Nature reserve 21 km north of Yuriria
The best known of Valle de Santiago's Siete Luminarias craters, its once-swimmable lake now mostly gone.
La Alberca is the best known of the Siete Luminarias, the "Seven Lights", a group of extinct volcanoes around the town of Valle de Santiago. These are maars, volcanoes formed by explosions of steam when magma met groundwater, which left low rims around deep, flat-bottomed craters up to a kilometer across. The whole group is protected as a natural monument covering almost 90 square kilometers.
La Alberca, "the swimming pool", took its name from the lake that once filled its floor, where people from Valle de Santiago used to swim. Like several of its neighbors, including Rincón de Parangueo, the crater has lost much of its water as the region pumped more and more groundwater for farming, and the shrinking lake has become a symbol of the Bajío's water problems. The site is also wrapped in local lore: it has been called the Temple of Silence, and Valle de Santiago is famous in Mexico for stories of UFO sightings over the craters.
Even in its reduced state, standing on the rim and looking down into the huge bowl is impressive, and the crater is a base for hiking, climbing, rappelling and mountain biking with local operators. Late afternoon, when the light hits the crater walls, is the best time to visit.
What to see and do
Walk along the crater rim and look down into the bowl.
Hike, climb or rappel with a local operator.
Combine it with the salt-floored crater of Rincón de Parangueo nearby.
Stay for sunset, and ask locals about the UFO stories of Valle de Santiago.
Getting there
La Alberca is on the western edge of Valle de Santiago, about 25 km north of Yuriria; the drive takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes via the highway to Valle de Santiago. Buses run between Yuriria and Valle de Santiago, and a taxi from the center of Valle can take you to the crater entrance.
21 km north of Yuriria
Directions from Yuriria on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather mild
Hoya La Alberca shares the climate of Yuriria, 21 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Apr, Dec.
Make Yuriria your base
Hoya La Alberca is an easy trip from Yuriria, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.