Bahía de Kino

Introducing Bahía de Kino

Bahía de Kino is the kind of Mexican paradise you see in the movies, but rarely stumble upon in real life. There is a true end-of-the-road feel to the place; it’s the most laid-back waterfront town in this region and one that encourages packing it all in and living out your days soaking in the sun and sipping on Sols.

The town was named for Father Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit missionary who established a small mission here for the indigenous Seri people in the late 17th century. It’s 110km west of Hermosillo, is flanked by some 10km of beautiful and peaceful Sea of Cortez coastline and, unlike Puerto Peñasco, it hasn’t suffered a massive overdose on condominiums at the hands of overzealous developers.

Kino is divided into old and new parts: Kino Viejo, the old quarter, is a dusty, run-down fishing village. Though the town hops with schoolkids and shrimpers during the day, it turns sleepy at dusk and most businesses are closed by 8pm. Kino Nuevo, further west, is where you’ll most likely spend most of your time. It’s also where you’ll find the ‘snowbirds’ (retired Americans who head south for the winter, when their northern residences turn chilly) who live along this single beachfront road in either spiffy holiday homes or hulking RVs. The main beach is a soft, lengthy, palapa-lined piece of paradise and is safe for swimming. High season is November to March; at other times, you may find yourself blissfully alone in any one of the hotels or campgrounds. Go ahead, lose yourself.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009