Guadalcázar, San Luis Potosí to Agua Buena, San Luis Potosí //
We’re on the road this morning by 8:45am which speaks to how disinterested we are at spending any more time at the run down campground we had found ourselves at. It’s back to the highway with high hopes that today is the day we will reach a place where we feel like hanging out for a while.
We have 125 miles of ground to cover today on a two lane highway and as seems to be standard in Mexico, the driving is hectic. At what point will we get used to slower moving traffic driving in the shoulder while faster moving traffic passes in the center of the highway all while oncoming traffic is coming all at the same time? I’m not sure.
The most notable thing about this drive is that we’re finally dropping down from the high elevation we’ve been at for a week now. Thousands of feet of elevation loss deliver us to the region we’ve been waiting for, La Huesteca Potosina, a tropical subregion known for its waterfalls, natural pools, and turquoise water. As we descend the mountain everything around us changes. What had been a monochromatic landscape of dirt and cactus out our windows is now a palette of all shades of green. Trees of all shapes and sizes rise up around us, the air is wet and thick, and the water as clear as I’ve ever seen. This is the Mexico we’ve been waiting for.
When we arrive in the small town of Agua Buena, lunch is top of mind. A small roadside restaurant with a patio tucked into the trees delivers delicious flavors and fills our bellies for a total of $8. Again, this is the Mexico we’ve been waiting for.
Another welcome change is the fact that there are probably a dozen campgrounds in the area to choose from. Everywhere we’ve camped since arriving to the mainland has been our one and only option in that area. That has caused me to realize how comforting it feels to be in a place where it’s common for people to camp. Pulling into the El Atrancón campground is a delight to the senses. We are guided to park on the grass that runs right alongside a turquoise stream accentuated by multiple little cascading waterfalls. The sound of the falling water is a stark contrast to the silence of the vast desert, nor is it anything like the waves that crash along Baja’s beaches. The trees, the water, the birds…everything is new. I cannot liken this place to anywhere I’ve been before which is exactly what we’ve been looking for. It feels like we’ve finally arrived.
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Our descent into the La Huasteca region was a stark contrast to the desert we’d been in for weeks. 
The view from camp was a delight to the senses. 
We’re all getting used to how many stray dogs are always around. And while they tug on all of our heart strings, Heather has a soft spot in her heart for dogs like no one else. 
An awesome reaction from Josh and Hannah to Mark making a lucky match while playing a memory game.
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Yeah, you finally reached Utopia! Absolutely beautiful! The picture of Hannah and Josh is priceless!
Isn’t that photo great?! It was a lucky grab.
Great story on camping in San Luis Potosi and Agua Buena. The river by your campground looked beautiful.
Thank you!
You’re the best! My wife, Jacqueline Danos, and I have been following you for years. We’re still in our 2013 Eagle (shell only, furnace , stove and awning plus my modular build outs). We just hit 235 nights with a multi day in Anza Borrego. Heading back north in a month or so to home on the Central Oregon Coast with dreams of Spring and a cross country run in the Fall. Thanks for being there.
John P
Thanks so much for following along all these years John! Your FWC sounds quite similar in age and build to ours. Glad to hear it’s still facilitating great adventures. Cheers!
Now you’re in a good spot on the western edge of the Huesteca- nobody knows about this jewel of Mexico. You’re just south of El Naranjo which has beautiful falls at El Meco
Also, see Cascadas & Puente de Dios at Tamasopo
South of Valles are several travertine waterholes on way to Xilitla – Tenosique is one
North of you is El Cielo Biosphere Reserve just north of Cd Mante- it’s the northernmost tropical cloudforest in this hemisphere
Gomez Farias is where you might camp there
Good travels
Thanks Will! We saw El Meco, it was spectacular.