Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco

An impressive testimony to a unique artistic tradition

From c. 100 B.C. to 1300 A.D., the Sierra de San Francisco (in the El Vizcaino reserve, in Baja California Sur) was home to a people who have now disappeared but who left one of the most outstanding collections of rock paintings in the world.

Part of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve is located in the north of the state. In this irregular volcanic mountain range of 1.6 kilometers long, canyons with palm groves and mesquite forests can be found on its surface.

They are remarkably well-preserved because of the dry climate and the inaccessibility of the site.

Showing human figures and many animal species and illustrating the relationship between humans and their environment, the paintings reveal a highly sophisticated culture.

Their composition and size, as well as the precision of the outlines and the variety of colours, but especially the number of sites, make this an impressive testimony to a unique artistic tradition.

The site has been inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993 under Criterion (i): The rock art of the Sierra de San Francisco region of Baja California Sur is one of the most outstanding concentrations of prehistoric art in the world and a dramatic example of the highest manifestations of this human cultural expression.

Criterion (iii): The Sierra de San Francisco complex is illustrative of a strong human cultural group that existed in the harsh climatic region of the Baja California Sur, but which disappeared rapidly after contact with European settlers for a variety of causes.

Human figures are depicted in two colors, red and black, while animals are painted only in red.

It is assumed that they are shamans who represent a ritual along with their environment.

Among the motifs embodied in stone there are animals that make up the fauna of the place, such as the peninsular pronghorn, the fastest mammal in America. Currently in danger of extinction, today there’s a conservation program that has shown excellent results.

Cueva La Pintada, discovering the site.

Due to its historical relevance, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and to have an authorized guide to take you on a tour, in order to be able to visit.

The journey is long but it is well worth it. To get there, mules are used to lighten the pace of those who walk the mountain on foot to reach this magical place.