These northern states showcase the lesser-known side of Mexico, offering unforgettable adventures through stunning natural wonders, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Sonora is a vast northern region of arid beauty, offering a striking contrast between its expansive deserts and coastal area, where travelers can explore everything from massive dunes to stunning, serene beaches.

• Gran Desierto de Altar
• Pinacate Biosphere Reserve
• Sea of Cortez Coastline

Chihuahua is renowned for its vast desert landscapes and rugged mountain ranges, a stunning natural wonder offering adventurous travelers amazing scenic views, hiking trails, and the famous Chepe train journey.

• Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre)
• Sierra Tarahumara
• Paquimé Archaeological Zone

Coahuila is a diverse region known for its vast deserts, unique ecosystems, and historic mining towns such as Parras de la Fuente and Real de Catorce, where visitors can explore vineyards, mystical landscapes, and rich history.

• Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere Reserve
• Real de Catorce
• Parras de la Fuente

Nuevo León is a state renowned for its rugged Sierra Madre Oriental mountains, offering vibrant outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, and exploring natural wonders and the scenic Cola de Caballo waterfall.

• Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
• Cola de Caballo Waterfall
• Chipinque Ecological Park

Tamaulipas invites outdoor enthusiasts to explore its remarkable natural diversity, stunning coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico, lush subtropical forests, and rugged mountain ranges in the Sierra Madre Oriental.

• El Cielo Biosphere Reserve
• Playa Miramar
• Soto la Marina River

Sinaloa offers a captivating blend of coastal beauty and rich cultural heritage, with its stunning beaches along the Pacific Ocean, lush valleys, vibrant cities, delicious cuisine, lively music scene, and deep-rooted traditions.

• Mazatlán
• Las Labradas
• El Fuerte

Durango boasts a striking blend of deserts, majestic mountains, and lush forests that have graced numerous films. This diverse terrain offers hiking, rock climbing, and exploring nowadays abandoned mining towns.

• Zona del Silencio
• Sierra Madre Occidental
• Old West Film Sets

Baja California is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes and breathtaking coastal beauty. This dynamic region offers a unique blend of all kinds of outdoor adventures, rich cultural experiences, and delicious cuisine.

• Valle de Guadalupe
• Ensenada
• Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

Baja California Sur is known for its beaches, marine life, and landscapes where the desert meets the ocean. The region offers snorkeling, whale watching, and hiking, alongside opportunities to relax on its sandy shores.

• Cabo San Lucas
• La Paz
• Loreto

Plan your trip now and explore the hidden gems of Northern Mexico!

Bacadéhuachi is located in the upper area of ​​the Sierra Madre Occidental, 277 km east of Hermosillo, the state capital, 295 km south of the border city of Agua Prieta, and 409 km northwest of the port city of Heroica Guaymas.

Bacadéhuachi is the head of the municipality of Bacadéhuachi, and according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2010 it had 1,251 inhabitants, being the most populated town in the municipality.

The town of Bacadéhuachi is located in the northeast of the state of Sonora, at an average height of 702 meters above sea level.

Its territory is surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, with rugged, flat, and semi-flat areas, highlighting the Bacadéhuachi, 8 Azul, and Los Mojones mountains.

The Bavispe River, which constitutes the upper current of the Yaqui River, enters the jurisdiction of Bacadéhuachi from the municipality of Granados, receives the waters of the Bacadéhuachi stream, and continues to Tepache and Divisaderos.

Weather

Bacadéhuachi has a semi-dry and warm climate.

The average annual temperature of 20.6 ° C, the average annual maximum of 30 ° C, and the average annual minimum of 11.2 ° C. The hottest temperature that has occurred in the last 50 years is 49 ° C while the coldest has been -9 ° C.

The rainy period occurs in summer, in the months of July and August with an annual average rainfall of 483 millimeters and with occasional frosts from January to February.

The meaning of its name comes from the indigenous language of the Opatas.

“Bacadeguatzi” comes from the linguistic roots “baca” which means “reed”, “degua”, which means “entrance or door” and “tzi” which means “place”. In other words, Bacadéhuachi means “At the entrance of the reed”.

In times prior to the year 1600, this area was inhabited by Opata indigenous settlements. It was until the year 1645 that it was founded by the Jesuit missionary Cristóbal García, as a mission and named San Luis Gonzága de Bacadéhuachi.

Soon it became an important population center in its early years, due to the essays given by various evangelists.

After the Independence of Mexico, a justice of the peace was in charge of the administration of the town.

Later, in the second half of the 19th century, the municipal category was obtained for the municipality of Bacadéhuachi, which was attached together with the District of Moctezuma (today Municipality of Moctezuma).

On November 1, 1916, while the Yaqui war was being fought in the state, the town was attacked by the Yaqui tribe, but General Gilberto R. Limón came out in defense of the settlers, remaining a local hero.

In 1930, the municipality of Bacadéhuachi was incorporated into the municipality of Bacerac, but a year later, on May 20, 1931, it was rehabilitated as an independent and definitive municipality, and this town of the same name was named as head municipal.

Church of Our Lady of Loreto (“Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto”) was built in the 17th century (approx. between 1709-1740). The church was partially rebuilt in 1887, after being damaged by an earthquake.

Its architecture shows gold stews and New Spanish paintings, it consists of 88 figures in its interior.

All figures go from the 17th to the 20th century and were included in the inventories carried out by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) through the Registry of the National Identification Program and Furniture Catalog of Historical Monuments.

Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a nature lover, or a cultural enthusiast, Bacadéhuachi beckons with its untamed allure, promising an extraordinary and soul-enriching journey for those willing to venture off the beaten path.

Unique Indigenous Culture: Bacadéhuachi is home to the indigenous Pima and Rarámuri communities, who have preserved their rich cultural heritage throughout the years.

Engaging with the local communities offers a unique opportunity to learn about their traditional customs, arts, crafts, and culinary delights. Visitors can witness vibrant festivals and rituals that celebrate their ancestral traditions.

Authentic Culinary Delights: Immerse yourself in the flavors of traditional Sonoran cuisine. Bacadéhuachi offers delicious and authentic dishes, often prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Don’t miss the opportunity to savor regional specialties such as birria, machaca, and gorditas.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities: For adventure seekers, Bacadéhuachi offers an array of outdoor activities. From challenging mountain treks to serene nature walks, there are hiking trails suitable for all levels of fitness.

Exploring the Sierra Tarahumara and the nearby Basaseachi National Park, home to Mexico’s second-highest waterfall, promises unforgettable experiences for nature lovers.

Stargazing Heaven: The town’s remote location and limited light pollution make Bacadéhuachi a fantastic destination for stargazing. The clear night skies offer a breathtaking celestial spectacle, making it an ideal spot for astronomy enthusiasts and romantics alike.

Warm Hospitality: Bacadéhuachi’s friendly and welcoming locals add a special charm to the visit. Visitors will find themselves embraced by the warmth and hospitality of the residents, creating an unforgettable experience that goes beyond the natural wonders of the region.

Preserving an Ecological Treasure: Visiting Bacadéhuachi supports sustainable and responsible tourism. By venturing to less-visited destinations like this, travelers contribute to the preservation of the region’s ecological and cultural treasures.

A Place of Reflection and Serenity: Bacadéhuachi offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of more popular tourist spots. Here, you can find solitude and tranquility, allowing for moments of reflection and a deeper connection with nature.

Ethereal Sunrises and Sunsets: As the sun rises and sets over the rugged landscape, the colors dance across the sky, creating breathtaking moments. The beauty of Bacadéhuachi’s sunrises and sunsets is an unforgettable experience.

Exploring Bacadéhuachi is a journey of discovery, unearthing Mexico’s hidden gem, where the beauty of nature, the richness of culture, and the warmth of its people come together to create an unforgettable and authentic travel experience.

May 3: feast of the Holy Cross
September 8-10: patronal feast of the Virgin of Loreto
September 25-27: Sierra Alta festival

The Laguna Salada has been, on several occasions, the scene of cultural events of various kinds, especially since the beginning of the 21st century.

It was part of an event called “Pavarotti without borders” that took place on October 18, 2003, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the city of Mexicali. This event was part of one of the last tours of the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The movie “Resident Evil: Extinction” used the Laguna Salada as a film location for one of its scenes.

During the month of May 2006 and one of the episodes of the “Curiosity” program used the dry vessel of the lagoon to experience and film the fall of a Boeing 727 aircraft. This was the second experiment of its kind conducted in the world and It was made on April 27, 2012, to be screened on television on October 7 of that same year in the United States.

On August 1, 2012, the first launch in the state of Baja California of a rocket, manufactured by students of the aerospace engineering career of the UABC engineering and technology center, took place. The device named “Cimarrón I” reached an altitude of more than three thousand meters and consultants from NASA and the SJSU participated in the project.

There have also been some editions of an ultra-marathon called Ultramarathon in the desert of Laguna Salada, at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century.

And finally the realization of varied events among which are: collective astronomical observations by fans, off-road races, and exhibitions of aeromodelling among others.

The waters of the Gulf of California in the San Carlos area offer a multitude of diving opportunities at all skill levels year-round.

Average surface temperatures are:

• June–August: 29°C – 32°C and even more
• September-October: 26°C – 32°C
• November–March (winter months): 17°C – 21°C
• April and May: 22°C – 25°C

The community of San Carlos was founded on lands that previously were a large cattle ranch known as the Baviso de Navarro, which later got divided into four parts: Los Algodones, San Carlos, El Baviso, and El Represo.

In the mid-1950s, Mr. Rafael T. Caballero purchased the Los Algodones, San Carlos, and El Baviso ranches, contracting with city planners who designed the first stages of gradual and planned tourism development.

