LORETO BIOCULTURAL MULE EXPEDITION

At a thousand meters high, between the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, lies the Sierra La Giganta, a volcanic desert landscape with rugged mountains that bring vital water to the region.

The water flows down through the canyons, nourishing springs and palm groves, which are essential for mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and local communities.

The people with ancestral and traditional knowledge have been key in protecting this area. The Sierra de la Giganta is a natural and cultural treasure of Baja California Sur, crucial to the history and ecology of the peninsula, and requires protection and conservation.

The Sierra de la Giganta, located to the west of the municipality of Loreto, possesses a rich biocultural and ecological heritage that we seek to elevate and protect. The region is abundant in cave paintings, mission remnants, oases, ranches, and biodiversity. Here, the traditional Baja Californian culture, based on agriculture and livestock, persists, and now, with us and the new generations, environmental stewardship is promoted through eco-tours and wildlife and ecosystem monitoring.

In this expedition, we will traverse part of the Sierra de la Giganta like authentic cowboys, guided by our local guides who are knowledgeable in regional history and ecology. As part of our journey, we will visit the historic town of San Javier, home to Baja California's second-oldest mission. Here, you'll enjoy a lunch crafted from local ingredients by skilled chefs, offering an authentic taste of the region’s culinary traditions. We will explore canyons, swim in oases, ride horses like cowboys, observe wildlife, and travel areas near the ancient "El Camino Real." Additionally, you will learn how to set up camera traps to understand the behavior of these ecosystems and develop tools and strategies to protect the local fauna.