Ancient cave paintings and imposing 17th-century missions dot the north of the peninsula
Beyond the beaches, Baja California’s interior is home to a number of places that tell the long and rich story of the area: from the cave paintings in Cataviñá to the missions that span the peninsula.
El Vallecito is perhaps one of the best places for seeing these amazing vestiges of civilization. Here, the area contains rocks painted with figures that depict human beings and, hidden in a cave, a representation of a devil whose eyes are lit up by the sun during the winter solstice.
Other places of similar interest are Las Pintas, San Fernando Velicatá, Cataviñá, Montevideo and Las Tinajitas. Stone-preserved houses and colorful paintings representing flora, fauna, lines and figures can all be found here.
Another way of exploring the area’s past is through the missions, which began appearing on the peninsula during the 16th century. The missions provided a means through which Jesuit, Dominican, Franciscan and Carmelite friars could convert the local population. Their architecture is imposing and the remote locations of the complexes of buildings that served as religious centers is often striking.
Baja California (norte)
- Misión El Descanso (Misión San Miguel la Nueva), in Rosarito
- Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte, in Guadalupe
- Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera, in Ensenada
- Misión Santa Catarina Virgen y Mártir, in Ensenada 31°49′38″N 115°49′16″W
- Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino
- Misión San Vicente Ferrer
- Misión Santo Domingo de la Frontera, near Colonia Vicente Guerrero
- Misión San Pedro Mártir de Verona
- Misión Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de Viñacado, near El Rosario
- Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá
- Visita de Calamajué (Visita de Calamyget) in Calamajué
- Misión Santa María de los Ángeles, near Cataviña
- Misión San Francisco Borja 28°44′40″N 113°45′14″W
- Misión Santa Gertrudis 28°04′31″N 113°06′04″W
Baja California Sur
- Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán, in San Ignacio
- Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Huasinapi, in Guadalupe
- Visita de San José de Magdalena, in Santa Rosalía
- Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé, in Mulegé
- Misión San Bruno 26°13′57″N 111°23′53″W
- Misión La Purísima Concepción de Cadegomó, in La Purísima
- Misión San Jose de Comondú, north of Loreto 26°03′34″N 111°49′20″W (third and final location) north of Loreto
- Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, in Loreto 26°00′37″N 111°20′36″W
- Misión San Francisco Javier de Viggé-Biaundó 25°51′38″N 111°32′37″W in San Javier
- Misión San Juan Bautista Malibat (Misión Liguí), in Liguí 25°44′22″N 111°15′51″W
- Misión Nuestra Señora de los Dolores del Sur Chillá,between Loreto and La Paz
- Misión San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui, northwest of La Paz
- Misión de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz Airapí, in La Paz
- Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas (Misión Todos Santos), in Todos Santos
- Misión Santiago de Los Coras, in Santiago
- Misión Estero de las Palmas de San José del Cabo Añuití, in San José del Cabo
In addition to these, many others can be reached through the help of guides and in some cases, such as with San Pedro Mártir de Verona, with the help of beasts of burden.
Photo: San Miguel Arcángel Mission at the Border, Baja California
Posted by Visit Mexico - visit their website