In 1963, the State Congress made San Carlos an official part of Guaymas. They gave 27.746 sq km of land from El Baviso. In 1973, more land from San Carlos and Los Algodones was added, making a total of 49.79 sq km for the community.

There are beautiful sand beaches, kayaking, and offshore fishing.

This place is spectacular for diving and snorkeling. Underwater visibility of over 30 m is very common in these places. Sometimes visibility even exceeds 61 m as is often the case at San Pedro Nolasco Island.

For the boater, two marinas are available with paved launch ramps, dry storage facilities, complete marine repair and maintenance services, fuel docks, and reasonable rates for slip rental.

Popular dive sites:

• San Pedro Nolasco Island
• Martini Cove
• Catalina Island
• Double Point
• Eagle Rock
• The Three Marias
• Cautin
• Frenchie’s Cove
• Lalo Cove
• Zorro Cove
• San Antonio Point
• Kevin’s Rock
• Emerald Bay
• Painted Rocks
• San Luis Island
• Deer Island
• Window Rock
• Sea Mount
• San Nicolas Island
• Honeymoon Island

• San Carlos is about a 6-hour drive from the USA along the Mexican Interstate Highway 15.
• San Carlos is only a 400 km or 4-hour drive from Nogales (Arizona) on Mexico Highway 15.

It is located on the northern shores of the Sea of Cortez on the small strip of land that joins the Baja California Peninsula with the rest of Mexico. The area is part of the Altar Desert, one of the driest and hottest areas of the larger Sonora Desert.

Climate

Puerto Peñasco has a desert climate with an average of 10 days of rain per year. The average high temperature is 28.9 °C (84.0 °F), but temperatures as high as 40 °C (104.0 °F) are not uncommon in the summer.

The average low temperature is 15.3 °C (59.5 °F). On average, the temperature drops below freezing once a year.

Though very rare, it is possible for a tropical storm or hurricane to reach the northern Gulf of California and cause significant damage. Hurricane Nora in 1997 and Hurricane Kathleen in 1976 were two such storms.

In 1826, retired Lt. Robert William Hale Hardy of the British Royal Navy was sailing in this area searching for pearls and precious metals. He named the area Rocky Point and it was identified as Rocky Point on marine maps until President Lázaro Cárdenas changed it to Puerto Punta Peñasco. To simplify pronunciation, the English name lost the word “Port” and the Spanish name dropped “Punta”.

Prior to the 1920s, the area was just one of the safe harbors for wandering fisherman who worked the upper Gulf of California. During fishing seasons, fishermen from Guaymas, Bahía Kino, Puerto Libertad, and Puerto Lobos began to come here to camp out. The main attraction for these fishermen was a fish called totoaba, which was fished not for its meat, but for its use in medicine. At this time the area was known as Punta de Piedra o Punta Peñasco. The name comes from a large quantity of solidified lava that hit the Gulf. Even as early as the 19th century, fishermen from Arizona came here. Since there was no source of drinking water, it was not settled permanently.

In the 1930s, under President Lázaro Cárdenas, a railroad was built to connect the Baja California to the rest of Mexico, passing by Puerto Peñasco. The town began to grow again, adding a police delegation in 1932, as a dependency of the nearby municipality of Sonoyta, even though the town was part of the municipality of Caborca. The railroad line created new population centers and the initial layout of the city and port of Puerto Peñasco was begun in the 1940s. During this same time shrimp fishing was having an impact on the local economy.

In 1952, Puerto Peñasco separated from the municipality of Caborca and comprised the localities of Sonoyta, Bahía La Choya, 21 de Marzo and Cuauhtémoc. Sonoyta was the second largest population center at the time. In 1989, the municipality of Plutarco Elías Calles was split from Puerto Peñasco. Until the 1990s, there had been little tourism here except for campers and fishermen. The municipality’s pristine beaches with clear waters stretched for a hundred miles north or south with almost no development. The push to make Puerto Peñasco or Rocky Point a major tourism center was initiated in 1993, with the government joining with private investors to build condominiums and other facilities. The goal has been to take advantage of the area’s proximity to the United States.

Much of the inspiration for the effort came from the success of Cancún, which was a nearly virgin beach before a government/private venture developed it. Another reason to look to tourism was the declining catches of fishermen here, due to overfishing and pollution. The federal government contributed two billion pesos in infrastructure, especially roadways and an airport and the area was declared a free zone, meaning foreigners could visit the area without a visa (although a passport is still needed). There was some economic instability in 1994 and 1995, but it did not derail development here for long, coming back by 1999. Between 2002 and 2007 economic growth was at twelve percent. The local real estate market started to go bust in 2007 due to the economic slowdown in the United States.

The oldest part of the town was founded between the edge of the sea and Ballena Hill. The base of the area is volcanic rock, much of it solidified lava flows from when ancient eruptions met the ocean.

Tourism and fishing are the most important economic activities for the city. Development to date includes over one hundred restaurants, forty-two hotels and motels, and fourteen RV facilities.

To promote tourism here, the city was declared to be part of the border “free zone” although it is about 66 miles (100 km) from the U.S. This means that foreigners can drive from the U.S. to Puerto Peñasco without obtaining visas. This makes the area attractive to visitors from Arizona, California, and Nevada.

In a relatively short time, Puerto Peñasco has become a major tourist center. It contains numerous hotels as well as RV and primitive camping sites. Many consider Puerto Peñasco to be “Arizona’s beach” with Tucson, Phoenix, and Yuma closer than the Mexican cities of Mexicali and Hermosillo. Most visitors come for the beaches and to fish.

A large number of beachfront condominiums have been built in this area including Las Conchas, Sandy Beach Resorts, Costa Diamante, Las Palomas Beach and Golf Resort, Sonoran Sea, Bella Sirena, and Las Palmas. The first condos, Las Conchas and Bahías Choya, were built in the far southeast and far northwest respectively. Interest in property here has been unexpectedly strong prompting further developments such as Sandy Beach. This development has plans for a golf course, malls, marinas and more condos.

One attraction of the beaches is the tidal pools. Tides here can raise and lower the sea on the relatively flat land up to 25 feet (8 meters). Low tide reveals a large number of tidal pools in the craters of the rocky coast. In these pools there used to be large numbers of crabs, starfish, and other marine life. There is also an estuary by the name of Morúa east of the community of Las Conchas. Here live thousands of birds, including migratory species.

The annual fishing festival begins on Navy Day on June 1. These celebrations feature mariachis, folklorico dance, and a festival queen.

Another fishing tournament is sponsored by the La Choya Bay Club.

Crafts for sale here include shell jewelry, iron pieces and carved ironwood.

The Mar de Cortés International Airport serves Puerto Penasco, but currently has no regularly-scheduled flights in or out. The new highway shortens the drive from California by 100 miles (160 km).

It was made a nature reserve in 1963 by President Adolfo López Mateos. Tiburón is Spanish for a shark. Although the Seri name was first recorded by Alphonse Pinart in 1879, its etymology is unknown.

This designation is aimed at preserving the island’s unique and fragile ecosystem. The reserve is managed by Mexican authorities to ensure the conservation of its biodiversity and to protect the habitat of various plant and animal species.

Tiburon Island has been inhabited by various indigenous groups for centuries. The Seri people, an indigenous ethnic group, have a historical connection to the island. They have relied on the island’s resources and the surrounding sea for their livelihoods.

Tiburón Island is part of the traditional homeland of some bands (or clans) of the Seri people, probably for many centuries. The island has played a role in the Seri people’s traditional practices, including fishing, gathering, and crafting.

Over time, Tiburon Island has gained attention not only for its ecological importance but also for its cultural value. The island serves as a reminder of the rich history and relationship between humans and the environment.

Efforts to balance conservation and sustainable development on the island continue to be important in order to preserve its natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, a small hunting and fishing camp on the northern end of the island was operated by Jesus Olivas, a resident of Hermosillo. He constructed several buildings, a dock, and an airstrip near the historic Seri encampment at Tecomate.

The camp was popular with American visitors to the area.

The remains of the structures and airstrip are still in place. The airstrip was rendered unusable by the Mexican military around 1995 in an attempt to keep it from being used by smugglers who were active in the area at the time.

In 1975, the Mexican government, under a decree issued by President Echeverría, granted the Seri people formal recognition and bestowed communal property rights upon them in relation to Tiburón Island.

The island is uninhabited (except for Mexican military encampments on the eastern and southern shores of the island) and is administered as an ecological preserve by the Seri tribal government in conjunction with the federal government.

Bighorn sheep were introduced to the island in the 1980s; hunting is managed by the tribal government in coordination with Mexican federal authorities. It is also home to a subspecies of Coyote that is found nowhere but on the island.

In 2012, a television episode of Survivorman Ten Days (Les Stroud) was filmed on Tiburón Island.

The Tiburón Island tragedy occurred in 1905 involving a group of men, including Jack Hoffman, who embarked on an ill-fated expedition to Tiburón Island. The expedition was marked by a series of unfortunate events, dehydration, and lack of supplies.

The group set out on their journey from places like Bisbee and Nogales.

They headed to Tiburón Island in search of adventure, opportunities, and perhaps treasure. As they traveled through the desert terrain of Sonora, they faced extreme challenges due to the scarcity of water, high temperatures, and harsh conditions.

Several members of the group became severely dehydrated, and despite their efforts to find water and survive, they struggled to sustain themselves. The group eventually became separated, and some members were lost during the journey.

The tragedy reached its peak when Jack Hoffman’s companion, Grindell, left to find help but never returned. Dave Ingraham, another member of the group, became too weak to continue and was left behind by Hoffman.

Hoffman managed to make his way to safety in Guaymas, several months after the expedition began.

