Puerto Peñasco began as a small, quaint
fishing village on the Sea of Cortez. Today, although offering every modern
convenience, it still retains much of the traditional charm and culture of
those early days. The Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of California, has long been
known for its deep blue waters and white sand beaches. The resort regions
are easily accessed via modern, divided highways from both Arizona and
Southern California.
Puerto Peñasco is just 60 miles southwest of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is approximately a 3½ hour drive from Tucson or
Phoenix. No car permit or visas are necessary, as Rocky
Point is located is considered a ¨Free Zone¨. The weather offers typically warm temperatures
and clear skies, especially in the evening. The climate is more moderate
than Arizona, being slightly cooler in the summer and slightly warmer in
the winter.
Rocky Point started as a fishing village in
the 1930's and gradually developed into one of the largest shrimp
producing areas in the Sea of Cortez. During the Prohibition era in the
U.S., an enterprising
businessman, Johnny Stone, visited Puerto Peñasco
(Rocky Point). Realizing the potential of this village to attract
wealthy Americans to vacation 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 when it was slowly discovered by
some Americans as an alternative for retirement and vacation. Rocky Point
is surrounded by the Sonoran 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 ft. between high and low, and this also produces a unique marine
life.
Swimming in the area is very safe and
emulates lake conditions with no rip tides and a very calm water. You can
watch the sunrise and the sunset on the same ocean horizon. There are many
places to visit while in Rocky Point, such as the Pinacate Mountains,
which geographic condition 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.
Rocky Point is sunny almost year-round with
practically no rainfall. Rocky Point offers many sporting events
including sailing, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and
automobile and motorcycle racing just to name a few. There are
as well rentals on most sporting equipment.
Rocky Point offers everything from relaxing
with a cold margarita on a magnificent sunset cruise, to shopping in the mercado, or along the local stands near Cholla Bay. Fresh catch of the
day can be purchased and fleeted for you at the fish market. Summer and winter alike,
let the seasons be your inspiration. Puerto Peñasco has a whole orchestra
of amenities to offer you a real symphony of pleasure. Come as a family,
with a group, alone, or as a couple and get a taste of Mexico at it's
finest.
Puerto Peñasco (Rocky
Point) offers the exotic charms of a foreign locale within easy traveling
distance of many U.S. locations. Nestled between the Sea of Cortez
and the desert landscape of El Desierto de Altar, Rocky Point provides
easy access to all the amenities of the region. The people are friendly
and many speak great English, so communication is generally not a problem.
The beautiful beaches stretch for 100 kilometers along the surrounding
coastline. Among the most notable is Playa Arenosa (Sandy Beach) - Sonoran
Spa's own beach. The warm, sunny climate and the
abundance of ocean wildlife add to the appeal of this seaside retreat.
Swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, water skiing, parasailing, and other
water sports can be enjoyed virtually all year long, not to mention the
wonderful fishing, clamming and oyster beds!
You can dine in
one of the many restaurants available in Puerto Peñasco - and all minutes
from the Sonoran Spa Resort. These range in style from quaint Mexican style
cantinas to eating establishments so Americanized they actually import
some of their ingredients.
"Shop till you
drop" takes on a whole new perspective in the Old Port area of Rocky
Point, offering sights, sounds and bargains to be savored. You'll find
everything from open-air stands with T-shirts, jewelry and other wares, to
upscale boutiques featuring fine art, local craftsmanship, clothing, and
furnishings from rustic to elegant.
Weather: Rocky Point enjoys
mild winters and warm summers with sparkling ocean waters and cool breezes
to match. The average sea temperatures are very close to the outside air.
The winter months bring some rainfall to this desert area, as do the
“monsoon” months of late summer.
Tides: This northern region
of the Gulf of California experiences one of the greatest tidal shifts in
the world. Twice a day, the ocean will rise and fall as much as 24
vertical feet. The entire area around Rocky Point has been of scientific
interest for marine biologists for years. This extreme tidal shift makes
for excellent tide pooling as many of the beach areas reveal large tide
pools at low tide.