El Camino Real

Aaron Perez

Published 9/2/2025

Image credit: Netnoticias.mx


    Camino Real, often referred to as El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road of the Interior Lands), is far more than a local street—it's a thread in the tapestry of North American history. Established in the late 16th century, this 1,600-mile trail stretched from Mexico City all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving as a lifeline for Spanish colonization, trade, and cultural exchange. It was blazed in 1598 by explorer Juan de Oñate, who led expeditions northward, crossing indigenous footpaths and forging connections between distant empires. In Ciudad Juárez, the trail passed through the strategic El Paso del Norte (Pass of the North), where the Rio Grande provided a natural crossing point. This area, now split between Juárez and El Paso, Texas, was a crucial hub for caravans carrying silver, mercury, livestock, and missionaries. The route facilitated the spread of Spanish influence, including the establishment of missions like Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Juárez, built in the 17th century. Over three centuries, it witnessed conquests, rebellions, and the blending of Indigenous, Spanish, and later Mexican cultures.

    But history isn't without its shadows. Sections like the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead Man), a brutal 90-mile desert stretch north of Juárez, earned their name from deadly treks where travelers faced dehydration, attacks, and isolation. These hardships birthed early legends of lost souls and cursed lands, setting the stage for the eerie reputation that lingers today. Fast-forward to the present, and Camino Real in Juárez has evolved into a bustling boulevard. Officially known as Boulevard Camino Real, it's a major road in the city's northwest, originally envisioned as part of a ring road encircling the entire metropolis—a grand project attributed to local figure Teto Murguía. Today, it connects residential areas, commercial zones, and even hosts landmarks like the Real Inn Ciudad Juárez hotel.

    While the name pays homage to the historic trail, the modern Camino Real is a far cry from dusty wagon paths. It's a vital thoroughfare for daily life in Juárez, a border city pulsing with energy from trade, migration, and cross-cultural vibes. However, its remote stretches, especially at night, transform it into something more sinister. Flanked by hills and often shrouded in darkness, the road has become synonymous with accidents, disappearances, and unexplained phenomena—fueling a new wave of urban legends that echo the perils of its historic predecessor. This is where history gives way to the supernatural, with tales that have locals avoiding the area after dark. The most prominent legend revolves around "Las Brujas del Camino Real" (The Witches of Camino Real), spectral figures said to haunt the surrounding hills and roads.

    According to numerous accounts, these witches appear as three women dressed in black, with long, flowing hair and piercing gazes that can paralyze anyone who meets their eyes. Witnesses describe them humming eerie tunes without moving their lips, their hair rising as if underwater, accompanied by strange, otherworldly noises. They reportedly chase vehicles or pedestrians, scampering impossibly fast across the rugged terrain. Some say these apparitions are vengeful spirits tied to the area's tragic past—perhaps victims of violence or ancient curses from the colonial era. Other eerie sightings include floating lights in the hills, believed to be witchfire or lost souls guiding (or misleading) travelers. There's even talk of a flying gargoyle that swoops down on unsuspecting drivers, adding a gothic twist to the lore. hese stories gain traction amid real-world tragedies: the road has seen its share of fatal crashes and, more disturbingly, disappearances. One poignant case linked in local discussions is that of Esmeralda Castillo Rincón, a young girl missing since 2009, whose story has been woven into podcasts exploring the witches' legend—though direct connections remain speculative.

    What fuels these myths? Juárez's history of violence, including femicides and cartel activity, casts a long shadow, blending fact with fiction. The isolation of the Camino Real at night, combined with cultural beliefs in brujería (witchcraft) common in Mexican folklore, creates a perfect breeding ground for such tales. Channels like "Culto a la Noche" on YouTube have amplified these stories, sharing firsthand testimonies that keep the legends alive.

    Camino Real in Juárez is more than a path—it's a portal to the past and a canvas for the imagination. Whether you're tracing the footsteps of Spanish explorers or pondering the witches' midnight rituals, this place reminds us how history and legend intertwine. If you visit, do so with respect for the land's layered past, and maybe stick to daylight hours. Have you encountered any strange happenings on a similar road?

Sources:

"Camino Real de Tierra Adentro." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Aug. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro.

"Ciudad Juárez." State Magazine, U.S. Department of State, July 2023, statemag.state.gov/2023/07/0723pom/.

"Culto a la Noche, el canal de Youtube que cuenta historias de terror de Ciudad Juárez." El Heraldo de Juárez, Organización Editorial Mexicana, 22 June 2023, oem.com.mx/elheraldodejuarez/local/culto-a-la-noche-el-canal-de-youtube-que-cuenta-historias-de-terror-de-ciudad-juarez-19014215.

"CULTO A LA NOCHE en YouTube▶️ (@cultoalanoche)." Instagram, Meta Platforms, Inc., 2 Aug. 2023, www.instagram.com/cultoalanoche/?hl=en.

"El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Timeline." National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 13 June 2022, www.nps.gov/articles/000/el-camino-real-de-tierra-adentro-timeline.htm.

"History & Culture - El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail." National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 23 Apr. 2025, www.nps.gov/elca/learn/historyculture/index.htm.

"History: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro." New Mexico Art Museum, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, n.d., online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/opening-the-west/el-camino-real-de-tierra-adentro/history-el-camino-de-tierra-adentro.html.

"How Corruption, Complicity Fuel Human Trafficking in Ciudad Juárez." InSight Crime, 30 Aug. 2023, insightcrime.org/investigations/corruption-complicity-human-trafficking-ciudad-juarez/.

"Is it true that Camino Real was originally built to be a 'Juarenze' ring road?" Reddit, 26 Feb. 2025, www.reddit.com/r/Juarez/comments/1iyt966/es_cierto_que_camino_real_fue_originalmente/?tl=en.

"Jornada del Muerto." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 July 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jornada_del_Muerto.

"Jornada del Muerto - El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail." National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 23 Apr. 2025, www.nps.gov/elca/planyourvisit/jornada-del-muerto.htm.

"Jornada del Muerto Exhibits." National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 23 Apr. 2025, www.nps.gov/elca/learn/historyculture/jornada-del-muerto-exhibits.htm.

"La leyenda de las brujas del Camino Real en Ciudad Juárez." Instagram, Meta Platforms, Inc., 25 Feb. 2025, www.instagram.com/p/DGfQFLiuAGM/-la-leyenda-de-las-brujas-del-camino-real-en-ciudad-ju%25C3%25A1rez-%25EF%25B8%258Fa-lo-largo-de-los-a%25C3%25B1/?hl=en.

"Leyenda del Camino Real." TV Azteca Ciudad Juárez, Facebook, Meta Platforms, Inc., 30 Oct. 2024, www.facebook.com/AztecaCiudadJuarez/posts/leyenda-del-camino-real-esto-se-sabe-de-las-brujas-que-se-observan-en-los-cerros/540370295283602/.

"Missing: Esmeralda Castillo Rincon and the Witches of Camino Real, Cuidad Juárez." Espooky Tales, 3 Mar. 2023, www.espookytales.com/missing-esmeralda-castillo-rincon-and-the-witches-of-camino-real-cuidad-juarez/.

"The Story of El Camino Real." American Heritage, American Heritage Publishing Co., n.d., www.americanheritage.com/story-el-camino-real.

"Witches in Mexico." Espooky Tales, 15 Feb. 2022, www.espookytales.com/blog/witches-in-mexico/.

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