Puerto Peñasco, in the Sonoran sector of the Sea of Cortez, is a charming beach tourism destination in full swing and if you don't know it, you should do it very soon. With this complete guide you will not miss anything.
1. Where is Puerto Peñasco located and how do I get there?
Puerto Peñasco, or simply Peñasco, is the head city of the Sonoran municipality of the same name, located in front of the Gulf of California, bordering both the Sea of Cortez and Arizona, United States.
The other municipal limits are with the Sonoran municipalities of San Luis Río Colorado, General Plutarco Elías Calles and Caborca.
The city of Sonoyta, on the border with the United States, is located 97 km northeast of the Magic Town, while the Arizona city of Yuma is located 180 km to the northwest. Mexicali is 301 km away and San Diego (California, USA) is 308 km away.
2. What is the history of the place?
In the year 1826, Robert William Hale Hardy, lieutenant of the British Royal Navy, was navigating the place in search of gold and pearls and was struck by a promontory, the current Cerro de la Ballena, calling the site Rocky Point, English name that inspired the Spanish of Puerto Peñasco.
At the end of the 1920s a casino was built for players who had their entertainment prohibited in the United States, initiating a stream of visitors and residents from the north.
The municipality was created in 1952 and the tourist expansion began in the 1990s, currently Peñasco is a place of rest and residence for both Mexicans and people from the United States.
3. What type of climate does Peñasco have?
The climate of Peñasco is typical of the northern Mexican deserts, hot and dry in summer and cool and dry in winter.
The months from July to September are the hottest, with the thermometer averaging close to 28 ° C and specific temperatures of the order of 34 ° C.
In November it begins to cool and in January it is 12.4 ° C, with night colds that can reach 6 ° C. In that area of Mexico it practically does not rain, falling only 76 mm of water per year.
4. What are the great attractions of Puerto Peñasco?
Your visit to Peñasco can begin with a tour of the Malecón Fundadores, to tune your body with the sea breeze, before starting the busy program of activities.
In the Sonoran city there are beaches with clear and calm waters with all the service infrastructure of a first-class tourist destination.
The Cerro de la Ballena is the topographic symbol of the Magic Town and the nearby Isla de San Jorge is a temple for underwater sports and for the observation of biodiversity.
The Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans and the CET-MAR Aquarium are two places that combine entertaining entertainment and environmental awareness.
The Gran Desierto de Altar, with El Elegant Crater and the Schuk Toak Visitor Center, offer breathtaking landscapes and interesting teachings about the Mexican habitats of the northern deserts.
In Peñasco you can practice your favorite sport, such as fishing, diving, swimming, walking and competing in all-terrain vehicles, flying in ultralight and playing golf.
5. What can I do on the Malecón Fundadores?
The boardwalk Fundadores de Puerto Peñasco is the main tourist corridor of the city, harmoniously integrating attractions of cultural interest with places for relaxation and fun.
In its almost half kilometer in length you will find places where you can have a coffee or a drink and enjoy a dish or a snack of Sonoran cuisine with the fresh breeze from the Sea of Cortez caressing your face.
On the boardwalk you can admire the emblematic El Camaronero Monument, a picturesque sculpture in which a fisherman in a wide-brimmed hat is sitting on a huge shrimp.
6. What are the best beaches in Peñasco?
The American Union state of Arizona has no sea coast, but the Mexican city of Puerto Peñasco is so close that it is called "Arizona Beach."
The municipality of Puerto Peñasco has 110 km of beaches for all tastes, which since they began to develop with adequate infrastructure, have made the enclave one of the fastest growing tourist destinations.
Las Conchas Beach, with fine sand and clear waters, is located in front of an exclusive residential area. Sandy Beach has calm waters, ideal for the whole family. Playa Mirador is near the port with its transparent waters and a privileged view. Playa Hermosa lives up to its name.
7. Where is Cerro de la Ballena?
This peñasco hill located in front of the coast between the Puerto Viejo and El Mirador colonies, is the natural sentinel of the city.
From Colonia El Mirador it can be accessed through Calle Mariano Matamoros, while another route is by an extension of Boulevard Benito Juárez, near the north end of the boardwalk.
The hill continues to offer magnificent views of Puerto Peñasco, although the panorama was partially ruined with the construction of a hotel that obstructs part of the visibility.
