Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Real del Monte, officially Mineral del Monte, is a mountain town in Hidalgo, set high in a pine-covered sierra above Pachuca. It grew as a silver mining center, and in the nineteenth century British companies brought Cornish miners whose influence remains clear today in pitched roofs, the local pastes and the town's own claim to an early role in Mexican football. Steep cobbled streets and colorful facades give it a picturesque, fog-prone charm, and it is recognized as a Pueblo Mágico.
The Panteón Inglés, the English cemetery on a hilltop among the trees, is a moving reminder of the Cornish community. Mina de Acosta offers guided descents into an old mine along with a museum of mining life, and Mina La Dificultad presents more mining heritage. The Museo de Medicina Laboral covers the health conditions miners faced. The Museo del Paste celebrates the pastry that the Cornish introduced, and countless shops sell it with sweet and savory fillings. The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario and the Santuario del Señor de Zelontla are notable churches, and the Miners' Monument stands on the main street.
Mineral del Chico, with its forest trails, and Pachuca make easy side trips. Real del Monte suits food lovers and history buffs. It can be chilly and misty year round.
WiserMap travel guideReal del Monte Mexico Little Cornwall and Silver MinesExplore Real del Monte, the Hidalgo mining town known as Little Cornwall: English Cemetery, silver mine museums, Mexican pastes and cool mountain air.Read the guide
The English Cemetery on a forested hill above town, where Cornish miners and their families were buried from the 1800s. Most graves are said to face England, and the site is wrapped in local legends. Its stones and pines make it hauntingly atmospheric. Go on a clear morning before the fog.
The main parish church of Real del Monte, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, on the central square. It is an 18th-century church with a later clock tower, and its plaza is a natural meeting point for visitors. It looks especially lovely when the mountain fog rolls through town.
A colonial chapel in Real del Monte housing the image of the Señor de Zelontla, venerated by local miners as their protector. Its yearly fiesta brings processions and music through town. The building is small and simple. It is a peaceful stop on a walk through the upper streets.
A historic silver mine turned site museum, with English-style buildings, a stone chimney, a mining exhibit and a guided walk into a tunnel of the old workings. It shows how Cornish technology shaped mining here. Tours take about an hour. Wear closed shoes and bring a jacket, as the tunnel is cool.
A former silver mine on the edge of town with an impressive preserved Cornish steam engine house and pumping machinery, now a site museum. Guides explain the engines that drained water from deep shafts. It complements Mina de Acosta well. Check opening days, as hours vary by season.
A museum in the old miners' hospital of Real del Monte, showing the medical equipment, wards and records once used to treat miners injured or sickened at work. It gives a sobering view of the cost of the silver boom. It is a short walk from the center and takes under an hour to visit.
A small museum about the paste, the pasty brought by Cornish miners that became Real del Monte's signature food, with the history of the miners and their families and the many local fillings today. Afterwards, try a fresh paste of mole or potato and meat in one of the shops on the main streets.
A monument to the miners of Real del Monte, honoring those who worked and died in the silver mines and the long history of mining strikes. It stands near the streets of brightly painted houses with steep red roofs. It is a good photo stop between the main square and the museums.
Giant stacked rock formations in the forest near Real del Monte, where huge boulders seem to balance on top of each other. They are a popular spot for climbing and short hikes among pines. The road and trails can be muddy after rain. Go with a guide if you plan to climb, and start early.
A forest park in the hills of Mineral del Monte with trails among fir and pine trees, picnic areas, cabins and adventure activities such as zip lines. It is a refreshing place to spend a cool afternoon away from the town center. Weekends can be busy, and evenings get cold quickly.
A food festival held each October in Real del Monte celebrating the paste, with dozens of stands selling sweet and savory versions, music and family activities. It draws visitors from Pachuca and Mexico City. Come hungry, arrive early to beat the crowds, and dress warmly for the cool mountain air.
No reviews yet. Been to Real del Monte? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Real del Monte? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: RubeHM, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ISS Expedition 27 crew, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: El Ágora, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Giovanirvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Thelmadatter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: TheTurducken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: TheTurducken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: TheTurducken, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
