Native Trails MyTrails 2025 19 Baja California 31 Visit of the Santo Tomás Winery Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy The hills of Santo Tomás announce your reaching the largest, and one of the oldest, wine-growing regions of Mexico. Once you have passed the gate of the Santo Tomás winery, an employee will receive you to take you on an individual tour through the modern and exceptional architecture of the processing plant. After the tour, a good wine will, of course, be waiting for you. 32 Excursion to the Salt Extraction Plant San Felipe Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium Near San Felipe, nature provides optimum conditions for the production of pure sea salt. The water of the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortés is crystal clear and pure so that the strong insolation allows a salt with natural minerals and a high proportion of essential trace elements to be obtained. You visit the extended evaporation basins of the salt mine and learn all about the different processes of production. The fine salt crystals formed by the interplay of water, sun and wind enjoy a great demand on the market because they are an enrichment for every kitchen and a must when it comes to preparing the glass for a margarita. 33 The Condor of Sierra San Pedro Mártir Duration: 04:00 h · Level: Medium Accompany us to meet the research team headed by Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras and learn all the relevant facts about the fascinating reintroduction program for California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) in the Sierra San Pedro Mártir National Park. The largest bird of Northern America, a species of the group of New World vultures, can reach wingspans of up to 3 meters (10 ft.). The majestic scavengers were considered extinct in the wild for 5 years, and only 27 of them were living in zoos in the early 1990s. Thanks to a joint effort of academic institutions and especially the San Diego Zoo, it was possible in 2014 to celebrate the first two young condors that have been born in the wild for a long time. 34 Hike in the national park San Pedro Mártir Duration: 05:00 h · Level: Medium Like a forest island, the San Pedro Mártir national park lies amidst the Sonora Desert at an altitude of more than 2,000 m (6,500 ft.). Surrounded by granite rocks, the 650-km² (1,605-acre) park, which was founded in 1947, impresses the visitor by its huge, clear pine forests (Jeffrey pine and Pinus quadrifolia or Parry pinyon). Sporadically, you will also find oak trees on your hike (April to November). If you are lucky, you will see bighorn sheep, coyotes or even a puma, let alone the majestic California condor, which is now living in the Sierra again. 35 Bird Watching Sierra San Pedro Mártir Duration: 04:00 h · Level: Medium The Rancho Meling is located in an ornithologist’s paradise. At times more than 50 bird species call the surroundings of the ranch their home. Countless hiking trails give you the opportunity to observe red-shouldered hawks, lesser nighthawks, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, California thrashers, and Western screech owls. The ranchers made it their business to cultivate and protect nature and thus preserve it as an experience for humans and animals. 36 The Lasso Lesson Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy The Rancho Meling has been a family-owned farm for more than 100 years and is a real treasure in the mountains of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. During your visit of the 10,000-hectare (about 25,000-acre) cattle farm, the rancheros demonstrate the art of lassoing. A good technique for precise throws, much practice and some skill are of decisive importance to catch cattle or sheep with a hemp or leather cord. Only those having full command of the technique on firm ground will be able to use it on horseback. Watch the pros before you try your hand at the rancheros’ work yourself – the sheep are peaceful, not fearful, and already waiting for being caught.
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