Cuarenta Casas

Forty House

Useful Information

Location:	Huapoca Canyon, Mexico
Open:	no restrictions
Fee:	free
Classification:	Cave House
Light:	not necessary, bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Motel Real del Bosque, Carretera Chihuahua-Madera Barrio Americano Madera, Madera Chihuahua, Mexico, Tel: 52-652-572-0066, Fax: 52-652-572-0538.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1060 to 1205 AD	pueblos built.
1980	La Cueva de las Ventanas (Windows Cave) excavated.

Description

Cuarenta Casas is an archaeological zone in the Huapoca Canyon. There are a series of caves, all located in the cliffs of El Garabato river. There are five different caves which may be visited. Each of them is located some distance from the next road and typically there is at least an hour walk to the side. Together with the poor roads, it is almost impossible to visit more than one location per day.

Cuarenta Casas (Forty Houses): the name is based on a description by the 16th century explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza. He wrote that they forged their way inland and found forty houses. However, it is not sure that there really were exactly 40 houses. Today the remains of fewer houses still exist.
Cueva de las Ventana (Cave of the Windows): is considered to be the most important cave, because of
Cueva del Puente
Paquimé (Magallón) Group of caves
Cueva Grande
La Ranchería