An island of pine and oak forest floating above the desert: a long climb with mules and a ranchero guide to a cool meadow at 1,700 metres, a night in the pines, and a summit from which both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez are visible.
The Sierra de la Laguna is a biosphere reserve and a biological island: its summit forests of endemic Laguna pine and oak have been cut off from any similar forest for thousands of years.
The trek crosses the range's 2,000-metre summit plateau, a world of oak, pine and meadow with views of both seas. The classic route starts from the ranchos above Santiago on the east side or from near Todos Santos on the west, climbing from cactus scrub through dry tropical forest to the high meadow of La Laguna, with mules carrying the gear and a local guide leading. You camp in the pines and climb the Picacho the next morning.
Book through a guide in Santiago or Todos Santos, because the trails are unmarked, and go only from November to March. Cool nights, hot days, no water on the ascent.
A typical two-day trek from the western side; the eastern route is similar.
Drive from Todos Santos or Santiago to the ranch trailhead, load the mules and start before the heat.
Climb steadily through cardón cactus and dry forest, then into the first oaks as the air cools.
Reach the high meadow of La Laguna, a former lake bed ringed by pines, and camp for the night.
Climb at dawn to the summit rocks for the view of the Pacific on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other.
Descend the same way, or cross the range to the other side with a car arranged at the far trailhead.
Book a ranchero guide and mules through outfitters in Todos Santos or Santiago; they arrange the permit for the biosphere reserve.
Go between November and March. Nights at the meadow can drop near freezing; days in the foothills are hot.
The meadow is fragile and the reserve protected; carry out all rubbish and use established camps.
Los Cabos practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences.
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