El Elegante Crater — Local services in Sonora

This crater is perhaps the most known and visited of the more than 100 craters found in the Pinacate Biosphere reserve. Although not the largest, its 1600 meters (one mile) in diameter and 5 kilometers around together with a depth of around 220 meters deep, makes it a quite impressive natural wonder to enjoy. To visit, the entrance to the reserve is half an hour drive north of Puerto Peñasco. At the station the visitors must register and pay a small entry fee. From the entrance, it is a slow 45 minute drive to the crater. The road is not paved but it is well maintained. Any car can drive around the well signaled roads without any danger of getting stuck. The road to the Elegante crater ends in a parking spot where you may leave your vehicle. From there it is a 30 meters walk to the rim. This amazing formation was created more than 100,000 years ago when underground water reservoirs got in contact with lava, thus causing the water to boil and as vapor expanded, in a tremendous explosion upwards the steam found its way out leaving that huge hole on the ground, at...

When you pay at the gate, the guy tells you that there "might" be someone who stops you for additional "charges", and that you have to pay for them as well. Of course he knows that, as he was the one letting them in to rob you later. Shortly after the gate, there was a road block with two older individuals demanding money, perhaps they were the parents of the young guy at the office. Just be aware, as it is not pleasant to get robbed in such an isolated area.

Apart from that, while the park was worth it, the road is horrible (the fillings in your teeth will fall out), especially the section that exists towards the North highway (not coming back in the loop to the same entrance). The entire area is extremely isolated and we met just one other car in nearly 2 hours (in January, perhaps a low season); so if you get a flat tire or car trouble, you may walk for miles and miles in scorching heat. Don't hope for a cell signal either, you are practically...

It wasn't what I expected. You must appreciate nature to enjoy. It was very lonely and scary. We drove for miles deep into the desert,no gas,no water,no restrooms no shade ANYWHERE. Once you enter it's really hard to turn back as the sand and volcanic ash makes it almost impossible unless you have 4 wheel drive. We drove back on a one way road to avoid the 3hrs drive to the only exit. Of course that wasn't a problem because no signs if life anywhere for miles. Also...