*This media trip was provided by Oh Partners so I could provide my readers with my honest opinion on Puerto Penasco and all it has to offer*
For those of you who have been following along, you know I was visiting Rocky Point. Even though I have lived here in Arizona for around 20 years, for some reason I was not aware of how close Rocky Point was... I have flown to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and just last year Cancun. I now feel like an idiot, to fly my entire family (there are 5 of us) to Cancun last year, just airfare alone was not cheap. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed each of those trips and they all are a little different, but right now if I had to make a choice Rocky Point is the only place I would choose.
Only a mere 4..5 hour drive from my house and I can be on a beautiful beach. Puerto Penasco known to most of us as "Rocky Point" (I honestly didn't know it had another name), has claimed the name Rocky Point due to the lava rock that you can find on some of the beaches. Although the beaches near the resorts and parts of El Malecon are soft sand with many seashells for the kids to hunt through.
Preparing for a trip out of the country may seem daunting, but it really doesn't have to be. The law now states that you must have a Passport when traveling out of the country, although I have my passport, many of the others (including my mother) that we were traveling with did not. After consulting with many people who frequently drive across the border we were comfortable with only bringing a State ID and Birth Certificate (although my mom went a little crazy and brought a lot of other paperwork). You need to get car insurance for Mexico, Mexican officials do not recognize US insurance. Mexican insurance can be purchased online or if you forget or want to wait, once you hit Aho, Arizona just about every store until you get to the border sells insurance. I think it's about the same price either way you go. Unlike some of the other areas in Mexico, everywhere we went accepted US currency, so there was no need to worry about exchanging for Pesos (which in my opinion can be a pain). There is a great gas station before the border in Why, Arizona, the gas is higher than here, but if you're not comfortable filling up in Mexico then you may want to gas up before crossing the border.
Driving to Mexico was uneventful and Rocky Point is only about an hour past the border, when we crossed the border there was a line, which is not normal (I hear) for entering only for leaving, our Guide let us know they were working on making the border crossing easier with more lanes. When we were stopped at the border crossing we were asked to roll down all our windows and pop the trunk, after a quick glance through and a question of where we were heading we were on our way! Once you pass over the border be prepared. At every stop sign there is someone who is selling something or asking for donations. We brought some dollar bills and change to give to some who were asking for donations and kept on our way. Everyone says in Mexico the driving rules are just a suggestion, on my way to Rocky Point however, I stayed at the posted speed limit because it was my first time driving in Mexico and I didn't want to go to Mexican jail!! No worries though everyone sped past me while I tinkered along... oh yeah the speed limit is posted in KM not MPH so hopefully like my car yours has it on the speedometer as well! My advice for driving through Mexico is be aware of the other drivers, many of them won't be watching for you. On my way back home I felt more comfortable with the traffic and was told that the "No Hassle Signs" meant that you weren't going to get pulled over in that area, so basically you can drive with traffic unless you are in a town, then you want to follow the posted speed limit.
Our first stop when we arrived in Puerto Penasco was La Casa Del Capitan. Situated at the top of a very steep hill is this great restaurant with beautiful views and amazing seafood, not to mention dessert. We were served platters of different seafood to try (they do have other foods as well if you're not into seafood) I tried my first oysters and clams and although it was not for me, it sure was fresh! My favorite was the bacon and cheese wrapped shrimp. They were A-MAZ-ING! 2 different kids of Cerviche along with breaded shrimp and fish were on the platter as well. I love breaded seafood, but this was all so fresh the breading wasn't needed. Make sure you try their fresh lemonade, it is soo good, I couldn't get enough!
After visiting with my new found friends and stuffing ourselves with delicious food, we headed to the Las Palomas Golf and Beach Resort to check into our rooms where we would be spending the next few nights. The room was stunning with tile throughout a beautifully remodeled kitchen and a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. The full kitchen is filled with everything you could need minus the food! The pictures I post just can't do it justice! You can find more images on social media if you search #ArizonasBeach. Las Palomas has many different pools of all shapes and depths which I found refreshing. There was always at least one pool that you could have all to yourself. If you were needing to have some kid free time, they even have a small Kids Club onsite. You could lounge in the infinity pool or near the swim up bar or even just relax while you float down the lazy river (make sure you bring your own float or grab one in their little convienance store). Luckily for me (even though I bring my own pillow everywhere with me) the beds were very comfortable and if needed you always have a pull out couch in the living room, perfect for the kids!