The Tiburón Island tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges and dangers posed by harsh desert environments, especially when individuals are ill-prepared and lack essential resources for survival.

The island can be reached from Punta Chueca, which is the nearest community inhabited by members of the Seri tribe, and from Bahía de Kino, a non-Seri community 34 kilometers to the south.

The distance from Punta Chueca to Punta Tormenta, the nearest point on the island, is 3 kilometers.

The channel between the mainland and the island is called Canal del Infiernillo (“Hell’s Channel”), because of the strong tidal currents and shoal water that occur there which can make navigation challenging.

Two permits are required for day hiking and overnight stays on the island: one from the Seri Governor’s office in Punta Chueca and another from the ISLAS office in Bahía de Kino.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Magdalena de Kino lives in a hot desert climate characterized by scorching summers and mild winters.

• Summer temperatures often rise above 40°C and higher
• Winter daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 25°C

The most rainfall occurs during the summer as sporadic thunderstorms.

The best time to visit Magdalena de Kino

The best time to visit Magdalena de Kino is from November to March when the weather is more moderate and comfortable for exploring the fresh air and creates pleasant conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

In addition, visitors can take part in cultural events and celebrations, which occur in early December. However, travelers should be prepared for cool evenings during the winter months and may want to pack accordingly.

This region was originally inhabited by the Papago and Upper Pima peoples. The area of the actual city and its territory resisted Spanish occupation, leading to the destruction of Mission Santa Maria Magdalena in 1648.

In 1687 Eusebio Francisco Kino initiated the founding of the first missions through the evangelization of the indigenous population in this region. Kino restored the Mission Santa Maria Magdalena at the end of the 17th century.

During the era of Mexican independence, Magdalena del Kino served as the county seat in the second half of the 19th century. It also served as a Mexican customs post from 1854 to 1880 when it was transferred to Nogales.

The city’s name was given on October 1, 1923, as Santa María Magdalena de Buquivaba.

The word “Buquivaba” means “place or house by the river”. This name remained until 1966 when the state government renamed the city Magdalena de Kino in honor of the recently discovered remains of Eusebio Francisco Kino.

Magdalena de Kino has several sites of interest to tourists:

• Monumental Plaza
• Temple of Santa Maria Magdalena
• Javier Chapel in San Francisco
• Municipal Palace
• Replica of the old clock tower
• Mission San Ignacio de Caborica
• Mausoleum of Luis Donaldo Colosio
• College of Coronel Juan Fenocchio
• Mansion of Miguel Latz
• House of the Minister of War General Carlos Planck (now Cafe Ced)
• Temple of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Fatima

Visit local markets for handcrafts, souvenirs, fresh produce, and other goods.

Attend Cultural Festivals and Events: Experience the region’s vibrant culture by attending festivals and events such as the San Francisco Xavier Festival in early December, with religious processions, dances, and local cuisine.

Travel through the surrounding desert landscapes and discover the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Enjoy activities such as hiking, bird watching, and photography among the rugged terrain and unique flora and fauna.

By bus from Hermosillo = 3:15 hours
By bus from Hermosillo via Santa Ana = 3:30 hours
By taxi from Hermosillo = 2:25 hours

By bus from Nogales = 1:05 hours
By taxi from Nogales = 1:10 hours

It is located on the Colorado River, which at this point marks the state border with Baja California.

It also stands on the international border with the United States, adjacent to San Luis, Arizona.

The municipality covers an area of 8,412.75 km² in the Sonoran Desert.

It is located about 75 km from Mexicali.

Awarded city status in July 1958, San Luis Rio Colorado serves as the administrative center for the surrounding municipality of the same name.

San Luis Rio Colorado was once an important inland port for steamers traveling the Colorado from the Gulf of California.

Since the early 1900s, the Colorado has been completely or nearly completely drained for irrigation. The once-formidable Colorado is usually dry or a small stream.

Fiestas del Desierto celebrates the culture, biodiversity, cuisine, and sports of the Sonoran Desert Region. Dates for 2012 are 9–11 November.

San Luis Rio Colorado has an intra-city economic exchange booth in the Annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California, USA.

San Luis Río Colorado has a desert climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters, it is one of the hottest and driest cities in Mexico.

The record high temperature is 52.0 °C, recorded on 25 June 1951.
The record low temperature is −6.5 °C, recorded on 2 January 1950.

San Luis Río Colorado Airport is the general aviation airport serving this city. The nearest International airport to San Luis Rio Colorado is General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport near Mexicali.

San Luis Rio Colorado has highway connections to other parts of Mexico and the United States. Several intercity bus companies (including TUFESA) stop at the San Luis Río Colorado bus station.

Along its coast, there are important bays such as Guaymas, Lobos, San Carlos, and La Herradura. There are two main rivers called the Mátape and the Bácum which empty into estuaries on the Gulf.

The municipality has a hot, dry climate with maximum temperatures averaging 31C and minimum temperatures averaging 18C. Maximum temperatures can reach 50C during the summers and from June to October ocean temperatures are in the 80s F.

Most of the territory is covered with mesquite trees and cacti. It is also the home of the endangered California Fan Palm, and Washingtonia filifera is found in coastal groves. Other species such as Perityle have been long noted at Guaymas.

Desert animals such as the desert tortoise, chameleon, puma, rattlesnakes, and others are the main wildlife.

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the areas now known as Guaymas were dominated by the Guaymas, Seri, and Yaqui tribes.

In 1539, two Spanish ships, the Santa Agueda and El Trinidad, arrived in Guaymas Bay. They were commanded by Francisco de Ulloa, who called the area “the port of ports.”

Some small Jesuit missions in the area were founded in the 1610s and 1620s when Jesuits founded eight mission villages with the Yaqui. The Seri strongly opposed the settlement of Europeans and resisted fiercely until 1769.

Juan María de Salvatierra and Eusebio Kino asked for permission to evangelize the area, which was received in 1697. In 1701, Salvatierra came to this area and established the Loreto mission somewhat inland from where Guaymas is now.

To receive supplies by ship and evangelize the Guaymas Indians, the Jesuits founded another small mission on the bay, which they called San José de Guaymas. It was headed by Manuel Diaz. The Seri repeatedly attacked the San José mission, forcing it to be abandoned and rebuilt several times. The last time this mission was abandoned was in 1759.

In 1767, Viceroy Marqués de Croix ordered a major military offensive, the Sonora Expedition, to subdue the Seri and Pima tribes. After doing so, the Spanish colonials built an adobe fort with four towers in Guaymas, initially under the command of Captain Lorenzo Cancio.

No traces of the fort remain today, but the San José mission is marked by a church located on the road leading to Empalme.

Around the same time, the colonists formally mapped the Guaymas Bay and officially founded the city of Guaymas in 1769 by José Gálvez in Real de Alamos on behalf of the viceregal government. Despite the decree, no colonists settled there until the early 19th century.

In the late 18th and early 19th century, there was supposedly only one inhabitant in Guaymas, called “Tio Pepe” (Uncle Pepe), who was said to be a drunk and a thief.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the village began to be populated by farmers and ranchers, who held large properties but did not have markets for their products. Farming was on a subsistence level.

In 1811, commercial maritime traffic was authorized, and customs were established later in 1823.

Guaymas received the name San Fernando de Guaymas in 1820.

Ships visited the bay intermittently but only one house was here for customs purposes. In this era, it was safer to travel by sea than by land; Guaymas became an important stopping point for those heading north or south.

The first commercial imports came through here in 1827. With the population of the area by European-Mexicans, the Guaymas moved to a town called Belén. They eventually disappeared as a distinct group.

The port became a municipality in 1825. During the Mexican-American War, American warships such as the Portsmouth, the Congress, the Dale, and the Argos anchored here near the Pajaros Island and the Almagre Grande.

The ships fired on the town and captured it, keeping it in U.S. hands from 1847 to 1848.

In the mid-19th century, Guaymas was the target of several filibusters, or unauthorized military expeditions from foreign nations, designed to foment rebellion. One was done by the crew of the English sailing vessel “Challenge” and a French ship named La Belle commanded by Count Gastón Raousett-Boulbón, who intended to take over all of Sonora.

The French attacked the city on 13 July 1854, but the port was successfully defended by José María Yáñez. A firing squad executed the count soon afterward. The national government elevated the town to city status as a reward for this action in 1859.

Later, in 1935, it gave Guaymas the title of “heroic city” for the same action.

The municipality’s formal name Guaymas de Zaragoza was authorized in 1862.

In 1865, French ships arrived to attack Republican forces, which were forced to retreat. The French occupied the city until 1866.

By 1890, the city had 10,000 residents and was relatively prosperous.

The Carnival tradition it established then continues to this day.

On October 4-5, 1911, Guaymas was struck by a major hurricane and accompanying storm surge which killed some 500 people in the city and environs.

During the Mexican Revolution, the first-ever aerial bombardment of a naval target occurred just off the coast of Guaymas: in 1913, five military ships belonging to Federal forces appeared in the bay, and General Alvaro Obregon of the rebel army ordered the bombing of these ships using the aircraft “Sonora.”

The first modern port facilities were built in 1925 for the Mexican navy. In 1942 a commercial pier and warehouse were built at La Ardilla.

Guaymas’ importance as a port grew in the 1950s, and in 1961, a pier for the national oil company PEMEX was built. A naval ship repair station called the Varadero Nacional, and silos for the export of grain, called the Almacenes Nacional de Depósito, were built in 1964.

A ferry connection with the city of Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur was established in 1972. In the 1980s, a number of private construction projects further enlarged the port, including those built by the Compañía Mexicana de Cobre, Cementos Tolteca and Compañía Mexicana de Ácido Sulfúrico. Due to changes in Mexican maritime law, a private company under contract to the government, Administración Portuaria Integral de Guaymas, took over port operations in 1995.

