La Ribera: Where Marine Wonders Meet Ancient History

A Natural Treasure

The Gulf of California region within La Ribera delegation harbors one of Earth’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. At its heart lies Cabo Pulmo National Park, home to:

• A 20,000-year-old living reef (among the oldest in the Pacific)

• UNESCO World Heritage status

• RAMSAR Wetland designation

• Protected Natural Area

Archaeological Legacy

Mid-20th century discoveries by archaeologist William H. Massey revealed:

• Palm-leaf bundles containing ochre-painted human bones (1200-1700 AD)

• Evidence of the “Las Palmas Funerary Tradition”, likely linked to the Pericúes people who encountered 16th-century European sailors

Colonial Footprints

August 1721: Jesuits Napoli and Bravo, with Guaycura guides and soldiers under Captain Lorenzo, trekked from La Paz to:

• Establish Mission Santiago de Los Coras at Bahía de Las Palmas (modern La Ribera)

• Relocate multiple times before settling permanently in Santiago

Revolutionary Echoes

May 14, 1914: A legendary 5-hour battle at Hacienda Eureka during the Mexican Revolution inspired the folk ballad “El Cabo Fierro”, commemorating a schoolteacher and students’ escape.

Modern Governance

• 1999: Officially became a Los Cabos Municipality delegation

• Includes Cabo Pulmo, Santa Cruz, and La Capilla sub-delegations