After checking into our room and getting ourselves situated, we were off to El Malecon Boardwalk. El Malecon is basically the downtown area where you can find all the touristy shops, fresh seafood, restuarants and bars. Of course it's right off the beach as well, but this is the part of the beach where you will find the volcanic rock! As you're walking along shopping remember that you can haggle with the shop owners and as a friend told me "they give you the best price as you're walking away". Many of the shops have the same things and you can find some great deals in your journey. My Suggestion (if you are in Rocky Point during the week) try to avoid El Malecon during the weekend, unless you're used to driving here it can be a little overwhelming due to the weekend traffic.
After a nice stroll down El Malecon we headed off to the La Playa Bonita Resort for Dinner at El Tapeo Wine Bar. Now lucky me, it was Thursday which meant I got to try Paella, but first tapas! Being at a wine bar, I wanted to try something at least with wine, so for the first time I had Sangria (which I decided right away I liked!). Tapas or appetizers were delicious meats and cheeses and then crustini breads with yummy asparagus or mushroom and cheese toppings. Paela I had never heard of but it looked interesting and I love being adventurous with food! Paela is a mixture of seasoned rice, clams, nice big Rocky Point shrimp and chorizo sausage. So good! We also were lucky enough to have a live band, which even with my love of Rock music, I definitely enjoyed it. I'm not much of a dancer but the other ladies were up dancing and having a blast!
The next day we had planned a trip to Bird Island, but unfortunately due to the windy conditions, it was cancelled. Bird Island is located a 1.5 hour boat ride out into the Sea of Cortez, along the way you may spot dolphins and in the winter months it is suggested to bring binoculars to possibly catch a glimpse of whales! When you arrive at the bird island you will see many species of birds and curious seals and sea lions, you can do all sorts of water activities around the island while enjoying the sea life.
Instead we enjoyed the beach, although it was windy, it was not cold. We also took a trip back to El Malecon to do some souvenir shopping.
For lunch we headed out to Puesta Del Sol (I was completely spoiled with all this amazing food). For this meal we had a traditional Surf n' Turf meal, steak topped with shrimp that was somehow intertwined together beautifully! Finish of this meal with a flan/ chocolate cake dessert, you just can't go wrong!
I swear I didn't just hop from restaurant to restaurant and eat non stop! We went to the ocean a lot and collected seashells, walked down the super clean beach with the calm surf, perfect for the kids to play without worrying about waves. We floated down the Lazy river and enjoyed the beautiful view from out room. There is so much more to do in Rocky Point, including horseback riding or renting ATVs.
But then we went to dinner... well, cocktails and dinner at Penasco Del Sol. Penasco Del Sol is the most popular resort in Puerto Penasco because not only does it boast the best of both worlds, right off the beach and right near El Malecon, but the pricing is very affordable. I also hear it is a pet friendly resort! We had a wonderful hostess for our dinner, Karla who is the General Manager Assistant and events coordinator. Our Cocktails and Dinner were set up for us right on the beach with a beautiful sunset backdrop over the ocean. Cocktail hour is always an exciting time for me, especially when I get to try new things. This was one of those times, we were brought out a traditional drink called the Banderita, which comes from the word Bandera meaning flag in Spanish. The Banderita consists of three shot glasses: Tomato juice, Tequilla and Lime juice. Now I have never been big on tomato juice, but what the heck! There is not really a set order to drink them in, it seemed that everyone had their own preference, I drank the tomato juice first since it was my least favorite and ended with the lime juice. The drink was pretty good and it warmed me right up! After the Banderita we tried different margaritas, Strawberry, Lime and Mango. Dinner arrived in a tinfoil package, freshly steamed fish with vegetables and served with a side of seasoned rice, another very good meal. The seafood was all so fresh none of it had that fishy taste. For dessert we tried 2 different kids of Flan, I think this trip was my first taste of flan as well! Flan reminds me of a rice pudding/ cheesecake mixture, it's pretty good!
