Just a few hours' drive from Mexico City, about 248 kilometers north, lies a place that looks like it was transported from another planet. In the municipality of Pacula, among the hills and forests, are the little-known red dunes (Pacula Hidalgo) — a landscape that sharply stands out from the usual picture of central Mexico and is increasingly becoming an object of interest among travelers looking for mysterious routes.
Home feature of this area — her color. The soil here has a rich red tint, which is due to the high concentration of iron oxides and laterite. This combination of minerals is more often associated with tropical or arid regions, however, in Pakula's condition it appears in an unexpected environment, among relatively moist soils and green vegetation. The result is a visual contrast that makes this place so unusual: the red, almost Martian surface is adjacent to pines, cedars and firs, creating the feeling that two different worlds have collided at one point.
You can get to the dunes by taking federal highway 57 in the direction of Querétaro and then turning towards Pakula. Along the way there are areas with characteristic red soil, especially in the area of small communities like San Francisco, but the real effect begins closer to the dune zone itself. A hiking route begins from the parking lot, and within a few minutes the landscape changes: light stones emerge from under the red soil, and the soft, dusty soil begins to resemble a sandy surface.
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This place is not equipped like a classic travel site, and this is its peculiarity. There is no infrastructure, rentals or organized excursions. Everything you should do depends on yourself. Visitors come here for hiking, cycling routes and photography, where the red relief plays a major role. At the same time, the surface of the dunes remains quite loose and dusty, for this reason the walk quickly leaves marks not only on shoes, but also on clothes, turning the process of movement itself into part of the adventure.
Interestingly, the appearance of the dunes changes depending on the season. In winter, the red color becomes the most saturated and contrasting, while during the rainy season, spring and summer, the soil darkens and partially loses its bright tint, turning into brown tones. It is for this reason that a trip here is often planned in the drier months, when the landscape looks most expressive.
Despite their unusual nature, the red dunes of Pakula remain almost unknown outside the region. This is not a national park or a widely advertised attraction, but a geological anomaly that operates on its own, without trying to become a tourist brand. This is what makes her especially attractive. There are no crowds of tourists, no familiar service and no monotonous scenario that needs to be repeated.
After the trip, travelers continue towards Zimapan, one of the «magical towns» a state where you can end the day in a more familiar atmosphere. But even against the backdrop of cozy streets and local cuisine, the impression from the red dunes remains the main thing. This is the case when Mexico reveals itself not through history or culture, but through unexpected geology, which can surprise no less than ancient cities.