At the 28th parallel, right where the Baja California Peninsula splits in two, lies Guerrero Negro, a town in Baja California Sur famous for housing the world’s most important sanctuary for the gray whale, as well as being home to landscapes that seem like they’re from another planet. From seas of sand to mountains of salt, its landscapes are astonishing. Come and fall in love with them. Photos: Aggi Garduño
Guerrero Negro and its surreal landscapes
Guerrero Negro has been key in the evolutionary history of the gray whale and is considered the best place in the world to admire them. The nearby Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, part of the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, has the ideal depth, salinity, temperature, nutrients, and surface conditions for the mating, birthing, and raising of these giants. It also boasts landscapes that seem like they’re from another planet and, unlike the whale, can be enjoyed year-round.
Where is Guerrero Negro?
Ten kilometers from Guerrero Negro lies one of its most spectacular landscapes, the Dunas de la Soledad, a sea of sand thousands of kilometers long that offers fantastic golden postcard views.
There are several entrances along the highway, as admission is free, but it’s advisable to visit them accompanied by a specialized guide, as the wind changes the paths at will, making it easy to get lost.
Dunas de la Soledad, in Guerrero Negro
To be captivated by these magical views, you have to walk about a kilometer between the dunes, at the mercy of the soft sand; the walk accompanied by the sound of the wind is worth every step. On a clear day, you can see how those thousands of waves of sand merge with those of the sea. Also, on those days, you can see Guerrero Negro and Puerto Viejo, the port that reminds you that Baja California Sur ends there. On cloudy days, these places are barely visible, but the landscapes seem endless. IG: mariostours
Dunas de la Soledad, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
Salt Mountains
Although it seems that the history of this town begins in 1957, when it was founded, it actually began three years earlier, in 1954, with the establishment of the Salt Exporter (ESSA). So, to learn more about the essence and history of this place, you must visit its salt mine.
Guerrero Negro Salt Mine
The tour begins in the offices and maintenance workshops, and the next stop is perhaps the first surreal setting this site offers: an imposing fossil salt rock. Afterward, you’ll visit one of the 72 salt harvesting points at the salt mine, where you can see how large tractors collect and transport whitish mountains of salt.
Guerrero Negro Salt Flats, Baja California Sur
You can also visit the washing plant, where if you’re lucky, you’ll see Dart vehicles unloading everything harvested, as well as the monumental mountain of salt, which is actually a kind of storage warehouse. There, you can collect a few salt stones and continue the visit to the port, from where all of Guerrero Negro’s salt departs for the world. Tour: $300 pesos.
Salt Mountain in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
Ice roads in the desert?
Nearby is another of Guerrero Negro’s surreal landscapes, Los Amargos, a huge salt flat that is part of Exportadora de Sal, another place in the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve that offers dreamy postcard views.
There, from a distance, the salt takes on an icy appearance that suddenly seems interrupted by small pools of turquoise water.
Los Amargos, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
Walking on that “snowy” surface is an experience in itself, but diving into these warm, healthy oases makes for an unforgettable experience, as you can test their buoyancy. However, guides recommend staying in the water for no more than 20 minutes and rinsing immediately with fresh water.
Los Amargos, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
Thus, amidst unusual postcard views, stunning salt flats, and snowy mountains in the middle of the desert, lies Guerrero Negro, a magical place in spectacular Baja California Sur. visitbajasur.travel
And while you’re traveling through this fascinating state, discover other nearby destinations that can complement a road trip through northern Baja California Sur.
Source: foodandtravel
