Peyoti Cactus

The Peyoti cactus grows around Real de Catorce and is considered sacred by some Indian peoples such as the Huiholes and the Tarahumara. They believe that while experiencing mescaline-induced hallucinations they receive messengers from their gods. As the Peyoti does not grow in the area where the Huicholes are at present settled, they undertake pilgrimages every winter of up to 500km/311mi into this region, which they consider to be their sacred land of "Wirikuta". This pilgrimage involves complicated ceremonies and ends with the picking of the cactus, which has previously been pierced by an arrow.