SAN LUIS POTOSI TRAVEL GUIDE

Places to Stay - Click here for price key

For a budget hotel, Filher $--$$, Av. Universidad 375, Centro, tel. 444/812-1562) is clean and comfortable.

Hotel Concordia ($$, Morelos 705 at Manuel J. Othón, Centro, tel. 444/812-0666, www.hotelconcordiaslp.com.mx) falls at the low end of the $$ category, and tax is included in the price. Towels and furnishings are cheap and not in the best of shape; junior suites are nicer and roomier. Great downtown location.

Twenty minutes outside the historic center, Cityexpress ($$, Carretera Central Mexico--SLP 2150, tel. 444/826-8700, www.cityexpress.com.mx) is one of the newer, inexpensive business-class hotels cropping up in cities such as Tuxtla and San Luis Potosi. It offers convenient digs with in-room data ports, automated wake-up calls, and cable TV with remote as well as a small business center, gym, parking, and breakfast station.

Classy, European-style Palacio de San Agustín ($$$$, Calle del Potrillo at Calle de la Luz, centro, tel. 444/144-1900, www.palaciodesanagustin.com) has 20 rooms on several floors above a central patio. The furnishings in rooms and common areas are antiques, and the style is rich and formal. There's Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, plus cable TV, a small spa, and a business center. The website has excellent photos of every guest room.

Places to Eat - Click here for price key

La Querencia ($$, Carranza 485 at Bolivar) specializes in grilled meats served on a cutting board and served with tortillas. There is often live trova music at lunch (3-5PM) and after 9:30PM. Open daily.

Near the convention center and Hotel Plaza Real, Rincón Huasteco ($$--$$$, Cuauhtemoc 232, Col. Moderna, tel. 444/814-6003, www.rinconhuasteco.com) has carry-out as well as restaurant service. Typical Huasteca-region dishes include cecina (thin beef steak served with fresh cheese and black beans), enchiladas huastecas, several types of tamales, and the locally famous liqueur called jobito.

Festivals

San Luis Potosí is famous for its Silent Procession/Processión de Silencio, a solemn religious parade commemorating the death of Jesus on the Cross. Men in purple robes and peaked hoods carry religious standards and statues through town. This custom originated in Spain in the 13th century.

Things to Do

Regional Museum of San Luis Potosí/Museo Regional Potosino (Aranzazú Plaza s/n, tel. 444/812-0358), closed Monday.

Labyrinth of Science/Laberinto de las Ciencias (Parque Tangamanga I, Blvd. Antonio Rocha Cordero s/n, tel. 444/210-0108), entrance 60 pesos or 90 pesos including 3-D film.

Cultural Center/Centro Cultural (Calzada de Guadalupe 705, Col. Julian Carrillo, tel. 444/137-4100), in the former jail, is a venue for films and other cultural events, and has art galleries and teaching salons.

Viceregal-Era Museum/Museo Virreinato (Villerías 115, Plaza del Carmen, tel. 444/814-0994, www.culturaslp.gob.mx). Closed Monday.

Golf

La Loma Club de Golf (www.lalomagolf.com.mx) is an 18-hole professional course designed by Jack Nicklaus with great views from the greens; its Club House has a bar and restaurant.

Designed by Rob Hagge and Remedios Beltrán, Club Campestre San Luis (www.campestreslp.com) is a par-72, 18-hole course.

Shopping

Casa de los Artesanos (Calzada de Guadalupe 705, Col. Julian Carrillo, tel. 444/137-4100).

Bus Info

An important commercial and government hub, San Luis Potosí has a comprehensive bus station (Terminal Terrestre Potosina, tel. 444/816-4596) with second-class buses for nearby destinations. The major bus lines---including Flecha Amarilla, Estrella Blanca, Omnibus de Mexico, Primera Plus (www.primeraplus.com.mx), and ETN (www.etn.com.mx)---offer frequent service to Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, León, Guanajuato, and other central states as well as to Mexico City and beyond.

More Info

State Tourism Board (Manuel José Othón 130, tel. 444/812-9939 or 01800/343-3887 toll-free within Mexico) is open 8--8 Monday--Friday, weekends 9--5.

Municipal Tourism Office (East side of main plaza, in Municipal Palace, tel. 444/812-2770) is open 8-8 Monday--Friday, Saturday 10--6.