Freshwater in the Middle of the Desert

Less than an hour from Los Cabos, we drove on Ruta 1 towards Santiago, a little oasis located in the outskirts of La Laguna Sierra and which is gateway to several canyons where little creeks flow from the pine tree and pine oak forests up in the mountains.

The first place we headed to is the San Dionisio Canyon, where El Refugio Ranch is located.  There we met our local guides who have deep knowledge of this place and who took us for a hike to Poza Oscura, a natural wonder. While on our hike towards the natural pool we had the opportunity to learn more about the local vegetation and the history of the region.

Back in El Refugio Ranch, we had a delicious lunch, which included regional dishes and to make the experience even better we learned to make handmade flour tortillas.

Our next stop was La Zorra Canyon, a beautiful canyon with a waterfall surrounded by lush forests in the surrounding mountains.  To make it into the canyon we passed by the Sol de Mayo Ranch, whose residents have been guardians of this place for many generations; this ranch is also gateway to the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve. From there, hiking for about 15 minutes we arrived to this breathtaking place that impressed us for its beautiful waterfall and makes you forget you are in the middle of the desert.

In both ranches you can find comfortable cabins where to spend the night or camping designated areas, depending on the travelers´ interests.  We decided to continue our way on Ruta 1 heading north, however this beautiful place inside the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve captivated us, and for sure we want to come back.
An interesting piece of information that is worth sharing is that it's at this place where many of the water used in cities like La Paz and Los Cabos is collected.