What to see
La Ramona, the tall brick chimney built in 1890 by the El Progreso mining company, is the landmark you see from the highway; a local story says Gustave Eiffel had a hand in it, which nobody has proved. Around it are the ruins of the smelters and company buildings, plus a second chimney and old mine tunnels. The town was the first in the region to get electricity and telephones, and pianos arrived with the mine managers, which is why El Triunfo has a small music museum dedicated to them.
Walk the few streets, look into the church, and have a coffee or a meal in town. San Antonio, a few minutes east on Highway 1, is another old mining village with a pretty church and plaza; it takes 20 minutes to see and is worth the stop.
Getting there
El Triunfo sits on Highway 1 in the mountains about 45 km south of La Paz. From Villa 1 there are two routes: north on Highway 19 through Todos Santos, then across to Highway 1; or the slower, prettier Highway 1 up the east side through Santiago and Los Barriles. Either way, allow roughly two to 2.5 hours each way, and make it a loop if you have a full day.
It is an easy add-on to a La Paz day trip if you are driving yourself (car rental is covered in our getting around guide).
Tours from Cabo
Cabo Adventures runs a five-hour 'El Triunfo and the Tropic of Cancer' route that stops at the Tropic of Cancer monument, Los Barriles and the spring-fed village of San Bartolo, with a walking tour of El Triunfo, a museum entry and a regional lunch. It accepts children from age 5 and does not publish a price, so ask when booking.
Cabo Trek has a private El Triunfo Family Tour at USD 599 for up to four people (USD 85 for each extra person), about nine hours from 8 AM, including a stop at a dam and a breakfast ranch with animals for kids. Lunch is extra. Prices checked September 2026.
Tips
Mornings are best: the mountains are cooler, and museums and cafés in small towns can close early or on some weekdays. Wear shoes you can walk on uneven stone in, carry pesos, and do not enter mine tunnels or ruins that are fenced off. This suits history lovers, photographers and families with curious kids more than anyone looking for action; for that, try the UTV tours. If you want another old-Baja town on a different day, Todos Santos is closer.
