San Luis Potosi Mexico Travel
Your Ultimate Guide to San Luis Potosi Mexico
San Luis Potosi mexico GUIDE CONTENTS
When to Visit | Location | Huasteca Potosina | Getting There | Things to Do | Tours | Safety Tips | FAQ
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
San Luis Potosi Mexico: At a Glance
Beauty, nature and culture abounds in San Luis Potosi, one of the most unique states in Mexico.
Though not as well known as some other Mexico travel destinations, those in the know flock to San Luis Potosi state to escape the crowds, visit the Xilitla Surrealist Gardens, and swim in the Huasteca Potosina waterfalls and pools.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
What’s the best time to visit San Luis Potosi Mexico?
San Luis Potosi and all Central Mexico has what is known as the Eternal Spring climate. This means you can expect mild springtime temperatures all year, and it’s never super hot or super cold.
The best time to visit San Luis Potosi Mexico is from October to March, during the dry season. The rainy season is from April to September, and it can rain quite a bit.
What’s the best time to visit Huasteca Potosina?
It depends — If you want to see the waterfalls in all their glory, you need to visit during the rainy season in summer. This is the hottest, most humid time of year, but the crowds are smaller and the waterfalls their most beautiful.
For the best weather, visit during the San Luis Potosi Mexico dry season, from October to March.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
San Luis Potosi Mexico: Know before you go
- ✈️ Airport: San Luis Potosi International Airport (code: SLP)
⏰ Time Zone: Central Daylight Time (GMT-5)
- 💰 Currency: Mexican Peso
- 🗣 Language: Spanish, though English is common, and you may even hear some indigenous languages
- 🎫 Mexico Visa: The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for San Luis Potosi — this includes Americans, Canadians, Japanese and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
- 🔌 Electricity Socket: You’ll mostly find Type A (two-prong) and Type B (three-prong) — the same as used in the United States. For visitors from other countries, you’ll need this universal travel adaptor.
- 📲 Mexico SIM Card: Wondering, Do I need a SIM card for Mexico? The answer is yes, every traveler will want a one for the reasons explained in this article all about the best Mexico SIM cards.
- 🚙 Car Rentals: The Mexico rental car process can be a bit daunting, and many people are apprehensive to drive in a foreign country. I get it! Check out this guide to Renting a Car in Mexico for info on the process.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
Where is San Luis Potosi Mexico located?
San Luis Potosi state is located in Central Mexico, about five hours north of Mexico City. It is mostly off the beaten path for international tourism, though the gorgeous Huasteca Potosina is fast becoming one of the top Mexico travel destinations, thanks to gorgeous photos on social media and videos on YouTube.
San Luis Potosi Mexico map
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
What is La Huasteca Potosina?
The Huasteca Potosina (pronounced wass-teck-uh poe-toe-see-nah) is a region, not an actual place — which is why many get confused when trying to plan their Huasteca trip.
It is part of a larger region called Las Huastecas, named after the prehispanic civilization from this area — the Huastec people (also called Huastecos, Huaxtec, Wastek, or Téenek).
The Huasteca Region spans seven states in Mexico: San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Puebla, Hidalgo, Queretaro and Guanajuato. In total, the Huasteca size is about 815 miles (1,300 km). The easiest way to visit is on a Huasteca Potosina multi-day tour.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
What’s the best airport for San Luis Potosi Mexico?
There’s one main airport in the state, San Luis Potosi International Airport (code: SLP), located in the capital city.
You likely won’t find direct flights to San Luis Potosi, so many will fly into Mexico City International Airport (code: MEX). From here, you can rent a car and drive to San Luis Potosi, or take a bus.
What’s the best way to get to Huasteca Potosina?
The best way to visit is on this organized La Huasteca Potosina tour, as this region of the country is quite rural.
If not, you’ll need a rental car, and know at least basic Spanish to be able to safely get around. You can also go on your own with a rental car, and you’ll want to rent a hotel in Ciudad Valles, Mexico, the best place to stay for Huasteca Potosina Mexico.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
Best places to visit in San Luis Potosi Mexico
Many visitors opt to stay in Ciudad Valles, the most central location for traveling to La Huasteca Potosina. Further north, you’ll find the capital city, San Luis Potosi City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is among the lesser-visited Mexico travel destinations, but a beautiful city not too far from the Mexico ghost town of Real de Catorce.
