Grutas Nombre de Dios

The Grutas Nombre de Dios are a cave system in the Sierra Nombre de Dios, the range on the northern edge of Chihuahua city, and they are the easiest underground outing in the state: the entrance is on the Vialidad Sacramento, near the Polideportivo Luis H. Álvarez, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car from the historic center. The site is run by the city government, and from the hillside outside there is a wide view over Chihuahua.

The caves were dissolved out of limestone by water charged with carbon dioxide, and the same slow process left behind the stalactites and stalagmites that fill them; the formations are commonly said to be more than five million years old. Visits follow a guided route of about 1,300 meters through 17 chambers, lit along the way, and take around an hour. Guides point out formations that have earned nicknames, among them El Dinosaurio, La Cascada, La Capilla and El Corazón, a heart-shaped opening; local lore says that if you see the heart right away, you are in love.

The tours go in groups with trained staff, and visitors are given a safety helmet. The walk includes stairs down into the lower chambers, so wear comfortable clothes and non-slip shoes. The city does not admit children under six, and it advises people with sensitive medical conditions, such as very low or high blood pressure, to skip the visit or check with a doctor first. Because it is so close to town, the caves combine easily with a morning in the historic center, and some tour operators pair them with a visit to the Quinta Carolina hacienda.