The enchanted forest of Las Musas is a protected natural area.

(GUANAJUATO Mexico) – This area, located in Manuel Doblado, Guanajuato, is adorned with ahuehuetes, sabinos, ash, and willow trees, with an aquatic ecosystem and a diversity of species, offers ecotourism activities and infrastructure for visitors.

To the south of this city, but at the north of the Sierra de Pénjamo, lies a magical space for its natural wealth and legends, the enchanted forest of Las Musas.

The ghostly legend says that many years ago, two young girls used to swim naked in the stream’s waters that descends from the mountain under the cool shadows of the junipers and ahuehuetes.

One fateful day, the daughters of the landowner were surprised by men who murdered them. Their bodies were found in the river’s waters, and the forest was filled with sadness. Since then, their spirits wander through the enchanted forest, inexplicable events occur, and if you pay attention, you can hear their songs, but also their lamentations.

NATURAL TREASURE
Las Musas is characterized by a gallery forest composed mainly of ahuehuetes (Taxodium mucronatum) in different stages of development and with a good degree of conservation. Also, junipers, ash, willows, and an aquatic ecosystem with a high diversity of invertebrate species such as shrimp and crayfish. It has a unique attraction complemented with ecotourism activities and infrastructure to make visitors’ stay pleasant.

Las Musas Ecotourism Area is located 18 kilometers from the municipal capital, on the Manuel Doblado-Arandas highway, next to the rural community of Las Torrecillas and a few meters from the hamlet of Los Órganos.

Recently, this Natural Protected Area (NPA) opened the Las Musas Visitor Center, which offers traditional food, restrooms, handicrafts, and medicinal products, thus complementing contact with nature with the local culture and gastronomy.

“Las Musas Natural Protected Area, of state competence and with the category of Sustainable Use Area, has a surface of 3 thousand 174.764 hectares; it is located in the municipality of Manuel Doblado and is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of the municipality, due to its characteristic wooded area next to the Colorado River”, said Ana Carmen Aguilar Higareda, director of the State Institute of Ecology of Guanajuato.

The legend
The story goes that many years ago, two young girls used to swim naked in the stream’s waters that ran down the mountain under the cool shadows of the junipers and ahuehuetes, but one day, the daughters of the landowner were surprised by men who murdered them. Their bodies were found in the river’s waters, and the forest was filled with sadness.

Since then, their spirits wander through the enchanted forest, inexplicable events occur, and even “their songs and laments can be heard.”

The Yucatan Times
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