Torreón
Visiting the city of Torreón
MEXICO
Torreón is a city located 260 km northeast of Durango city. It's a younger city and celebrated its centennial in 2007. Our drive from Durango city to Torreón was about 3 hours. Make sure you carry some Mexican pesos with you as you will go through several toll booths, and we found cash the easiest way to pay. The total toll fee was $643 pesos one way.
We were interested in visiting this city as it has several points of interest. The Plaza de Armas had singing and dancing events going on during our visit. Also just across the street are many street vendors and a large museum that we spent several hours exploring.
We also used Torreón as a jumping off point as it is an easy drive to get to a Pueblo Magico, Mapimí and Punte de Ojuela, also known as Ojuela Bridge which is a unique historical mine site.
On our way from Durango to Torreon we stopped for a hike at the La Cueva de las Iglesias.
This out and back hike was about an hour and a half round trip with great views and a large cave structure at the side of the hill. Getting to the trailhead was a drive of about 10 km of dirt roads after turning at Juan José Rojas off of highway 49.
We parked at the turnoff to the cave as the spur road was not maintained and could be driven by ATV's but not low clearance 2wd vehicles. Google maps has the parking spot marked as Estacionamiento Cueva de las Iglesias. We were hiking mid week and there was only one other car parked when we arrived.
From there we started walking up the road and had a group of ATV's drive past and park at the trailhead. In typical friendly Mexican fashion they stopped and chatted to make sure we were prepared for the trail and offered us additional water if we needed it. They were just so nice!
The spur road is about a 1 km hike to the trailhead where you then begin to quickly gain elevation. The trail isn't marked but is well worn into the hillside and easy to follow.
The trail is open and exposed so be sure to bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, a hat, and even bring an umbrella for shade if it's not too windy. The sun can be very strong in this part of Mexico.
The next day we went to Punte de Ojuela where admission was 120 pesos per adult and 60 pesos per child.
Punte de Ojuela, also known as Ojuela Bridge, is a famous suspension bridge located in Mapimí, Durango, Mexico. The bridge was constructed in the late 19th century to facilitate transportation of minerals, primarily gold and silver, mined from the Ojuela Mine.
After paying at the park entrance we drove a dirt road for 4km where we got to a line of cars at the narrow one way cobble stone road. This last 3km length of road is controlled by several staff with radio's to coordinate the up and down traffic. It was a short 10 minute wait and then we began our journey up the road to the main parking lot and bridge.
As we continued up the hill we got some great views of the land below, and could see many birds flying in and out of the cave.
The cave is massive and the terrain leading up to it is very steep and full of loose rocks. The last push up the hill feels like it takes forever as the size of the cave gives the illusion you are nearly there.
Hiking under the hot Mexican sun also added to the challenging conditions. Eventually we arrived at the opening of the cave and got to cool down, and grab a snack in the shade of the cave.
We made our way back to Torreón and before we left, we made our way up to Noas Hill. The Christ of the Noas is without a doubt the busiest attraction in the city. The Sculptor was Vladimir Alvarado. This architectural monument is located on the esplanade of the Cerro de las Noas.
Weighing 580 tons and at a height of 21.80 meters from its base, it is the third highest in Latin America after the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the Cristo de la Concordia in Bolivia.
We were able to drive up to the top and parking was 50 pesos per vehicle. The top of the hill had expansive views of the city, several food vendors, the gondola, and a very impressive church.
We spent some time exploring the bridge and looking at the surrounding landscapes and buildings. There is also a 700 meter long mine shaft that you can enter and explore, however Aliya was unfortunately not in the mood to explore into the mountain. So after spending some time at the bridge and surrounding buildings we made our way back down the narrow road and into the town of Mapimí.
This is a small, once thriving mining community in the northwestern state of Durango. The town was largely abandoned in the early 20th century as the mineral deposits were exhausted, and today is largely a ghost town with a remaining population of about 5,000.
It has been designated a Pueblo Magico by the government's ministry of tourism. As we explored we found that it had a nice square and some interesting historical buildings.
The city of Torreón is a great little visit. It has surrounding mountain regions great for hiking, and several unique spots to go and explore. Be sure to spend a few days and you won't regret it! Happy exploring!
Once getting to the top you are able to view the bridge and remaining buildings from the mining operation. Below are some of the facts about the bridge and area.
Historical Significance: The bridge was built in 1898 and served as a crucial link for transporting minerals across the deep canyon carved by the Aguanaval River. It played a significant role in the mining operations of the Ojuela Mine, which was one of the richest mines in the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Engineering Feat: Puente de Ojuela is a suspension bridge that spans approximately 318 meters (1,043 feet) across the canyon. It was designed by the Roebling brothers, who were also responsible for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The bridge's design and construction are remarkable considering the rugged terrain and the technology available at the time.
Tourist Attraction: Today, Puente de Ojuela is a popular tourist attraction in Mapimí. Visitors can marvel at the engineering feat of the bridge, explore the ruins of the Ojuela Mine, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding canyon and desert landscape. Guided tours are available to provide insights into the history of the area and the mining operations that once thrived there.
Adventure Activities: In addition to exploring the bridge and mine ruins, tourists can engage in adventure activities such as zip-lining and rappelling in the canyon. These activities offer visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty and adrenaline-inducing thrills of the Mapimí region.
