EL TRIUNFO
The Golden Year

El Triunfo is found in the middle of a rural area filled with old and unique buildings and a deep desire for things of yesteryear. This picturesque town is located 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of La Paz by the Trans-Peninsula Highway en route to Los Cabos. Dating back to 1748, the area was once a prestigious gold and silver mining area. This is the same year that Manuel de Ocio founded El Real de Santa Ana.

In 1878, the El Progreso mining company took advantage of the favorable conditions of the area to establish itself here. People arrived from all parts of the globe which resulted in an economic boom for the region. Although the company stopped operations in 1912, the town itself is considered a museum, conserving buildings and mansions. Three mausoleums remain from the mining boom era; one for the English, one for the Chinese and one for the Mexicans.

TO ADMIRE

The Museum of Music
In Mexico, this museum is one-of-a-kind in respectto its genre. A beautiful architectural legacy from the nineteenth century, it safeguards the loud and joyful instruments that played a leading role during this festive era. Among the large variety of objects and reminders belonging to distinguished Baja California Sur musicians and composers, a valuable collection of pianos (some from the seventeenth century) catches visitors’ eyes. Hours: open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Cacti Sanctuary
Located in the El Rosario, this 6-hectare (15-acre) park lies within a 50-hectare (124-acre) natural reserve. Various animal species and primitive cacti thrive here and serve as an excellent representation of the peninsula’s desert eco-system. With informative panels about the species and their interactions, visitors can see examples of the cardon or Mexican giant cactus, the barrel cactus, the cholla cactus and the boojum tree, among many other typical species. Because of the area’s biological richness and exquisiteness, it is considered a tourist and educational center which must be appreciated and protected.