Rayones is a municipality in the
Mexican state of
Nuevo León. It is named after the Rayón brothers, who were insurgent heroes of the country's independence achieved in 1821. The town was founded in 1852.
It is a small village consisting of fourteen streets, lying in the middle of the
Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, in the northeast of Mexico. In the area near Rayones are the municipalities of
Galeana (due south), Santiago (due north), and the state of
Coahuila, due west. Rayones marks the beginning of the Zona Ixtlera, the southernmost region of the state of Nuevo León.
Access to Rayones is difficult. The main highway, coming from
Montemorelos
Montemorelos is a city and surrounding municipality of 60,829 inhabitants located in the Northern Mexican state of Nuevo León, in the valley of the Pilon River. It was named after José María Morelos.
History
In 1637, Governor Martín de Zav ...
, is a challenge for most drivers. The unpaved highway coming from Galeana is even more risky, as it is a two-way road where only one vehicle fits; it is rocky, lined by a dangerous cliff and has no guard rail.
Rayones, however, is a touristic delight for offroad enthusiasts who travel long distances from the state's capital,
Monterrey, crossing the Pilón river, the town's primary water source. Several lodging places surround the town, and the local hotel accommodates the convoys. The municipality has some interesting landmarks such as La Cebolla (the Onion), a hilltop with a pleasurable scenic overview.
Extensive
pecan
The pecan (''Carya illinoinensis'') is a species of hickory native to the southern United States and northern Mexico in the region of the Mississippi River. The tree is cultivated for its seed in the southern United States, primarily in Georgia, ...
tree plantations in the region bring prosperity to Rayones; pecans being the main product commercialized by locals. The traditional 'Feria de la Nuez' or ''Pecan Fair'' is held annually as a tourist attraction and a merchant exchange, with traditional dances and exhibitions also offered.
{{Nuevo León
Municipalities of Nuevo León