Zacatecas Things to Do Tips by Jetgirly

Mina el Eden is located inside Cerro del Grillo, just to the west of Zacateca's city center. The easiest (and nicest) way to get there is to follow along the Alameda, then walk up the stairs of the hospital and around the building to the left. There, at the end of Calle de la Loma, you'll find the main entrance. Here, buy a ticket, take a hairnet, select a hardhat and take the adorable miniature train straight into the mine. You don't go too deep vertically in the mine, but you do go quite far inside from the entrance. Once inside, you'll have a few minutes to look at a geological museum and several gift shops (talk about a claustrophobic place to work!) before beginning a group tour of the interior of the mine. Tours are led only in Spanish, but someone with even the most basic command will be able to understand information about the age of the mine, the types of minerals found therein, the people who worked in the mine and some of the superstitions that still live on today (for example, touching the quartz running through the wall is said to bring good luck). Once you've finished the tour, you are actually left to explore the public areas of the mine at your own leisure, and can wander at your own pace. It's an enjoyable tour for people of all ages, though I noticed that they don't have any hard hats that fit children, resulting in kids losing their hats every couple of minutes. Entrance to the mine, including a trip on the train, costs about 60 pesos ($6 CAD/USD). It's well worth the money!

Don't forget to check out the disco located inside the mine, which is currently open from Thursday to Saturday. You need to take the train into the mine to reach the disco, and reservations are recommended.

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Address: End of Calle de la Loma
Directions: Behind the Hospital (IMSS).
Website: www.minaeleden.com.mx/

For the first two days that I spent in Zacatecas, the cable car was not running due to high winds. On my third and final day I woke up early and headed to the cable car immediately, knowing it was my last chance to take in the view that would surely be spectacular. I was not disappointed! I walked up to the lower entrance on Cerro del Grillo (which is conveniently close to the exit of Mina El Eden), paid my 25 pesos ($2.50 CAD/USD) for a one-way ticket, and got on the first cable car that was leaving. The views from the cable car truly are spectacular. You feel as though you are floating over the city (okay, because you kind of are), and you can see each and every little detail on the ground that is not that far below you. Although I got up to the top on the first cable car, the wait to get back was more than an hour. Entertainers keep kids in line from getting too bored by doing magic tricks and handing out balloons (tip them, please, if they do something special for your child!), but if you don't like waiting it might be worth your time to walk down (steep but not too far).

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Directions: Just look up in the sky and follow the cable car "tracks" to the entrance!
Website: http://www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx/?seccion=atractivos&mostrar=teleferico

Zacatecas is already a million metres above sea level (okay, maybe only a hundred thousand...) , so what better way to spend a few hours than going even higher? Rising above the city to the east is Cerro de la Bufa, a hill that can be accessed by hike (it ain't no lovely stoll), vehicle or cable car (called the teleferico). On top you'll find the cute Capilla del Patronicinio, a little church, as well as statues honoring Pancho Villa, food and souvenir stalls, and "Northern Mexico's longest zipline" (which looked pretty unsafe to me, judging by the beer cans strewn all around). The views of the city from up here are fantastic, and there are cheap telescopes that you can use to zoom in on life below.

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Directions: The big hill on the east side of town!
Website: http://www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx/?seccion=atractivos&mostrar=atractnaturales&lugar=labufa

Casa de la Moneda used to be Zacatecas' mint (the place where they make the money). Today, it is mainly administrative offices (and it was under construction when I visited), but the entrance staircase does feature a large mural by Antonio Pinto Rodríguez showing the history of money in Mexico. As it's free, you may just want to pop your head in as you're passing by.

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Address: Dr. Hierro
Directions: The same block as the Museo Zacatecana, which is #301.
Website: http://www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx/?seccion=atractivos&mostrar=arquitectura&edf=casamoneda

Basilica Fatima's pink spires tower above Zacatecas, and it's worth the short walk to see the beautiful pink church up close. Although the chuch is only a few decades old, the colors are magnificent and the stained glass windows are beautiful. It's a great place to take photos, so don't forget your camera!

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Directions: Behind Parque Enrique Estrada and the Museo Francisco Goita

Located just a block from the cathedral, Museo Pedro Coronel is a peaceful, pleasant stop on your tour of Zacatecas. Entrance is a total steal at 20 pesos ($2 USD/CAD), and your ticket gives you access to an eclectic collection of art, focusing on contemporary works but veering into everything from Yoruba masks to golden statues of Buddha. Amongst the contemporary artists on display are Picasso, Chagall, Dali and Miro, as well as the museum's namesake's own collection- works by Pedro Coronel Rivera himself. Collections are heavy on sketches and small paintings, don't expect too many sculptures or large works. I found the contemporary works most interesting, but it was also fun to take a wander through some of the other galleries.

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Directions: Located in the old monastery attached to the Church of Santo Domingo
Website: http://www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx/?seccion=atractivos&mostrar=museos&mus=pcoronel