Discover places to visit

It is a protected natural area, supervised by the Cerralvo Board of Trustees, where the junipers, from which the park takes its name, are abundant.

It features walkways that allow visitors to enjoy the lush vegetation; there are pools, play areas, and palapas. All amenities come with a minimal fee.

Estimated time: One hour 40 minutes

A park on the remains of the Sosa River, which flows through Cerralvo and General Treviño, features a spring, a suspension bridge, and green areas, ideal for picnics with family and friends.

Leafy junipers are part of its vegetation, although its past is industrial, because there are ruins of an old metal foundry, such as silver, lead, iron and zinc, which were extracted from nearby mines.

Estimated time: One hour 40 minutes

Are you a fan of monumental sculptures? Then you'll love its main attraction: the Morelos Monument, dedicated to the national hero. The work was created by Efrén Ordóñez.

The observation deck, open since the 1960s, is located on the Loma de la Cruz hill. It features benches, walkways, lighting, and various amenities for your enjoyment.

Estimated time: One hour 11 minutes

Recreational park where adults and children can interact with farm animals, such as horses, cows, donkeys, pigs, and goats, in a healthy and educational way.

Children will have the opportunity to feed these animals, as a container of food is included in the ticket. Tickets cost 130 pesos.

It is located in Los Cavazos, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Estimated time: 40 minutes

Located in the Sierra de Picachos, this conservation area offers visitors the opportunity to explore the region's flora and fauna.

In addition to connecting with nature, the area offers activities such as camping, hiking, and enjoying the vineyards, nurseries, and the spring. The entrance fee is minimal.

It is a community rich in history: it was there that General Porfirio Díaz wept when he lost his battle against President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in 1876, and Carrancistas and Villistas clashed to the death in the midst of the Revolution.

A large stone and a tree commemorate the tears of Díaz, baptized as "The Crybaby of Icamole," in the main square.

The Icamole Hacienda is another major attraction among desert landscapes: it was built by former Governor Jerónimo Treviño, at the beginning of the 19th century.

Many people were shot in its chapel, whose walls are riddled with bullet holes.

Estimated time: One hour

This impressive site boasts many attractions: a wetland—an area of land permanently covered by water, which gives the site its name and is registered as a Ramsar site by the United Nations—a hot spring, a spring, and even a river.

The site's thermal waters, rich in flora and fauna, are crystal-clear with hints of turquoise. The site is one of the Seven Historic-Natural Wonders of Nuevo León. For prices, visit www.banosanignacioac.com.

Distance: 160 kilometers

Estimated time: 2 hours minutes

A building with ashlar walls, terraced roofs, and bulging columns, it dates back to the 17th century and is one of the oldest in the region, having been founded before the municipality itself.

900 meters away is an aqueduct that was used in sugarcane production and boosted the area's economy. It is said that the Jesuits occupied the estate for at least a century, and it was later the scene of an episode of the Revolution between the Carrancistas and the Villistas.

Restored, it now houses the Faculty of Earth Sciences at UANL and is under the protection of the INAH Center.

It is located just a few minutes from the magical town of Linares and the Cerro Prieto Dam.

Distance: 120 kilometers

Although Nuevo León has interesting landscapes and sites, local promoters believe that tourism infrastructure needs to be strengthened in some rural municipalities.

Unlike other municipalities that do have signage, basic services, and customer service, others lack the bare minimum to welcome visitors.

My husband and I set out to discover the state, and as a user, I can tell you that everything is missing: no one tells you how to get there, there's no infrastructure, no information, and no security," said one interviewee, who preferred to remain anonymous.

"I would say that there's a lack of linkage between activities and services, because when you have a great tourist experience, there's information, promotion, transportation, hotels, and food."

He commented that after visiting areas like Pozo del Gavilán in Galeana, he found there wasn't "even a single cafe" for tourists. In addition to worrying about issues like road safety in the Citrus Region, tourism promoters have struggled even with the few restrooms available on trips of up to five hours with their clients.

"They haven't made it easy with the connection infrastructure, that is, the exit from Monterrey to other towns," says David Canales, a promoter of northeastern culture.

"We don't have bathrooms for people who, for example, will be traveling to Parras (two and a half hours), or Zaragoza (five hours), and on some shorter trips."

Both agree that more work needs to be done to bring more people closer to lesser-known attractions.