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El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve

The El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve combines volcanic landscapes with active dunes. Choose one area for your visit and plan carefully: long distances, rough terrain and limited services shape what is practical in a day.

Active dunes of the Gran Desierto de Altar in Sonora.
Photo by Presidencia de la República Mexicana Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
The place

What makes it special

  • A dirt-road route reaches El Elegante, El Tecolote and Cerro Colorado craters.
  • Interpretive trails and a hike toward the dunes start at Schuk Toak.
  • The reserve is culturally significant to O’odham peoples.
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
Photo by Presidencia de la República Mexicana Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
Photo by Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Travel atlas

Articles in El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve

Guides to this place

1 article

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Active dunes of the Gran Desierto de Altar in Sonora.

El Pinacate’s craters and dunes require different plans

The best way to plan a visit to El Pinacate is to consider the type of landscape, the vehicle available and your tolerance for heat—not simply a list of stops.

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Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 01/10/2026