On the hill there is a 110 meter high lighthouse to guide navigation through that sector of the Sea of Cortez.
8. What is the attraction of the Island of San Jorge?
This rocky archipelago is located in the Sea of Cortez, between the Sonoran cities of Puerto Peñasco and Caborca, a short distance from the coast, and has two tourist aspects.
It is a paradise for marine sports such as diving, snorkeling and sports weight; and it constitutes a wonderful reserve of biodiversity, very attractive for lovers of observing natural life.
The largest colony of sea lions in the region lives in San Jorge and is the habitat of other striking species, such as the American tern, the brown booby, the Mexican fishing bat and the vaquita porpoise, a cetacean at risk of extinction.
9. What is there to see at the Intercultural Center for Desert and Ocean Studies?
Just 3 km from the center of Puerto Peñasco, in Las Conchas, is this research institution, dedicated to the study of the deserts and seas of northern Mexico on the Pacific side.
The project began in the 1970s, when marine biologists at the University of Arizona began experimenting with shrimp aquaculture.
Today, the CEDO exhibits a huge whale skeleton and a wide collection of mammal and seabird bones.
The sample also includes species of desert flora. The center offers excursions to ecological places of interest on land and sea.
10. What is the interest of the CET-MAR Aquarium?
This aquarium managed by the Center for Technological Studies of the Sea (CET-MAR) is located on the beach of the town of Las Conchas and fulfills the double function of exhibiting the most interesting marine species in the region, educating about their preservation.
In the large aquariums in the center there are manta rays, squids, oysters, seahorses, urchins, stars, sea cucumbers and other species.
In the interactive section you can come into contact with turtles, sea lions and other specimens. They also have a hatchery for loggerhead turtles, which are released periodically.
They open from 10 AM to 2:30 PM (weekends until 6 PM), charging a small fee.
11. What attractions does the Great Altar Desert have?
This Biosphere Reserve, also called El Pinacate, is located 52 km northwest of Puerto Peñasco, very close to the border with the state of Arizona, United States.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013 and with its 7,142 square kilometers of surface, it is more extensive than several Mexican states.
The desert landscapes of the great park are breathtaking and it is one of the natural formations in the north of the continent with the greatest visibility from space.
It is home to interesting species, some endemic, including vascular plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
12. How is El Elegant Crater?
One of the main attractions of the Gran Desierto de Altar is the volcanic crater El Elegant, located in the Cerro del Pinacate or Santa Clara Volcano, the highest altitude area of the desert.
The crater, 1,500 meters in diameter and 250 meters deep, was formed 32,000 years ago by a volcanic explosion that generated a cone that later collapsed, leaving high rocky walls surrounding a huge hole. Several thousand years ago it housed an extinct lake.
During the period 1965 - 1970, it was a training place for NASA astronauts who were preparing to land on the moon, given the great similarity of its places with those of the Moon.
13. What does the Schuk Toak Visitor Center offer?
The Schuk Toak Visitor Center (Sacred Mountain in Pápago language) was built on a lava surface of the Pinacate and is the best place to admire the majesty of the volcanic summit of Santa Clara, the rocky cliffs of the Sierra Blanca and the dunes of the surroundings.
It is 25 minutes by car from Peñasco on the road that goes to Sonoyta. The Sonoran Desert Tours operator offers rides through the hardened lava rivers of Schuk Toak, reaching the El Elegant Crater.
There is an interesting night tour called Night of the Stars, with explanations about the constellations visible in the sky.
14. Where can I practice sport fishing?
The waters of the Sea of Cortez in front of Puerto Peñasco are rich in marine fauna, so sport fishing enthusiasts will find themselves in their element in the Magic Town of Sonora.
The offshore areas in front of Las Conchas and La Choya are populated by species such as corvina, sole and dogfish.
In the surroundings of the Island of San Jorge you can fish a dorado, a cabrilla, a marlin or a swordfish. However, your consecration as a fisherman would come if you manage to catch a huge fish that the locals call "pescada"
15. Where can I enjoy an ATV?
Due to its topography and desert environment, Puerto Peñasco is an ideal destination for you to travel with your all-terrain vehicle or rent one in the city.
