Adventure is San Luis Potosi

Wooden canoes line the banks of the Tampaon River on the eastern end of San Luis Potosi state.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

Tourists climb onto a rock island to photograph the 345-foot Tamul Waterfall.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

The winding road up to Real de Catorce boasts spectacular vistas.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A popular way to reach Real de Catorce is aboard (or on top of) a Jeep Willys.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

Miguel Galarraga of Corazon de Xoconostle Tours descends into a sinkhole known as Sotano de las Huahuas.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

Miguel Galarraga of Corazon de Xoconostle Tours guides visitors through the base of the Sotano de las Huahuas sinkhole.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

Visitors explore the surreal structures of a garden built by the late British artist Edward James.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

The Voladores de Tamaletom are Teenek dancers who “fly” around a pole while suspended upside down.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

The Voladores de Tamaletom are Teenek dancers who “fly” around a pole while suspended upside down.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

Media Luna is a spring-fed lagoon popular with swimmers and scuba divers. Archaeologists discovered several pre-Hispanic offerings in the water.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A local shaman gathers herbs in the Wirikuta desert in San Luis Potosi.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

The eccentric British artist Edward James created a surreal garden in San Luis Potosi.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

An indigenous Teenek woman sells local crafts.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A traditional Teenek structure in San Luis Potosi.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A tourist bus circles the historic center of San Luis Potosi.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A sign marks the location of the Tropic of Cancer in San Luis Potosi.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )

A tourist gets a better perspective of Real de Catorce from the roof of a Jeep Willys operated by Willys del Real.   ( Mark Johanson/Chicago Tribune )