"It's a desert jungle :-)" Top 5 Page for this destination Saguaro National Park by matcrazy1

Saguaro National Park Travel Guide: 194 reviews and 409 photos

GIANT SAGUARO CACTI - Saguaro National Park

Welcome to world's cacti kingdom!

Saguaro National Park was the first of many National Parks I visited during my 38 days in the USA and it was a blast! It's a desert but in contrast to sandy Sahara, it's rather desert jungle full of life!

It's an under-rated must see in Arizona, I think. Why? Haha, there are over 100 reasons, just a few attractions:
- eating cacti in new Cactus Restaurant (50% off for VT members and everything FREE in rainy/snowy days :-)
- the world's largest number of cacti species,
- the world's oldest living thing (12,000 years!)
- 4-story tall saguaro cacti,
- the most drought tolerant plant (2 years with NO water).

.

They are blooming :-)

BLOOMING CACTUS (IN YELLOW :-)

Cacti bloom mainly in May and July but some species used to bloom just in the middle of April when I was lucky to be there.

My itinerary

MAP OF MY ITINERARY YUMA - NOGALES

Look at the map of my itinerary in southern Arizona:
1 - Yuma - click here
2 - Tacna - click here
3 - Stanfield - click here
4 - Marana - click here
5 - Saguaro National Park
6 - Tucson - click here
7 - Nogales (sleeping :-) - click here

Wow, it was really busy day, better reserve at least 2 days for this itinerary if you want to survive and to visit more especially :-)

Pros and Cons

Pros:Cacti, strange plants and rare animals, restaurant :-)
Cons:Heat (May - October)
In a nutshell:Welcome to desert jungle!

Last visit to Saguaro National Park: Apr 2003
Intro Updated Sep 27, 2003
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Reviews (117)

MEET THE CHIEF :-))) - Saguaro National Park

I'd open Cactus Restaurant there :-) Restaurants (2)

As there are no restaurants there, what about opening matcrazy1 Cactus Restaurant there? My pre-business plan... more travel advice

URSULA IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK :-) - Saguaro National Park

Hiking, bicycling and horseback riding Sports & Outdoors (1)

Hiking is the most popular and the cheapest sport activity in Saguaro National Park. There are a lot of hiking trails on... more travel advice

MY FAVOURITE CACTUS :-) - Saguaro National Park

They don't sell giant saguaros :-( Shopping (4)

There is a cactus store in front of Red Hills Visitor Center. Even if you have a big truck don't try to buy a giant... more travel advice

UP AND DOWN AND UP :-) - Saguaro National Park

Up and down Transportation (16)

Some roads inside Saguaro National Park are hilly (is it correct word? he?, deepy??) = you drive up and down as you can... more travel advice

Things to Do (20)
See All Art?
Off The Beaten Path (10)
See All Sus Picnic Area
Warnings Or Dangers (20)
See All Don't buy a cactus
Local Customs (25)
See All Look at cacti or... buy them
Tourist Traps (3)
See All They close too early!

Favorites (12)
See All Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM)
What to Pack (2)
See All Shoes
Hotels (1)
No accommodations there
Nightlife (1)
Desert nightlife
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Travelogues (5)

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Comments (69)

travelgourmet Aug 27, 2011 at 3:36 PM Report Abuse

Once, a long, long, long time ago when I was a student at the U of A in Tucson, I drove the roads of the Saguaro National Park and it was lonely, so I drove the straightaways at 120 mph. Now, that was not MatCrazy but just plain crazy. Today, I could do maybe 165 mph, lol. ;-)
Diana75 Feb 18, 2007 at 1:14 PM Report Abuse

Approval signed! I'll grant you the loan for the restaurant :) Great page, Maciek. Thanks for the interesting information about the cacti. I'd love to visit the park.
evaanna Jan 7, 2007 at 4:38 AM Report Abuse

A great place for studying the lives and habits of the numerous kinds of cacti. Not that I would be particularly keen on touching them after reading your warning tips. Wonderful page with many useful tips.
Cristian_Uluru Nov 10, 2006 at 11:01 AM Report Abuse

I'll put this park on my trip programme in Arizona and Utah. It is very interesting!!! Very good photos of cacti
Trekki Nov 9, 2006 at 11:48 PM Report Abuse

What a lovely tribute to these special cacti out there :-)) I was there as well and loved it ! And I like your idea with the restaurant :-))
JLBG Mar 11, 2006 at 9:55 PM Report Abuse

The dolls look like copies for tourist of traditionnal Kashina dolls used for religious purposes. I am not convinced for the most drought tolerant, neither the oldest plant, haha! They always like to have world records!
roamer61 Feb 12, 2006 at 5:01 AM Report Abuse

Comprehensive page on the park Matt. I may be out that aways this Spring.
Yaqui Aug 29, 2005 at 8:05 PM Report Abuse

Isn't this place amazing? How lucky you are to be able to see such a beautiful wonder up close. Gosh, this is a great page and I throughly enjoyed it! Thanks!!
deecat Apr 28, 2005 at 4:29 PM Report Abuse

This was like taking a Botany class in college & learning everything about cactus. Lots of grand tips for people who visit our National parks. I agree about all the hidden fees when renting cars . Like your little bits of humor here and there, too.
JetlagCity Apr 26, 2005 at 10:23 AM Report Abuse

A great page! I'm a big cactus fan - it's a real treat to see them in bloom : ) Absolutely amazing about how old those creosote bushes are!