After dinner we headed back to our room to relax a bit before calling it a night. I noticed that some of the seashells we had collected were strewn across the floor, which I thought was very odd. Until I saw one start crawling! I thought we had been very careful not to bring any friends up to the room, but the ones on the floor, after closer inspection I found all had legs... I checked the others on the counter as well but they were all clear. So I took my 4 friends back down to the beach and put them into a tide pool so they could carry on. *Note to self* check closer for legs and hermit crabs inside shells!
The next morning the floor was clear of shells and none had moved from the pile! This morning we were going to check out breakfast at our resort. Las Palomas has a breakfast buffet every morning with a pretty good selection, on Saunday's they have a brunch set up with mimosas and a wide variety of foods, unfortunately Sunday I had to stick with a light meal due to my stomach not feeling well (I think the cruise was a little rough on my problematic back). Along with the selections at the buffet they also have an omelet station and will bring you pancakes or waffles. I was really impressed with the food, I am not huge on buffets because so often the quality is just not there.
This was our last day in Puerto Penasco but, we had a full day planned. After a 1/2 hour drive we would be touring the Luxurious Mayan Palace Resort which is a great place to feel a little more secluded and relaxed. Another 1/2 hour away and you would be in Puerto Penasco's agricultural area where they produce the best meat in the country. They have tours you can take there as well.
Once you arrive at the Mayan Palace you will feel like you are on a small luxury island. Enter through the front of the Palace and you will see the Rabbit in the Moon, There is a legend: a long time ago a God, then living on Earth as a man, started on a journey and, after walking for a long time, became hungry and tired. With no food or water around, he thought he would die. Then a rabbit grazing nearby offered herself as food to save his life. the man (God), moved by the rabbit’s noble offering, elevated her to the Moon, then lowered her back to Earth and told her, “You may be just a rabbit, but everyone will remember you; there is your image in light, for all people and for all times.” I love hearing abour legends and forklore of the places I visit and it's amazing when they integrate it into the artwork.
I was very excited to visit this resort because on the drive over I found it was one of my timeshares (lucky me)! The resort was beautiful with a beach so calm it was almost like a lake with the water lapping the shoreline. I could certainly picture my children playing safely in the water and along the beach. The pools were lovely and there were lounge chairs and umbrellas everywhere you wanted to be. It was so calming and relaxing walking along the path between pools and ocean. I loved theat the had a big circular seating area around a firepit, I could picture my family sitting around it in the evening enjoying each other's company, possibly roasting marshmallows or making new friends. Further down the walkway we found part of the lazy river, Las Palomas has one too but this one has it beat. You can see potions of it at a time because it is more secuded as you drift through perfectly landscaped grounds (they also provide your tubes for floating down the river).
Just past the lazy river (that I was ready to grab a tube and jump into) was a huge Kids Club With a water park area for the kids, They have many activities for the kids including piñata making and cupcake decorating. They even have rooms for napping. It looked like a great place for the kids to hang out while you relax the day away!
A short drive from the Mayan Palace is the beautiful Vidanta golf Course designed by Jack Nicholaus, even the non golfer can appreciate the gorgeous backdrop as you look over the greens into the ocean. We had a blast as we hit a couple golf balls and toured the course. The Club House has a full bar and Restaurant with the best margaritas I have ever had!
Are you looking for some delicious Mexican food while in Puerto Penasco? Look no further than The Sonoran Sea Resort. Fajitas, Fish tacos, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas and fresh Guacamole... oh how I love Mexican food. Sonoran Sea not only has another beautiful view while you sit down to eat, but the Mexican food is top notch! Finish it off with a sundae filled with pecans, coconut and strawberries and you will be one happy camper.
