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Traveling To Rocky Point Below you will find specific and common information on how travel to Puerto Penasco, types of accommodations, getting around town, currency and communications. Please make sure you are familiar with what you need to enter Mexico from the Mexican Customs Office. By Land Driving is the most common method for visitors to Puerto Penasco. US PASSPORTS ARE NOW REQUIRED please click here to learn more. From Arizona: Cross the border at Lukeville/Sonoyta border. Puerto Penasco is 63 miles south on Mexican Hwy. 8. The border is closed from midnight until 6am. There are also several shuttle companies between Phoenix/Tucson and Puerto Penasco. From California: Take US Hwy. 8 east from San Diego or US Hwy. 10 east from Los Angeles area. You have the option of driving through to AZ Hwy. 85 (Gila Bend) and heading south to the Lukeville/Sonoyta border or crossing the border at either Algodones (across from California) or San Luis Rio Colorado (across from Arizona, soth of Yuma). You can then drive Mexican Hwy. 2 east through the beautiful Desierto del Altar desert. Although you are on a highway, there are not alot of stores, etc. between San Luis and Sonoyta so make sure you are stocked up on supplies and water. The highway is maintained by the services of Green Angels. The Green Angels organization provides vehicle assistance throughout the Mexican Highways and freeways. Its FREE, dial 078 for more information. This is also the northern entrance to the Pinacate Reserve. La Costera Highway: The highway brings many benefits to Puerto Peñasco by attracting visitors, namely Californians. The highway, known in Mexico as "La Costera," tapping into a large potential of tourism for Sonora and Arizona, as the region attracts money from Orange County, Calif. and San Diego. The Coastal Highway is a 310-mile long highway built from San Luis Rio Colorado to Guaymas San Carlos. There are 4 stages of construction planned for the highway, Stage 1 recently completed: El Golfo de Santa Clara - Puerto Penasco. FONATUR projects that this 310-mile stretch will increase the number of hotel rooms along this highway from 2,232 (2005) to 33,355 by 2025; tourists from 1,438,196 (2005) to 7,619,302 by 2025; and increase investment in the area by over $3 Billion USD. By Air The International airport was inagurated on November 5th, 2009 by México's president Felipe Calderon Hinojoza and the Governor of the State of Sonora Guillermo Padres Elias. The new International airport has a runway of 2,500 meters in length by 45 meters in width. There are two platforms: a commercial one and a public one. Puerto Penasco does have a small airport. Most visitors will fly into airports in Phoenix or Tucson, then rent a car or make arrangements for transportation. Those who fly to Puerto Penasco come in private planes. Use Unicom 122.8 for communications and make sure you file a Border Crossing Flight Plan at your point of departure. If you have any questions regarding flying into Puerto Penasco, you may want to contact the airport at (638) 383-6097.  AEREO CALAFIA visit this link for more details. Fixed-Route Flights | Charter Flights | Scenic Flights | Parcel Service | Whale Watching Tour Aéreo Calafia's foundation dates back to 1992, the year that started operations. The company was established in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur provide air taxi services, charter and tourist flights from close range. The company then had two small-C206 Cessna aircraft and a Cessna Caravan owned by its founders, with capacities of 5 and 12 passengers respectively. In 1995, the company is increasing its operations and engages in organizing tours for visitors to the area of Los Cabos. Aéreo Calafia, was the first regional airline which offers tours for whale gray whale, which in the winter months, top Mexican coast in various geographic regions of Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. Similarly were added successfully, tours to areas such as the San Ignacio Lagoon, the Sierra Tarahumara, the Missions of Loreto Marine Park Cabo Pulmo and La Paz. From then until now, the company has maintained particular characteristics that have made Aéreo Calafia a "brand" distinct from other airlines. These features are: dependability and reliability with its customers. The airline maintains high rates on its flights punctuality, attitude of service and hospitality to their customers, warmth in the humane treatment, responsibility for flight safety and by rule, the goal is maximum customer satisfaction. This, coupled with a favorable geographical location that has increased demand and an administrative and professional responsibility have allowed Aéreo Calafia today meets about 32 fixed routes, at various times, carrying more than 50 thousand passengers annually. By Sea Puerto Penasco is, by it's very name, a port. There is a large marina with a commercial shrimp fleet and private docks. If you do sail into the port or area, please check with the Captain of the Port upon arrival. Accommodations The resort is growing rapidly. You will find a couple beach hotels, more and more beach condominiums and many beachfront RV parks. In town (and close to the beach) hotels are many and of good quality. You will also find some "budget" accommodations in Old Port, on Calle 13 and in Playa Mirador areas. Vacation Rentals are available up and down the coast. Please visit our lodging section for more great hotel accomodations. Taxi's are available in Puerto Penasco, but it's simple to drive
your own car around town. Pick up one of tourist publications and
use their maps to navigate the town. If you are in Old Port, Calle
13 area or Playa Mirador area, you will find restaurants, bars,
shops and more within walking distance. Sandy Beach, Cholla Bay
and Las Conchas areas require a car. Remember all vehicles are prohibited
on the beaches of Puerto Penasco. Almost all establishments will readily accept US currency. The issue in that case will be the exchange rate that they offer; it is advisable to ask first in order to avoid any disappointments. Many businesses will not be able to make change for anything higher than a $20 U.S. dollars so it is a good idea to carry small bills with you, or pesos. The Peso presently values between 12-13 Pesos to 1 US dollar. Banks generally have the best exchange rates & open at 9am (M-F), make sure you check what hours they do money exchanges. Lines may be longer at banks, but rates are probably a little better than exchange houses. Credit Cards are accepted by most of the hotels, with some or no
surcharge, but not all of them. ATM's are found t local banks and
can be used to secure funds, although it will be in Pesos. This
is one of the easier ways to travel, although there will be a small
fee attached to your withdrawal. While you are planning your trip,
make sure that you carry - or have access to, enough cash or traveler's
checks. Puerto Penasco is in the Mountain Time Zone and does observe daylight
savings time. Businesses are open throughout the day. Since Puerto
Penasco doesn't really have slow season (except in the hottest months
of July-August), the traditional siesta isn't usually observed.
Siesta or the mid-day break is a tradition that reflects not only
the necessity of avoiding heat-related fatigue, but is also a traditional
time to spend with family, eat the meal of the day and recharge
the batteries so to speak. Internet access is available in a few places on/off Calle 13 and
some RV parks in Playa Mirador, some hotels may offer the service.
You can call (direct dialing) and fax to anywhere in the world from
Puerto Penasco, using the facilities at your hotel or at Larga Distancia
office. You can also purchase prepaid phone cards throughout town
and use them on the local phone stands on the street. |
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