Cerro del Culiacán

Cerro del Culiacán is the cone-shaped mountain that rises over the plains north of Salvatierra, where the municipalities of Salvatierra, Cortazar, and Jaral del Progreso meet. At about 2,830 meters above sea level, it is one of the tallest peaks in southern Guanajuato, and its regular silhouette is a landmark across this part of the Bajío.

The mountain has long been sacred. Archaeological remains have been found on its slopes and summit, and a local tradition identifies it with Teoculhuacan Chicomoztoc, the place of seven caves from the migration stories of the Mexica and other peoples of central Mexico. Its caves also feature in other legends, including one about a treasure hidden by the independence-era guerrilla Albino García. Every year around May 3, pilgrims climb to the summit for the feast of the Holy Cross.

Today the mountain is mainly a place for hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Its upper slopes are covered in oak forest, and more than a hundred bird species have been recorded here. There is no formal tourist infrastructure, but the views from the top over the valleys of Salvatierra and Valle de Santiago reward the climb, especially at sunrise or sunset.