The Beaches
Whether it’s sugar-fine sands or rugged seascapes you’re after, Puerto Peñasco has a beach for you. Sandy Beach (Playa Arenosa) is most popular with families, snorkelers, and divers, while nearby Playa Bonita conveniently offers umbrellas, drinks, and food. Las Conchas features six golden miles of prime shell collecting and sand dunes, while El Mirador Beach is the nightlife hub.
El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar
A UNESCO World Heritage site filled with ancient volcanoes, petrified lava flows, magnificent craters, and undulating sand dunes, this is one of the driest places on Earth. Frankly it feels more like the moon, which is probably why astronauts used it in the 1960s to prepare for landing there. Wild inhabitants include pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and pumas.
Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO)
This conservation-focused nonprofit has a visitor center in Puerto Peñasco where you can learn about the Rocky Point’s seaside desert ecosystem and natural history. Nature tours to El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar are also recommended.