Desert Speaks

Royal Road Across The Frontier

In the second part of the journey along the ancient highway, learn about the traditional hot springs of Aguas Calientes that gave the ancient traveler a brief respite from the dry, dusty roads. While the springs no longer exist, the town still marks the boundary between the lush green landscape behind and the dry dangerous desert frontier that looms ahead. The first stop in the desert is the mining town of Zacatecas. Travel deep into the bowels of the gold and silver mines and take a ride high above in a cable car. Other desert stops on this part of the journey include the agricultural, commercial and tourist center of Durango, originally founded as a mining town in 1563, and the towns of Mapami and Valle de Allende.