Inside 'El Altiplano': The Maximum Security Prison that Holds Mexico's Most Wanted Narcos And 'El Chapo' Managed To Escape From

In the heart of Mexico, 56 miles from the capital, stands the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1, popularly known as "El Altiplano." This maximum-security prison has housed some of Mexico's most notorious criminals, including Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the only inmate to have successfully escaped from it.

Built between 1988 and 1990 during President Carlos Salinas de Gortari's administration, El Altiplano took its first inmates in November 1991. Designed as an impenetrable fortress, it features walls up to a meter thick, restricted airspace, and limited cell phone coverage within a radius of over six miles, all aimed at preventing escapes and unauthorized communications.

The prison's construction was overseen by lawyer and criminologist Juan Pablo Tavira, father of actress Marina de Tavira, who is currently in a relationship with actor and producer Diego Luna. In an ironic twist, Luna portrayed one of Mexico's most infamous drug lords, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, in 'Narcos: Mexico.' Félix Gallardo, also known as "El Padrino," was released from El Altiplano in 2014 due to health issues after spending 25 years there.

Infamous Inmates of El Altiplano

El Chapo and Félix Gallardo are not the only high-profile inmates who have passed through El Altiplano. Others include Édgar "La Barbie" Valdés, Rafael Caro Quintero—dubbed "El Narco de Narcos" who was portrayed by Tenoch Huerta in 'Narcos: Mexico'—and Héctor Luis Palma Salazar, known as "El Güero," a former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Arturo Guzmán, El Chapo's brother, was killed while serving his sentence at the prison.

Recent inmates include José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, alias "El Marro," leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, who was captured in 2020, and Ovidio Guzmán López, "El Ratón," son of El Chapo, who was detained in 2023 and later extradited to the United States. Another infamous figure, Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, nicknamed "El Mata Amigos," entered the prison in December 2024.

El Altiplano's Global Notoriety

El Altiplano gained international infamy in 2015 when El Chapo staged a dramatic escape through a nearly mile-long tunnel that connected his cell to a nearby house under construction. The breakout shocked not only the prison guards and authorities but also Mexico and the world.

Daily routines at El Altiplano are meticulously designed to minimize the chances of escape or criminal activity within the facility. Inmates spend most of their time in solitary confinement, with limited and strictly monitored outings. Security measures include constant inspections, advanced surveillance systems, and highly trained personnel.

Despite its reputation as an impenetrable facility, El Chapo's 2015 escape exposed flaws in its security measures, highlighting systemic issues within Mexico's penitentiary system, such as corruption and inadequate resources. "El Chapo escaped because of corruption. Without the blueprints, he couldn't have built the tunnel—it's like a honeycomb. You have to know where the soft ground is and where it isn't. Without that knowledge, it's impenetrable," a prison guard told CNN anonymously.

A U.S. journalist who visited the prison described its living conditions as "abysmal." Regarding El Chapo's cell, he said, "It's a 60-square-foot cell. You pass through two additional doors and bars to reach it. There's a video camera monitoring the cell from a rear corner, and at the opposite end, there's a short concrete wall out of the camera's view. This wall came up to my chest."

Despite its challenges and criticism, El Altiplano remains a cornerstone in Mexico's battle against organized crime. While its impenetrability has been questioned, its role in containing some of the country's most dangerous criminals is undeniable.