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Thought I'd give a bit of a write up as it is less complicated than it is made out to be in guide books but still a lot of good to know helps organizing...

I would NOT recommend it if you are very unfit, afraid of heights, a princess or overall not keen on roughing it. I WOULD very much recommend it if you are mostly fit and don't cry over a broken nail. It will be dirty! but fun!

a) to arrange permits, guide and mules you must first go to the office that is along the church wall in San Ignacio. It is a low door into a cellar along the left side (facing the church) wall. Complete price for three days, two night camping permits, mules, guides, donkeys, tip etc it cost us about pesos 3800 plus whatever food you consume.
b) you need to bring your own food/water/tent etc and also feed the guide. The guide likes some brandy as it gets cold in the desert at night - bring some - the shop near the church sells hard liquor :)
c) If you can arrange someone else to drive you up there do so! We had a 4x4 but it was mostly on 4low all the way and the cost of a new shock absorber is not worth it compared to just have someone drive you there. We didn't so you don't NEED to but we wish we had someone tell us that before hand.
d) If you drive to the trailhead yourself be prepared for about 3 hours from san ignacio to the trail start. Leave early! no - even earlier than that . If you arrive too late it just means you miss 3 out of 6 caves and an extra hour of sleep is a low price for more time in the canyon! .....you are not lost! Keep driving down that road no matter how bumpy - ignore turn offs just stay on it. Eventually you will get there. it is 37.5 km from the turn off off the 1 and if you check your trip counter you will realize it is just taking longer - you are not lost ;)
e) After 37.5 km you get to the town where you have to show the permits you bought in town before. After that you meet your guide and drive another 4km to the trail start and place to saddle up the mules. you can park car there and leave - it is safe.
f) Wear long sleeve shirt and trousers - it is cactus land and the mules don't care
g) bring extra clothes : it is cold in the desert
h) once in the canyon and past the camp spot you will hike more after it is not possible to ride mules anymore. SOME OF THAT HIKING IS A BIT TRICKY / BORDERING ON ROCK CLIMBING just so you know.
g) when you see the caves you know it was worth it!!

WOW... some trip

So where are the photos???

I tried to upload some but didn't work - not the most stable internet connection...will try again later :) Was a ton of fun and I really highly recommend it :)

Here are the photo upload instructions if you need any help:

http://www.talkbaja.com/showthread.php?t=1728

thanks...I did all that (pretty straight forward/intuitive) when I wrote the original post but it didn't upload anything just kept grinding its wheels....wifi here would loose against dialup via compuserve of old (I am dating myself terribly here)

let me try again
c

WOW; those are some fantastic photos!

Thank you so much for posting them.

Are there some caves behind those wooden guardrails in the bottom photo?

Fabulous photos - would love to see more if you have them...

Hey, thanks much... you were not kidding about the "climb" one bit... really very interesting

thanks :)

yes the caves you see behind the rails in the last photo are the pinta caves you see in the second picture. Centre top left of the second picture is that funny small rock sticking up that is where the husband is posing in the last picture.

I have a few more

:)

That is so cool.. thanks so much for the pictures.. really amazing to see the art so clearly, almost like one is there.. again.. thank you