Sonora is a desert state inNorthern Mexico. While it is not near the top of most people's travel plans, it is not without charm. Its main attractions are its beaches and its magnificent desert, which can be explored in El Pinacate biosphere reserve.
Sonora's major tourist attraction is its beaches, especially San Carlos, Puerto Peñasco, Bahía Kino and the Gulf of Santa Clara in San Luis Río Colorado.
San Carlos has a large variety of sea life off its shores, making it popular for sports fishing and scuba diving. One of its main attractions is the Playa de los Algodones, called such because its sand dunes look like cotton balls. On one of hills behind it, there is a lookout point which allows for views of the area. A number of Yaquis, Seris and Guaimas on and around the Tetakawi Hill, making a living from fishing.
Puerto Peñasco has experienced large-scale development along its 110 km (68 mi) of beaches, which have calm seas. It is in the extreme northwest of the state. Some of the available activities include jet skiing, boating, sailing, sports fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. It is near El Pinacate biosphere reserve. There is also an aquarium called the Acuario de Cer-Mar, which is a research center open to the public. The aquarium has a number of species such as marine turtles, octopuses, seahorses and many varieties of fish.
Bahía Kino is named after the Jesuit missionary, who visited the area in the 17th century. In the 1930s, a group of fishermen established a village in what is now known as Kino Viejo. This bay's beaches have white sand, with warm calm waters off of them. For this reason, Kino Viejo calls itselfla perla del Mar de Cortés (the pearl of the Gulf of California). Available activities include horseback riding, scuba diving and sports fishing.
TheIsla Tiburón is 28 km (17 mi) from Bahia Kino in the Gulf of California. It is the largest island of Mexico. It has been declared an ecological reserve to protect its flora and fauna, such as the wild rams and deer that live here.
To enhance tourism in areas away from the primary beaches, the state of Sonora has set up several tourist routes for promotion as well as gained "Pueblo Mágico" status for one of its smaller cities.
Hermosillo's International Airport (General Ignacio Pesqueira GarciaHMO IATA) receives flights from several domestic destinations and from Phoenix in the U.S.
From the south from the state of Sinaloa you can access the Federal Highway 15, which is a toll road.
From the north, the state can be accessed through the border with Arizona, through the following points:
From Chihuahua you can access from:
Through Baja California you reach San Luis Río Colorado from Mexicali, and continue along Federal Highway 2 and also to the coastal highway direct to Puerto Peñasco.
Buses are often the most comfortable and economical way to travel in Mexico. From the United States, trans border buses leave from cities in California and Arizona to the Sonoran city ofHermosillo, where onward connections throughout Mexico can be arranged.SeeBus travel in Mexico for further information.
Sonora is a big state with long distances between towns. A car is the best way to get around the state. Long distance buses serve larger population centers. The hub of bus transportation in the state is in Hermosillo.
TheIslands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California — aUNESCO World Heritage site, shared with three other Mexican states.
Sonora has fourPueblos Mágicos, which are small towns with history, cultural traditions, and charming atmospheres. Sonora's designated small towns include:
TheSonora Desert is a wonderfully calm place. There are also a number of natural reserve areas that are open to visitors and promoted for tourism. These include El Pinacate in the Altar Desert and the Colorado Delta and Upper Gulf of California biosphere reserve. Both of these are near the major resort area of Puerto Peñasco and are some of the driest areas of Mexico.
ThePinacate Nature Reserve, just south of theU.S. border, a stunning example of desert landscape.
| Thisregion travel guide toSonorais ausable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
