Valle de los Cirios

Valle de los Cirios is a vast protected landscape in central Baja California, Mexico, extending from the Pacific Ocean across the peninsula to the Gulf of California. Covering 2,521,776 hectares, it ranks among Mexico’s largest protected areas and includes roughly a third of Baja California state and about half of Ensenada municipality. Named for the cirio tree that shapes its distinctive desert scenery, it contains largely undisturbed scrub and desert habitats with many endemic species, cacti, reptiles, and large mammals. The Peninsular Ranges divide its western and eastern desert regions. It became a flora and fauna protection area on June 2, 1980, and was proposed for World Heritage consideration in 2004.

Baja California · Mexico