Monclova - place in Coahuila, Mexico

For other places with the same name, see Monclova (disambiguation).

Monclova is a city in Coahuila. It is a working class city known for its massive industry, including a steel works and an enormous power generating station.

Understand

Monclova was founded in 1577, the first community in the state. It is a small city, with a population of about 238,000 people (2020).

Climate

The climate of Monclova is somewhat extreme, of the semi-arid dry type in winter it can reach temperatures below -10 °C, with few but strong frosts and infrequent snowfalls. In summer it easily exceeds 40 °C and can present intense storms especially electrical. The months with cool weather are October-November and March-April where the city can have an average temperature of the order of 9-15 °C minimum and 22-27 °C maximum temperature. The characteristics of a dry climate and a low level of rainfall mean that hot-cold variations can occur in the course of a few hours.

Get in

Monclova is best reached by car or bus.

By plane

• Venustiano Carranza Monclova International Airport (IATA: LOV), 26.955833°, -101.47°. No major Mexican airline flies to Monclova.

The usual way to get to Monclova is taking a plane to Monterrey, and then either a car or bus to Monclova. Buses are cheap (about US$10) and may take 3 to 4 hours to get to Monclova. It is also possible to hire a car and driver to pick you up. This is the most time efficient way to get to Monclova (about 2 hours and no waiting on a bus schedule), and the fare is usually about US$150. Contact Brenda's Car Rental in Monclova for more information.

By car

Monclova is about 3 hours south of the border crossing at Eagle Pass, Texas/Piedras Negras (Mexico).

By bus

• Central de Autobuses, Cuahtemoc 100 (downtown), 26.902529°, -101.418844°. Small, dated bus station with limited facilities. Served by Coahuilenses (part of Grupo Senda) and other bus lines. Hourly departures to Piedras Negras (M$192 as of April 2008). Frequent departures to Monterrey, Cuatrocienegas and other destinations in northern Mexico. 2022-11-13

Get around

See

Monclova is not a touristic city, but you may want to see:

• A total solar eclipse on Monday 8 April 2024, starting at 13:23 local time and lasting 4 min. Chances of a clear sky are 70%. The eclipse tracks northeast from Mazatlan and Torreón to Monclova then towards Piedras Negras on the border with Texas.
• Parroquia de Santiago Apostol, Hidalgo Nte., 26.901441°, -101.416064°. Located on the city's central plaza is a colonial style church dating from the 17th century, built by José Miguel Sánchez Navarro. The sculpted greyish pink cantera facade and ornate iron gates are quite pretty.
• Coahuila and Texas Museum (Museo Coahuila y Texas), 26.907297°, -101.415450°, +52 866 632 0513. Somewhat small historical museum chronicling the period of history when Texas and Coahuila were a single, gigantic northern Mexican state. Much of the museum is an historical library and the exhibit space is of peripheral focus.
• Pape Library Museum (Museo Pape), Blvd. Harold Pape 505 Sur, Col. Guadalupe, 26.900722241064276°, -101.42884033208189°, +52 866 6310404, museopape@mbp.org.mx. 10:00 - 17:00. Interesting art gallery and an important bibliographic collection. The Pape is a modern building that houses a combination museum-library with two permanent exhibition rooms that presens a collection of archaeological pieces and a variety of coins and medals. It also has another temporary exhibition space, where cultural events are held.
• Hermitage of Zapopan. Work of the 18th century, replica of the existing church in Zapopan, Jalisco.
• Teatro de la Ciudad. It is the most modern theater in the northeast of the country. With a capacity of more than 1000 spectators. 2021-06-14
• Monclova Astronomical Observatory. The largest in Coahuila.
• Monclova Ecological and Wildlife Park. Formerly the Monclova Zoo, this reserve is unique in the state of Coahuila.

Do

• Los Acereros de Monclova, Estadio de Béisbol Monclova, Av. Cuauhtémoc 299, 26.907097660807413°, -101.44383350934605°. The local Mexican League baseball team. 2021-06-14
• Xochipilli Park, Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos 50, 26.90012603436019°, -101.40566917496541°, +52 866 633 1566. Tuesday to Sunday during the winter season from 06:30 to 18:30, and Tuesday to Sunday during the summer from 06:00 to 20:00.. Large park near the city center. You can perform various sports, recreational and cultural activities. It also has a children's area, a scenic train called Harold-ito, sports facilities, green areas and rest areas, an open-air theater, a Zipline, and an archaeological route. 2021-06-14

Buy

Eat

Budget

• Tacos de los Bomberos (Tacos Charly), Veracruz, Guadalupe, 26.912960687792665°, -101.42981263208158°, +52 866-635-1133. Very popular place for classic street tacos.

Mid-range

• Cactus, +52 866-635-1133. Blvd. Pape y Oaxaca. Traditional Mexican cuisine.
• Las Fajitas, +52 866-646-00-79. Washington 415 y Frontera. Casual Mexican grill.
• Los Corrales, Blvd. Harold Pape 600, 26.9072589084555°, -101.43065002228575°, +52 866-636-00-36. 07:30 to 23:00. Casual Mexican eatery specializing in carne asada and similar northern Mexican favorites, the chilaquiles for breakfast are a standout, affordable meals and a kid-friendly family atmosphere.
• Los Cuatro Vientos, +52 866-633-24-24. Blvd. Harold Pape 708. Casual seafood restaurant.

• La Gringa

Splurge

Drink

Chamochelas

Sleep

Budget

• Hotel Olimpia, +52 866-633-62-11. Hidalgo 203 Nte.

Mid-range

• Fiesta Inn, +52 866-649-4900. Blvd. Harold R. Pape 1909,
• Holiday Inn Monclova, Blvd. Harold R. Pape 200, +52 866 632 0025. pool is a little light on shade.

Splurge

Connect

As of Dec 2021, Monclova has 4G from AT&T / Unefon and Telcel but no signal from the other Mexican carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Stay safe

Cope

Go next

Visit the pozas of Cuatro Cienegas --- a unique desert wetland that is a protected biosphere recognized by UNESCO. (About 40 miles from Monclova).