La Huasteca Potosina, Mexico
The picturesque Huasteca Potosina is a natural wonderland! It’s best known for stunning cascadas (waterfalls), like Tamul, Micos, El Salto del Meco and Tamasopo, and the Xilitla Surrealist Gardens.
Is Huasteca Potosina worth visiting? While no doubt a Mexico off the beaten path destination that’s not super easy to get to — nature lovers won’t find anywhere better than the Huasteca Potosina in Mexico.
Real de Catorce, Mexico
Looking to do some San Luis Potosi travel off the beaten path? Look no further than the most famous Ghost Town in Mexico — Real de Catorce (pronounced ray-al, not real).
This desert town, located way up in the Sierra Cartoce Mountains, provides a unique experience to its visitors. Once ranked among the biggest Mexico silver mining towns, it is now popular for its beautiful decaying look.
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
Best things to do in San Luis Potosi Mexico
There is a seemingly endless amount of things to do in San Luis Potosi Mexico, one of the best places to visit in Mexico. The majority of them are in or near La Huasteca Potosina, the main tourism hub, but for those who venture off the beaten path, there’s even more to San Luis Potosi.
Click on any image below to learn more ⤵
San Luis Potosi Mexico travel guide
Best San Luis Potosi tours
Tours in San Luis Potosi are a great way to see the main cities and their surrounding areas — and unless you’re planning to rent a car in San Luis Potosi, this is the best way to get around because transportation fees add up quickly.
🚙💨 Note: If you do want to have a car in San Luis Potosi, make sure to check out this guide to Renting a Car in Mexico.
San Luis Potosi mexico travel guide
Is San Luis Potosi safe for travelers?
According to experts, you are statistically quite safe while visiting San Luis Potosi, and though it’s rather off the beaten path, San Luis Potosi consistently ranks as one of the safer states in Mexico.
Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small… When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is yes.
—Carlos Barron, FBI Veteran (source: Forbes)
That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in San Luis Potosi Mexico; they do. As with traveling anywhere, follow general travel safety like not walking home alone at night, watching your alcohol consumption and staying aware of yourself and surroundings.
For an added safety measure, pack these travel safety items, dress in a way so your Mexico outfits blend in with the locals, and buy a Mexico SIM card.
What’s the best travel insurance for Mexico?
This is a question I get a lot as a Mexico travel writer and Mexico expat. To determine which Mexico travel insurance is best for you, consider factors like the policy’s total cost, your deductible, the coverage you need, your medical benefits, etc.
🏆 In general, I only ever recommend three companies to purchase Mexico travel insurance from:
- World Nomads — For general travelers and adventure travelers.
- SafetyWing — For general travelers and digital nomads in Mexico.
- Travel Insurance Master — Mexico travel insurance search tool, for those who want to compare policies.
- 👉 Click on any of the links above to get a FREE quote on your policy!
San Luis Potosi Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink the water in Mexico?
No — Unfiltered Mexico tap water is not safe for human consumption. However, you will need to keep drinking water and to stay extra hydrated, as Mexico is quite close to the Equator. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.
So what can you do?
- If you’re renting a home with a kitchen, you can boil the water before drinking it.
- You can keep buying bottled water — Though this gets expensive, and is horrible for the planet!
- Use the Water-To-Go Filterable Bottle. This refillable bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico, and is good for the planet ♻️ Get 15% OFF with code SOLO15!
The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals, chemicals and more. I personally own one, as you can drink Mexico water from any source (even the tap), and be completely safe.
🧳 Mexico Packing list
Wondering what else you need on your packing list for Mexico? Check out this guide — Ultimate Packing List for Mexico + FREE Checklist Download!
San Luis Potosi mexico travel guide
What’s the San Luis Potosi weather like?
San Luis Potosi state, located in Central Mexico, has what is called the Eternal Spring climate. This means you can expect mild springtime temperatures all year, and it’s never super hot or super cold.
