prefer to skip the moderate trek at Huahuas Abyss.

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Top questions

What exactly is Las Pozas, the surrealistic garden in Xilitla?

Las Pozas is a garden created by Edward James, an English patron who sponsored famous artists including Dalí and Magritte. The space is built around concrete structures, pools and staircases that blend into the landscape in unexpected ways. It's designed to feel dreamlike and otherworldly.

How long do I spend at the surrealistic garden?

You have roughly 2 hours to walk through Las Pozas, take photos and explore the structures at your own pace with the guide present.

What happens at Huahuas Abyss?

At Huahuas Abyss you trek about 1.2 km through the landscape for roughly an hour and a half. The main attraction is watching thousands of swallows fly in and out of the rock formations overhead. It's a natural spectacle that happens throughout your time there.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included at a restaurant in Xilitla Pueblo Mágico, and snacks are provided on the return drive. A stop for cinnamon bread and coffee is made en route, though those are at your own expense. Homemade ice cream at El Palmar is also a stop where you can purchase if you wish.

What's the physical demand of this tour?

Moderate fitness is needed, mainly for the 1.2 km trek at Huahuas Abyss. The garden walk at Las Pozas is self-paced, and most of the day is spent in the van or walking at a leisurely speed.

How early does the tour start and when does it end?

Pickup is around 8:50 am from your Ciudad Valles hotel or the tour office. The full day is 12 hours, so you return to Ciudad Valles in the late afternoon or early evening.