If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure that’s off the beaten path and has an international flare, consider a visit to Mexico’s El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. Just a stone’s throw from the Arizona-Mexico border, El Pinacate is home to some of the most unique desert landscapes in the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is ranked #4 on Mexico’s Top 13 Natural Wonders, its awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes feel truly extraterrestrial. Best of all, El Pinacate is an easy day trip from Phoenix, Tucson, and Puerto Peñasco, so you can cram a lot into a one-day itinerary.
El Pinacate: A Brief History
Before we set off, let’s back up about 32,000 years. That may sound like a long time, but it’s a drop in the bucket on the geologic timeline that spans billions of years.
At the time, what is now the northwestern part of the Mexican State of Sonora was an explosive hotbed of volcanic activity. Unlike traditional volcanoes, the activity at El Pinacate all occurred underground. This distinction lead to the unusual landscapes you see dotted across the reserve today.
Underground, molten lava tries to force itself to the surface due to extreme pressures in the earth’s core. As the lava approaches the surface, it comes into contact with moisture in the sediments. That moisture instantly vaporizes when it comes into contact with the lava, creating enormous bubbles of pressure. When the earth’s surface can no longer hold in that pressure, a violent explosion occurs as the volcano erupts.
Following the violent explosion and eruption, one of two things happens.
- On shallow explosions close to the surface, lava will flow out, leaving hardened lava flows dotting the landscape.
- In deeper explosions, the underground cavity will collapse under the weight of the sediment above it, creating a maar crater.
It turns out that maar craters are a lot more common than you think. You can find them all over the western parts of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The most well-known maar crater in North America is Oregon’s Crater Lake. To give you an idea of just how powerful these explosions are, consider this: Crater Lake is 6 miles (10 km) wide and 2,000 feet (600 m) deep.
Before You Set Off for El Pinacate, Don’t Leave These Details Off Your One-Day Itinerary
If you’re visiting El Pinacate from the United States, you need to have the necessary insurance and paperwork to legally drive your car in Mexico. These are very simple steps, but can land you in a world of trouble if you skip out on them.
Mexican Car Insurance
You must purchase a Mexican insurance policy for your vehicle. US and Canadian auto insurance policies are not valid in Mexico. If you’re caught in Mexico without insurance, your vehicle will be impounded.
Many American insurance companies sell Mexican Auto Insurance. You can buy insurance by the day, by the month, or by the year. The most recent time I drove into Mexico was in August, 2019. I paid a little over $20 for insurance from AAA for the one day I was there.
I recommend purchasing Mexican insurance online prior to your departure. If that’s not your style, you can stop at any of the several agencies along Highway 85 in southern Arizona. You can even pick it up at the border as you enter Mexico.
Permission for Rental Cars and Cars with Liens
Bringing a vehicle into Mexico without prior permission is in violation of just about every rental, lease, or loan contract. Thankfully, all you need is a written letter of permission from your rental company, lessor, or bank. Do note that many rental car companies in Arizona will not grant you permission to drive their rental cars into Mexico.
Check the language of your contract for what you need to bring the vehicle into Mexico. I own my vehicles outright and have never had to deal with this step. However, the consequences can be severe if you skip it. In some instances, people have been criminally prosecuted for stealing a vehicle they brought into Mexico without permission.
A Quick Word About the Hassle-Free Border Zone
Every country has some version of a hassle-free border zone. It means as long as you stay within a certain distance of the border, you don’t need to fill out the paperwork to temporarily import yourself or your vehicle. In Mexico, the hassle-free border zone extends 20 kilometers (about 12.5 miles) from the border.
Thankfully, the state governments of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur have extended the hassle-free zone to encourage tourism. If you’re going to a popular tourist location in those three states, you’ll still be in the hassle-free zone. Baja California and Baja California Sur have extended the hassle-free zone the entire length of the Baja peninsula.
