Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) vacation
info, Mexico
From the blue shrimp to upscale real estate
Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, is known by many U.S. travelers as Rocky
Point, although the actual Spanish translation is Rocky Port, and is primarily a shrimping
village. It is situated 60 miles from the international border at Lukeville,
AZ, just 3 hours from Tucson and attracts legions of weekend vacationers.
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Rocky Point Beaches
Playa Hermosa Beach is a perfect family beach for exploring the sea-wildlife, mainly at low tide.
This is because all the rocks and rock rimmed tide pools in the sea are exposed
during low tide. You and your children will find all kinds of creatures
in the tide pools, from shrimp to octopus, fish, squid, coral, crabs,
and all kinds of sea plants!
You will know it's low tide when you are able to see the seaweed.
Sandy Beach, also a great beach for exploring the (remains
of the) sealife. You are better off going to the southern end of this Rocky
Point beach, where the rocks start. You will be amazed by the discoveries
you will find; even whale bones have been known to turn up here!
This Rocky Point beach wasn't very accesible until 1997, when the
hurricane Nora brought a lot of sand back to the beaches.
200 bucks to spend on smurf colored shrimp!
Rocky Point nightlife
You will find a lot of nightclubs in Rocky Point, located throughout the town.
JJ's Cantina, a very popular bar, is a legend in Rocky Point,
partly because it is said to be one of the first bars ever in Rocky Point.
It also has a reputation for getting pretty wild, with fiestas until the wee hours of the morning!
Pink Cadillac Diner, a sports bar done fifties style with
juke box, soda fountain and Gas Pumps.
Wide Screen and satellite TV's, night club and roof top bar with outdoor swimming
pool and swim-up bar.
They also have a big outdoor place for concerts and special events like weddings.
Baja cantina, bar/hotel with T.V's and pool tables downstairs. Live bands on fridays and saturdays.
Cocodrilos, bar/restaurant with live bands on most days, nice
place to go for drinks and good food.
Sunset Cantina, a bar with a growing reputation for the hottest
nightclub in town.
The reef, one of the craziest places in Rocky Point, located
on the beach, the place to be on Spring Break!
Rocky Point, from the early days to great vacation spot
If it were not for the negotiating skills of the Mexican government, Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco)
might today be an Arizona seaport. Following the Mexican-American War which took place from
1846-48, ongoing negotiations were conducted to determine the new border between Mexico and the U.S.
After the loss of Texas, President Santa Anna did not want to separate the mainland of Mexico from
the Baja California Peninsula. However a prominent southern California railroad company was lobbying
for a settlement that would give the United States a southern railroad route from the Pacific to a
port on the gulf of Mexico.
An agreement was finally made in 1854 which gave Arizona and New Mexico to the U.S. but allowed Mexico
to retain the land bridge to the baja.
It was not until the 1920’s, with the discovery of the blue shrimp off the
coast of Cerro de Peñasco (Rocky Point), that a village was finally established in the area.
Until the 1950’s the only way to reach the village from the US was across a sandy trail that wound
for 60 miles from the border town of Sonoita. The route was paved during World War II by the U.S.
government to protect west coast shipping interests and as a result of which, Puerto Peñasco’s
shrimping industry exploded over the next decade.
The most intriguing attraction in Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) is the crater strewn landscape
of Pinacate Desert National Park. One of the worlds most unique environments, it consists
almost entirely of lava fields interspersed with sand dunes and moonlike craters and was designated as
a biosphere reserve in the early 1990’s to preserve the volcanic rock formations and to protect
several endangered species that inhabit the region.
The town now benefits from its easy access for North American visitors.
It remains a leisurely destination for California and Arizona RV-ers and
campers and is a popular beach destination for spring break.
The character of the town has begun to change in recent years as a result
of the development program initiated by FONATUR (Mexico’s
Government Funded Tourism committee) several years back. The region has
expanded to include luxury hotels, a marina, country club, upscale
condominiums, beachfront homes, an aquatic theme park and 2 championship golf courses.
Definetely the most impressive vacation resorts today are Las Palomas Rocky
Point with more than 400 luxury ocean front condos available for rent or full ownership.
The construction is not over, since the initial plan is to build 1200 condos to attract more people to the Seaside
golf community.
Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) is just starting to exploit its potential; there is no
doubt that in a few years more hotels, restaurants and golf courses will have been built.
Come and enjoy your Rocky Point Mexico Vacation!
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