On March 9, 2023, Melissa, our guide, drove our Off the Beaten Path group east to explore the Boquillas Canyon region, including the nearby Rio Grande Village. (Click on any image to enlarge.)
From the parking area we first climbed a short ridge.
At the crest, we could see the lazy arc of the Rio Grande, and on the left shore, Mexico.
As is common in this isolated area, far from population centers, the border between the U.S. and Mexico is informal. No barbed wire or steel beams scar the view.
We were standing near grinding holes in the rock (for nuts, grains, seeds) from when indigenous peoples lived here.
After descending from the ridge, we walked towards the mouth of the canyon.
Soon, the stone walls towered in front of us. Google Translate says that "boquillas" translates to "nozzles," and I can see how the canyon earned its name.
We looked for birds exploring the canyon's nooks and ledges. Alas, most of them were beyond the range of my camera. Here's an example of the best I could do.
In the river, a few turtles moseyed below the surface. They were almost invisible in the greenish-brown water, but I punched this photo to make one more observable.
Burros wandered down to drink.
We had come about as far as we could into the canyon without getting our feet wet.
On our return walk, we were graced by a close view of a roadrunner.
A blooming cactus.
A wanderer on horseback was wading the river.
We rejoined the van and started towards the Rio Grande Village campground. On the way, we stopped at a viewpoint where the Mexican town of Boquillas del Carman was visible (just barely).
Here hand-made souvenirs were spread to entice us to buy something. No storekeeper was visible, but Melissa told us that someone was almost certainly watching.
A closeup of the handiwork.
We had our lunch in the shade at the Rio Grande Village. According to the National Park Service website, "Open year-round, only 24 campsites are available May 1 - October 31 due to
the extreme heat (100-115 degrees) and reduced demand for sites." Not my cup of tea! The best feature for Joan and me was a group of wandering javelinas, very pig-like creatures but in a different family (Tayassuidae) than true pigs in the Suidae family.
After lunch, we explored the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail. (Remember, click on the image to enlarge!)
Approaching the entrance.
Setting off.
Turtles in the wetland.
The trail wound eventually wound uphill.
In this dry zone, away from the water, we admired this red ocotillo.
A closeup of the blooms.
Finally, we checked out the visitor center, which sported this excellent 3-D display. The green mountainous patch is the Big Bend National Park.
After a long day, we were ready for dinner back at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. I took a moon-influenced photo from the restaurant's porch as dusk settled.
A long but wonderful day it was.
