Las Pozas, Sculpture garden in Xilitla, Mexico
The garden spreads across 80 acres of subtropical rainforest, featuring concrete structures and natural waterfalls intertwined with numerous pools at 2,000 feet elevation.
Edward James initiated the garden's construction in 1949 after discovering Xilitla in 1945, employing over 100 local workers until his death in 1984.
The structures reflect surrealist principles through concrete formations that merge with nature, including spiraling staircases and elements shaped like orchid reproductive parts.
The site maintains regular hours from 9 AM to 6 PM with guided tours available, requiring sturdy footwear for exploring the extensive concrete paths and natural pools.
The garden contains 36 concrete sculptures distributed across multiple levels, connected by winding staircases that lead to platforms without apparent purpose.
Location: Xilitla
Inception: 1962
Creator: Edward James
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-18:00
Website: https://laspozasxilitla.org.mx/en
GPS coordinates: 21.39646,-98.99669
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:39
Mexico contains numerous undiscovered places beyond standard destinations. This selection presents sculpture gardens, caves, islands, colonial towns, volcanoes, Maya sites, oases, lagoons and nature reserves. The locations range from mineral pools in Oaxaca to desert landscapes in Sonora.
Earth presents numerous geological formations, natural phenomena, and architectural structures that stand out through their exceptional characteristics. This collection documents such sites across all continents: the Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan, burning for decades; the luminescent glowworms in New Zealand's Waitomo Caves; the terraced limestone pools of Pamukkale in Turkey; and the layered sediment patterns of The Wave in Arizona. Additional locations include the basalt columns at Bushmills in Northern Ireland, the deep blue expanse of Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mount Fuji, the Chocolate Hills in the Philippines with their conical mounds, and the acidic turquoise waters of Kawah Ijen crater lake in Indonesia. The collection also features human-made curiosities such as Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra with its spiral initiation well, the Winchester Mystery House in California with its unusual architecture, and Las Pozas in Mexico, a surrealist garden of concrete constructions in the jungle. Natural phenomena are equally represented: the Racetrack Playa in California with its moving rocks, the optical illusion of Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick, the Caño Cristales in Colombia whose riverbed appears in bright colors, and Lake Natron in Tanzania with its high alkaline content. Each location demonstrates specific geological processes, climatic conditions, or cultural developments that distinguish these places from typical travel destinations.
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