State · Noroeste e Barrancas del Cobre

Sonora

Sonora, between the desert and the Sea of Cortés: San Carlos and the Tetakawi hill, Puerto Peñasco, the El Pinacate reserve and the colonial town of Álamos.

In the photo: Bahía de Kino

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Sonora

Sonora is in northwestern Mexico, on the border with Arizona. Most of the state is occupied by the Sonora Desert, with giant cacti, dry mountain ranges and a long coastline on the Sea of Cortés, with calm, warm waters.

On the coast, San Carlos and the port of Guaymas sit at the foot of the Tetakawi hill, with bays for diving, fishing and boat trips. Puerto Peñasco, on the northern gulf, is the resort closest to Arizona, and Bahía de Kino is the fishing village that provides access to the territory of the comcáac (seri) people, known for their ironwood carvings.

In the northwest, the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage site, has huge volcanic craters, lava fields and dunes. In the south, Álamos is a colonial town of manor houses built with silver wealth, a Pueblo Mágico.

The capital, Hermosillo, is in the center of the state. On the table, the region’s grilled beef and large, thin wheat flour tortillas—typical of the north.

When to go

From November to April days are usually mild and sunny, good for the desert and the coast. From June to September it is very hot, with temperatures that often exceed 40 °C inland. Sonora does not observe daylight saving time and is 4 hours behind Brasília year-round.

Getting there

Hermosillo airport (HMO) receives flights from Mexico City and other cities; Guaymas (GYM) and Puerto Peñasco (PPE) also have airports. From Hermosillo, San Carlos is about an hour and a half by road. From Arizona, Puerto Peñasco is roughly a 4-hour drive from Phoenix.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Sonora

When to visit Sonora?

From November to April, when the desert heat is moderate. In summer, temperatures are usually very high.

What is El Pinacate?

A reserve in the Sonora Desert with volcanic craters, lava fields and dunes, a World Heritage site.

Is San Carlos good for diving?

Yes. The bays around the Tetakawi hill have rocky reefs and marine life of the Sea of Cortez, with boat trips departing from the marina.

Does Sonora have the same time zone as Arizona?

Yes. Both do not change the clock, and Sonora is 4 hours behind Brasília year-round.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.