The San Luis Potosi rainy season lasts from about April to September, and it can rain quite a bit, so try to visit from October to March, during the dry season.
☀️ San Luis Potosi weather
☀️ What’s the Huasteca Potosina Weather like?
It’s about the same as the rest of the state, but if you want to see the Huasteca waterfalls in all their glory, you need to visit during the rainy season in summer. This is the hottest, most humid time of year, but the crowds are smaller and the waterfalls their most beautiful.
San Luis Potosi mexico travel guide
Is San Luis Potosi Mexico expensive?
No — Your money will stretch quite far in San Luis Potosi state. It is one of the more budget-friendly or even cheap Mexico travel destinations. Even if you’re visiting the top destinations in San Luis Potosi, La Huasteca Potosina and Xilitla secret garden, you can still travel to San Luis Potosi for cheap.
Is San Luis Potosi worth visiting?
Yes — San Luis Potosi is a unique Mexico destination that many types of travelers will love. Nature enthusiasts will adore traveling to the Huasteca Potosina to swim in the pools and waterfalls.
History buffs might want to visit northern San Luis Potosi state, to see the Real de Catorce ghost town and San Luis Potosi City, a Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How many days do I need in San Luis Potosi Mexico?
To see the Huasteca Potosina, you’ll want 3-5 full days so you can see all the Cave of Swallows, best waterfalls and things to do in Huasteca Potosina.
If you also want to visit Real de Catorce and San Luis Potosi City, you’ll need another three full days. To see all the best sites in San Luis Potosi Mexico, you’ll need 7-10 full days.
🗣 Mexico Language
Mexico Fun Fact: There’s actually no official language of Mexico!
Spanish is the most widely-spoken, so some mistakenly say Spanish is the official language of Mexico. However, the government actually recognizes 68 national languages, including the Nahuatl Aztec language, and the Maya language.
💰 Mexico Currency
Mexican Peso — Exchange rates vary, but have hovered around $18-21 pesos to $1 USD for about the last decade. You will find some places that take U.S. dollars, but usually at an unfavorable rate, so stick to using pesos in Mexico.
☀️ Mexico Weather
Mexico is a big country — the 7th largest on Earth, in fact! It’s hard to generalize the weather in Mexico, because it will vary greatly by where you’re traveling.
In general, temperatures are mostly mild everywhere all year long, though summers on the coast are hot and humid, and winters in Central and Northern Mexico are on the colder side. Throughout the whole country, the rainy season runs from (about) April through September.
✈️ Mexico Busy Season & Slow Season
• Mexico Busy Season: The busy season in Mexico runs October to March, as this is the dry season and you’ll get the best weather. December is the busiest month for tourism in Mexico.
• Mexico Slow Season: If you don’t mind some rain, you’ll often find the best travel deal during the Mexico slow season of April to September. Do keep in mind that June 1-November 1 is Hurricane Season, and Mexico beaches are all susceptible.
• Mexico Shoulder Season: The shoulder season is that magical time when prices are still low and the weather is good. The Mexico shoulder season is from about mid-October to November and January to early-April.
🧳 Download your FREE Mexico Packing Checklist here!
Check out this Ultimate Packing List for Mexico — so you know what to pack and what NOT to pack for Mexico! This article offers advice on packing for Mexico cities, and packing for a Mexico beach vacation.
Beyond what Mexico outfits and clothing you’ll want to bring, here are a few extra things to consider:
• Filterable Water Bottle: Mexico is close to the Equator, so you’ll need to stay extra hydrated. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.
A filterable, refillable water bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico.
The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals and chemicals.
• Mexico SIM Card: Want to be able to use your phone in Mexico?! Of course you do! Pick up a TELCEL Mexico SIM card before your trip, and swap it out on the plane while you’re waiting to exit, so you have phone and data service the second you arrive in Mexico.
• Anti-Hangover Meds: Planning to party hardy?! Make sure you’re not wasting any of your precious travel time with a hangover. Liquid I.V. has about 70,000 reviews on Amazon, and is considered the best defense against a hangover.
• Sun Hat: No matter if you’re headed to the beach or a city, you’ll want to wear a hat to shield yourself from the strong Mexican sun. This cute sun hat is the perfect stylish and practical accessory for your Mexico vacation.
