Where can you find the oldest cave paintings in the Americas? Situated within the Sierra de San Francisco Mountains on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico are the oldest cave paintings in the Americas.

A visit to The Great Murals makes for the perfect autumn trip as summer heat and rains give way to more temperate weather. The Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco offers a rare glimpse into ancient history, attributed to the lost Cochimí tribe. The paintings date to as early as 5,500 B.C. to as late as the 18^th century, telling a story spanning thousands of years. You can locate these pictographs at nearly 250 sites, found east of the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve.

© Visit Baja California Sur

A UNESCO World Heritage site, these paintings can be witnessed with Aventuras Mexico Profundo, a company offering fully guided tours showcasing the region’s ancient rock art, starting and ending in La Paz. On this tour, you’ll journey from La Pintada Cave, which depicts thousands of overlapping images of marine life and human figures, to Boca de San Julio Cave, where a forgotten language adorns the walls.

This 10-day adventure also covers the peninsula’s beaches, oases and Jesuit mission churches. Guests camp under the starry skies and delve deep into canyons on mule back. Tour accommodations include hotel and air-condition vans.

For a shorter tour of the caves, Loreto Sea & Land Tours, based in Loreto, offers three- to five-day rock art tours on mule back, providing a unique perspective on Baja California Sur’s ancient marvels.

© Visit Baja California Sur

The paintings are well-preserved and protected, surrounded by reversible infrastructure (designed to be easily removed) and environmental protections.