As you leave the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of the coastline, look up to the sky to discover a true natural treasure: the San Dionisio Canyon in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. Camp San Dionisio by Panterra is situated on the ancestral lands of one of the oldest ranches in the area Rancho Ecológico El Refugio. It is located approximately halfway between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, right at the Tropic of Cancer.

The magic of the mountains at night is truly unique. Instead of the songs of birds, we hear the calls of owls. Rather than the constant hum of heavy traffic on the ground and in the air, we are surrounded by the sounds of crickets. The fragrances of nature change under the stars, the air feels different in the dark, and our senses other than sight become heightened. It is truly food for the soul!

Rancho  Ecológico El Refugio is part of a rural community of ranches that focuses on alternative tourism, offering a unique outdoor adventure and a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the ranchers of Baja California, known as the vaqueros de las Californias.

Your ranch experience includes 2 nights of glamping-style accommodations, meals and activities. The meals are freshly prepared straight from the ranch including the impressive organic gardens. 

Activities include a tour of the ranch and organic gardens, milking the farm animals to learn how to make the famous Mexican ranch cheese, nature hikes learning about flora and fauna, hiking the Pericue Trail to the local cave paintings, leather, basketry, and cooking lessons. During your downtime, take a 5-minute walk to the rio where you can swim and explore the natural pools.

In the evenings, the clear skies of the Sierra de la Laguna biosphere reserve provide some of the most breathtaking, world-class stargazing opportunities. Count three shooting stars before tucking in for the night.

Immerse yourself in Mexican culture, food and outdoor adventure! 

Activity Level

This trip is suitable for individuals with a novice to moderate activity level. Participants should be comfortable with walking or standing for short periods, engaging in moderate hiking for 1 – 2 hours, and be prepared for multiple hours of activity on some days. The trip will involve a combination of educational, cultural, and wildlife-viewing experiences. The hikes will range from 1 to 1.5 hours (1 to 1.5 miles) on uneven terrain at low elevations in warm and humid conditions. Participants have the option to skip any excursion at any time.

Planned Activities

Your arrival starts with a tour of the ranch to include the organic gardens, from where your meals are provided, nature hikes, exploring the Pericue trail to the local cave paintings, informal classes in Traditional Mexican cuisine, leather making and basket weaving, feeding/milking farm animals as part of the process of learning how to make ranch cheese. At the end or even the middle of the day, take a short 5-minute walk to the rio's waterhole to cool off in the refreshing natural pools. 

Accommodations

Glamping-style accommodations with walk-in, stand-up tents (4/5 m), memory foam mattress with bed frame, full bedding, and towels. Shared bathrooms and showers (both with running water) and all the creature comforts of home, rustic style. No crawling into tents, sleeping on the ground or using outhouses!

Meals

Lunch day 1 through to lunch on day 3. All meals and organic healthy snacks. Coffee, tea, water and fresh drinks of the day. There is no alcohol available, guests are welcome to bring their own.