LOCAL RULES

• No drinking while driving vehicles of any kind.
• Legal drinking age is 18 years old.
• All vehicles on the beach are prohibited.
• No riding ATV's on the streets after dark.
• Fireworks, only in designated areas until 10:00 PM.
• Possession of drugs, guns and weapons are federal crimes and highly penalized.
• All fines are paid at city hall. Please report any attempt of bribes to police department. Ph #: 011-52-638-383-1616.

GETTING THERE

Mileage From These Cities To Puerto Peņasco:

• Denver, Colorado - 1,000
• Albuquerque, New Mexico - 650
• Las Vegas, Nevada - 500
• Los Angeles, California - 540
• San Diego, California - 439
• Flagstaff, Arizona - 350
• Phoenix, Arizona - 212
• Tucson, Arizona - 210

Airline Travel

The international airport is North of downtown Rocky Point on Mex. Route 8. This small airport is available for private pilots, their passengers, and cargo. Presently, we are unaware of any daily commercial flights in or out of Puerto Peņasco, from Tucson or Phoenix. The Airport, with its single runway, has established immigration and customs with the Mexican Army providing 24-hour security for the Airport. Currently, there is no AV gas or Jet fuel available for refueling. The Airport is fully operational and equipped with a VOR(PPE-112.10) and runway lights are operated upon request or by the pilot via radio. Other frequencies are 122.2 and 126.7. The Airport Manager, Alonso Dominguez, speaks excellent English and can be reached from the United States at the following phone number: 011-52-638-36097. We are told that a much larger airport for commercial jet operations is being planned for sometime in the foreseeable future. Many private pilots in small aircraft find the existing airport convenient. When flying in and out of the Rocky Point Airport, you must have the following: Pilot's License, Medical Certificate, Airplane Registration, Air Worthiness Certificate, and Mexican Airplane Insurance. General Information: Airport ID - MMPE; August 5, 1994 declared Port of Entry; Coordinates - 31 21 08 LN, 113 32 08 LW; Runways - 11-29 5,000 Ft. paved, 03-21 3,000 Ft. dirt; Landing Fee - 50 Pesos-single engine, 100 Pesos-twin engine; Federal Fee - 407 Pesos; Tie-Down and Overnight - Free; No car rental service is available. Please feel free to contact the Webmaster for information regarding private charters in twin engine aircraft.

Shuttle Services From Phoenix and Tucson

Currently, there are commercial shuttles and/or bus services into Rocky Point from Phoenix.

Recreational Vehicle Travel

There are a number of full service RV Parks in and around Rocky Point. Many winter visitors or other families find that Puerto Peņasco is a great getaway from October through May. Visitors come from all over the United States, Canada and Alaska. Advanced reservations are recommended for visits during the winter months. Ask for senior discounts if the park accepts AARP or The Good Sam Travel Club. First time visitors with RV's may want to join an RV caravan to alleviate the mystery and uncertainty of traveling to Mexico. There are some 1500 spaces available in 13 established RV / Trailer Parks.

From Phoenix to Rocky Point: (212 miles, +/- 4 hour trip) Printable directions in text format.

