Sierra de San Francisco Cave Paintings Circuit
Ancient art through volcanic badlands
Deep in Baja California Sur’s volcanic badlands, this UNESCO circuit links cave paintings left by the Cochimí people over 7,000 years ago. The route follows mining roads and burro trails through the Sierra de San Francisco, connecting sites like Cueva del Ratón and San Borjitas through technical arroyo crossings. Expect sharp volcanic rock, soft sand washes, and navigation challenges where GPS signals fade in the deep canyons.
This is a moderate to difficult route requiring high-clearance 4WD, spare tires, and a local guide for cave access permits through INAH. Best tackled May through September when flash flood risk drops. Carry extra water, recovery gear, and camp provisions for 2-3 nights. The payoff: standing before ancient hunters’ paintings in complete silence, miles from any road noise. Pure Baja magic that few see.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 78 mi / 125.5 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4800 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | San Ignacio, Baja California Sur |
| Land manager | INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
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