A 650-metre cable car crossing at roughly 85 metres above the historic centre, offering a rare straight-down aerial perspective on the cathedral, Palacio de Gobierno and the dense grid of pink quarry-stone rooftops.
The Teleférico de Zacatecas, in operation since 1979 as Mexico's first tourist cable car, crosses roughly 650 metres between Cerro del Grillo and Cerro de la Bufa at a height of about 85 metres above the streets of the historic centre. For photography, this is one of the few vantage points in the city offering a genuinely aerial, near-vertical perspective on the UNESCO-listed centre's dense grid of pink quarry-stone rooftops, church domes and narrow colonial streets, rather than the more common oblique hillside views available from either summit.
The standard cabin has windows that open enough for a lens to be angled through, while the glass-floor cabin, available for an additional fare, gives a striking straight-down composition of the streets passing beneath the car, best suited to a wide-angle lens or a phone camera given the tight space and the need to work quickly during the seven-to-ten-minute crossing. Mid-morning light works well for illuminating the streets and courtyards directly below, while the last crossing before sunset catches the same rooftops in warmer, more angled light, closer to the golden-hour conditions favoured for cityscape work generally.
Because the cabin is in motion and shared with other passengers, a tripod is impractical; a fast shutter speed and image stabilisation matter more here than in most of the city's other photo locations. The crossing is suspended in high wind or lightning, a relevant consideration during the June to September rainy season, when afternoon storms are common. Round-trip and one-way tickets are available, and a one-way crossing paired with a walking descent on the opposite hill gives more flexibility for photographers wanting extra time at either hilltop.
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Wide-angle lens (16-35mm equivalent), Phone camera as a backup for the tight cabin space, Fast shutter speed / image stabilisation rather than a tripod
- Lens
- 16-35mm equivalent wide-angle for cabin views; a phone camera also works well in the tight cabin space
- Composition
- Straight-down compositions from the glass-floor cabin suit a wide-angle lens; angled shots through standard cabin windows work well framing the cathedral and Palacio de Gobierno together.
- Tip
- Shoot in continuous burst mode through the moving cabin window to increase the odds of a sharp frame at the crossing's midpoint, where the view over the centre is widest.
Location
Estación Cerro del Grillo / Estación Cerro de la Bufa, Centro, 98000 Zacatecas, Zac., Mexico
22.7755, -102.5717 View on map
Highlights
- A rare near-vertical aerial perspective on the historic centre's rooftops and streets
- An optional glass-floor cabin for a direct straight-down composition
- A 650-metre crossing at about 85m above the city, the first tourist cable car built in Mexico
- Warm side-light on the rooftops during the last crossing before sunset
- Extended evening crossings during Semana Santa, summer and December holiday periods
Tips for visiting
- Ride near the last operating hour before sunset for the warmest light on the rooftops below.
- Pay the additional fare for the glass-floor cabin if a direct straight-down composition is the goal.
- Use a fast shutter speed rather than a tripod, since the cabin is in constant motion and shared with other passengers.
- A wide-angle lens or phone camera suits the tight cabin space better than a long telephoto.
- Check that the crossing is running before planning a shoot during the June to September rainy season, when storms can suspend service.
- Ride one-way and walk down the opposite hill afterward for more time to shoot from either summit.
When to visit
Mid-morning for direct light into the streets, or the final crossing before sunset for warm rooftop light, year-round.
Accessibility
Both teleférico stations are reached by paved access roads or short walks and the cabins themselves are boarded via a platform with steps, which may be difficult for some wheelchair users.
Frequently asked questions
Can photos be taken through the cabin windows?
Yes, the standard cabin windows open enough to angle a lens through, and the optional glass-floor cabin adds a further straight-down view.
Is a tripod usable inside the cabin?
No, the cabin is in motion and shared with other passengers, so a tripod is impractical. A fast shutter speed and stabilised lens are the better approach.
When does the crossing offer the best light?
Mid-morning gives direct light into the streets below, while the last crossing before sunset adds warm, angled light across the rooftops.
Does weather affect the ride?
Yes. The crossing is suspended in high wind or lightning, which is more common during the June to September rainy season, so checking current operating status before a planned shoot is worthwhile.