Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz and Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for
Plan this ride
Recorded distance
277 km
Riding-time estimate
5 h 18
Journey
Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
A 277 km round trip from Encarnación de Díaz - roughly 5 h 18 in the saddle. On the way it passes Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata, Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for and back through Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata. The stored terrain estimate reaches about 2,300 m; a measured road-elevation profile is not available. It was put together for the scenery rather than the shortest line.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz
Encarnación de Díaz is a market town in Los Altos de Jalisco, the high, dry plateau between Guadalajara and Aguascalientes, and its cemetery is a surprising piece of world heritage. It is one of the stops listed as part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the royal road that once ran from Mexico City to Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico, along which silver went south and settlers, missionaries and goods went north for almost three centuries. The cemetery, built in the nineteenth century, is enclosed by a wall with arched galleries and filled with ornate tombs and chapels, carved in local stone, which reflect the prosperity and piety of the town's families. On the Day of the Dead, at the beginning of November, it fills with flowers, candles and families sitting by their graves.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz is where the day begins. Next is Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata.
2. Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata
On the high plains where Jalisco meets Aguascalientes, the village of Ciénega de Mata gathers around the remains of what was once one of the largest haciendas in New Spain. In the colonial period, the estate covered an enormous territory, with cattle, sheep and horses grazing over a territory measured in leagues rather than fields, and its owners were among the most powerful families of the region. The surviving buildings, including a chapel and parts of the main house and its walls, are listed as part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the great colonial road that linked Mexico City with the far north. Haciendas like this were the backbone of the colonial economy, supplying food, animals and shelter to the endless traffic of the road.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata comes up about 75 km into the recorded legs. Next is Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for.
3. Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for
On the high plateau of southern Zacatecas, close to the border with San Luis Potosí, the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro passed through a dry landscape of grassland, yucca and nopal cactus, linking Mexico City with the silver mines of the north. Haciendas grew up along the way, and the former Hacienda of San Nicolás de Quijas, with its chapel dedicated to San Nicolás Tolentino, is one of the sites inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2010 as part of the royal road. The chapel, with its simple façade, bell gable and adobe walls, stands in a small village surrounded by fields and open range.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz to Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata
Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz → Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata is 75 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata to Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for
Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata → Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for to back through Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata
Chapel of San Nicolás Tolentino of the for → back through Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata is 63 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata to Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz
back through Former hacienda of Ciénega de Mata → Cemetery in Encarnación de Díaz is 75 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.