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    The bronze Christ the King statue with open arms on top of the sanctuary dome on the Cerro del Cubilete, Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey), Guanajuato

    Photo by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    Landmark Silao de la Victoria, Guanajuato The Bajío

    Hilltop shrine at 2,579 m crowned by a 20 m bronze Christ the King, one of Mexico's great pilgrimage sites, with wide views over the Bajío.

    From Silao: 35 min by car (16 km by road) How to get there ↓

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    Tours to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    Look for tours of the area around Dolores Hidalgo that stop at Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey).

    Tours from Guanajuato City Private walking tour in Guanajuato (available from 1 person) ★ 4.9 (374) · From US$53
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    • From Silao: about 35 min by road (~16 km)
    • Nearest airport: León (Bajío) (BJX), 1 h 28 min by car to Dolores Hidalgo
    Rent a car at BJX Flights to BJX

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    Tours from Guanajuato City, near Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    Private walking tour in Guanajuato (available from 1 person) ★ 4.9 (374) 2.5–3 h From US$53
    Cultural walk through the center of Guanajuato ★ 5.0 (316) 2.5–3 h From US$38
    ATVs through the mountains and city of Guanajuato ★ 5.0 (112) 4 h From US$300
    Private Guanajuato City Tour From San Miguel ★ 4.9 (59) 8 h From US$375
    Horseback Ride in Guanajuato with Live Music and Food ★ 4.9 (42) 4 h 30 min From US$140

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    The Cerro del Cubilete is a mountain in the municipality of Silao, about 20 km from Silao and 30 km from León, rising to 2,579 m above sea level. It is often described as the geographic centre of Mexico. On its summit stands the Santuario de Cristo Rey, crowned by a bronze statue of Christ the King about 20 m tall and weighing 80 tonnes, the work of sculptor Fidias Elizondo. Christ stands with open arms on a concrete half-globe marked with meridians and parallels, while two kneeling angels offer him the crowns of martyrdom and glory.

    The shrine has a turbulent history. A first, smaller monument was promoted by Bishop Emeterio Valverde y Téllez: a first stone was laid in 1920, and a larger project was blessed in 1923 by the papal nuncio, who was expelled from Mexico for it. Under President Plutarco Elías Calles, during the conflict that led to the Cristero War, the monument was dynamited on 30 January 1928. Rebuilding began in 1944, the bronze was cast in Mexico City from metal donated by people across the country, and the new shrine was inaugurated in December 1950. The building and statue are Art Deco; inside, a large metal crown hangs over the circular altar, and thin marble panels filter daylight.

    The sanctuary is one of the most visited religious sites in Mexico and draws pilgrims all year, especially on the feast of Christ the King in late November, on the first Sunday of October and on 5 January, when thousands of riders arrive on horseback with banners from their villages. A cobbled road winds around the hill to a roundabout at the top that serves as a lookout; the Ermita Expiatoria marks where the first monument stood, and there are stalls with snacks near the entrance. On clear days the view takes in the plains of the Bajío.

    How to get to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    Drive from Silao: 35 min, 16 km

    The shrine is about 20 km from Silao and 30 km from León; from Guanajuato city the drive takes about 50 minutes, ending on a cobbled road that winds around the hill to the top. Buses leave from the Guanajuato city bus station (about 15 pesos, roughly 2 hours).

    Directions to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey) on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

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    From the nearest cities to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey): hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    The sanctuary is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm. Mass Monday to Saturday at 6 am and noon; Sunday at 10, 11, 12, 1 and 2. Santuario de Cristo Rey · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Sunset is a highlight, when the monument's silhouette stands out against the sky. Guanajuato.mx · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    Biggest crowds for the feast of Christ the King (the last Sunday of the liturgical year, in November), on the first Sunday of October and on 5 January, when riders and a Three Kings re-enactment come to the churchyard. Wikipedia · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey): what to see and do

    Stand beneath the 20 m bronze Christ the King and its two kneeling angels.
    Step inside the Art Deco sanctuary with its hanging crown and light-filtering marble.
    Take in the view over the Bajío from the summit roundabout lookout.
    Visit the Ermita Expiatoria, on the site of the first monument dynamited in 1928.
    See the Santuario de María Reina de los Mártires below the main monument.
    Come on 5 January to see thousands of riders arrive on horseback.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey)

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    Tours & activities

    Look for tours of the area around Dolores Hidalgo that stop at Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey).

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    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at BJX (León (Bajío)): about 1 h 28 min by road to Dolores Hidalgo, then 48 km more to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey), on your own schedule.

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    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is León (Bajío) (BJX), about 1 h 28 min by road from Dolores Hidalgo, the base for Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey).

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    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Dolores Hidalgo: download a map of the way to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey) before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

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    When to go to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey) mild

    Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey) shares the climate of Dolores Hidalgo, 48 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and April.

    See the month-by-month climate of Dolores Hidalgo

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Dolores Hidalgo

    Twin towers of the Parish of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores over the main plaza of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato mild
    Guanajuato Dolores Hidalgo

    Dolores Hidalgo is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Cerro del Cubilete (Cristo Rey), with places to stay, food, and more to see.

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    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.