Destination overview

Puerto Peñasco is a heavenly bay on the north-west coast of the Sea of Cortez and offers a perfect combination of natural beauty, excellent tourism facilities and well-developed ecological programs. You’ll find vast natural areas like the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and the Gran Desierto de Altar. As well as nature in its entire glorious splendour, you’ll also find recreational activities, including sand boarding, mountain climbing and hunting.

The bay area also allows tourists to try diverse aquatic sports, such as scuba diving and fishing at such places as Isla San Jorge. Off the coast of this rocky island you can spy a wide array of marine species, including sea lions, dolphins and harbour porpoises. If you’d like to explore the surrounding areas, from Puerto Peñasco you can head out to the Caborca, Atil and Pitiquito missions and visit other missions founded by legendary Friar Eusebio Kino.

Located just over an hour’s drive from the United States border, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) is a Mexican fishing town that caters to an ever-growing audience of beach-starved Arizona residents. The resort destination is somewhat reinventing itself, trying to recast its image as more than just a hangout for the RV and camper crowd. It now lures more and more resort-oriented holiday-makers, with most visitors arriving by private cars, entering through the Mexican city of Sonoita (opposite Lukeville, Arizona).

Since Puerto Peñasco is within Sonora’s ‘free trade zone’, visitors do not need to comply with vehicle importation requirements, nor is a proof of citizenship/tourist card required, but it’s always a good idea to carry proof of citizenship anyway.

The city has a population of approximately 30,000 residents, although it seems smaller. This is partly due to its sprawling layout and the area’s rather distinct visitor and residential districts. The original settlement dates back to the 1920s when the town was American enclaves - listed from south to north - Playa Hermosa, Playa Bonita, Sandy Beach and Cholla Bay. Backing Sandy Beach is a series of large sand dunes buzzing with dune buggies during the high season winter months and summer weekends.

Puerto Peñasco is located just 66 miles south of the United States border on the north end of the Sea of Cortez. From Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona, the 210-mile drive takes approximately four hours. Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) started as a fishing village in the 1930s and gradually developed into one of the shrimp producing areas in the Sea of Cortez. During the Prohibition era in the US, an enterprising businessman, Johnny Stone visited Puerto Peñasco and realised the potential of this village to attract wealthy Americans to holiday and fish. Stone built the town's first hotel, drilled a well, and opened for business.

Al Capone, who was among his clientele, brought friends along to enjoy the climate, drink, gamble and deep-sea fish. But it was not until years later that it became more mainstream and popular when it was slowly discovered by Americans as an alternative holiday destination.

Puerto Peñasco is surrounded by the Sonora Desert on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other. Unique ocean conditions in this town create extreme tides of up to 23 feet between high and low tides and this also produces a unique marine life. Swimming in the area is very safe and emulates lake conditions with no rip tides and very calm water unless it is windy. You can watch the sun rise and the sun set on the same ocean horizon.

There are many places to visit while in Puerto Peñasco, such as the Pinacate Mountains, the geographic condition of which was ideal for NASA's training for the Lunar mission due to its similarity to the moon's surface. San Jorge Island and its sea wolves, the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (a 55-foot long whale skeleton is near the entrance of the facility), and the sand dunes of the Altar Desert are all worth visiting while you’re there.

Puerto Peñasco is sunny almost year-round with practically no rainfall and offers many sporting events including sailing, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing and car and motorcycle racing, just to name a few. And, most sporting equipment can be rented, so there’s no need to take your own.

While you’re there, try and find time to go off-road driving. You can hire all-terrain vehicles, quad bikes, dune buggies and extreme golf carts in the town. You won’t be sorry when you discover the miles and miles of sand dunes to enjoy.

Horse riding is another favourite, especially along Sandy Beach. And, don’t leave without going on a banana boat ride. You can go as fast or slow as you like, but the fun aspect will stay with you long after you reach land.

Golf is another popular past-time in Puerto Peñasco, with the Las Palomas Golf Resort and the Mayan Palace both offering 18 holes.

The Cet-Mar Aquarium is a great place for the entire family. Here you can feed sea lions and sea turtles and get up close and personal with octopus, sea horses and various other fish species.

And be sure to take a sunset cruise. The views are simply breathtaking.

Puerto Peñasco offers everything from relaxing with a cold margarita on a magnificent cruise, to shopping in the Mercado, or along the local stands near Cholla Bay. Enjoy the fresh catch of the day from the fish market or dine in one of the many fine restaurants with a range of cuisines.

Whatever you decide to do while you’re there, this little pocket of paradise will stay with you long after you’ve left it.