Sonora uses Federal Highway 15 to define the hassle free zone. Highway 15 runs from Nogales, Sonora to Los Mochis, Sinaloa. If you’re east of Highway 15, the hassle-free zone remains at 20 km. West of highway 15, the hassle-free zone is extended from 20 km to 450 km (the Sinaloa state line). Both El Pinacate and Puerto Peñasco are well west of highway 15, so you’ll remain comfortably within the hassle-free zone.
How to Get to the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve
You can easily reach the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve from anywhere in the southwestern United States. However, due to safety concerns, we strongly recommend driving the east-west components of your route on the US side of the border. Even though security and safety in northwestern Sonora has greatly improved in recent years, it remains far safer to use either Interstate 10 or Interstate 8 to access El Pinacate.
- Take Interstate 10 to Buckeye, Arizona (just west of Phoenix). Depending on where you’re coming from, you can also take Interstate 8 to Gila Bend.
- From the I-10, take Exit 112 onto Arizona State Route 85 South.
- Follow Highway 85 South to the International Border. Cross the border at the Lukeville/Sonoyta Port of Entry.
- Once you’re in Mexico, follow the signs for Puerto Peñasco. You’ll be on Mexican Federal Highway 8 as you leave Sonoyta.
- The turnoff for El Pinacate is on the right at Kilometer 52 on Highway 8, about half way between Puerto Peñasco and the border.
What to Expect Entering Mexico
Crossing the border for the first time can be intimidating. Thankfully, entering Mexico is surprisingly simple, and the Lukeville-Sonoyta border crossing is small, so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
As you exit the United States, you’ll drive through a covered tunnel. During popular travel times, there is sometimes a quick US Customs checkpoint in that tunnel. They are there just to ensure you’re not crossing the border with anything that’s illegal in Mexico. More often than not, they’re not there and you can just drive right through.
You’ll pass through a large gate with a big yellow stripe running across the road. That yellow stripe is the border.
As you enter Mexico, you’ll get either a red light or a green light. The lights are assigned at random. If you get a green light, they’ll wave you right through and you can continue on your merry way. A red light means you’ll need to stop for a quick inspection. If it’s really quiet at the port of entry, you may be stopped for inspection regardless of what color the light is.
The inspections are quick and painless. Mexican customs agents are welcoming, friendly, and speak English. They will have a quick look through your car and send you on your way. The longest I’ve spent at one of those inspections was about 3 minutes.
Obey the Speed Limits in Sonoyta
Speed limits in the border town of Sonoyta, Sonora are very strictly enforced. The speed limit is 40 km/h (25 mph) through most of the town, but it drops down to 20 km/h (12 mph) in one spot. If you’re going even the tiniest bit over the speed limit, they will pull you over. To avoid an expensive ticket, I recommend driving 5 km/h under the speed limit.
While the local police can set up speed traps anywhere, they are most often set up on the south edge of town near the big “Welcome to Sonoyta” sign (which says “Buen Viaje” as you leave town). On your return trip, this is also where the speed limit abruptly drops from 90 km/h (55 mph) to 40 km/h (25 mph). If you’re not paying attention, they’ll nail you every single time.
Sign In at El Pinacate’s Estación Biológica
The first item on your one-day itinerary at El Pinacate is to sign in and pay the entry fee. The easiest place to do that is at the Estación Biológica. It’s a ranger station located at Kilometer 52 of Highway 8, which is the main highway from Sonoyta to Puerto Peñasco. There’s a big sign on the highway, so you shouldn’t miss it.
The sign-in process is a bit different than at National Parks in the US and Canada. You may be confused when you arrive to find a closed gate across the road.
To pay the fee, you have to go into the Estación Biológica, which is located just off camera to the right of the gate in the above picture. When you walk in you’ll be asked whether you prefer English or Spanish. They’ll go over popular places in the park with you and provide you with some tour guides. You’ll also pay the entry fee of 50 pesos (about $2.60) there. Once you’re all registered, they’ll open the gate and let you in.