Guaymas is basically an industrial and shrimp-fishing port that has conserved a number of historical attractions. Buildings in the historic center have a mix of Neoclassical and Moorish facades, however many are in disrepair.

The city has two main plazas, one called “13 de Julio” (“The 13 of July”), which is nicknamed the “plaza de los flojos” (“lazy men’s plaza”) for the large number of people who relax there.

In the “13 de Julio Plaza” there is a monument commemorating the defense of Guaymas by General José María Yáñez against a French incursion in 1854.

The most famous person in this plaza is León Riso, who has spent fifty-five years here selling homemade ice cream. The Moorish style kiosk in the center has deteriorated due to the humidity. The town’s main church, San Fernando, built in the 19th century, faces this plaza.

The other major plaza is the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes with statues of Plutarco Elías Calles, Adolfo de la Huerta and Abelardo L. Rodríguez all of whom are from near Guaymas.

Facing this plaza is the Municipal Palace and a small concrete pier with the Statue of the Fisherman, on which is the lyrics of the song “La Barca de Guaymas.” This statue is considered to be emblematic to the city.

Other landmarks include the old Bank of Sonora building with its Neoclassical facade, the old jailhouse built in 1900, the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), which has a large collection on display and for sale, and the Casa de Cultura (Cultural Center), which offers classes and workshops in various arts.

Institutes of higher education in the city include the Instituto Tecnológico de Guaymas, the Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Guaymas and the Universidad TecMilenio Guaymas

Baseball is a popular sport in this city. The local professional team is called the Ostioneros. The city has ferry service to Santa Rosalía, B.C. and an international airport. As it is between the sea and ranching country, the city’s cuisine includes both seafood and beef specialties such as fish tacos and carne asada

Carnival of Guaymas

Guaymas holds one of Mexico’s major Carnival celebrations and is one of the oldest in the country. The annual event begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and ends at the stroke of midnight of the beginning of Lent. Events are held in several locations with a number of events, such as the yearly parade, extending over multiple days. It begins with the Quema del malhumor or Hoguera when an effigy of something or someone who has displeased the public is burned. Each year, the effigy represents something different. In past years, the effigy has represented the figures of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Vicente Fox, George H. W. Bush, Mexico’s value-added tax, and lack of water. In 2009, the effigy was of singer Julio Preciado for his poor interpretation of Mexico’s national anthem at the recent Serie del Caribe baseball tournament. Other major events include concerts by regionally and nationally known artists, a multi-day parade with floats and the election of the King and Queen of the Carnival.

The history of Carnival in Guaymas begins after the Reform War and French Intervention in Mexico when Guaymas and the rest of the country experienced a period of peace and economic development. The success of Guaymas port attracted a number of European immigrants and visitors. They brought the idea of organizing a Carnival similar to those celebrated in Europe. Guaymas’ first carnival is recorded in a book called El Viejo Guaymas (Old Guaymas) written by Alfonso Iberri. It was one of the first to take place in Mexico. In 1888, the first Carnival Queen was María Zuber and the first King was Alfredo Díaz Velasco. The King and Queen were paraded on the streets of Guaymas in a coach, followed by coaches carrying their entourage. The event ended with a grand ball that night.

Initially, the Carnival event was restricted to the upper classes. The lower classes watched the annual parade, but the most important events were the balls given at various mansions. This tradition continued until the Mexican Revolution. In 1913, Alvaro Obregon took control of the port, and the war devastated the area economically. Many of the businesspeople had sided with Porfirio Díaz and had to leave. The city wanted to keep the annual Carnival tradition. Various social clubs vied for control over the event, especially the naming of the Carnival Queen. The queen was determined by which group provided the most money for Carnival events, which led to widespread cheating and scandals, especially in the year 1927, when the military had to get involved to keep order.

The goal of the fundraising was to decorate the 13 de Julio Plaza, as the event had become public. People came to the plaza dressed in costumes, and the event drew people from neighboring cities. The event still had the yearly parades, now with floats, and both private and public balls. Masks hiding identity were permitted, allowing for the playing of practical jokes, and homosexuals were among those who took advantage of the anonymity.

By the 1960s and 1970s, the Carnival had evolved into an entirely popular event with mass participation, bringing in many visitors to the city. Sister cities such as El Segundo, California, and Mesa, Arizona were invited to participate. After the inauguration of the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes, the event was moved to this larger plaza, which allowed for carnival rides and concerts by regionally and nationally known artists. The use of masks was banned due to violence. The traditional queen is now popularly elected, and the King is named Rey Feo (Ugly King). Over time, the new plaza was no longer large enough to hold the event, and an admission charge was instituted. Security was instituted as well as checkpoints for weapons. The coronation of a Gay King was begun, and the number of floats participating in the parade grew.

The municipality, especially San Carlos, is popular with visitors from Arizona and Sonora but much of the coastal area, where the stark desert landscape meets the calm waters of the Gulf of California, is still undeveloped. San Carlos is an important destination for sportfishing with modern piers and 800 species that can be caught including sailfish, marlin, yellowtail and others.

This bay holds a fishing tournament each year in July called the Torneo de Pesca de San Carlos. San Carlos also has an aquarium dedicated to dolphins and sea lions, which perform shows. The most notable peak in San Carlos is called the Tetacawi or Teta de Cabra, which appears to have two horns. Teta de Cabra means “goat’s udder” which it is supposed to resemble. Other sports that can be practiced here include kayaking, sailing, jetskiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, mountain biking and hiking. San Pedro Island off the coast is popular for snorkeling, scubadiving and visiting the sea lions that live there. The Bacochibambo or Miramar Bay also attracts some tourism. In this bay, there is a pearl growing facility, the only one of its kind in the Americas. Pearls from here come in a range of colors such as grey, gold, bronze, olive green, black and pink.

On land, there is the Sahuaral Desert, about twenty minutes from the city of Guaymas. It contains a very tall cactus that is approximately 500 years old. Here, the Barajitas Canyon is also a natural reserve, with three ecosystems and is considered a sacred place by the Seri Indians. The canyon is accessible only by boat.

The Guaymas-Empalme station for space observations is about six miles east of Empalme, Sonora, adjacent to Mexican Federal Highway No. 15. It is operated by the Mexican Space Agency. As a major link in NASA’s worldwide Manned Space Flight Network, the Guaymas Tracking Station, built in 1961, played a key role in tracking American manned space flights in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs through Apollo 13. The U.S. discontinued its use on November 30, 1970 due to changes in the Apollo mission profile which no longer required the Guaymas station. Equipment designed especially for support of the Apollo program was removed, but other equipment was left for support of Mexican space activities and future programs of mutual interest to Mexican scientists and NASA.

Álamos is located in the southeastern part of Sonora, 396 km from the state capital Hermosillo, 54 km from Navojoa via Sonora State Highway 162, and 663 km from the northern border town of Nogales.

Alamos lies in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Along the falda (skirt) of the Sierra the fingers of Tropical Deciduous Forest extend up into oak and pine – this ribbon of Dry Tropical vegetation extends along the foothills into Central America.

Alamos lies in the most northern limits of the Tropical Deciduous Forest in this hemisphere.

An abrupt change in elevation occurs from the Sea of Cortez (sea level) to Alamos at 1,346 feet to the Sierra de Alamos rising to 6,700 feet and continuing on to the Chihuahua border where the elevation reaches 7,500 feet. This actually covers 70 miles as the crow flies.

Climate

Álamos has a semi-arid climate bordering on a tropical savanna climate, with three seasons: a hot, dry season from April to June, a hot, humid wet season from July to October, and a warm, generally dry “winter” from November to March.

Occasionally the dry winter pattern is interrupted by the passage of frontal cloud bands: 220 millimeters fell during January 1981, including 168 millimeters between the fifth and the seventh of that month, and over 120 millimeters in January 1979.

During the hot early summer, temperatures can reach extreme heights; the record being 49.5 °C on 16 June 1976.

The Tropical Deciduous Forest hosts two climates: a dry temperate time from mid-October through June and a wet humid tropical time from July through mid-October. The months of November through February are salubrious with days in the 80ºs and nights in the 50ºs.

In March the forest drops most of its leaves, and the columnar cacti become more prominent like soldiers standing in the forest. In June the humidity builds heralding the coming wet season.

On San Juan’s day (June 24) the indigenous people dance and pray to San Juan for rain and the blessing of good crops.

It almost always rains on this date. The rains are a celebration of life, as the trees burst into leaves, frogs sing and iguanas look for new mates. Monsoon-type rains deluge the hills daily. Even though the humidity is high, the temperatures are more stable.

The wet season is a time to rejoice.

Fauna

More than 400 species of birds have been recorded from the coast into the foothills at Alamos. Many birds, mammals, plants, and reptiles find their most southern or northern limits in the Alamos region.

The Municipality of Álamos derives its name from the Álamo tree. Several impressive specimens are found in one of its two principal plazas, the Alameda.

The nearby small town called El Sabinito which is located within the Municipality, likewise derives its name from a tree, the Sabino.

The area was named by the conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado.

His expedition of 1540 camped at the confluence of the two major arroyos (Escondido and the Aduana) of present-day Alamos and made reference to local geographical landmarks, including two large rock formations on Mt. Alamos, Los Frailes or ‘the monks’ in English.

The church records date to 1682 and the village was incorporated in 1685.

Alamos became the capital of the then state of Occidental in the early 1800s, which encompassed today’s state of Sonora, the northern portion of the state of Sinaloa, as well as some of the Baja California and southern Arizona.

