Rancho San Gregorio to El Aguaje 2011

I've always wanted to visit El Aguaje. It is in the San Borja area, and was a source of water for the San Juan mine when it was operational over 100 years ago. To get there requires a guide from the new rancho at San Gregorio. Rafael is the current jefe at the ranch, and he agreed to guide us out to Aguaje. He also told us that there is now a family living there doing some farming. The hike is all on pretty flat ground and the trail is well marked. It took us 2 hours at what I would call a pretty good clip. Rafael said he usually makes the walk in an hour or so.

The new ranch at San Gregorio is quite a nice place,



and the ranch style kitchen is impressive. Rafael can serve meals and put you up for the night in private rooms. They have internet out there.










And what appears to be a swimming pool, but is actually their pila.

Time to start our hike, like I said, its about a 2 hour trek, mostly flat but a lot of rocks to step over.




El Aguaje isn't much but the people are very freindly and trying to eke out a living in a very harsh enviornment. At least there is water there, not much but enough to irrigate some crops.




Senora in her cocina.


[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

[Edited on 3-21-2012 by larryC]

Larry, you can edit out the edit tags at the bottom of the photo posts (so that only one remains when you do that edit).

I wonder if your El Aguaje is the same as the one that is on the Golfo Camino Real east from the old San Gregorio?

Look at Neal Johns' photos of that one from 10 years ago and see if you can tell by the terrrain if it is: http://vivabaja.com/neal

I will try and do a flyover on Google Earth... Last I checked it was in a area not yet with high enough resolution to see the old ranch.

Here's a couple from Neal Johns at El Aguaje:





[Edited on 3-21-2012 by David K]

OK... From high to low over San Gregorio, then close up at El Aguaje... On the highest image you can see San Borja and the San Juan Mine.

Great...

and just FYI... this piece of mine machinery was brought by truck to Jose's house at San Borja from the San Juan Mine, for Jose's growing museum... and that was when I asked Jose if a truck could still drive up there (2009)... I can't picture a mule bringing something that weighs a ton or more, so I believed Jose... So I wonder about the road condition, naturally??

larryC,
Great to see news of the area. While my current wife Marian and I rode mules from the New San Gregorio (I was told it was called Rancho Nuevo) to Santa Aguaje, I was so sore from the ride I would suggest anyone just hike it. If you use Google Earth, you really do not need a guide, but they sure need the small amount of money charged and if you speak a little Spanish, you can learn a lot about the area.
Neal