Sierra de Álamos-Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve

Sierra de Álamos-Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve is a protected natural area in the northwestern state of Sonora in Mexico. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The reserve includes tropical dry forests, rugged mountains, and the watershed of Rio Cuchujaqui, an important water resource in Sonora.

It is a large wildlife refuge covering an area of more than 92,000 hectares.

Visitor information: Official visitor information is on the CONANP web site.

Established in 1996, the reserve was formerly administered by the state of Sonora, but is now overseen by the federal government through CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas), the government agency charged with protecting natural areas, national parks, and monuments.

The reserve is a transition zone between mountains and coastal plains, so landscapes can be dramatic and change quickly. The Sierra de Alamos is a small subrange of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the tallest peaks within the reserve are about 2,000 meters dropping quickly to as little as 300 meters. There are sheer cliffs, deep canyons and ravines, and areas of verdant deciduous forest, crossed by rivers with lush riparian corridors. Forests are denser and more common at lower elevation while peaks have large areas of bare rock.

The reserve is considered a biodiversity hotspot, home to a number of endemic and endangered species. Residents include the green macaw, jaguar, ocelot, and the poisonous Mexican beaded lizard and Gila monster. More than 300 bird species have been identified in the park along with 85 mammal species. There are also numerous reptiles, amphibians, and insects, including a number of butterflies.

The Sierra de Álamos-Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve has a climate that dramatically changes by season. During the late summer months of July through October, it often gets soaking monsoon rains with heavy afternoon thunderstorms, while much of the year is dry and the park exhibits a semi-arid or tropical climate. The mean temperature is 24° C. Temperatures can be very hot during the summer when temperatures climb to 40° C or more.

Park gates are open daily from 06:00 to 19:00.

The entry fee costs M$125 per adult.

• Horseback riding
• Hiking

If you are camping in the reserve, be sure to shake your shoes out in the morning before putting them on as poisonous scorpions abound.

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