Visit Rocky Point

Puerto Penasco is a small fishing village located on the Sea of Cortes in Mexico. Commonly referred to by American visitors as Rocky Point, this small fishing town has blossomed into a popular modern day vacation destination. 

Rocky Point is a little over 60 miles from the USA border which makes the seaside city a popular drive to destination by visitors from the USA. Residents of Phoenix, Arizona can drive to Puerto Penasco, Mexico in as little as 3 and a half hours. Rocky Point is often called "Arizona’s beach" because it is close in proximity in Arizona and easy to get to rather quickly.

When traveling to Rocky Point, Mexico you will find all the accommodations that you need to make your vacation on the white Sandy beaches one you and your family will cherish. Rocky Point hotels were the first accommodations on the scene in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. 

HISTORY

Rocky Point is recognized as one of the youngest cities of the state of Sonora. It was formed in 1928, officially, but certain towns were already recognized because of the activity of the local mine and the miners who worked there. In the search for precious metals, an American official came and denominate the area as “Rocky Point” (around the early 1940s). It was declared a commissariat city and it was the main area of economic activity of the surrounding fishing region thanks to the marine life of the coasts of the Gulf of California. It is also important to mention that a large part of the development for the region can be attributed to the construction of the train that connected Baja California with Sonora and the rest of the country, until 1950 when Rocky Point converted to a municipality.

One of the legends that exists about the popular port, is the story that Rocky Point served as a place of refuge for American gangster Al Capone, in the 20s.

The Port (The City)
The oldest part of Rocky Point was inhabited by the first residents who at that time only referred to it as Rocky Point, this was around the year 1922 when residents from Arizona came to distribute the fish they caught. Rocky Point started to become founded around Whale Hill, what is known today as Puerto Viejo (Old Port)

Since it’s founding Rocky Point has been a popular place for vacationers from Arizona, Nevada, California and recently the neighboring states of Chihuahua and Baja California.

The population of the port in the year 1937 was relative to the era of fishing and it didn’t even have 100 people, but when they constructed the train the population began to grow rapidly and in 1965 there was approximately 5000 people.

As it was mentioned before Puerto Peñasco, or Rocky Point as the people from the United States call it, has become a home for thousands of families who come more than 1 time a year to enjoy the beautiful beaches and the ocean.

With the money from tourism the Port grew in the services that it offered in order to tend to the needs of the many people who were visiting. The first hotels, such as RV parks, were of crucial importance to the growth of Rocky Point from the mid 20’s all the way through the 80’s.

Rocky Point has continued to grow in areas where there are activities and attractions for the tourists. There are different beaches that are now recognized and provide for great places to go on vacation. Some of the beaches in Rocky Point are: Las Conchas, El Mirador, Playa Hermosa, Playa Encanto, La Cholla, with the most popular of them all being Sandy Beach. In the early 1990s, many development projects were started with a direct focus on tourism and real estate. The area that is now recognized as Sandy Beach had several developments constructed, one after the other, and these are now part of the several things that are offered to tourists.

Some of the most important developments that sustain the majority of the tourism in Rocky Point are: Playa Bonita Resort, Princesa de Peñasco, Las Palomas Beach and Golf Resort, Sonoran Resorts, Marina Pinacate Resort, just to mention a few.

Puerto Peñasco as a city has maintained a stable growth. Actually, there are new commercial services like supermarkets from national chains who apart from the general employees it also benefits the tourism and the locals. Puerto Viejo who is home to Mercada de Mariscos, are fundamental parts of the port that provide for attraction not only for the locals but also for the visitors.

It’s Name “Puerto Peñasco” or “Rocky Point”
The port is recognized with 2 names, Rocky Point in English and Puerto Peñasco in Spanish. Roberto William Hale Hardy, a 1982 retiree from the Great Britian Marine, navigated through the port in search of precious metals and pearls and he gave it the name that we now call it in English, Rocky Point until General Lázaro Cárdenas changed it to Puerto Peñasco, or Port Rocky Point. For simple pronunciation in different languages they eliminated the word “Port”. 

SERVICES

Health
Accidents and emergencies can present themselves at any moment, in Rocky Point you can count on the necessary services to accommodate any inconvenience.