The ranger will also ask you where in the park you plan to go. Please give them this information honestly. The reason they ask is so that if you get lost or stranded, they know where to find you.
El Pinacate experiences some of the harshest conditions in the Sonoran Desert. There’s a reason they call it the Sonoran Desert’s Death Valley. Summer temperatures routinely hit 115 to 120°F, and the park averages less than an inch of rain per year. If you get lost, you won’t survive for very long.
Explore Maar Craters on the Ruta Cráteres
The Ruta Cráteres (Craters Route) is the crowned jewel of the entire El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and the highlight of your one-day itinerary. Starting and finishing at the Estactión Biológica, the 76 km (45 mi) loop brings you through an incredibly diverse display of cacti, desert plants, cinder cones, and craters.
In addition to the natural highlights, you’ll also find interpretive stations every few kilometers. Stop and learn about the park’s history, geology, ecosystem, and much more. Information is available in both English and Spanish.
As you leave the Estación Biológica, the desert sand quickly transitions from its classic beige color to black volcanic soil. Because the volcanic soil is so rich in nutrients, you’ll find a rich diversity of flora. You’ll see cholla, saguaro, and organ pipe cacti, ocotillo and creosote bushes, tumbleweeds, and much more.
Along the Ruta Cráteres, there are three stops you’ll need to include on your one-day itinerary for El Pinacate.
Cráter El Elegante
Located at kilometer 27 of the Ruta Cráteres, El Elegante is the largest and most well-known crater in the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. From the parking area, it’s just a few steps to the edge of the crater. El Elegante is as close to a textbook maar crater as you can get. We hope you can appreciate it as you stand at its edge taking in the landscapes.
Along with El Elegante’s stunning photo opportunities, We encourage you to hike the short 1 km interpretive trail along the edge of the crater. You’ll learn a lot about El Elegante and gain better perspective. Additionally, the parking area at El Elegante offers some of the best views of the stunning lunar landscapes in the entire park.
| El Elegante Facts | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.6 kilometers | 1 mile |
| Depth | 244 meters | 800 feet |
Cono El Tecolote
If you have a picnic lunch, just want a place to stretch your legs or have a rest, or further explore, head to El Tecolote. At about the half way point of the Ruta Cráteres, the campground at El Tecolote is a great spot to break up your drive. In addition, El Tecolote has excellent hiking trails. Hike to the summit of Cono Mayo to take incredible photos of lava flows and volcanic ash-covered fields.
If you’re visiting El Pinacate in the summer, temperatures will be too hot to hike, so consider crossing this off your one day itinerary to spend more time at the other craters.
Cráter Cerro Colorado
The Cerro Colorado Crater is the final crater on the Ruta Cráteres. Its reddish color and tuff formation material made of clay and volcanic ash distinguish it from the other maar craters in El Pinacate.
Like El Elegante, you can drive right up to the rim of Cerro Colorado. While there are no hiking trails around the rim, the drive up to the rim of the crater offers diverse photo ops and perspectives of the crater. It’s another spectacular spot at El Pinacate to have a picnic as well.
| Cerro Colorado Facts | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 750 meters | 2,500 feet |
| Depth | 100 meters | 330 feet |
Please also note that it is prohibited to descend into any of the craters in the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve.
Additional Activities on the Ruta Cráteres to Add to Your One-Day Itinerary at El Pinacate
If you want a little more adventure than just a scenic drive, the Ruta Cráteres offers plenty of outdoor activities.
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Camping
- Bird Watching
- Guided Tours
- Much More
Explore Volcanic Flows and Sand Dunes at the Schuk Toak Visitors Center
No trip to the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is complete without a stop at the Schuk Toak Visitor’s Center. The Visitor’s Center is located at kilometer 72 on Highway 8, or about 20 km north of Puerto Peñasco. Like the Ruta Cráteres, the area surrounding the Visitor’s Center offers outdoor activities for everyone. The entry fee you paid at the Estación Biológica will get you into the Visitor’s Center as well.
