# El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, United States: what it is and when to go

> El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Mexico in United States. Interests: Nature, History and Wildlife. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55. It has articles in 24 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/reserva-de-la-biosfera-el-pinacate-y-gran-desierto-de-altar/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Biosphere reserve in Mexico · Nature, History, Wildlife
- **Where:** United States
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Nearest airport:** LAX Los Angeles, 494 km as the crow flies
- **Run by:** Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas
- **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site
- **Coordinates:** 31.92369, -113.69986

## What it is and where

El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Mexico in United States. It has articles in 24 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 31.92369, -113.69986; the nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, Los Angeles), 494 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=31.923691%2C-113.699862)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=31.923691%2C-113.699862)

- **Run by:** Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas
- **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/), [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fauna/) places in United States. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is **March to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 10 h 08 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 52 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 46 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 47 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 38 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 05 |
| July | Best time | 13 h 54 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 10 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 11 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 12 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 20 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 55 |

In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| History | March to October | November to February |
| Wildlife | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to United States

To enter United States there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book national parks and cars in advance”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the United States checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir). Currency: US dollar (USD); plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter, and check your devices' voltage); emergencies: 911 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cabeza-prieta-national-wildlife-refuge/): Protected area · 42 km
- [Quitobaquito Hills](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/quitobaquito-hills/): Mountain in Arizona, United States of America · 63 km
- [Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument/): United States National Monument In Arizona · 81 km
- [Ajo Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/ajo-peak/): Mountain in United States of America · 88 km
- [Antelope Hill Highway Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/antelope-hill-highway-bridge/): Bridge in United States of America · 93 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## More in United States: Nature

- [Niagara Falls](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/niagara-falls-2/): three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States
- [Grand Canyon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/grand-canyon-2/): steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States
- [Yellowstone National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/parque-nacional-de-yellowstone/): first national park in the world, located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho in the United States
- [Denali](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/monte-denali/): highest mountain in North America, located in Alaska
- [Mount Rushmore](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mount-rushmore/): mountain in South Dakota featuring a sculpture of four US presidents
- [Mauna Kea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mauna-kea/): Hawaiian volcano

Every United States place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve?

It is a biosphere reserve in Mexico in United States. It has articles in 24 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve?

March to October. In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55.

### How do you get to El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve?

The nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 494 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=31.923691%2C-113.699862) opens the route on the map, and how to get around United States is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the United States map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cabeza-prieta-national-wildlife-refuge/), [Quitobaquito Hills](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/quitobaquito-hills/), [Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument/). The rest is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/7575970), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3821829), CC0. More about El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve on [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserva_de_la_biosfera_El_Pinacate_y_Gran_Desierto_de_Altar). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).