In this municipality of Guanajuato there are crystal clear pools and impressive salt mines

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There’s no sea, but there are turquoise salt waters. Between gentle mountains and dirt roads lies a secret few know: Salinas de Hidalgo, a semi-desert community in northeastern Guanajuato with crystal-clear pools and salt farms.

In this Guanajuato town, local families have been extracting salt by hand for over 800 years, and today, they continue to use traditional methods dating back to ancient Mexico.

Unlike the mines, in Salinas de Hidalgo, the salt is “cultivated” in shallow pools, where the salt water slowly evaporates in the heat of the sun, leaving behind thick, lustrous crystals that are collected by hand. It’s patient, physical, and ancient work.

Production supplies regional markets. And the most curious thing is that many of the salt farm workers don’t do just that: they are also farmers, bricklayers, and bakers. Salt is part of their lives, but also of their identity.

White Paths, Turquoise Pools

Visiting the salt flats is a spectacle. The pools are tinged with turquoise, pink, or reddish hues, depending on the daylight and the minerals. The paths glisten as if covered in snow from the salt particles. The wind has a clean, dry, and mineral scent.

Local guides offer tours for tourists, as the residents welcome those interested in learning about the history of the place, and many offer samples of the salt, which has a less processed and more complex flavor than commercial salt.

A Tradition in Danger

Although production is still active, the tradition is at risk of disappearing. New generations are not always interested in continuing this trade, which requires physical labor under the sun and does not offer large earnings. Even so, some young people have begun promoting guided tours and direct sales of gourmet salt, hoping to keep the legacy of several generations alive.

What to Do During Your Visit

Walk through the salt flats at sunrise or sunset, when the light transforms the landscape into a surreal spectacle.
Buy artisanal salt directly from the producers, who also offer it with herbs or spices.
Visit the town’s chapels, small gems of rural architecture.
Enjoy a breakfast of gorditas and café de olla at a local restaurant, where they’ll likely serve you food with homemade salt.

How to Get There

Salinas de Hidalgo is located about a 20-minute drive from San Luis de la Paz. Access is easy, although the last stretches may be dirt. There are no hotels in town, but you can stay in San Luis de la Paz or Dolores Hidalgo and take a day trip.

Salinas de Hidalgo is one of those places where time seems to slow down; it has no glamour, no boutique hotels, no cafes with Wi-Fi. It’s an under-exploited destination that allows you to discover the most authentic aspects of the state: its roots.

Source: lasillarota