Álamos was the northernmost “Silver City” in Mexico and although it has much in common, architecturally, with Mexico’s other “Silver Cities” it has not succumbed to large-scale commercialism and has managed to retain the charm and pace of earlier times.

A major expedition departed Alamos in 1775, led by Juan Bautista de Anza II to discover a route to Alta California and create the Presidio of Monterey. The Anza expedition had nearly 300 members, of which about half were from Alamos.

The trek was heavily financed by the wealthy silver mine owners of Alamos.

Álamos is known as “La Ciudad de Los Portales” – a “Town of tall, arched, covered verandas or walkways fronting many of the cobble-stoned streets”.

Álamos boasts numerous buildings exhibiting classic Andalusian architecture from Mexico’s Colonial period, including numerous mansions, the Plaza de Armas, the Church of La Purísima Concepción, La Capilla, and the Palacio Municipal (“City Hall”).

The great wealth created by the silver mines from the surrounding mining towns of La Aduana, Minas Nuevas, and San Bernardo enabled the founders and residents of Álamos to build scores of colonial Spanish mansions throughout the town.

Most of these mansions went into ruin in the early 20th Century until the late 1940s, when a gradual restoration process began, by Americans and Canadians, which is still ongoing today.

Museo Costumbrista de Sonora

Museum of Sonoran History and Culture. Located on the Plaza de Armas, El Museo Costumbrista de Sonora is housed in one of Alamos’ most prestigious colonial homes. The museum houses a fine collection of artifacts depicting colonial life in Alamos as well as the history of mining in this area. The gallery in the Museum is host to many visiting and local artists.

Casa de la Cultura

At one time this Cultural Center on Guadalupe Hill was the “Carcel”, the jail. Now the Cultural Center serves as an educational center as well as an auditorium for public events including expositions, readings, conferences, and concerts. The Center is committed to serving the needs of all ages and levels of ability.

Casa de Maria Felix Museum

A collection of artifacts discovered on the original birthplace of Mexico’s legendary and internationally renowned movie actress. Artifacts have been relocated to the private home of Linda Barondes.

Folkloric Museum

Leonardo Valdez Esquer – Located in the town of Echojoa between Navojoa and Huatabampo. This museum exhibits a fine collection of folkloric art from all parts of Mexico as well as a complete collection of Mayo Indian artifacts.

Sierra de Álamos Ecological Reserve

The Sierra de Álamos Ecological Reserve offers serious “birding” opportunities.

The creek of Cuchujaqui, which is in the ecological reserve is the most species-rich subtropical area in the Northern Hemisphere. Cuchujaqui is the subject of international scientific study and the southern migration destination of hundreds of different species of birds.

The City of Alamos is over three hundred and seventy years old and one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Northern Mexico. In the mid seventeen hundreds, King Carlos III of Spain sent a surveyor-general to map out the city streets.

Mansions were built by prospering silver barons. The colonial elements of Alamos’ architecture include:

Arches

A characteristic of the more elaborate portal is the arch which provides the perspective through which the building is seen.

Columns

The column supports the arches and the portal roof. Local artisans influenced the more traditional Doric or Corinthian designs to create Alamos’ own unique styles. The original columns were of wood. Plaster columns and arches were added around the eighteen hundreds

Cornice

The cornice is a decorative Greek feature found along the roofline of a structure. Two designs are most prevalent in Alamos, the traditional Greek design which is that of a man’s profile, or the “pecho de paloma” profile of a dove’s breast created by the Mexican artisans.

The Portal

Alamos is often referred to as the city of portals.

The portal or portico can be found on the interior or exterior of the house and serves as an outside living space. Columns or arches support the roof. Portales on the exterior were symbols of social status and can be found on the more stately homes on the main thoroughfares.

Thick Walls & Deep Recessed Windows

The walls are constructed of adobe and can measure three to four feet in width. This is a perfect example of how the environment influences the design. The thick walls and recessed windows serve to auto-regulate temperatures during the hot summers and cool winters.

Windows and doorways in particular show the Andalusian or Moroccan influence on Alamo colonial structures.

The Surrounding Area includes the estuaries alive with bird life, Mayo villages, a mining town, rivers where you can take float trips, and trails for horseback riding.

Tours of colonial homes, the countryside, various silver mines, indigenous villages, and coastal estuaries, as well as river float trips are available.

Enjoy the Basque tradition of strolling student troubadours, “La Estudiantina” dressed in authentic costumes.

About 16 km to the northwest is the Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez Dam and Reservoir known as “El Mocúzarit”, whose waters irrigate 80,000 acres (320 km2).

Annual Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Festival

The ten-day cultural festival celebrates the life of Dr. Alfonzo Ortiz Tirado, a world-renowned singer, surgeon, philanthropist, and humanist.

Dr. Ortiz Tirado, an extraordinary tenor, was a native of Alamos. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, born in this community in 1894, achieved recognition for being “El Tenor de las Américas”.

Each year, during the last ten days of January, Alamos opens its arms to pianists, symphony orchestras, choral groups, quartets, and dancers who entertain at fixed venues throughout the city. Art walks and cultural workshops are presented.

Activities are coordinated under the auspices of the Instituto Sonorense de Cultura.

Festival de Cine Alamos Mágico

Also, there is an annual film festival, usually held in March of each year. This annual festival showcases films, performances, and hands-on workshops over 3 days.

Alamos Silver Festival

Renowned Mexican silversmiths demonstrate and display their art, and restaurants offer fine cuisine during this Annual Silver Festival in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. Silver Classes will be held in conjunction with the festival.

La Estudiantina

The “Tuna” or Estudiantina is a group of students that join to sing traditional songs using various string and percussion instruments and dress in students’ clothing in Spain in the 11 to 13 centuries.

Alamos is proud of the Estudiantina who lead in song on the grand “callejoneadas”, street processions, during many celebrations.

Mayo and Yaqui cultural celebrations

The Mayo tribe is the largest in Mexico. Their biggest fiesta of the year is La Trinidad celebrated on May 14th.

The celebration starts in Juparé just outside of Huatabampo. It is a continuous celebration with Pascola and Deer Dances followed by a 9-day manda between the two villages of Etchojoa and Juparé.

Juparé is easily reached on paved roads. Turn right on the boulevard east side of Palacio in Huatabampo, and continue on the road about 5 miles to the sign for Juparé. Right turn. The village is about 2 miles long.

There is a small museum dedicated to the culture in the village; be sure to stop in just behind the church.

Fiesta de Nuestra Senora de la Balvanera

The fiesta in Aduana is on the 20th of November. Nine days before the Fiesta, the statue of the Virgin is taken from the Alamos church at dawn with bells ringing for the start of the quiet procession back to Aduana.

It is a nine-day novena petitioning or thanking the Virgin as people make the pilgrimage back and forth from Alamos. In the last few days before the fiesta, the pilgrimage grows and people start walking from further distances.

It is estimated that approximately 10,000 people attend this very traditional fiesta during the two-day celebration

Purisima de Concepcion

A week-long celebration is centered around the feast day on December 8 honoring the patron saint of Alamos. Every evening on the Plaza de Armas, you will find regional food booths and entertainment for all.

Viernes de Dolores

Celebrated on the Friday before Good Friday. Households and neighborhoods throughout town decorate elaborate altars that they display in a window or door for all to see. The altars commemorate the suffering of the Mother of Christ.

In the evening people stroll the streets viewing the over fifty altars. Miracles are said to happen. Former long-time Alamos residents Gloria Mills and Dolores Parker brought the tradition to Alamos from southern Mexico.

By bus from Hermosillo via Ciudad Obregon and Navojoa:

• Hermosillo – Ciudad Obregon: 3:30 hours, buses run hourly.
• Ciudad Obregon – Navojoa: 0:45 min, buses run hourly.
• Navojoa – Alamos: 0:50 min, in taxi.

By bus from Hermosillo via Navojoa:

• Hermosillo – Navajoa: 5:40 hours, buses run every 3 hours.
• Navojoa – Alamos: 0:50 min in taxi.

By taxi from Hermosillo:

• Hermosillo – Alamos: 4:20 hours.

By bus from Los Mochis via Navojoa:

• Los Mochis – Navojoa: 1:45 hours, buses run every 20 min.
• Navojoa – Alamos: 0:55 min in taxi.

The city name derives from the native Mayo language meaning “Cactus House” (“Navo”= Cactus, “Jova”= House). The valley has been continuously inhabited since pre-Hispanic times by the Mayo people.

In September 1536, Diego de Guzmán, a Spaniard, became the first known European to reach the valley and the first Jesuit missionaries started settling in the region in 1614. Several geoglyphs from the Mayo tribe can be found along the Mayo River.

Due to the city’s distant location from Mexico City, the difficult times of Mexico’s independence in the early 19th century were largely absent from the region. However, the city had some importance after the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

The Mexican Revolutionary Álvaro Obregón was born in Hacienda Siquisiva, a small town near Navojoa.

Álvaro Obregón became president of Mexico after the revolt and initiated an agricultural revolution in the Mayo/Yaqui Valley, introducing modern agricultural techniques and making this valley one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Mexico.

Airports

Ciudad Obregón International Airport (CEN) is the nearest commercial airport, 48 km north of Navojoa. It receives flights national flights from Guadalajara, Hermosillo, La Paz, Loreto, Los Cabos, Mexico City, and Monterrey.

And also international flights from Los Angeles, Tucson, Phoenix, and Houston in the United States. Airlines serving this airport include Aeromexico Connect, AeroCalafia, Interjet, and low-cost airline VivaAerobus.

Navojoa also has a local airport which is suitable for light private planes. It is about 8 km south of the city center.

