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About Rocky Point:
Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) info
Puerto Peñasco is a small city within the municipality of the
same name, lying in the northwestern part of the state of Sonora, Mexico.
Located on the shore of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of
Cortés), the town is known for its fishing and tourism industries. Puerto
Peñasco is alternatively known among many of its English-speaking visitors as
Rocky Point, although the translation of the name is actually Rocky Port.
Geography
The city had a 2005 census population of 44,647 inhabitants. The municipality is
quite large in geographical extent, and is very sparsely populated outside the
city, with an area of 9,774.45 km² (3,773.94 sq mi). The municipality borders
the other thinly-populated state municipalities of San Luis R.C., Sonora,
Sonoyta, Sonora, and Caborca, Sonora, as well as Yuma County, Arizona in the
United States.
The area features wide variations between high and low tides. With the shallowly
sloping sea bed, this can lead to dramatic changes in the waterline twice a day.
At the eastern beaches, this reveals a rocky reef with abundant sea life.
Demographics
The municipality has a total population of 44,875 (2005); that is, 99.49 percent
of the municipality's inhabitants live in the city of Puerto Peñasco, and almost
no one lives in its Sonoran Desert hinterland.
Puerto Peñasco is a popular destination for tourists, particularly those that
reside in the U.S. state of Arizona since it contains the nearest beaches. It is
also a popular Spring Break destination with students from Arizona, New Mexico,
and California. Puerto Peñasco is located in the 'free zone' where tourists are
not required currently to obtain immigration papers in order to visit. However
U.S. Border Patrol agents advise that as of June 2009 a passport will be
required to re-enter the United States. [As of October 2008, U.S. citizens are
required to show proof of citizenship (e.g., state issued photo ID and U.S.
birth certificate).]
Puerto Peñasco is also slated for upcoming marina and other boat-related
developments as part of the country's 'Escalera Nautica' efforts, which call for
a chain of 'tourist-class' marinas sprinkled up and down the Baja coast in an
effort to promote nautical tourism. Puerto Peñasco has two main beach areas. To
the west of the Old Port area, there is a wide, flat area known as Sandy Beach.
This is the home to several large hotel/resorts, and more are under
construction. East of Puerto Peñasco, there is a long coast with several areas,
known in parts as La Mirador, Playa del Oro, Las Conchas, and Playa Encanto, an
area of beachfront and near-beach condos, homes and timeshares.
Places of Interest
- There is a statue of Benito Juarez in a plaza near the beaches.
- There are at least two SCUBA diving operations in Puerto Peñasco, although the
waters near to shore tend to be quite shallow.
- The malecon in old Puerto Cholla Bay
- The CEDO Nature Center in Las Conchas
- The Playa Bonita
- The CET MAR aquarium.
- The golf courses
- The Pinacate Reserve
- The Baja Club
- Manny's Beach Club
Transportation
Puerto Peñasco has an international airport just north of town. It was served by
Aeroméxico Connect and it is mainly used for small aircraft. The closest
commercial airports are several hours away by car. They exist in Hermosillo,
Sonora; Tucson, Arizona; or Mexicali, Baja California. A major highway is
currently underway that will connect Puerto Penasco with San Luis Rio Colorado
and Yuma, Arizona, offering a faster route from Tijuana/San Diego and Los
Angeles.
As of 2005, there were a few charter airlines in Phoenix, Arizona, that offered
flights to Puerto Peñasco. Public van service from Phoenix is also offered (as
of 2006).