San Pedro Martir National Park
and Observatory
Travel Information
The San Pedro Martir National Park, with 63,000 hectares, covers the wooded region located in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir and is one of the few green areas of the Baja Peninsula.
Parque Nacional San Pedro Mártir boasts natural beauty and is an area established to preserve the flora and fauna of the site, and to delight the visitor.
Activities. What to Do
Attractions
What to see in this park
The Altar, situated at an altitude of 2.880 m. From there you can see both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Cortes.
Devil's Peak, located at an altitude of over 3000 m, is the highest point on the Baja peninsula.
The Astronomical Observatiory is the second most important in Latin America.
San Pedro Mártir Ntnl Park
Average Temperatures
Temperatures are usually between 5 and 10 C in summer and 20 C below zero in winter.
Nights are usually cold. Rainfalls are frequent in winter and sometimes are accompained by snowstorms.
Brief History
The Spanish settlers explored the area for the first time around 1701.
In 1796 the Dominican missionaries founded the San Pedro Mártir de Verona mission of which only ruins remain.
Due to the admirable clarity and excellent weather conditions of the park, in 1971 the Universidad Autónoma de México established the National Astronomical Observatory at Cerro de La Cúpula, at an altitude of 2,830 m.
Currently, the observatory, which is the second most important in Latin America, has 3 telescopes whose diameters are: 2.1 m, 1.5 m, and 84 cms and sophisticated equipment such as photometers and spectrographs.
Hot to get to San Pedro Mártir National Park
From Ensenada, on the Highway 1, drive to the south. After about 140 km you will arrive at San Telmo, south of Colonet. There is a deviation to the left. Drive in the junction and after about 90 km you will arrive to the park.
Basic Advise
Bring your 4-wheel drive vehicle with extra fuel.
Do not drive at night.
Stay not less than two days.
Bring your food, water, camping gear, and articles for first aid.
What it is NOT Allowed
Littering, fishing, hunting, off-road vehicles & motorcycles, cutting boughs or branches, scandals and loud noises.
Contact San Pedro Martir National Park
Apartado 877
22800 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Telephones: (646) 174-4580, 174-4548, 174-4593
