Town 57 km southeast of Santa Rosalía
A river oasis town of date palms about an hour south, with a Jesuit mission on a hill and a museum in its old prison.
Mulegé is a small oasis town about an hour south of Santa Rosalía, built along one of the very few rivers in Baja California Sur. The river, lined with date palms and mangroves, runs a few kilometers to the Sea of Cortez, and the green of the valley is a welcome surprise after the desert. The name comes from the Cochimí language and is usually translated as something like "mouth of the white creek".
The Jesuit Juan Manuel de Basaldúa founded the Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé here in 1705, and its stone church, begun in 1766, stands on a hill above the river with a fine view over the palm grove.
The town's other landmark is its old prison, now a museum, famous as the "prison without bars": inmates were allowed out to work in town during the day and returned to their cells when the bell rang at night. Mulegé is also the gateway to the beaches of Bahía Concepción, just to the south.
What to see and do
Visit the Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé and take in the view over the palm-lined river.
Tour the museum in the old "prison without bars".
Paddle a kayak on the river or out to the sea.
Continue south to the beaches of Bahía Concepción.
Getting there
Mulegé is about 60 kilometers south of Santa Rosalía on Highway 1, roughly an hour's drive along the coast. Long-distance buses on Highway 1 stop at Mulegé. The mission is on the edge of town, on the south side of the river.
57 km southeast of Santa Rosalía
Directions from Santa Rosalía on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Mulegé
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Weather warm
Mulegé shares the climate of Santa Rosalía, 57 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Apr, May, Nov.
Make Santa Rosalía your base
Mulegé is an easy trip from Santa Rosalía, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Santa Rosalía
-
Volcán Las Tres Vírgenes
· Mountain · 35 km away
Three volcanic peaks rising beside Highway 1 northwest of town; climbing the tallest is a hard, guided hike in the El Vizcaíno reserve. -
San Ignacio
· Town · 62 km away
A desert oasis of date palms around a lagoon, with one of Baja's finest stone missions; the base for whales and cave paintings. -
Sierra de San Francisco
· Cave · 79 km away
UNESCO-listed mountains with giant prehistoric cave paintings; Cueva del Ratón is reachable by road, the rest by mule with a guide. -
Bahía Concepción
· Beach · 83 km away
A long, calm bay south of Mulegé lined with white-sand coves like Santispac and El Requesón, ideal for kayaking. -
Laguna San Ignacio
· Nature reserve · 104 km away
A Pacific lagoon where gray whales give birth each winter and often swim right up to the small boats.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.