Travel west on I-10 from Phoenix towards California. Exit on State Route 85, heading south towards Gila Bend. Gila Bend is a great place to gas up, if necessary, and have lunch at Subway @ the Chevron Station, Burger King, McDonalds or Taco Bell @ Love's Gas Station. Toward the west end of Gila Bend, turn right just before McDonalds. This exit is marked with a sign stating "Mexico" and "SR-85 South". Continue south on SR-85 to Ajo. Ajo is a great place to stalk up on groceries you may have forgotten at the Olsen's-IGA Market, which is just north of the Texaco Gas Station on the right side of the street. Ajo is about the same size as Gila Bend. There are a number of banks with ATM's and it is also the best place to purchase your Mexican Automobile insurance. Many visitors choose to gas up and purchase their Mexican Insurance at the Holt Texaco Station. You will want to purchase insurance for every full day of your anticipated visit in Rocky Point. Continuing south on SR-85 out of Ajo, the next "civilization" is Why, Arizona. Any fueling or insurance missed in Ajo, can be purchase at the Chevron Station in Why. This is also where the Tucson based visitors join us on their way to Rocky Point. Continue South through the beautiful Organ Pipe National Monument, all the way to the border at Lukeville, Arizona. The settlement at Lukeville is also called "Gringo Pass". It is the last stop prior to the border crossing into Mexico. Additional facilities; gas, groceries, etc., are also available, should you choose. When you reach the border, pay attention to the red and green lights at the entrance to the border crossing. A green light and a friendly wave from the Mexican border officer, means that no stop is necessary...keep on crusing to Rocky Point. A red light and a flagging from a Mexican border officer will ask you to pull off to your left and stop for a brief moment. They may ask you for your trunk to be opened and confirm that you are not importing any goods into their country that you should not be. Please be polite and cooperative, as this process rarely takes longer that a minute or so. The border officers are generally very pleasant people. A word of caution: IT IS ILLEGAL AND YOU WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED TO BRING FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION INTO MEXICO. DO NOT DO IT! Puerto Peņasco (Rocky Point) is located in the Mexican Free Zone. This means that you will not need a passport or visa to visit this town or the surrounding resort areas. There is no fee to cross the border. Once over the border, you are immediately entering the border town of Sonoyta. Continue South approximately 1.8 miles from the border and you will come to a three-way intersection. Stay to the left towards Pto. Peņasco/Santa Ana; do not go West toward San Luis. Approximately 1 block South of the three-way intersection, and over the Rio Sonoita Bridge, the road will again split into a Y. Stay to the right, and you will be on the road to Rocky Point. This is Mex Rt. 8/Pto. Peņasco. You will pass "Vasquez's" on your left, if you have made the correct turn. There is a traffic light soon after Vasquez's that is easy to miss if you don't pay attention. Driving in Mexico is not a problem, as long as you drive defensively. The speed limit is listed in kilometers and is fairly slow through the town, so take note. Continue along the same road, all the way to Rocky Point. Sonoyta to Puerto Peņasco: The two-lane asphalt highway is well maintained for the full 62 miles to Rocky Point. This is Mexico Route 8. It is although in an open range area. Therefore, on occasion, there may be livestock on or near the highway. Once in Rocky Point, follow the local signage or other directions to your destination. Mex Route 8 going South into the town of Rocky Point becomes Blvd. Juarez. Many of the major hotels are listed on the overhead signage. ENJOY YOUR VISIT! Please note this convenient route for homeowners or their visitors staying in these resort areas: Playa Encanto, Playa La Jolla, and Playa Miramar. Approximately 53 miles from the border, and 50 minutes, there is a new and convenient highway which bypasses Rocky Point and leads straight to the residential communities listed above. Exit right and then left at the Caborca turn-off. The overhead signage will direct your way. Head East towards Caborca 7.3 miles to the old Caborca Hwy. If you are heading to Playa Miramar, head left. If you are heading to Playa Encanto or Playa La Jolla, turn right going West to the Playa La Jolla sign, which is 1 mile, and turn left heading South onto the unpaved road. Follow this road 4.5 miles, turn right and follow the appropriate signage for your intended destination.

From Tucson to Rocky Point: (210 miles, +/- 4 hour trip)

Travel west on SR-86 from Tucson all the way to Why, Arizona. Why is a good place to top off the fuel tank and to buy Mexican Insurance before crossing the border into Mexico. At this point, the directions from Why, Arizona to Rocky Point, Mexico are the same as listed above for travelers from Phoenix. ENJOY YOUR VISIT!

From San Diego, CA & Yuma, AZ: (San Diego - 430 miles, +/- 8 hours; Yuma +/- 5 hours)

There are two main routes available to the Mexican border town of Sonoyta, where you pick up Mexico Route 8 to Rocky Point. The preferred American route is as follows: Travel east on I-8 from San Diego or Yuma to the Arizona SR-85 exit at Gila Bend. Continue into Gila Bend and turn left, just beyond McDonalds. This turn is marked with a sign stating "Mexico" and "SR-85 south". At this point the directions from Gila Bend, AZ to Rocky Point, Mexico are the same. Please referrence the above directions for travelers from Phoenix.