CAVE PAINTINGS

In addition to the missions, Baja California is host to many significant archaeological sites, including the cave paintings located throughout the peninsula. Following are listed seven sites to visit traveling north to south.

Museo de Sitio El Vallecito

The most famous cave painting site in Baja California is located in the mountains of Sierra de Juarez. The site itself spans more than 200 hectares where, between pine forests and agave, there are several groups of paintings. The most popular painting is “El Diablito” or “The Devil”.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 to 5:00 p.m., no access is allowed after 4:00 p.m.

On the Km 73 of Federal Highway 2 (Mexicali - Tecate), in the town of La Rumorosa, travel north past “El Chipo” Restaurant, and the Santa María del Oro ranch, the site is 3 Km further east.

Kilometer 57

Anthropomorphic figures are painted in white lines on the surface of this square rock that was darkened by the smoke of ancient bonfires. The rock also features engravings. Situated in Km. 57.5 on the toll highway, via La Rumorosa towards Mexicali.

Valle de Guadalupe

These paintings are located in the heart of the Baja California Wine Country, about 35 Km northeast of Ensenada, and 75 Km south of Tecate. Take Federal Highway 3 (Tecate - Ensenada) to the town of Guadalupe, in the Ensenada delegation of Francisco Zarco, until El Milagro Ranch.

San Vicente Ferrer

Perhaps the best preserved cave paintings in all of northwest Mexico, the paintings at San Vicente Ferrer are not to be missed. 90 Km south of Ensenada and 110 Km north of San Quintín by Federal Highway 1 you will find a rock wall 10 meters high covered with engravings.. Near the town of San Vicente Ferrer, is the Farm “La Llave” next to the stream San Vicente.

Las Pintas

Here, hundreds of white images were painted on a large cluster of rocks between two hills, in the middle of a beautiful desert landscape.

Las Pintas is located 62 Km south of San Quintín via the Federal Highway 1.22 Km east of El Rosario de Arriba mission. At 81 Km, on the Federal Highway 1 (Transpeninsular), take the road south for 30 Km until you reach the ghost town of El Malvar, in the ejido Abelardo L. Rodríguez. When you reach the first houses, take the road east and take the first exit to the left to find the site located 6 Km away.

San Fernando Velicatá.

San Fernando Velicatá consists of a small group of disperse rock engravings on the shore of San Fernando brook. Archeologists say that these engravings may have been made after the arrival of the Spanish. The engravings are located 57 Km south of El Rosario, via the Federal Highway 1. The access road is located by the Rancho El Progreso and the mission is 8.5 Km west. The cave paintings are one kilometer further.

Cataviña

The cave painting of Cataviña lies through a 3 meter tunnel, under a colossal hanging rock. It is located 182 Km south of San Quintín, via the Federal Highway 1 (Transpeninsular), in the town of Cataviña or Santa Inés.