Visit the Schuk Toak visitor center and museum

Visit the Schuk Toak Visitors Center and immerse yourself in the rich history of the Pinacate Biosphere and Grand Desert of Altar Reserve.

In addition, you will discover why this area has been deemed a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

The Schuk Toak Visitors Center, meaning “Sacred Mountain” in the Tohono O’odham dialect, is the only public building in Mexico that is fully self-sufficient, with 1,300 meters of construction and over 30,000 meters of desert botanical garden. Schuk Toak is located and built upon the most extensive and most recent lava flow in the area (from approximately 12,000 years ago). From here you can also embark on a hike to the sand dunes of the Grand Desert of Altar and admire the beauty of the desert´s active dunes, which are the largest in North America.

The Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and Grand Desert of Altar is a unique destination in Mexico, and the world, and the Visitors Center is the gateway to its secrets. It is a true marvel both of nature and human ingenuity, and an example of how one may live in harmony and be eco-friendly without giving up comfort.

The Schuk Toak Visitors Center of the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is located west of the turn-off at Km 72 along the Peñasco – Sonoyta highway and is open daily.