Visit the Museum at the Visitor’s Center
Inside the Visitor’s Center, you’ll find a modern museum where you can learn about the fascinating history, geology, and biology of El Pinacate. The Visitor’s Center is the first self-sustaining public building in Latin America. It is 100% solar and wind powered and operates completely off the grid.
Did you know that millions of years ago, fish once inhabited what is now Sonora and Arizona?
Hike the Geology and Biology Nature Trails
There are two short nature trails located right behind the Visitor’s Center. On one trail, you’ll learn about El Pinacate’s explosive geological history. On the other trail, you’ll learn about the flora and fauna that make up this incredibly unique and diverse desert ecosystem. The trails are short with no elevation change, but are on the lava flows, so footing in some areas can be uneven. Be quiet and you’ll likely see several birds and reptiles. If you’re really lucky, you’ll see some of the mammals that inhabit the park.
Explore the Dunes of El Gran Desierto de Altar
Located 2 kilometers past the Visitor’s Center, the Gran Desierto de Altar is the largest active dune field in North America. Hike up to the top of the dunes and see the unusual and extremely rare star dunes. El Pinacate is one of just a small handful of places in the entire world where you can find star dunes.
Unfortunately, all of my visits to El Pinacate have been during the summer, when access to the dunes is closed. I hope to be able to get back and explore the dunes at some point in the near future.
Consider a Visit to El Pinacate’s Sister Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
If you have more than one day, consider adding a stop at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to your itinerary to compliment your visit to El Pinacate. Sitting on the international border in southern Arizona, you’ll drive right through Organ Pipe Cactus on Highway 85 on your way to and from El Pinacate. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only place in the United States where the organ pipe cactus grows.
Despite being so close to each other, it’s amazing how different the two parks are. Yet at the same time, they compliment each other so perfectly. While El Pinacate is geared more towards geology, Organ Pipe Cactus is all about the diverse biology of southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
What to Expect Re-Entering the United States
While not a simple as entering Mexico, re-entering the United States is still very straightforward. Be transparent and answer the customs officer’s questions honestly. Most importantly, make sure you declare everything you bought in Mexico and are bringing back into the US, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Unless you get sent to a secondary inspection, you’ll be on your way in just a few minutes.
Finally, please note that you will also pass through two Border Patrol checkpoints on Arizona Highway 85 between Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Gila Bend. They are primarily looking for illegal immigrants and drugs. US Citizens do not need to show any documentation at these checkpoints.
Your One Day Itinerary at El Pinacate Will Be an Experience You Won’t Soon Forget
The El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is one of the most unique, diverse, and extreme ecosystems in the Sonoran Desert. It offers outdoor activities for all ages and hobbies. Indulge in one of the most underrated day trips from Phoenix and Tucson. Add some international flair and culture to your life.
If you have time, we highly recommend that you spend more than just a day. It’s so hard to see everything El Pinacate has to offer with just a one day itinerary. You don’t want to miss out on visiting Puerto Peñasco, either. With its stunning waterfront, world-famous seafood, and laid-back atmosphere, you’ll soon be wasting away again in Margaritaville. But that’s a discussion for another day.
Thank you for the detailed info, Matt.
Can you please let us know what the opening times are for the Estación Biológica?
In the wintertime, the Estación Biológica is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. Have a great visit!
Is the route to Cono Rojo and Tinaja Emilia east of Pinacate Peak still open? Do you know the distance?
The route is shown on page xvii of “The Sierra Pinacate” by Julian D. Hayden, University of Arizona Press, 1998.
According to El Pinacate’s website, the road is open. It’s roughly 25 km (15 mi) from Highway 8 to Cono Rojo. The park strongly recommends a high-clearance vehicle, but you don’t need 4 wheel drive.