Rupestrian
Paintings

HOW TO GET THERE

To get to the cave paintings in the surroundings of the Sierra de San Francisco and Santa Marta leave San Ignacio, 142 km south of Guerrero Negro and 629 km north of La Paz on the Transpeninsular Highway. There is a dirt road 44 km north of San Ignacio to San Francisco de la Sierra and 22 km south of San Ignacio there is another dirt road of 35 km to Santa Marta Ranch. By plane, there is a paved airstrip in San Ignacio for small planes.

ORIGIN

The origin of the cave paintings in Baja California Sur is still unknown. Some of the researchers place them in prehistoric age. Due to the fact that these show some artistic traits. It has also been said that they could have been made by pilgrim groups traveling along the peninsula, whose cultural development must have been superior to that of the barbarian tribes found by the jesuits in the 17th century.

DESCRIPTION

The cave paintings are spectacular murals done on rocks by humans in undefined time. They represent larger-than-life animal and human-like forms in scenes that could be ritual ceremonies, pilgrimage, hunting or battles. They are made in ochre, red, white, yellow and black. The faceless human-like figures painted in red and black, standing with their arms up and with strange hats, constitute a hallucinatory conglomeration full of plasticity and beauty. These figures and those of the animals appear to be frequently over and underlaid, which could signify the different ages they were made. This grand pictorial sample that sends us to our unknown past and of which is of great interest to researchers all over the world, was designated a World Class Rock Art Site and Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.

ACTIVITIES

Cave Painting Tour in San Francisco de la Sierra. Cave Painting Tour in Santa Marta. Camping activities in El Cacarizo. A visit to Santa Marta Museum. Tour around San Ignacio. A visit to the Church and Mission of San Ignacio de Loyola. Festivities of the Patron Saint of San Ignacio the 31st of July. Gray whale watching in Laguna de San Ignacio (January to March).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Due to the fact that the paintings are a patrimony of humanity, there is a strict visitors control. It is highly recommended not to ommit registration in the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) and to follow the guidelines established by the Management Plan. Due to the physical characteristics of the region, its difficult access and the restrictions of this attraction, it is not recommended to go on your own without an expert guide. There are authorized persons to conduct groups in San Ignacio. Commercial photography or video of the Mission of San Ignacio de Loyola is not permitted without INAH's prior permit.