Sandy Beach Urgent Care, located on Paseo Las Dunas Edificio Acrópolis (638) 388 76 76

San Jose Urgent Care located on Blvd. Benito Juárez Y Guillermo Prieto (638) 383 51 21 / (638) 383 15 21

Mexican Red Cross located on Blvd. Fremont #94 Col. El Mirador 3832266

Santa Maria Clinic, in Niños Heroes #37 in between Simón Morúa y Aquiles Serdán (638) 383-2440

Urban Health Center (638) 388-9069
General Hospital (638) 102-0423 Rio Suchiate Col. Brisas del Golfo

Mexican Social Security Institute (638) 383-2777 Juan de la Barrera y Nicolás Bravo

In the case that the emergency would require transportation to a clinic in the United States the telephones of the air evacuation are AirEvac, Inc., 602-244-9327and transportation via ambulance is Ajo Ambulante, Inc, 520-387-5154

Transportation
In Rocky Point there are tons of cab drivers available for you 24/7.

Remember that all the vehicles being used in Mexico should have Mexican insurance because American insurance is not valid.

The international Airport of the Sea of Cortes is one of the latest projects in Rocky Point that benefits the growth of the city as a potential tourist destination. With a project that started in 2005 the Mayan Group Resorts with the idea in mind to be able to receive commercial airplanes with a maximum capacity of a Boeing 757, made efforts with the Government of the Sonoran state to bring together the project that finally got started in November 2009 through president Felipe Calderon.

Activities
In Rocky Point there are a variety of activities offered for people of all ages and interests. If you come for vacation with the family, you come with friends or you are looking for a romantic escape with your spouse, you can enjoy the attractions that the city has to offer you.

Beach
Is it true that some of the greatest planners are those who don’t plan? Well if this is your case you will still have a wonderful time spending time in the beaches of Rocky Point. You will find activities such as banana boats, jet skis, kite surfing, kayaks and sailing and snorkeling. Several of the hotels offer their guests the equipment for these activities and they are free of charge.

The Land
Who doesn’t love to feel the adrenaline rush when they are on a four wheeler? Rocky Point is well known for its enormous sand dunes and its huge expanses of dirt where you can make your ATV adventure enjoyable.

ATV’s are permitted as a form of transportation within the city as long as the laws of transportation are respected and only you use the vehicle. We recommend you go to “La Loma” located in the walk to Cholla Bay and here you can rent the 4x4 off-road vehicles and they have many different choices for the family.

There are several places where you can rent an ATV, with prices varying from $30-$50 an hour, depending on the type of vehicle that you want to use. Remember to have your drivers license, which they will request in order to do the rental.

Also take into account that the use of ATV’s is not permitted on the beaches and here are some tips so your ride is always safe and responsible:
- Always use a helmet when you are riding an ATV - The maximum is 2 people on the vehicle
- People who are younger than 16 can not drive
- Don’t drink and drive
- We recommend that you stay away from the main streets which are: Fremont Blvd., Benito Juarez Blvd., and Puerto Viejo.

Scuba Diving
Is exploring the depths of the Sea of Cortes on your list? Scuba diving is saved for the most adventurous people and in Rocky Point it is possible. There are several companies that offer safe scuba diving excursions but as in all places, you are required to be a certified diver to participate in these activities.

Either way, there is plenty of online material that can describe and present the incredible waters of the Gulf of California. You can’t miss this opportunity to see the “Aquarium of the World”, the name that the explored Jacques Costaeu gave it.

Eco-Tourism
For the people who enjoy the environment, Puerto Peñasco offers unique activities to explore the area with guided tours to the Pinacate Biosphere, the Grand Altar Desert and the fauna of the Sea of Cortes. There are several companies dedicated to the tours and we recommend that you use them so that you can be more acquainted with the marvels that Rocky Point has to offer for you.

In continuation We leave you with a list of activities that you cannot miss. The majority of the tours operate from the CEDO (Centro de Estudios de Desiertos y Oceanos):

Discovering the Pools: Informative tour that takes you through the northern part of the Gulf of California where you explore the reefs and the rocks.

Kayak in Estero Morua: With a simple trip in the Kayak, you can access places that cannot be accessed in any other way.

Trip to the Island of San Jorge: In the trip to the island you see a colony of sea lions, dolphins and other species of marine animals such as native birds to the region. You can also do scuba diving, snorkeling, and bird watching.

Sckuk Toak (Sacred Mountain): It’s a touristic location that opened its doors in 2009, and offers information on how the Pinacate Biosphere is managed. You can also visit the crater “El Elegante”, thru the Visit Center Access, at El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve you can practice activities such as camping, hiking, mountain biking and others.

Air
Who has not dreamed about flying? Rocky Point can make your dreams a reality by allowing you to enjoy the city from another point of view by going on a motorized glider. You can fly over the beaches of Sandy Beach and make your own memories with unique photographs and video. These services are found in the area that is known as “The Reef.”

The vacations are so you don’t have to worry and have some time relaxing, but it is also important to take into account the advice we give on activities safety. If you need more information over a certain activity, don’t hesitate to contact us.