Our gang trekked up the 40k dirt road below San Ignacio to visit the painted caves last week.
The road is very good for the first half, not so great the second, but one of our vehicles was a Toyota van and at calm speeds they made it just fine.
We arrived mid-afternoon, and were informed that it was too late in the day, so we camped just north of the rancho on a giant concrete slab that had
been provided for just that purpose, it was a great place to camp out, albeit totally primitive, no water, etc.
In the morning we did endless paperwork, permits, guides, etc. and finally set off, 11 of us and 4 guides.
It is about 1000' in elevation climb and several kilometers, and most of our guys kind of struggled with the hike.
(Peter and I climbed Half Dome last October, at night under full moon and did just fine)
The main cave is locked up with a durable fence, and has a very good viewing platform. Four of us took side trips in each direction to see smaller,
more intricately painted caves.
A couple of our guys nearly needed mules to make it back (mules are available, if requested, for about 100 pesos)
This is a wonderful outing, a great place to see "Real Baja" and highly recommended, but be prepared for a somewhat strenuous effort.
And, we were the first visitors in 8 days, so it is not exactly a hot tourist destination.
You must be accompanied by authorized guides, who live at the trail head, and you must pay the government fee.
I think the total package was less than 80 pesos per person.David K - 4-5-2007 at 06:33 PM
PHOTOS PLEASE!thebajarunner - 4-5-2007 at 06:42 PM
David, give me a couple days, I am experimenting with Pilatus and having trouble attaching my photos...
(maybe I will email them to you and you can figure out how to post them)
DickDavid K - 4-5-2007 at 06:50 PM
I am your humble servant!thebajarunner - 4-5-2007 at 07:23 PM
Baja Vida can fill in the names of the guides.
BV don't hike so good, but he is great on the paperwork
1 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:24 PM
'Baja Vida' talking with the man on a mule...
[Edited on 4-6-2007 by David K]
2 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:25 PM
3 of 10 from 'thjebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:26 PM
4 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:27 PM
5 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:28 PM
6 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:29 PM
7 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:30 PM
This is Peter
[Edited on 4-6-2007 by David K]
8 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:31 PM
This is 'thebajarunner'
[Edited on 4-6-2007 by David K]
9 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:31 PM
10 of 10 from 'thebajarunner'
David K - 4-5-2007 at 09:32 PM
thebajarunner - 4-5-2007 at 10:11 PM
Thanks David,
much better than I could have done
we make a good team...David K - 4-5-2007 at 10:14 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Thanks David,
much better than I could have done
we make a good team...
El gusto es mio!
Let's race the Baja!!!Capt. George - 4-6-2007 at 05:28 AM
is Chuy Arce still guiding? Deborah and I spent a few days there a couple years ago. We found a beautiful mesa surrounded by mountains and it was just
us, goats, horses and cattle.......
The nights were incredible. Great little pueblo, great people.
thanks for the photos. cap'n gCWF - 4-8-2007 at 12:13 AM
Pic #10... is that Oscar? He looks like the guide we had when we backpacked down (Oscar rode) in to Santa Teresa Canyon to see Cueva Pintada and the
rest. Great guy!shari - 4-9-2007 at 08:31 AM
I am so glad to hear that the main cave is fenced because the paintings have been fading rapidly due to the goats who camp in there...goat doo doo
really trashes them plus flash photography as well and people touching them...I LOVE this place and it's good to plan to camp and arrange everything
the day before. there are lots of little secret caves too...I found one that looked like a guy levatating out of the little tiny cave...very cosmic!
Now I KNOW how they painted up so high...wasn't scaffolding amigos! This site is an excellent choice if you don't want the big mule trip in Fransicito
and the paintings are excellent.Capt. George - 4-9-2007 at 11:21 AM
shari
do you know that Chuy Arce (Santa Marta) and Jumbo (My bueno amigo) vigilante from San Roque are hermanos?
if you see him, please saludos from el Vikingo de Punta Abreojos.
