In Baja California Sur, a region renowned for its water-based activities like sportfishing, scuba diving, and whale watching a hidden gem experience on-land awaits the most intrepid of travelers. The Sierra de San Francisco Mountains on the Baja California Peninsula are home to the oldest cave paintings in the Americas. As summer heat and rains give way to more temperate weather, the upcoming fall and winter seasons offer an ideal opportunity to embark on this historic journey.
The Great Murals provide a perfect ‘Autumn Adventure’, with temperatures low enough to enjoy the beautiful greenery following the late summer rain season. With the rising ‘coolcations’ travel trend, people looking for a temperate getaway should plan their visit now, while tour dates are still available. The region’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage further exemplifies the ‘Sustainable Tourism’ trend currently sweeping the industry. Rife with protective measures, reversible infrastructure (designed to be easily removed) – as well as environmental protections with its inclusion in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve – the site safeguards its cultural and natural treasures: exemplifying the harmony between humans and their environment depicted it the paintings.
For those interested in visiting, Aventuras Mexico Profundo offers fully guided tours that showcase the region’s ancient rock art, starting and ending in La Paz. Visitors can journey from La Pintada Cave, depicting thousands of overlapping images of marine life and human figures – to the Boca de San Julio Cave, where they can marvel over symbols from a forgotten language. This immersive ten-day adventure spans the peninsula’s beautiful bays, beaches, oases, and Jesuit mission churches. Guests can delve deep into canyons on mule-back and camp under the starry skies. Accommodations also include hotels and air-conditioned vans. Meanwhile Loreto Sea & Land Tours based in the “pueblo magico” (magic town) of Loreto, offers offering three-to-five-day rock art tours on mule-back, providing another unique perspective on Baja California Sur’s ancient marvels.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ‘Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco’ offer a rare glimpse into ancient history. Attributed to the lost Cochimí tribe, these paintings are remarkably well preserved thanks to the region’s arid climate – preventing the paintings from being washed away – and its seclusion. Accordingly, visitors are able to enjoy a private moment with one of the largest prehistoric rock art sites in the world. Unlike other well-traveled rock painting sites, the Great Murals have not been retouched, so travelers can admire these paintings in their original state – with a vibrancy of surviving color that takes the breath away.
For travelers from the United States to Loreto, Alaska Airlines offers nonstop flights from Los Angeles (LAX), while American Airlines provides direct seasonal flights from Phoenix (PHX) and Dallas (DFW), facilitating convenient access for visitors across the country.
Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, the state of Baja California Sur encompasses the southern half of the Baja Peninsula. The climate is perfect for fishing, boating, surfing and diving, making the destination an adventurer and thrill-seeker’s dream. The state features breathtaking scenery from the windswept ocean beaches on the west to the tranquil, turquoise waters on the east. In between are canyons, desertscapes and lush oasis ripe for exploration.
