La Ribera
La Ribera: Where Ocean and History Converge
The Gulf of California region within La Ribera delegation harbors one of Earth’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. Cabo Pulmo National Park shelters a 20,000-year-old living reef—among the oldest in the Pacific—teeming with marine life. Recognized as a:
-
UNESCO World Heritage Site
-
RAMSAR Wetland
-
Protected Natural Area
Ancient Footprints
Archaeologist William H. Massey (mid-20th century) uncovered palm-leaf bundles containing ochre-painted human bones in coastal caves—remnants of the “Las Palmas Funerary Tradition” (1200-1700 AD). These findings likely belong to the Pericúes, indigenous people who encountered European sailors in the 1500s.
Jesuit Colonial Ambitions
As part of Spain’s Manila Galleon support network, Jesuits Ignacio María Napoli and Jaime Bravo embarked from La Paz Mission on August 17, 1721, with Guaycura guides and soldiers under Captain Esteban Rodríguez Lorenzo. They reached Bahía de Las Palmas (modern-day La Ribera) on August 25, laying groundwork for Santiago de Los Coras Mission.
The Transient Mission & Revolutionary Echoes
The Mission of Santiago de Los Coras was established after a 16-day effort involving initial construction and baptisms. However, the mission relocated multiple times before settling permanently in what is now Santiago village.
A Revolutionary Battle (1914)
During the Mexican Revolution, La Ribera witnessed a fierce 5-hour clash between federal and rebel forces at Hacienda Eureka on May 14, 1914. The dramatic escape of a local schoolteacher and her students inspired the famous revolutionary ballad “El Cabo Fierro”—still sung today.
Modern Governance
Since January 1999, La Ribera has been an official delegation of Los Cabos Municipality, comprising three sub-delegations:
-
Cabo Pulmo (UNESCO-listed marine park)
-
Santa Cruz
-
La Capilla