Las Pozas is a garden filled by a set of surrealist structures. Located in Xilitla, in the state of San Luis Potosí amid the Huasteca Potosina, known for its clear-blue water rivers and waterfalls and a heaven for rafting and trekking enthusiasts
It’s construction lasted between 1960 and 1970 by the English artist and poet Edward James, who was living in Mexico at the time as a semi exile and bought a coffee plantation in San Luis Potosí, where the site is now located. He used the coffee plantation as a home for exotic animals as well as to plant orchids. After a frost in 1962, his plantations were destroyed and after a rush of inspiration, Edward James, with the help of workers, commenced the building of the sculpture garden which today stands as “Las Pozas”.
Originally, Edward James’ plan was to construct them in Los Angeles, California. However, he decided to do it in Mexico instead as he considered the country a much more romantic and spacious place for it. He was directed to Mexico by his friend, Bridget Bate Tichenor, who told him Mexico was a good place to express and learn about esotericism. In Mexico, he hired Plutarco Gastelúm to be his guide and eventually stumbled across the town of Xilitla and decided to live there. Before acquiring the coffee plantation, he constructed a house which resembled a Gothic castle from Europe. His former house serves as a hotel today for visitors.
A guide to the structures:
By land: Direct night buses from Mexico City run directly to Xilitla by ADO buses.
By air: Fly into San Luis Potosí. From San Luis Potosí, many buses run several times a day into the Pozas.