Mexico
Barranca de Metztitlán
A hidden canyon of giant cacti and colonial convents most Mexicans have never heard of.
Giant cacti rise like columns from the canyon floor, ten metres tall, their arms silhouetted against a sky so wide and blue it hurts. Below, a colonial convent sits in the valley as if placed there by a hand that didn't consult the landscape — its ornate facade absurdly refined against the raw, arid canyon walls.
The Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve protects 96,000 hectares of semi-arid canyon in the state of Hidalgo, roughly three hours north of Mexico City. Giant tetecho and cardón cacti — some species found nowhere else on Earth — dominate the canyon, reaching heights of 10 metres and ages exceeding several centuries. An Augustinian convent from the 16th century sits incongruously in the valley, its carved stone facade a jarring contrast to the surrounding desert. The reserve is one of Mexico's least-visited protected areas despite its proximity to the capital, and the few visitors who make the journey find empty trails winding through cactus forest with views across the canyon to terraced agricultural plots that have been cultivated since pre-Hispanic times. The small town of Metztitlán, on a lake at the canyon floor, offers basic accommodation and serves as the gateway to the reserve.
Solo
Empty trails, ancient cacti, and the solitude of a biosphere reserve that most Mexicans have never heard of — Barranca de Metztitlán is solo wandering at its most contemplative.
Couple
The sheer improbability of a carved convent in a cactus canyon, the silence of the trails, and the emptiness that makes you feel like the only two people who know this place exists.
- Giant cacti up to 10 metres tall dominate the canyon — some species found nowhere else on Earth.
- A colonial Augustinian convent sits in the valley, its ornate facade incongruous against the arid landscape.
- The biosphere reserve is one of Mexico's least-visited protected areas despite being three hours from the capital.
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