Buses

Several companies offer low, mid, and luxury-class bus services from Navojoa to other Mexican cities and also to Tucson, Phoenix, and Los Angeles in the USA. Connections are offered by foreign partner companies to other USA and Canadian destinations.

A bus station was built in the north of the city, however, it is not used and small stations in the city center are used instead.

Old public city buses have been replaced with new models with air conditioning, called SUBA. They run every few minutes and provide simple and cheap transport.

Railroad

A north-south freight-only railroad is in operation, connecting to the Mexican border in Nogales and to Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Highways

The most important highway serving Navojoa is Mexican Federal Highway 15.

This is a four-lane highway that connects it to the north to Ciudad Obregón, Guaymas, Hermosillo, Nogales, and the United States of America; and to the south to the states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico and Mexico City.

The main state routes serving Navojoa are Sonora State Highway 149 and Sonora State Highway 162.

Also, the Periférico is a semi-beltway encompassing some of Navojoa’s southern and western neighborhoods and it is used as a truck route or bypass for Mexican Federal Highway 15. It is currently being enlarged from 2 to 4 lanes in the western section between Centenario Boulevard (under construction) and Sosa Chávez Boulevard.

Others

Although Navojoa’s streets are almost all paved, horse-drawn carts are still used by the residents of the small surrounding communities (San Ignacio Cohuirimpo, etc.). Horse carts are numerous enough that there is a parking lot reserved for them on Hidalgo Avenue near the City Market in central Navojoa.

Navojoa has many hotels with a range of costs and quality. Most hotels are located off Pesqueira Street, mainly between the 1-km-long area between Tecnológico Avenue and Centenario Boulevard.

The Mayo’s Regional Museum is located in the former railroad station building opposite Santa Fe Springs Square.

The Museum has 5 rooms that exhibit temporary paint, handicraft, and sculpture expositions, pre-Hispanic and colonial objects, ethnographic expositions dedicated to the Mayos’ culture, and other objects related to Navojoa’s history.

The Tehuelibampo Museum is an eco-museum with 89 petroglyphic carved in stones over 500 years ago by the Mayo people. It is located next to the Mayo River, some kilometers northwest of Navojoa.

The city is near the Gulf of California which offers a variety of beaches.

The surrounding country is also popular for hunting ducks, doves, and deer.

Las Bocas, 30 miles south of Navojoa, is a small beach community on the Gulf of California that is frequently visited by the local residents of Navojoa during spring. (April–May). It is particularly popular during “Semana Santa” (Holy Week) when campers stay for seven days and then return to Navojoa for Easter celebrations.

Many people from Navojoa own a second house in Las Bocas.

Although one of the closer beaches to Navojoa is located about one hour away in a small town called Huatabampo. The beach is named after the town, hence the name, “Huatabampito” where many families gather year long to enjoy the beauty of the ocean.

The Adolfo Ruiz Cortines Dam, also called Mocúzarit, is a popular fishing spot and stores water used for irrigating the valley via the Mayo River. Other uses include kayaking, water-skiing, geoglyph-viewing, and other leisure activities.

Navojoa has a borderline semi-arid climate/desert climate with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is scarce but is more common during the summer months during the monsoon season.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The independent Nogales Municipality, which included the town of Nogales, was established on July 11, 1884. The Nogales Municipality covers an area of 1,675 km². Nogales was declared a city within the Municipality on January 1, 1920.

Batalla del 27 de agosto de 1918 ~ Battle of Ambos Nogales

The international trade that existed between the two cities greatly propelled the economic development of Nogales, Sonora, and the greater Northern Sonora region, but that did not prevent significant problems from forming in the area after the outbreak of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

On August 27, 1918, at about 4:10 pm, a gun battle erupted unintentionally when a Mexican civilian attempted to pass through the border, back to Mexico, without being interrogated at the U.S. Customs house. After the initial shooting, reinforcements from both sides rushed to the border. On the Mexican side, the majority of the belligerents were angry civilians upset with the killings of Mexican border crossers by the U.S. Army along the vaguely defined border between the two cities during the previous year (the U.S. Border Patrol did not exist until 1924). For the Americans, the reinforcements were the 10th Cavalry, off-duty 35th Regimental soldiers and milita. Hostilities quickly escalated and several soldiers were killed and others wounded on both sides. The mayor of Nogales, Sonora, Felix B. Peñaloza was killed when waving a white truce flag/handkerchief with his cane.

Due in part to the heightened hysteria caused by World War I, allegations surfaced that German agents fomented this violence and died fighting alongside the Mexican troops it was claimed they led into battle. U.S. newspaper reports in Nogales prior to the August 27, 1918 battle documented the departure of the Mexican garrison in Nogales, Sonora, to points south that August in an attempt to quell armed political rebels. Furthermore, an investigation by Army officials from Fort Huachuca, Arizona, could not substantiate accusations of militant German agents in the Mexican border community and instead traced the origins of the violence to the abuse of Mexican border crossers in the year prior to the Battle of Ambos Nogales. The main result of this battle was the building of the first permanent border fence between the two cities of Nogales. Though largely unheard of in the U.S. (and even within most of Mexico), the municipal leaders of Nogales, Sonora, successfully petitioned the Mexican Congress in 1961 to grant the Mexican border city the title of “Heroic City”, leading the community’s official name, Heroica Nogales, a distinction shared with the Sonoran cities of Guaymas, Caborca, and Ures, and a number of other cities in Mexico.

Escobarista Rebellion

Early in March 1929, the Escobarista Rebellion exploded in Nogales, sponsored by Obregonistas, supporters of Mexican president Álvaro Obregón, who had been assassinated on July 17, 1928. General Manuel Aguirre, commanding the rebellious 64th Regiment, took power without firing a shot, causing federales from Naco to send a daily airplane to attack the rebels. It dropped a few bombs over Nogales without doing any damage, while the rebels fought back with machine guns from the roofs without doing any damage to the airplane. There was only one casualty, a woman who was scared by a bomb explosion and had a heart attack. That same month, a hooded man appeared at night driving a tank on Morley Street on the U.S. side, then entered Mexico to help the federales in Naco. It seems that the tank had been bought in 1927 for fighting the Yaquis, but U.S. officials prohibited it from leaving the U.S., and it had been kept in a warehouse in Nogales, Arizona.

Nogales has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa), with warm summers and cool winters, often presenting freezing temperatures.

As of 2000, the census reported that the City of Nogales had a population of 159,103 people, representing approximately 50% growth from 1990. By the 2005 census the official population of the city was 189,759, and that of Nogales Municipality was 193,517. At the latest census in 2010, the official numbers were 212,533 for the City of Nogales, and 220,292 for the Municipality.

The city and the municipality both rank third in the state in population, after Hermosillo and Ciudad Obregón. The municipality includes many outlying but small rural communities. The only other localities with over 1,000 inhabitants are La Mesa (2,996) 31°09′35″N 110°58′28″W and Centro de Readaptación Social Nuevo (2,203) 31°11′04″N 110°58′04″W. Nogales is served by Nogales International Airport.

The population growth is in part due to the influx of industry that has come since the opening of the maquiladora industry through the National Industrialization Program, decades before the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During the 90s, this economic context was, in part, held by an important Sonora state social policy by the Secretary of Urban Infrastructure and Ecology, Vernon Perez Rubio, accomplishing the city´s total coverage on drinking water, with a 20-year guaranteed service. Manufacturing now accounts for 55% of the city’s gross domestic product, and services are growing as well, most of this caused by the growing jobs in the city.

Nogales is known for its recent enormous population growth which covers the hills along the central narrow north-south valley. Dispersed among the houses, the visitor will find a mixture of factories, stores, etc. In 2006, the southern half of the city experienced a modern urbanization development including shopping malls, wide avenues, and modern housing conglomerations.

At the center of Nogales, there is the Plaza de Benito Juárez. Here there is a statue with two leading figures designed by Spanish sculptor Alfredo Just. This is a tribute to Mexican President Benito Juárez, and the other is the “Monument to Ignorance”, where a naked man who represents the Mexican people is fighting with a winged creature that represents ignorance.

The primary commercial artery is Mexico Federal Highway 15, which links the state with the U.S. as well as major cities in Mexico.

In aviation, the city is served by the Aeropuerto internacional de Nogales, which, as of 2015 had no commercial airline service.

Due to its location, Nogales is one of the most important ports of entry for U.S. tourists. The downtown area consists of bars, strip clubs, hotels, restaurants, and a large number of curio stores, which sell a large variety of artesanias (handicrafts, leather art, handmade flowers, clothes) brought from the deeper central and southern states of Mexico. Local dishes commonly available in restaurants include many types of antojitos (Mexican food) such as enchiladas, tacos, burritos with carne machaca (dried meat), menudo and tamales.

Since 13 March 2015, its Catedral Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is also the episcopal cathedral see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nogales. It is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hermosillo, from which its diocesan territory was split off.

As the municipal seat, the city of Hermosillo is the local government of over 3,800 other localities, with a combined territory of 14,880.2 square kilometres (5,745.3 sq mi). The most important communities outside the city include Miguel Alemán, San Pedro el Saucito, Bahía Kino, Kino Nuevo, La Victoria and La Manga.

The two most important rivers are the Sonora and the San Miguel. Both of these are used for irrigation purposes with the Abelardo L. Rodriguez Dam located on the San Miguel River. The population increase of the municipality, currently at 2.5% annually, puts pressure on the infrastructure of the city, especially its water supply. Decades of overpumping of ground water has led to the aquifer levels being lower than sea levels, and sea water creeping in as an “artificial recharge.”

