El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora


Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Natural asset registered in 2013 on the list of World Heritage Sites. The Historic Center of Querétaro is a cultural heritage site inscribed in 1996 on the UNESCO World Heritage List..
The reserve is located a few kilometers from Puerto Peñasco in the northwest of Mexico, in the state of Sonora, just below the state of Arizona. It's one of the most visible land formations in North America, so much so that it can be identified from space.
Of the four deserts in North America, the Sonoran Desert has the greatest diversity. It's also home to the largest active dune field in North America. The impressive landscape of the living dunes, with their varied shapes, reaches heights of over 200 meters. The linear, parabolic, and star-shaped dune formations contrast with a series of granite massifs up to 650 meters high, emerging like islands from the surrounding sea of sand.
It's composed of a volcanic system known as Santa Clara, with 400 volcanic cones of different shapes, sizes, and complexity. The area occupied by the Pinacate Shield Volcano represents 32%, while the mobile and fixed dune field covers over three-quarters of the total surface area of the reserve.
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar is a magical place of desolate beauty, unusual creatures, unique plants, and remarkable geological features. The area contains a spectacular volcanic shield with lava flows and millennia-old, gigantic craters, some reaching over one kilometer in diameter and 120 meters in depth. The El Elegante crater stands out, measuring 1,400 meters in width and 140 meters in depth.
The landscape of the crater area is similar to that of the Moon, which is why the area was chosen by NASA for astronaut training for the Apollo mission.
Furthermore, tinajas, rare natural water accumulations, open in the solid rock beds of lava fields, providing water for wildlife.
Far from being a desolate place, it's rich in biodiversity. You can find over 540 species of vascular plants, 41 native mammal species, including the pronghorn, bighorn sheep, badger, desert fox, and long-nosed bat; 237 bird species, including migratory and resident species; 25 reptile species, such as the Gila monster and desert tortoise; 4 amphibian species; and 3 native species of freshwater fish, including the Desert Pupfish, considered endemic, and the Longfin Charal.
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar is a vast collection of archaeological remains dating back over 20,000 years.
Exploring this protected area of 714,556 hectares (larger than several states in Mexico, such as Aguascalientes, Colima, Morelos, and Tlaxcala) is quite an adventure. The rugged path winds through lava flows and dark rocks with whimsical shapes, surrounded by saguaros, organ pipe cacti, chollas, and mesquite, palo verde, and ironwood shrubs.
To visit, it's necessary to request the services of an experienced guide as traveling through the desert must be done with extreme caution due to the existing roads.
The El Elegante crater, located just over an hour from Puerto Peñasco, is the most visited as vehicles can reach almost to its edge. Tecolote and Cono Rojo are the two camping areas within the reserve where overnight stays are permitted. Tecolote is located between the El Elegante and El Colorado craters and features an interpretive trail that takes you through the Cono and Mayo crater. Cono Rojo serves as the starting point for the trail that takes you to the summit of Pico Pinacate or Santa Clara Volcano, the highest point in the Sierra, surpassing 1,200 meters above sea level. Special regulations apply to the latter, as it's considered a highly difficult trail, requiring a four-wheel-drive vehicle or off-road tires.
Activities:
- Camping
- Observing flora and fauna
- Hiking
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora
Location
Located 164 km, approximately a two-hour drive from Puerto Peñasco.
Hours
Visits to these areas are available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.