When people say they want to “see Baja,” they usually mean a wine weekend in Valle (not my fault) or a quick flight to Cabo. But Zelzin Aketzalli isn’t most people — she’s walking it. All 2,117 kilometers of it.
A Journey Born from Grit and Blisters
The 34-year-old trailblazer from Mexico City just started her hike from Tecate to Los Cabos — solo, on foot, and with a pack lighter than your average beach tote.
Her goal? To chart Mexico’s first official long-distance hiking route, the Baja California National Trail.
If her name sounds familiar, it’s because Zelzin already made history. She’s the first Mexican to complete the Triple Crown of U.S. hiking — the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. That’s 12,000 kilometers of endurance, grit, and way too many protein bars.
Now she’s taking that experience back home. Her mission is to show that Mexico’s landscapes aren’t just beautiful — they’re built for world-class adventure.
The Launch Baja Spirit Meets Global Vision
Her expedition began in Valle de Guadalupe, during a press event hosted by Baja California’s Secretariat of Tourism. Indigenous communities joined the ceremony to bless her journey, while Kous Kous del Valle filled the air with Moroccan spices and Anatolia Winery poured the first toast to the trail.
“This is more than a walk,” Zelzin said. “It’s a journey through identity, nature, and the strength of women who lead the way.”
Zaida Luz López Sánchez, Secretary of Tourism, called it a milestone. “She embodies the strength and resilience of Mexican women,” she said. “This project will place Baja on the global adventure map.”
Trail, Land, and People
The route snakes through the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, crosses the Peñablanca mountains, and dives into the Sierra Giganta before reaching Los Cabos. She’ll walk through deserts, forests, and sacred indigenous lands — the real Baja, raw and unfiltered.
But this isn’t about glory or fame. Zelzin spent months meeting with local native groups like the Kumeyaay and Pai Pai, asking for permission to cross their lands and discussing how tourism can help them thrive.
“Before opening trails for visitors,” she said, “we must ask locals what they need — water, electricity, opportunities. Locals first, tourists later.”
A Film That Listens
The project is being documented in a feature film titled BST, short for Baja California National Trail. Zelzin directs it herself with filmmaker Julián Velasco, who insists it’s not just about walking — it’s about listening.
“If your documentary doesn’t change you,” Velasco said, “you weren’t really paying attention.”
The film will capture more than landscapes. It will weave together voices from across the peninsula — people, stories, and cultures that make Baja what it is.
The Road Ahead
Zelzin expects the trek to last five or six months, although, as she puts it, “the mountain decides the pace.” Every step will be mapped, filmed, and shared online to inspire support for the trail and the communities it touches.
She’s not chasing records — she’s building a legacy. If she succeeds, Mexico could soon have its first official national trail, a route that combines adventure, culture, and pride.
“This is history in the making,” she said. “If I make it to Los Cabos, we all make it together.”
Some chase sunsets. Zelzin walks straight into them — forty kilometers at a time.
