La Recua - The Mule Pack Train

Darío Higuera Meza, a traditional saddle maker in Baja California, Sur, Mexico, turned 70 in 2018. In March that year, he traveled 200 miles in 20 days by mule-back, herding a pack train of donkeys from an oasis in the heart of the Sierra de la Giganta, all the way to La Paz. He and his family packed a load of Goat Cheese, Dates, Sugar-cane Candy, and 10 gallons of famous Comondú Wine… just for the sake of history!

With his 8 year old grandson, and a competent 10 year old outback ranch girl, Azucena, they follow in the hoof-steps of Dario's grandfather down El Camino Real. Fearing that the old traditions might be lost forever, they overcame hardships of health, rattlesnakes, and hot days on dusty, forgotten trails in order to honor the memory of Lower California’s “long-haul” equine merchants – Los Arrieros - the muleteers of Baja’s donkey pack-trains.