Rancho Ecológico El Refugio is located on the ancestral lands of one of the oldest cowboy ranches in the San Dionisio Canyon of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. It is approx. halfway between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas at the footstep of the Tropic of Cancer. The camp is nestled in the heart of the mountains and our drivers will pick you up/drop you off from your hotel or designated pick-up points.
The area is great for exploring and a stark difference to the desert environment. Part of your ranch experience includes glamping-style lodgings and a variety of activities such as nature hiking, exploring the Pericue trail to cave paintings, classes in traditional Mexican cuisine, leather making and basket weaving, feeding/milking farm animals as part of the process in learning how to make ranch cheese and touring the organic garden (from where your meals are provided).
By night enjoy world-class stargazing or relax in the social area where guests are welcome to mingle with other guests and engage in social activities such as cards, cribbage, backgammon and more.
The educational and cultural adventure offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in traditional Mexican ranchero culture while enjoying all the rustic comforts of home (including a real bed).
Experience the lifestyle of the Vaqueros de Los Californias. Rooted in the Spanish colonial era, vaquero culture developed into a distinct way of life in the Californias, influencing later American ranching traditions. Their lives are deeply connected to ranching and the land, reflecting a unique traditional lifestyle characterized by limited comforts, rustic surroundings, and sustainable living.
Being in the countryside with the ranchers feels like escaping the outside world. Here, you’ll find only the mountains, forests, and, of course, cattle, horses, and other farm animals. Their hard work does not stop them from enjoying the beauty around them. They notice the sunsets, starry nights, and live in harmony with the forest, the clear streams, and the local wildlife they encounter.
It offers a humbling experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
This is merely a glimpse into the history of a ranch that has existed for over
300 years.
These experiences are a droplet in the ripple of richness of the culture, land and sea that Mexico has to offer. Your experience will reflect the traditional, raw beauty of true Baja California rancheros, los vaqueros de las Californias.
Interesting Fact: Much of the water used in cities like La Paz and Los Cabos is collected from the Sierra de la Laguna mountains.
We acknowledge and thank the family on whose land they teach us of their cultural connection to a natural, sustainable, mountain lifestyle.
