A pioneering initiative in sustainable, community-based tourism took shape with the inauguration of the Kumiai Trail Network — a 14-kilometer system of three interconnected routes designed to strengthen tourism in the indigenous community of San José de la Zorra.
Located between the municipalities of Rosarito and Ensenada, just 18 kilometers from the Valle de Guadalupe, the network was inaugurated on Sunday, October 19, in a ceremony attended by local authorities and community representatives. The event included a traditional Kumiai blessing, honoring the land and the ancestral traditions of the region.
The project reflects a growing commitment to sustainable economic development within indigenous communities, promoting initiatives that protect and celebrate Baja California’s natural and cultural heritage.
The trails feature low-impact, non-invasive signage, including markings on rocks and small posts, designed to minimize visual disturbance and preserve the area’s natural landscape.
The project began in 2022 with the creation of the Mat Kiñush Trail (“Beautiful Land”), spanning 1.6 kilometers. It has since expanded to include two new routes—Cerro Grande and Casa Vieja—both developed and marked through a participatory process involving members of the Kumiai community.
During the ceremony, María de los Ángeles Carrillo Silva, a Kumiai leader, expressed pride in sharing the community’s environment and their harmonious relationship with nature. She invited visitors to experience the trails, which together offer 14 kilometers of scenic exploration.
Mayor Rocío Adame encouraged visitors to support the local economy by purchasing handcrafted Kumiai art and goods available on-site, noting that these products celebrate local talent and indigenous identity.
The Kumiai Trail Network also strengthens the Baja California Official Trail System (SESO BC) — the only one of its kind in Mexico built to international standards, promoted and certified by the State Secretariat of Tourism, which oversees its registry and usage guidelines.
