Puerto Peñasco

Introducing Puerto Peñasco

On the northeast coast of the Sea of Cortez (Golfo de California), this town has for years been a popular destination for the beach-craving residents of Arizona’s desert cities. But Rocky Point, as the US visitors call it, is not the quaint little seaside town it used to be. It has become a gringo free-for-all and is now home to so many non-natives that it has basically become the seaside retirement community Arizona never had. Its main stretch of waterfront, Sandy Beach (also known as Sandy Point), is home to a dozen massive condo-hotel resorts, which offer luxury rooms with views, sports bars, expensive restaurants and not a hint of Mexican culture. Fans like to call it ‘the new Cancún’; haters might opt for Puerto Condo.

Over US$300 million was pumped into this area in 2007 alone, with another US$1.2 billion on its way. As a result, Peñasco is Mexico’s fastest-growing town, with a leg up on similar resort cities like Acapulco, Cancún and Puerta Vallarta due to its accessibility by car from the US. When the new international airport opens in 2009, all hell should break loose.

Last updated: Jul 22, 2009