• Sunscreen: As you’ll want to reapply a few times throughout the day, a light, Mineral-Based Sunscreen is ideal.
Headed to the beach? Do your part to practice responsible tourism in Mexico by only using an eco-friendly reef safe sunscreen while swimming. You can even ditch the sunscreen altogether and opt for a long sleeve swimsuit (AKA rash guard) instead.
• Bug Repellent: Mosquitoes are common throughout Mexico — especially on the beaches! REPEL Insect Repellent is an eco-friendly brand that’s DEET-free and plant based, with a pleasant lemon and eucalyptus scent. Don’t want to use a spray? Pick up some Mosquito Repellent Bracelets.
The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
🤔 What is the mexico FMM?
When you go through Customs & Immigration to enter the country, you’ll receive your Forma Migratoria Multiple, or FMM Tourist Card (sometimes listed as FMT). If you’re coming by plane or cruise ship, there is no charge; for those driving across the border, the FMM costs about $30USD.
In most circumstances, all visitors get a 180-day (six month) visa — so you can legally stay up to six months!
🚨 Have your FMM on you at all times
Keep in mind that though it’s called an FMM card, it’s actually just a small piece of paper. Keep your FMM on you at all times in your wallet, as this proves your legal status in Mexico. It’s rare, but if an officer stops you, they can ask to see your FMM.
🎫 Don’t lose your FMM!
You need to have your FMM on you at all times, as proof of your legal status in the country.
Be sure to keep track of your FMM, as you’ll have to give it back to an Immigration officer at the airport, cruise port, or land crossing when you’re leaving the country.
If you lose your FMM, there is a $600 peso ($30 USD) cost to replace it, and some paperwork you’ll need to fill out before you can leave the country.
If you’re flying home, plan to arrive at the airport about one hour earlier than you normally would to do the paperwork and pay the fine.
As this question doesn’t have a yes/no answer (I wish it did!), I do my best to answer it in depth in this article, Is Mexico Safe for Travelers Right Now? However, for the most part, Mexico is actually statistically quite safe for all travelers — including solo travelers.
Check my Solo Female Mexico Travel page for more info.
💃 Mexico solo travel guides
Mexico is a big country, and it has plenty of amazing solo female travel destinations — like the ones featured in this article, Mexico Solo Travel: 20 Safe Destinations for Female Travelers.
In it, you’ll get recommendations of places to visit in Mexico, from solo travelers who have actually been to them.
🎧 solo travel podcasts
• Ep. 34 | Planning your first Mexico solo trip
• Ep. 40 | Tips for safe solo travel in Mexico
• Ep. 53 | 30 Solo female travel tips, Pt. 1
To answer the question, Is it safe to drive in Mexico? — YES, it’s considered safe to rent a car and drive in Mexico.
As the country is quite large, road trips are a great way to see a lot in a little time, and especially popular in the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California Peninsula.
The one caveat to Mexico driving safety is that you’ll be in a foreign country, unfamiliar with their laws and customs. Head here for a complete guide to Renting A Car in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know, where you’ll also get 10 useful Mexico driving tips!
🚙💨 Looking for the best Mexico car rental company? Discover Cars works with both local Mexican companies and international companies to get you the best rates. Not only do I recommend them — I also use them!
As a general rule, you’ll want to know at least a few words of Spanish when visiting anywhere in Mexico. This is both a sign of respect, and will also help you have a better, smoother trip.
If you stick to the more touristic places in Mexico, you should be fine with basic Spanish. For those planning to venture off the beaten path, be advised most people in pueblos (small towns) speak little to no English.
🗣 Here are some options:
- Brush up on your Spanish: Use a language-learning program like Rocket Spanish, so you’re confident, and conversational, before your trip.
- Download the Google Translate App: For this to work at all times, you’ll need a Mexico SIM card with data — as the app won’t work when you’re off-WiFi.
- Travel with a Mexico phrasebook: This Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook is an Amazon best seller, and a great non-digital language assistant!
- Save this infographic an image on your phone. This way, you have access to these common words, phrases and questions, even when you’re off-WiFi.
