Zacatecas is home to a tourist attraction that compels us to look underground: more than 300 meters below the surface lies the El Edén Mine, a place unlike any other in Mexico or the world. Its deep, rocky walls, which have existed for over 500 years, preserve the mineral memory that gave shape and spirit to the city.
Today, the El Edén Mine is home to a fascinating mining museum, rocks steeped in history, and, as if that weren’t enough, a nightclub where visitors can dance and socialize until the wee hours of the night, right in the heart of the earth.
From the sky to the depths of the earth: Zacatecas, a vertical city
Zacatecas’s tourism offerings can literally range from the sky to the underground. Cultural travelers can begin their journey high above, aboard the cable car that crosses the city center and offers a spectacular view of the urban landscape. Afterward, they can descend into the caves of a historic mine that is one of a kind: the Mina el Edén.
The mine began operations in 1586. It soon became one of the most prosperous in the region. For centuries, gold, silver, and other metals were extracted from it, sustaining the local economy. But its proximity to the city and constant flooding forced operations to be suspended in 1960. The site was not left to fall into disrepair, but was converted into a tourist attraction. The El Edén Mine, as we know it today, opened its doors to the public in 1975, during the governorship of Fernando Pámanes Escobedo.
The El Edén Mine is a network of tunnels, galleries, and cavities that descend across various levels. The tour begins on a train, which takes visitors deep into the heart of the site. From the very beginning, travelers can see walls marked by hard work, toil, and, at times, tragedy. They can also observe water seepage, walk across suspension bridges, and explore the Zacatecas Museum of Rocks and Minerals, where fascinating metals are on display.
The El Edén Mine: Ambition and Capital Underground
The El Edén Mine not only preserves the economic and labor history of the town in Zacatecas, but also holds a harrowing tale of ambition, selfishness, and the tragedy of capitalism. Underground, the ideals of progress and wealth are always overshadowed by danger, loneliness, and disaster.
One of the best-known stories is the legend of Roque the miner. According to the tale, Roque found a silver nugget and hid it so he wouldn’t have to share it with anyone. When he went back to look for it, he discovered that it had vanished. In his desperation, he cursed the gods. As punishment, the mine collapsed on top of him, trapping him forever in the depths.
It is said that his face was preserved in the rock on one of the mine walls. Roque embodies the figure of the man who breaks every bond with others, the man for whom wealth ceases to be a means and becomes an end in itself, his absolute master. A foreshadowing of Wall Street or Silicon Valley lurks beneath the surface of Zacatecas.
The City Returns to the Surface
The underground experience isn’t limited to history, legend, and brutality. Inside the mine, there’s a nightclub where visitors can dance and drink with friends. This venue is located more than 300 meters underground. Mina Club Disco and Bar is the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing, after dining at iconic restaurants like Los Dorados de Villa or El Acrópolis.
After a night of music, dancing, and rest, returning to the surface invites you to continue your cultural journey through Zacatecas. The Manuel Felguérez Museum of Abstract Art offers a modern and rigorous perspective on 20th-century Mexican art, while the Calderón Theater, with its architecture and programming, allows you to conclude the tour with a theatrical experience in the Historic District.
Discover more cultural sites in Zacatecas in AW Magazine.
