Town 21 km southwest of Pinal de Amoles
A semi-desert town of cacti and walnut orchards on the Extoraz River, with a marble canyon and a Passion Play staged since 1880.
Peñamiller sits on the dry, western side of the Sierra Gorda, where the pine forests around Pinal de Amoles give way to hills covered in cacti. The town was founded in the mid-18th century by José de Escandón, who is said to have named it after a rock formation that reminded him of one in Spain. Its earth-colored streets blend into the surrounding mountains, with the dome of its church rising above the rooftops.
The municipality is known for its cacti and for its walnut orchards, the area's most valuable crop, and the walks among the nut trees and along the Extoraz River are part of the town's charm. Several streams and rivers feed the Extoraz, which runs full in the rainy season and is much lower from March to June.
The great natural sight is the Cañón del Paraíso, a gorge only about 10 meters wide where the Extoraz runs for some 700 meters between walls of dark marble, with ancient petroglyphs nearby; it is used for rappelling. Peñamiller is also known for its Passion Play, staged during Holy Week since 1880 with dozens of local actors, and for its feast of the Assumption on 15 August.
What to see and do
Walk the center and its church, with the cactus-covered hills all around.
Explore the Cañón del Paraíso, a narrow marble gorge on the Extoraz River, ideally with a local guide.
Look for the petroglyphs near the canyon.
Stroll through the walnut orchards and along the river.
Come for Holy Week to see the Passion Play.
Getting there
Peñamiller is roughly 28 km by road from Pinal de Amoles, about 40 minutes to an hour by car as the road drops from the pine forest into the semi-desert. Ask in town for guides to the Cañón del Paraíso, and avoid the canyon when the river is high after rain.
21 km southwest of Pinal de Amoles
Directions from Pinal de Amoles on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather cool
Peñamiller shares the climate of Pinal de Amoles, 21 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Make Pinal de Amoles your base
Peñamiller is an easy trip from Pinal de Amoles, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Pinal de Amoles
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Puente de Dios
· Cave · 6 km away
A guided hike up the Escanela River through a narrow canyon to a cave where water pours into a turquoise pool. -
Mirador Cuatro Palos
· Viewpoint · 7 km away
A 2,700-meter lookout famous for sunrise over a sea of clouds, with views as far as the Peña de Bernal. -
Cascada El Chuveje
· Waterfall · 8 km away
A 30-meter waterfall in a valley of poplars, reached by an easy river trail off Highway 120 toward Jalpan. -
Ex convento de Bucareli
· Landmark · 11 km away
A castle-like, never-finished Franciscan convent in a remote valley, with a small museum of old Latin books. -
Sótano del Barro
· Cave · 20 km away
One of the world's deepest open pits, about 450 m deep and home to wild military macaws; a 2–3 hour uphill hike from Santa María de los Cocos.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.