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Nature reserve · Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
A volcanic shield with giant craters, lava fields and the largest field of active dunes in North America, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
The El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve protects more than 700,000 hectares of the Sonoran Desert, between Puerto Peñasco, Sonoyta and San Luis Río Colorado. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
The volcanic area, the El Pinacate shield, contains hundreds of cinder cones, black lava fields and giant craters. The best known, El Elegante, is about 1.4 km across and roughly 140 meters deep. A dirt road of about 70 km leads to the El Elegante, Cerro Colorado and Tecolote craters, with trails along the rim; descending into the craters is prohibited. To the west stretches the Gran Desierto de Altar, with dunes reaching around 200 meters.
Visits begin at the Schuk Toak visitor center and museum, built on a lava flow, with exhibits on the geology, wildlife and the Tohono Oʼodham people, and short trails across the lava and out to the dunes.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day for the visitor center; a full day to include the craters.
Best time
From October to April, starting early. From June to September the heat is extreme, and the roads to the craters and the dune trail often close.
How to get there
The Schuk Toak visitor center is at km 51 on the Sonoyta–Puerto Peñasco highway, measured from Sonoyta, less than an hour’s drive from town. For the craters you must register at the center and go in a high-clearance vehicle on dirt roads, or with a licensed operator.
Tip
Bring plenty of water, fuel and food: there are no services inside the reserve, and low cars and motorcycles cannot enter the crater roads.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
How large is the El Elegante crater?
About 1.4 km across and roughly 140 meters deep.
Do you need a special vehicle to visit El Pinacate?
For the craters, yes: the roads are dirt and only high-clearance vehicles can enter; motorcycles and low cars are not permitted.
Where is the El Pinacate visitor center located?
At km 51 on the highway between Sonoyta and Puerto Peñasco.
Is El Pinacate a World Heritage Site?
Yes, UNESCO added the reserve to the list in 2013.