Atlas Obscura - Latest • Jan. 22, 2026, 5:11 p.m.

The Huichol people, or as they call themselves, the Wixárika, are indigenous to the mountains north of Zapopan and Guadalajara, in the area where the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas, and Durango meet. Their religion is noted for the ritual usage of the hallucinogenic peyote cactus, which they consider one of their sacred deities.

Although they are not the only people to use it, their usage is considered especially reflective of pre-Colombian traditions. Ancestral spirits are said to be contacted utilizing the peyote.

They also hold annual pilgrimages to collect peyote for year-round usage. Another method in which the Huichol's psychedelic traditions are unique is their reflection in art.

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