San Ignacio

From Guerrero Negro the road leads inland and, after about 78mi/126km, it reaches the pretty town of San Ignacio. With its Jesuit church, begun in 1728 and completed in 1786 by Juan Crisóstomo Gómez, it possesses the best preserved place of worship in Baja California. For those interested it is worth while making the three or four hour trip from here, under expert guidance, to see the cave paintings of Cueva de la Cuesta del Palmerito. These portray large impressions of animals and men, the origin and age of which have not yet been researched. These rock drawings (100 bc-ad 1300) have been declared world cultural sites by UNESCO. Other caves in the vicinity should be visited only if, in addition to a guide, you have some days to spare and are suitably equipped.

On the left, on the road to the coast, stands the still active volcano Las Tres Virgenes (7,150ft/2,180m above sea-level).