La Purisima, Baja California Sur – Oasis in the desert

During MEX 1 leads to Loreto we take a loop through the Sierra de la Giganta. A stony track that suffered damage in the last rainfalls that are waiting to be repaired, takes us through mountains with endless cacti vegetation. The thermometer climbs to 40° C. Some dormant volcano come to sight and suddenly, we don’t want to trust our eyes, there’s green everywhere: Water glitters in the valley, and palm trees grow in the oasis. Dates, citrus and mango are still grown today in smallholders’ farming in the villages of San Isidro and La Purisima. Latter was a mission station from 1720 to 1822, then abandoned for nearly 80 years until Mexican farmers revived the area. There are only some ruins left from the original mission on private land north of town.

We hardly left the oasis when hot desert embraces us again. Too hot to sleep, we decide, and turn in La Poza Grande at BCS 53 to the constantly chilly Pacific. The soft dark sand beach in Puerto San Andresito belongs to a fishing coop. The men grant us to complimentary stay here after we asked friendly. They just care for a soda that we have in our fridge.

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