It is common to see these high suspension cars on the avenues and streets that are the pride of the boys and girls who drive them.
There are some defined sectors for informal and official competitions with ATVs; one of the most popular is La Loma, located on the road to La Cholla.
On the road to Sonoyta, 5 km from Peñasco, is Pista Patos, a 5 km circuit for ATV competitions. At various points in the city you can rent an all-terrain vehicle.
16. Where can I board an ultralight?
If the land, the sea and the observation of the sky do not leave you totally satisfied, you can take a ride in an ultralight, which will allow you to have the most spectacular views of Puerto Peñasco, flying over the city, the boardwalk, the beaches, the Cerro de the Whale, the Island of San Jorge, the Sea of Cortez and part of the Sonoran desert.
From the heights you can take photos and videos with which you will astonish your friends on social networks, while you delight in the landscape and fill your lungs with fresh air. You will find the ultralight service in the El Reef area.
17. What is the local cuisine like?
The sun, the salt water and the water and land sports whet your appetite and in Peñasco you can satisfy it with fresh sea food, although if you fancy your dishes of fast food or from other kitchens, you will have no problem.
On the west coast of Mexico, the zarandeado fish is very popular, which is roasted in charcoal wrapped in banana leaves, which gives it an exquisite flavor and aroma.
The locals like to eat a stingray fillet with pasilla chili and other ingredients, a dish they call "caguamanta."
Another local delicacy is shrimp wrapped in bacon and au gratin with cheese. The most popular liquid accompaniments are ice cold beer and wines from nearby Baja California.
18. What are the main festive events in Peñasco?
The city's carnival, which is celebrated under the motto "Viva Peñasco", is one of the most colorful and popular in the north of the country, with its comparsas, floats, costumes, batucadas and musical bands.
Puerto Peñasco is the venue for the International Cervantino Festival, a prestigious artistic and cultural event that is normally held in October.
The Marina Fair takes place around June 1, the day of the Mexican Navy; It begins with the election of the queen and continues with a rich program of events.
The International Jazz Festival takes place between the end of March and the beginning of April, bringing together great bands and national and international performers.
19. Where can I stay?
Peñasco's hotel offer is wide and for all portfolios. If you want to stay in style, at Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort, located on the Costero Boulevard, it has magnificent facilities, including a golf course.
At the Hotel Peñasco del Sol, on Paseo Las Glorias, you will have a beautiful ocean view from its spacious rooms.
Mayan Palace is a beautiful accommodation located at km 24 of the road to Caborca; with comfortable rooms and kitchens for those who like to prepare their food.
Other excellent accommodation options in Peñasco are Sonora Sun Resort, Hotel Playa Bonita, Las Palmas, Villas Casa Blanca and Hotel Paraíso del Desierto.
20. What are the best restaurants?
Chef Mickey’s Place is lauded for its seafood, especially the shrimp with dates and the walnut salmon.
Kaffee Haus is almost always full of people waiting for your apple strudel and cakes; The wait is worth it.
Pollo Lucas, on Bulevar Benito Juárez, is a steakhouse where you can eat chicken and meat at good prices. Blue Marlin serves fish, seafood, and Mexican food with excellent service.
La Curva is a restaurant and sports bar distinguished by its generous portions of meat and seafood; the nachos are highly praised and it is a good place to watch football.
Other options to eat well in Peñasco are Pane Vino, Max’s Café and Mare Blue.
21. What if I want to go to clubs and bars?
Elixir Bar - Lounge, located on Avenida Durango 20, is a place with a sophisticated atmosphere that has a pleasant terrace for dancing.
The Bar Guau Guau, on Calle Emiliano Zapata, is a magnificent place to share with friends between drinks and snacks.
Bryan’s Sports Bar, located on Freemont Boulevard, is a bar with many screens, good draft beer and excellent national and American snacks.
Chango’s Bar, located on the Paseo de las Olas, is an informal place, ideal to have a relaxed drink and enjoy the various dishes that come out of the kitchen.
Are you already looking forward to leaving for the Gulf of California to enjoy the countless pleasures of Puerto Peñasco?
We hope that your trip to the Magic Town of Sonora is full of wonderful experiences and that you can tell us some when you return. See you very soon again for another tour of a charming Mexican resort town.
