It was the famous Norwegian explorer, Carl Lumholtz, who in his memoirs described his entry to these lands; Since then, more than one adventurer has been seduced by the charms of the Duranguense mountains.
The famous explorer Carl Lumholtz described in his memoirs his entrance to the legendary lands of the state of Durango; Since then more than one adventurer and explorer have been seduced by the texts of this tireless traveler from the Sierra Madre Occidental, a wild territory that invites you to discover its secrets, many of them still hidden among gorges and mountain ranges inhabited by Tepehuane, Huichol and Mexicaneros, peoples of rich traditions, history and culture.
In the vast territory of Durango, such varied and contrasting landscapes of mountains, tropics and desert intermingle, which are very attractive; Of all of them, we could say that two are the ones that most impress and attract enthusiastic explorers and adventurers: the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Bolson de Mapimí Biosphere Reserve, where the mysterious Zone of Silence is located.
The best way to discover the secrets of the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental, which stretches over 76,096 km2 in Durango, is by taking ecotourism excursions, either on foot or by mountain bike.
The itineraries are very varied and numerous, but in all of them you will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful landscapes and to get to know the flora and fauna, as well as the historical riches of the state.
The excursions can be one, seven or more days long to explore sites where there are still many secrets to discover and that lie hidden in the heart of the Sierra Madre. Impressive waterfalls and jets of water that are among the highest in the country fall into its deep gorges. The best way to enjoy them is through rappel descents, walking among the rocks and swimming in the refreshing pools of crystal clear water. Another opportunity to know the natural beauty of the state is the Bolson de Mapimí, the arid desert where it almost never rains (260 mm a year) and that once, millions of years ago, was the bottom of the ocean, and where today the so-called Zona del Silencio, a fantastic space with strange forms of life, multicolored sunsets, starry nights and unprecedented events that are part of the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve.
For those who like mountain bike tours, the options are varied, since the geography of the territory presents beautiful landscapes that allow you to enjoy long walks. The sites for this are the towns of Chupaderos, Tayoltita, which is the access to a couple of impressive ravines, and the Chorro del Caliche, from where you can get to the Sierra Madre through challenging paths and paths in routes of more than four days long.
For hiking there are places like Las Ventanas, which leads to the archaeological site of La Ferrería and a series of ravines; and the Río del Arco, which offers numerous possibilities to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the mountain.
Other interesting places are the surroundings of the Bayacora River, where there are wooded areas and settings of great beauty, which are as attractive as exploring the territory of the Zone of Silence, where in addition to mountain biking tours, you can camp and do walks, activities that are directed by professional guides and which include the observation of the celestial vault and the appreciation of the flora and fauna of the region.
Durango reserves even more surprises for those who want to discover a different nature, a different part of the multifaceted face of Mexico that never ceases to amaze us with new beauties and landscapes, which always leave the visitor the radiance of a wonderful world full of adventure.
Photographer specialized in adventure sports. He has worked for MD for over 10 years!
