Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

Since 1947, the highest parts of the San Pedro Mártir range were declared a protected area. Up above, the desert is long forgotten, with conifer woodland and a forest ecosystem which regulates the climate of central Baja California. The rain falls onto the heights, and runs in streams, fertilizing the valleys below such as San Telmo, La Trinidad and San Quintín.

The altitude, the location, the fresh air and the clear nights ensure this is the perfect place for stargazing. This is why in the 1970s, the UNAM University’s Astronomy Institute decided to install an observatory. Since then, three powerful telescopes have become among the world’s most important.

Alongside its pines and cypress trees, the area is also a refuge for pumas, coyotes, white-tail deer, mule deer, rabbits and lynx. With a little luck, you might spot a wildcat or bighorn sheep which like to explore the eastern cliffs. It is also here where you can find the Picacho del Diablo which rises up 10,100 feet above sea level—the state’s highest peak. Climbers and mountain bikers sing this area’s praises, and there are trails, cabins and campsites too.