Quitobaquito Springs sits nestled deep in the backcountry of Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The Quitobaquito oasis is one of the only natural oases in the Sonoran Desert. When you first arrive, your first impression will be that it doesn’t feel like you’re in the backcountry. There is a major federal highway less than 100 yards from the pond.
The catch is that the highway is Mexico’s Federal Highway 2. The US-Mexico border runs right between the pond and the highway. You will quickly find that “Feet Away, but Worlds Apart” is a common theme down here.
How to Get to the Quitobaquito Oasis
Access to the pond is off of the South Puerto Blanco Drive. The turnoff is located off of Arizona’s Highway 85, about 1/4 mile north of the Lukeville port-of-entry. Over 70% of the national monument, including the Puerto Blanco drive was closed from 2003 until 2014 due to smuggling and other illegal cross-border activity following a park ranger being shot to death in 2002 by a drug smuggler.
In an incredible reversal of fortunes, the area west of Lukeville has gone from being the most dangerous spot on the border ten to twelve years ago to being one of the safest spots on the border today. Any time you’re near an international border, there are always possible dangers present, but US Customs and Border Protection, the park rangers, and the county sheriff all have a heavy presence inside the national monument.
South of the border, the Mexican Federal Police and the Sonora State Police routinely patrol Highway 2 and Sonoyta, the Mexican border town opposite Lukeville.
You’ll Drive About 15 Miles on a Dirt Road only a Few Feet from the US-Mexico Border
The South Puerto Blanco drive runs about 15 miles right along the border until it turns north to loop back to the visitor’s center. The turn off for Quitobaquito is right where the road turns north. The stretch of road the runs from Highway 85 to Quitobaquito can be passable in a passenger car in dry weather, but I strongly recommend something with high clearance.
A 4×4 is not necessary unless recent heavy rains have washed out parts of the road. Completing the full Puerto Blanco Drive requires a 4×4. Parts of the road have not been maintained since before the park closed in 2003.
At Quitobaquito, See Some of the Rarest Species of Fish in the World
Back at the pond, Quitobaquito is home to some of the rarest species of fish in the world. According to the US National Park Service, the pond is the only place in the world where you can find the Quitobaquito spring snail, the Sonoyta mud turtle, the Sonoyta pup fish, and the desert caper plant. You will also find a wide variety of bird species, especially during the spring and fall migrations, as well as lizards and other mammals. If wildlife isn’t your thing, there are plenty of plant species to look at, too.
Take a Relaxing Stroll Around the Quitobaquito Oasis
If you visit Quitobaquito, I highly recommend you take the short walk around the perimeter of the pond. Even stopping to take lots of pictures, it still only took me about 10 or 15 minutes to make it around. The walk is mostly in the shade. You’ll get to see plenty of wildlife, and you will cross the stream that feeds the pond. It’s only a few inches wide (see the photo below), so you can just step over it. You don’t need to worry about wading through it or anything.
I know that the proximity of Quitobaquito Springs to the US-Mexico border scares a lot of people off. Understand the possible risks associated with being so close to the international border. Obey the signs and pay attention to your surroundings, and you should have a great time there.