Baja Traverse´s 6-day Trail TREK
FEB 9-14, 2024

Start | Todos Santos
Distance | 27 kilometers | 17.2 miles | Gentle up hill
Elevation Gain | 550 meter | 1800 feet
End | Sierra foot hills
Total Distance 27 km

Todos Santos is a small coastal town located very near the Tropic of Cancer on the Pacific coast side of the Baja California Peninsula. It is known for its nearby surf breaks and cobblestone streets lined with tiny artisan shops and refurbished haciendas. The area is so enchanting that the Mexican government designated Todos Santos a Pueblo Mágico — one of just 100 or so small towns honored for its natural beauty, cultural riches, or historical relevance.

In the early morning we will pick you up after breakfast at our host hotel in San Jose del Cabo and drive you to Todos Santos beach. We will leave the Pacific at around noon and hike the first 27 km to the foothills of the Sierra National Park through cactus forest on a mostly flat dirt road. You will arrive to the foothills of the Sierra late afternoon for a delicious dinner, campfire and stars viewing.

Start | Sierra Foothills
Distance | 13 km | 8 miles | Strenuous up hill
Elevation gain | 1600 meter | 5250 feet
End | Sierra Pine forest
Accumulated Distance 40km

The Sierra de la Laguna is one of the most beautiful and least-explored areas of the peninsula. UNESCO designated the 11,600 hectares of this mountain range a biosphere reserve in 1994. There are more than 900 plant species in the sierra, ranging from cacti to palms, and over 20 percent are endemic to the peninsula. As a microclimate, the Sierra de la Laguna receives far more rainfall than any other part of the peninsula, providing a drastic change in scenery from the desert below. The highest peak in the range, Picacho de la Laguna (elev. 2,161 m), is also the highest peak in all of Baja California Sur.

This will be a strenuous, steep uphill journey. Don’t let this apparently short day fool you. This is probably the most intense section of this whole trip. You will go from desert cacti and tropical dry forest to the beautiful thick evergreen pine forest at the top in an almost single straight shot steep up hill to the top of the mountain.

Start | Sierra Pine Forest
Distance | 22 km | 16 miles | Steep down hill
Elevation lost | 1525 meter | 5000 feet
End | San Dionisio Ranch
Accumulated Distance 62km

On this stage you will be at the heart of the Sierra la Laguna, with one of the most beautiful single treks of the journey with great views to the Sea of Cortes at the distance.

Starting at the top of the mountains, surrounded by pine trees you will go down passing through a variety of endemic plants like pines and madroños (fruit trees) in the upper elevations.

Following winding canyons and crossing flowing water springs on your journey down the mountains, you will eventually arrive to the east foothills, an area rich in farmland, palm trees, fruit trees and traditional rancho (ranch)culture.

You will spend the night at our host rancho with a traditional Mexican dinner and get immersed in the fantastic natural pools of the sierras eating fresh handmade tortillas and the famous beef call “machaca”.

Start | San Dionisio Ranch
Distance | 24 km | 15 miles | Gentle downhill hike and flat terrain
Elevation lost | 275 meter | 900 feet
End | Santiago Oasis camp
Accumulated Distance 86km

You will arrive at Santiago, a lovely traditional town with a unique oasis surrounded by mango, citrus orchards, tropical palm trees, flowing waterfalls and hot springs bubbling from the canyons. These waters support a strong agricultural industry, and rows of fruit trees that surround the town. Santiago was once famous for its sugar cane industry in 17th century and has a mission built by the Jesuits.

To get there, we will guide you through the amazing San Dionisio canyon filled with ponds and natural springs.

Once in Santiago we will visit the one of the most unique oases in all of Baja California where many birds migrate in the winter.

Early afternoon we will explore an arroyo outside Santiago for an breathtaking star gaze night, campfires and margaritas.

Start | Santiago Oasis Camp
Distance | 32 km | 20 miles | Strenuous up hill
Elevation gain | 305 meter | 1000 feet
End | Desert Camp
Accumulated Distance 128km

Once upon a time, Baja’s desert was underwater! Six million years ago, a huge crack began to split off the future peninsula. About 4 million years ago, the cape region rotated and created the Gulf of California. Ancient sea floors would be thrust upwards, and then be covered by mud from floods and lava flows, only to get re-exposed later by erosion. Fossils from a wide range in time are found all over in this geologically diverse land.

On this next to last stage, you will hike up and down trough ancient sea bottom floor following old dirt roads and passing through cheese-making old style ranchos.

We will stop in one of these ranchos to eat handmade tortillas with incredible fresh cheeses. We will spend the night near a deep dry arroyo (pond) where we will spend the night resting.

Start | Desert Camp
Distance | 17 km | 11 miles | Rolling down and sand
Elevation lost | 610 meter | 2000 feet
End | Los Frailes Cabo Pulmo, Sea of Cortes
Accumulated Distance 145 km

Cabo Pulmo is a small town on the southeast coast of the Baja Peninsula, about an hour from San Jose del Cabo and two hours from La Paz.

Cabo Pulmo Marine National Park is a beautiful marine protected area that attracts lovers of water sports and activities, especially those who enjoy snorkeling and diving. The mixing of warm and cold waters results in the perfect ecosystem for marine life, and the Sea of Cortez is inhabited by a large concentration of species, including more than 220 types of fish, coral, seaweed, dolphins, sea lions, humpback whales and sea turtles.

The final stage of our marvelous journey is an 11-mile trek through the desert dry land that takes us to the beautiful Sea of Cortes where you will witness the stunning contrast of dry terrain, gigantic cactus and turquoise blue ocean water. We will arrive to the Cabo Pulmo beach and swim in the pristine and warmer waters of this Sea of Cortes marine sanctuary.