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Mexico may be particularly famous for the sun-drenched Caribbean Coast, where resorts line white-sand beaches and turquoise seas, its rich Mayan heritage, and bustling capital city, but there’s still a lot about America’s southern neighbor tourists don’t know yet.
This is, after all, one of the largest and most diverse countries in the Western Hemisphere, and you’d be a fool to think Cancun, or even Mexico City, are representative of Mexico as a whole.
To the surprise of industry experts, this year, a growing number of Americans is actively bypassing the usual tourism hotspots, and are flocking instead to this secret destination that rarely ever features on travel brochures.
Though it’s hardly your typical vacation, the offbeat San Luis Potosí offers both low prices and a fascinating culture, and it’s seeing a significant increase in arrivals:
San Luis Potosí Is Rising Fast In Popularity With Americans
According to Claudia Lorena Peralta Antiga, the head of the City Council’s Tourism Directorate, visitors from the United States lead in numbers of foreign entrants to San Luis Potosí, followed by Colombians and Canadians.
This can easily be attributed to the city’s rising appeal among culture-hungry Americans, who are no longer drawn to the all-inclusive vacation model and are in search of more authentic experiences in non-touristy areas.
Additionally, Mrs Antiga pointed to the recent expansion of air connectivity at San Luis Potosí International Airport (SLP): it is now connected to Houston (IAH) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in Texas, as well as Atlanta (ATL) and San Antonio (SAT).
On top of that, negotiations are being held right now with four airlines interested in the San Luis Potosí-McAllen-McAllen route, though further information has not been divulged at this point.
Why Do Americans Love San Luis Potosí So Much?
A major city in central Mexico, with a population just shy of hitting the 1 million mark, San Luis Potosí (or SLP) is a hugely important financial and trade hub, due to its strategic location halfway between Mexico City and the U.S. border.
Contrary to Monterrey, however, that’s largely known for its manufacturing industries, SLP has an understated elegance, and historical charm you won’t find in most New World cities.
For starters, it is home to a well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site of a historic center, dotted with colonial landmarks built as far back as the 17th century:
The most famous monument in town, the cathedral has been compared to Mexico City’s and Guadalajara’s in beauty: it has a distinct pink-quarry facade, and its richly-decorated interiors will leave you awestruck.
Nearby, the verdant Jardín de San Francisco is a green oasis centered around a beautiful fountain and bordered by palatial Spanish-era structures, including three Baroque churches and the regional Positano Museum, housed in what was once a Franciscan monastery.
A short 3-minute walk from the gardens, the historically significant Caja Real is a surviving remnant of the now-defunct Viceroyalty of New Spain. It’s where merchants would line up to pay their taxes to the Spanish Crown in gold and silver.
There are numerous other beautiful buildings to be admired in the compact, walkable center, from a Neoclassical Teatro de la Paz, to the picture-perfect low houses lining Universidad Street, distinguished by their bright hues and ornate window frames.
How Actually Cheap Is San Luis Potosí?
If you were looking for an affordable Mexico getaway that won’t break the bank, then you’ve definitely come to the right place.
In general, meals in a locally-run restaurant will cost you $8.78, based on Numbeo estimates, while 3-course presentations in an upscale downtown eatery for two people are likely to set them back $39.
The price range is reasonable as it is, but even if you’re on a super-strict budget, you don’t need to look beyond the Old Town to stretch those dollars further:
An 8-minute stroll from the zócalo, Café Corta’o is a no-frills coffee shop housed in a colonial, vividly jaune edifice serving hearty breakfast menus and natural juices for around $7.
For quesadillas, gorditas, and chilaquiles paired with homemade sauce, El Mesón de San Pascual is popular for its variety of dishes and accessible prices, with main dishes from as cheap as $5, or the equivalent in pesos.
From 8 AM to 8 PM every day, you can also pay the vibrant Mercado Hidalgo a visit, sitting on the namesake street, and criss-crossed with rows of street food, and fresh produce stalls––don’t leave without trying the local machitos tacos!
They’re made from orange juice and vinegar-marinated sheep (or goat) offal, and they’re absolutely delicious.
How About Hotels?
As for accommodation, MarinaCristina is a 3-star accommodation provider billing guests $60-a-night for a single room right in the center of town.
The even-cheaper Patio Zaragoza costs $51 to book as a single traveler, and we’re talking a double bed only meters away from the cathedral, and with breakfast included.
If you’re a faithful Marriott customer, you’ll be glad to know the City Centro by Marriott has spacious King Rooms from only $100––as well as rooftop pool with amazing views of the Old Town.
On average, tourists will spend between $55 and $103 per night on accommodation, according to Budget Your Trip.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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