Tangamanga Park (Parque Tangamanga) is the green lung of San Luis Potosí. Its grassy lawns, lakes, trails and woodland areas provide a welcome respite from the crammed streets of the city center. Enjoy scenic picnics, get active at sports courts, have fun at a waterpark and visit a hands-on science museum. Tangamanga Park covers over 1,000 acres (400 hectares) and is one of Mexico’s largest inner-city parks.
The park features broad meadows, decorative gardens and sections of thick forest, all intersected by natural trails, paved pathways and streets. It presents an idyllic setting for biking, jogging, rollerblading and walking. Spot trees such as cedars, eucalyptus, palms, pines and poplars. Sit at the shores of the two lakes and observe cormorants, ducks and flycatchers, among other birdlife.
Find basketball courts, baseball diamonds, a BMX dirt track, a children’s playground and tennis courts. Ride the waterslides, cool off in the fountains and swim in the pools at Tangamanga Splash. Bring your own food to eat at the designated picnic areas and cook using the public-use barbecue grills.
Learn about the plants and animals of the 19 protected natural regions of San Luis Potosí at the EcoMuseo Tangamanga. It’s housed in the reconstructed buildings of a centuries-old tannery called the Hacienda de la Tenería. Walk along the Gran Tunal interactive trail, which explains the park’s biodiversity via interpretive signs. The park’s Teatro Carlos Amador hosts concerts, dance shows, movie screenings and theatrical performances.
Be sure to visit the Labyrinth Museum of Science and the Arts. Follow a path around a maze-like courtyard decorated with exhibits that highlight the connection between art, science and technology. Catch a movie at the 3-D cinema. Marvel at the panoramic city views from the lookout deck of the museum’s tower.
Tangamanga Park is about a 20-minute drive southwest from the city center of San Luis Potosí. The most convenient way to get here is by taxi. Free parking is available inside the park. The site is open daily, except for Monday afternoons, and admission is free.
