We took a day trip up to San Francisco de la Sierra yesterday. It was one of those exquisitely beautiful, not too hot and not too cold days, just a
slight breeze in the air.
My Mom had been wanting to go for many years but it never quite worked out for us to be able to go til yesterday.
Here are some photos of the village. There are 17 families living here. They need visitors since the cave painting excursion just opened up last
month. There is a severe draught which is killing off their cattle, sheep and goats. The situation is dire.
The first family we ran into was Bartolo Arce Arce and his wife. I had come to this village years ago and what I most remembered was the garden. It
is still as beautiful as ever.
Bartolo said he had a store so we stopped in it and bought some water. The bottle of water was not in the fridge but it was so cool. The store/house
is 150 years old and made of adobe. It belonged to his grandfather.
Les in a very short doorway!
Here is a really nicely painted mural which I guess is their version of the lettered signs we see all over Mexico nowadays.
We went to the village first before we even went to the restaurant for the tickets to visit the cave, It was 150 pesos each person and 250 pesos for
the guide.
We needed to use the restroom, which was inside the mural bldg. It was easily one of the most disgusting I have ever been to. I bet the restaurant
one is better.
The village is simple but magical! I had no time to prepare or I would have taken care packages and clothes!
[Edited on 5-17-2021 by BajaBlanca]David K - 5-17-2021 at 10:10 AM
Thank you, Blanca!TMW - 5-17-2021 at 10:48 AM
In all the years I've been going to Baja I've past the turn off probably a hundred times always wondering what was back there. I've wanted to go there
but just never did. Someday I hope to.
Thanks Blanca.
[Edited on 5-17-2021 by TMW]AKgringo - 5-17-2021 at 11:10 AM
I have been up there once a few years ago. I mistakenly thought there was a road or trail headed east that would connect to the Sea of Cortez.
I spent a while looking around (no cave tour) then headed back down the hill. No regrets...it was a spectacular dead end!
TMW, I would not mind a return trip, sound off when you start planning your next trip! I have a large dog that I need to plan around, but that leaves
a hell of a lot of possibilities!TMW - 5-17-2021 at 11:49 AM
In all the years I've been going to Baja I've past the turn off probably a hundred times always wondering what was back there. I've wanted to go there
but just never did. Someday I hope to.
Thanks Blanca.
[Edited on 5-17-2021 by TMW]
The road is worth a drive, to just drive to end of pavement.
Several times when passing by the turnoff I have driven up just to do a short hike to one of the canyon overlooks and eat lunch (good way to break up
a long drive, stretch the legs). Is only a 20 minute drive off the main hwy to see to some really fabulous scenery. The canyon overlooks from the
road are spectacular. David K - 5-17-2021 at 12:48 PM
The pavement ends 18 miles from Mex 1, which is four miles before reaching the village.
This is not the only place where the paving on a road just ended before reaching its destination. Laguna San Ignacio is also past the paving by 6
miles.BajaBlanca - 5-17-2021 at 01:42 PM
There are some paved patches even after the regular asphalt ends which makes the drive easier. I love a tame adventure hahahaAKgringo - 5-17-2021 at 03:48 PM
When I was there, I saw that the sides of the dirt road near the village were lined with white washed rocks. It looked nice, and I suppose that at
that elevation, they probably experience fog when a weather front passes through.BajaBlanca - 5-18-2021 at 07:56 PM
You could not pay me enough money to drive that road in the fog.
