Nature reserve 43 km southwest of San Ignacio
A coastal plateau of dry tropical forest, mangroves, and empty beaches, protected since 2000; home to Las Labradas and jaguars.
The Meseta de Cacaxtla is a coastal plateau between Federal Highway 15 and the Pacific in the municipalities of San Ignacio and Mazatlán, protected since 2000 as a flora and fauna protection area of almost 51,000 hectares. It is the wild coast you cross on the way to Las Labradas and Barras de Piaxtla.
The reserve protects a full sweep of Sinaloan ecosystems: deciduous dry forest and thorn scrub on the plateau, greener forest along the streams, and mangroves, coastal lagoons, and beaches at the edge of the sea. More than 1,200 species of plants and animals have been recorded here, including some 300 kinds of birds and six species of wild cats, among them the jaguar and the puma, along with dozens of reptiles and amphibians.
Cacaxtla is also an archaeological landscape. The petroglyphs of Las Labradas lie inside it, and more carved rocks are scattered along the streams inland. It is managed by CONANP under a category that allows sustainable use, so people continue to live and work within it.
What to see and do
Visit the petroglyphs of Las Labradas on the reserve's shore.
Go birdwatching in the dry forest and around the coastal lagoons.
Explore the beaches and estuaries around Barras de Piaxtla.
Come after the summer rains, when the dry forest turns green.
Getting there
The reserve lies on both sides of the Culiacán–Mazatlán highway (15D) between the Piaxtla area and Mazatlán, about an hour from San Ignacio. The easiest access points are Las Labradas and Barras de Piaxtla; the interior is crossed only by dirt roads, so go with a local guide if you want to go deeper.
43 km southwest of San Ignacio
Directions from San Ignacio on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Meseta de Cacaxtla
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Tours & activities
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Weather warm
Meseta de Cacaxtla shares the climate of San Ignacio, 43 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb.
Make San Ignacio your base
Meseta de Cacaxtla is an easy trip from San Ignacio, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around San Ignacio
-
Barras de Piaxtla
· Beach · 49 km away
A fishing village and beach where the Piaxtla River meets the Pacific, with volcanic cliffs, a rock arch, and an old lighthouse. -
Las Labradas
· Archaeological site · 50 km away
A wild beach with hundreds of ancient petroglyphs carved on its volcanic rocks, right at the edge of the surf.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.