Climate

Hermosillo features a hot desert climate. Temperatures can range from as low as freezing in January and February to 48 °C or 118.4 °F in July and August. Rain falls mostly between July and September, with annual precipitation between 75 and 300 millimetres (3.0 and 11.8 in). Most of the vegetation here consists of mesquite trees as well as trees such as the desert ironwood, palo verde and the huisache. Desert animals such as the desert tortoise, rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep and lynx are the most notable species. Populations of feral red-masked parakeets and monk parakeets are a local sightseeing attraction here.

Hermosillo’s all-time weather record for high temperature is 49.5 °C or 121.1 °F, which was achieved in June 2014. In recent years, the lowest temperature was −4 °C (24.8 °F), in December.

Evidence of the area’s first inhabitants dates back 3,000 years, much of which are from a site called the San Dieguito Complex, located in the El Pinacate Zone. Evidence of agriculture dates back 2,500 years. In the pre-Hispanic era, this area was inhabited by the Seri, Tepoca, and Pima peoples.

The first encounter between the Spanish and natives occurred in the middle of the 16th century, when explorers were sent here in search of nonexistent gold. The first missionaries arrived in the state of Sonora around 1614, and Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived in 1687, founding a mission in nearby Cucurpe. What is now the states of Sonora and Sinaloa was loosely organized as the provinces of Sonora, Ostimura and Sinaloa.

In 1700, three small Spanish villages were founded in what is now the outskirts of Hermosillo, Nuestra Señora del Pópulo, Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles and la Santísima Trinidad del Pitic. The native peoples here soon became hostile to the Spanish and managed to drive them out several times in the early 18th century. In 1716, the Spanish offered irrigated lands for farmers to natives who agreed to abide by Spanish law. Around 1726, a fort named the Presidio of Pitic was constructed to stop the domination of this area by the natives, especially the Seri. However, the situation did not settle soon so that the first church was not built until 1787 and the first formal parish was not established until 1822.

During the Mexican War of Independence, Sonora and the town of Pitic stayed loyal to the Spanish Crown. In fact, a general from this area, Alejo García Conde, defeated insurgent José María González Hermosillo, who had been sent here by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. In 1825, the village of Pitic was made the seat of the department of the same name. In 1828, the settlement changed its name to Hermosillo to honor José María González de Hermosillo. A battle between imperial and republican forces occurred here in 1866 during the French Intervention in Mexico. In 1879, the capital of the state of Sonora was moved from Arizpe to Hermosillo. In 1881 the railroad linking Hermosillo with Guaymas and Nogales was finished, allowing for economic expansion in the area by bringing in mining equipment and modern agricultural equipment. Since then, the city has been an economic center for northwest Mexico. During the Mexican Revolution, forces loyal to Pancho Villa were repulsed by General Manuel M. Diéguez. After the assassination of Francisco I. Madero in 1913, Venustiano Carranza, then governor of Coahuila, sought refuge in Hermosillo. Here Carranza began the Constitutionalist Movement, and because of this, Hermosillo has the nickname of the “revolutionary capital of the country.”

From the late 19th century and through the first two decades of the 20th, Chinese immigrants came into Sonora state. One of the places in which a significant number settled was the city of Hermosillo. Some of these immigrants had capital and used it to establish businesses, especially shoe manufacturing and clothing. Some of the most successful Chinese-owned businesses in Sonora were based in Hermosillo and sold their merchandise to other parts of the country. However, by the 1920s anti-Chinese sentiment had become strong in Sonora state, with many Chinese leaving for Mexico City or the United States.

In the 1980s, Ford built a plant here, which had a great impact on the city’s and state’s economy.

As the city is located on a plain in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by flat areas with grass, behind which are greener hills that are then framed by serrated peaks in the background, the city is a common stopover for North Americans traveling by car toward the coast, and is the only city in Mexico that purifies all drinking water before it goes to homes. The city is the major economic center for the state, with about thirty percent of the state’s population living in the city.

The center of the city is Plaza Zaragoza, built in 1865, in which there is a Moorish-style kiosk, which was brought from Florence, Italy in the early 20th century. The plaza also has a flower garden and statues of General Ignacio Pesqueira and General García Morales.

The plaza is framed by the State Government Palace and the Cathedral. The Palacio de Gobierno, Spanish for “Government Palace,” was constructed in 1881, using stone from the nearby Cerro de la Campana mountain, has a white Neoclassical façade, with a central body that extends slightly more in front than the rest. This central body is flanked by Ionic columns and is topped by a semicircular pediment and a clock tower. The side wings have an aligned series of windows on the first level and balconies on the second, with the corners having thick pilasters. The interior has one patio with a main staircase, decorated with murals done between 1982 and 1984 by Teresa Moran, Enrique Estrada and Héctor Martínez Arteche, depicting scenes from Sonora’s history. The building was officially inaugurated in 1906 and reflects elements of French style, which was popular at the time.

The cathedral, named the Catedral de la Asunción, is located next to Plaza Zaragoza. It was begun in the 18th century but was not finished until the beginning of the 20th. However, the first chapels associated with the cathedral were begun in the 18th century. Construction of the cathedral began in 1861 and is a mix of predominantly Neoclassical architecture with Neogothic decorative elements. The main entrance is flanked by paired columns on pedestals and the smaller side doors are topped with semicircular pediments. Above the main doors are two ogival or pointed windows, over which is a crest with a balustrade. The church’s towers have three levels with a dome-like top and are decorated with crosses from Caravaca de la Cruz. The interior of the church is of very austere Neoclassical design.

The Plaza Hidalgo area of the city was a very fashionable area during the first half of the 20th century when a number of the wealthy and influential of the city built homes here. Today, many of these constructions now house institutions such as the Instituto Sonorense de Cultura, the Colegio de Sonora, Radio Sonora, the Colegio Library and the Colegio de Notarios. Each weekend, the plaza becomes a cultural center, hosting various activities and events such as concerts, exhibitions, theatrical works and more.

The Regional Museum was opened in 1960 with only one small hall, which exhibited archeological finds from the region. Today, there are two large halls, one dedicated to anthropology and the other to history. The anthropology hall displays archeological finds such as tools, utensils, textiles, stone objects and more from both the pre-Hispanic and colonial periods. The second focuses on the colonial period and contains items such as documents, maps, tools, coins and more.

The Museo de Sonora (Museum of Sonora) is housed in a building that originally functioned as a prison. It was completed in 1907 and built by the mostly indigenous prisoners themselves. The prison closed in 1979. In the 1980s, the building was reconditioned, reopening as the current museum in 1985. This museum has eighteen rooms covering various aspects of the state including its paleontology, history, archeology and ethnography. It has also conserved some of the cells of the original prison. Some of its more important items in the collection include a serpent’s head from the Teotihuacan period, a collection of coins from the 16th century and various antique weapons.

The Museo de Culturas Populares e Indígenas de Sonora (Museum of Popular and Indigenous Cultures of Sonora) was the former residence of Dr. Alberto Hoeffer. It was constructed in 1904 and restored in 1997, conserving its original French-inspired style. Today, it houses a museum mostly dedicated to the indigenous cultures of the state, including crafts, clothing, customs and ways of life.

La Pintada is an archaeological zone located 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of the city and was a refuge area for the Seri and Pima Indians. The site is important because of its caves, which were used as dwellings, burial spaces and religious centers. The caves shelter paintings that contain numerous animals such as deer, birds and lizards as well as human figures. The human figures are stylized and some appear to be adorned with skins and/or horns, other are throwing spears and some appear to be dancing, wearing body paint. In addition there are geometric figures such as squares, triangles, circles, straight and wavy lines, all of which combine in one way or another to form complicated designs. In some areas of the caves there is evidence of paintings on top of paintings, testifying to the length of time the area was inhabited. The paintings have been attributed to the Comca’ac or Seri culture.

The Cerro de la Campana mountain is one of the symbols of Hermosillo. Its summit is 350 metres (1,150 ft) above the valley floor and contains a lookout called El Caracol, which was inaugurated in 1909. There are two theories as to the origin of the mountain’s name. One states that it is from a peculiar metallic sound that is made when the mountain’s rocks fall against each other. The other is based on the bell-like shape of the elevation.

Just outside the city proper on the highway to Guaymas is the Centro Ecológico de Sonora (Ecological Center of Sonora). The Center has more than 300 species of plants and 200 species of animals from both Sonora and other parts of the world. All of the animals live in recreated natural habitats. The Sonoran collection is part of one of CES’s main functions, which is to preserve the flora and fauna of the state. The collection contains representations of animals and plants from the four main habitats of the state: mountains, grassland, desert and sea. Some of the species are in danger of extinction such as the bighorn sheep, the white-tailed deer as well as a number of bird and reptile species.

Bahía de Kino, also known as Bahía Kino, and in English as Kino Bay, is on the coast of the municipality and named after Father Eusebio Kino. The waters of the bay have little wave action or undertow and are warm year-round. Activities practiced here include swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing a variety of species, boating and sailing. In summer it is possible to catch marlin, sailfish, dorado (mahi-mahi) and tuna. In front of the shoreline is Isla Tiburón, which is a declared ecological zone and is inhabited by wild sheep and deer. Kino Bay is the home of the Seri Museum, which was founded to preserve the Seri language and culture. State and federal officials are looking to develop Kino Bay into a major tourist resort, called a Zona turística prioritaria (Priority Tourism Zone). This would include government investment and the attraction of private investment through tax breaks.

San Carlos is a beachfront subdivision within the port city of Guaymas, in the northern state of Sonora in Mexico. It is noted for the exceptional clarity and warmth of the ocean water in its shallow bays. It lies on the body of water known as the Gulf of California. Given the size of the city, with nearly 7,000 inhabitants, there is a remarkable number of RV parks, resorts and stores. There is also a very large and active diving community. There are also other outdoors activities like climbing, sailing, horseback riding, aquatic sports, and others.

The Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Festival has been an annual event since 1985 and is the most important cultural event in northwest Mexico. It takes place in Hermosillo and a number of other municipalities in the state. Representatives from various Mexican states and countries such as Spain, the United States, Brazil, Germany and others send artists to perform and exhibit their work. The event is organized by the Sonoran state government and the Instituto Sonorense de Cultura.

In the Coloso neighborhood of Hermosillo, and other locations in Sonora, the Yaqui people are known for their celebrations of Holy Week, which mix Catholic and indigenous religious practices. In Hermosillo, the main brotherhood that sponsors this event is called the Fariseos. Rites performed during this week are intended to combat evil and sickness, calling upon both saints and “temastians” or medicine men to use magic to expel evil spirits. During this time participants dress in traditional Yaqui clothing and perform native dances such as El Coyote (The Coyote), Matachines, Los Pascolas and especially the Danza del Venado (Deer Dance), animal sacred to the Yaqui as a symbol of good.

Two other major festivals there include the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Festival) in July and the Feria Exposición Ganadera e Industrial (Livestock and Industry Exposition and Fair) in May.

The main highway serving Hermosillo is Mexican Federal Highway 15. Another important route is Sonora State Highway 100. General Ignacio Pesqueira García International Airport provides domestic and international service to the United States.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The city, previously named Cajeme, takes its name from Mexican Revolutionary Álvaro Obregón, a native of nearby Huatabampo, Sonora.

Álvaro Obregón became president of Mexico after the Revolution and initiated an “agricultural revolution” in the Yaqui Valley, introducing modern agricultural techniques and making this valley one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in the country. Renowned U.S. agronomist Dr. Norman Borlaug, the architect of the “Green Revolution” worked here after successful developments in increasing the resistance of wheat. For his efforts he was later awarded the Nobel Prize.

Ciudad Obregón has a semi-arid climate featuring long, extremely hot summers and short, warm winters with cool mornings.

It is frequent that in summer the temperature reach 40 °C (104.0 °F) or more, with overnight lows greater than 24 °C (75 °F) and sometimes reaching 30 °C (86 °F).

Sunny skies and clear nights can be expected through all the year.

Many severe thunderstorms with sandstorms reach the region in summer. Rainfall is scarce but it is more prominent it the summer.

In the winter, daytime temperatures can be hotter than 26 °C (79 °F) but at night the temperature can fall to 2 °C (36 °F). Snow in Ciudad Obregón is nonxesistent, but hailstorms can occur during cold fronts.

The extreme temperatures recorded in the box below between 1961 and 2016 were recorded at the Downtown Station of Ciudad Obregón, Sonora.

Cajeme Municipality has as its head Ciudad Obregón. Its first settlers established themselves in the neighborhood called Plano Oriente, as irrigation canals made by the Richardson company around 1910 and two years later, the South Pacific railroad established a station called Cajeme.

The town of Cajeme was initially a part of Cocorit Municipality until its elevation to Municipal Seat on September 28, 1927.

The first city government was established on January 1, 1928. The July 28, 1928 decree stated that “the city is known now with the name of Ciudad Obregón, the town formerly known as Cajeme”.

In 1937 another legislation stated that Cajeme be the name of the Municipality and Ciudad Obregón its seat.

In 1950 Ciudad Obregon had a population on 120,000.

The Yaqui tribe is settled in eight towns, Potam, Huirivis, Torim, Cocorit, Bacum, Vicam, Rahum and Belem. seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from the city is the first of the eight Yaqui towns that make the autonomous territory of these people known for their independent character, because it is one of the few American ethnic groups not dominated militarily by Spanish colonialists.

Yaqui history is covered with acts of heroic resistance for the defense of their territory and culture, an ancestral culture enriched by rites and traditions of which the Deer Dance stands out, a symbolic representation of the hunt for this animal whose aesthetic richness has awakened interest the world over. In the rites of Passover and Easter, or in the Day of the Dead celebration, Yaqui culture reaches its highest splendor and shows us the survival of mystery, the unity of man with the universe and the intimate relationship between people and the nature that surrounds them.

One day the wind of Passover takes the Pharisees to roam the nearby cities hidden behind leather masks; another day rivalries and mundane ambitions are forgotten so that the whole tribe may join in the commemoration of its faithfully departed. Men and women that practice traditional medicine apply ancient knowledge passed on by their ancestors and with herbs and ointments cure the sickness of their relatives.

Dance, music, traditional medicine and Yaqui festivities are the expression of a magical world of religion that coexists in harmony with western culture. Obregon City is also Birthplace to one of its most notorious past inhabitants: El huilito Rojas from the very first settlement in obregon city: plano oriente of Cardenas Ave. and Guerrerro.

Ciudad Obregón is the second largest city in Sonora (after state capital Hermosillo) with a 2010 census population of 298 625 People. Its municipality of Cajeme had a population of 409,310.

As of 2005 the per capita income for the municipality of Cajeme was $10,940 and the Human Development Index was 0.8635.

The city is served by Ciudad Obregón International Airport.

Nainari Lagoon

A peculiar tourist attraction, a product of man’s whimsy is the artificial “Nainari Lagoon” with an approximate diameter of 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) located at the western city limits between Guerrero and Padre Eusebio Kino avenues.

It is the ideal place for outdoor sports, and its two piers are perfect for all type of aquatic activities like skiing, sailing and canoeing being the site for triathlons, marathons, bicycle races and all manner of sports competitions.

Also for everyone’s delight, cold coconut stands where you can find the freshest coconuts and other fuits such as mango con chile, and restaurants.

This small oasis is artificial, built in 1956, one of the great achievements of City Mayor Rene Gandara, who opened the hydraulic gates to fill the reservoir. Before it was a lagoon region where there was duck hunting and rice was grown.

The Nainari Lagoon is Obregón’s bride, with its groom the trees that surround it. The Nainari Lagoon is the city’s oxygen lung and tourist attraction that provides the city with a beautiful panorama, it has small boardwalk and a boat dock.

On the side is the shelter for young tourists Water is constantly circulating as it is connected with the Lower Canal and entrance and exit door.

The Lagoon has been in recent years better tended and remodeled by the authorities. It has at its entrance a small garden with a bronze statue of a discus thrower which gives it much enhancement.

Just next to the lagoon there is a swimming called “deportivo” that is a swimming pool, and has all types of sport courts. such as tennis, basketball,etc. It is also a romantic place for couples to be at night, or just when the sun is going down. Some of the people just go to the lagoon to spend time with their friends/family.

Ostimuri Children’s Park

Next to the Nainari Lagoon we have the Ostimuru Children’s Park and the Ostimuri Zoo, the best place to stroll with the family, here you will find an ample variety of mechanical rides for your children. The trees that surround this place cover it with lush branches like a caress from the sky. At the park’s edge the spectacular Ostimuri Zoo awaits you, an artificial habitat where a wide variety of animals exist, the song of birds as you stroll through this place is like a melody from heaven. As you make your journey in the midst of fabulous animals, you are surpassed by an imposing boa as if it were a guardian of this place.

Yaqui Museum

The museum offers a wide perspective of Yaqui culture having among its objectives rescuing, preserving, investigating and spreading the culture and way of life of the Yaquis. As well as stimulating in the state’s population the rediscovery of historical, linguistic and ethnic values of the Yaquis. Another objective is to show Sonoran children and teens the particular characteristics of Yaqui personality and the richness of their folklore. Another important objective is to raise consciousness among Sonorans in regards to the development of historical events of the Yaquis as well as the important influence that they had in the formation of groups and classes that constitute the regions current society. This is made more accessible thanks to visual and interesting scenes of daily life of the population of said tribe, mounted with the instruments, tools and original clothing that has been with them since ancient times and distinguish them on and international level.

Cocorit House

This construction dates from the previous century, its architecture is of colonial style. It has four exhibition rooms and an ample garden where we find permanent samples of painting and sculptures as well as arts and crafts. Among the House’s visitors is the internationally renowned sculpture and painter Jose Luis Cuevas. Among the objectives of Cocorit House is to support art in those people with artistic attributes that don’t have enough support. That is why local artists call it the region’s haven for the arts.

“Álvaro Obregón” Dam

The General Álvaro Obregón Dam also called the Oviachic Dam, named taken from the place it is located, starts its construction in the year 1947 and is finished in 1952, being filled first on July of the same year. It is located 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) north of Ciudad Obregón.

Lake Ouiachic has a surface of 20,500 acres (83 square kilometres) and a storage capacity of 3226 millions of cubic meters; it forms part of the length of the Yaqui River, it’s the state’s largest dam and the third located on said river. From the Oviachic Dam a 27,603-kilometre (17,152-mile) network of main and secondary canals is derived that irrigate 272,000 acres (1,100 square kilometres) of surface in the Yaqui and Mayo Valleys, being one of the most important hydraulic infrastructures of the country. During the last two decades this hydraulic work has come to forma part of the main and most visited tourist destinations in our region. Thanks to its natural beauty and ample possibility to make any aquatic activity.

Huivulai Island

Huivulai Island is located 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Ciudad Obregón and 5 miles (8.0 kilometres) off the Sonora coast in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). In Mayo, Huivulai means “long neck”. The island is 17 kilometres (10.6 miles) long and 1.2 kilometres (0.7 miles) wide at its widest part. The island features many natural attractions including sand dunes used by four-wheel drive vehicles. The island has a water well oasis surrounded by date trees that attract many species of birds, including gray and white pelicans, corvetta, gray crested cranes, storks, and albatrosses. The island is ringed by beaches and features fishing opportunities off-shore.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700