Things to do other than stare at the water

Food and Live Music

Our favorite restaurants include ones with great food, live music, and an ocean view, but there are some exceptional places listed that just have really tasty food.  

·         Grapes and Barley

·         Wrecked At the Reef

·         The New Mexican

·         El Tapeo

·         Moos

·         Diego’s Tiki Bar

·         JJ’s Cantina

·         Max’s (Across the Street from the Marina Pinacate)

·         Duke’s (Short Walk for the Marina Pinacate)

·         Pane e Vino

·         Puesto Del Sol

·         Pitaya Bar

·         Boo Bar

·         Leo’s

·         Zays

·         Borrachos

·         El Capones

·         Tiki Bar at Sonoran Sky

·         Tequila Bar

·         Playa Bonita

Things to Do:

CEDO 

Provide environmentally and culturally responsible hands-on experiences in nature. https://cedo.org/

Go Fishing

You can do this right outside our patio.  Bring a pole and see what you can catch!

Take a Hike

Be sure to get out and enjoy the beautiful views by hiking one of these scenic Rocky Point hiking trails. Check some out here: https://www.alltrails.com/mexico/sonora/puerto-penasco

Paint and Sip

Many restaurants in the area do Paint and Sip days/nights.  Some of the ones I know about are at Grapes and Barley, Playa Bonita, El Tapeo, and La Arena at the Casino.  A professional artists will provide step-by-step instructions to paint a pre-selected work of art while you drink wine or other beverage of your choice.  The best part is you get to keep your creation as a souvenir. 

Explore Low Tide Pools

Puerto Peñasco is known for its dramatic tidal fluctuations. Exploring the tide pools is fun to do with kids, but even as an adult, it is still something I love to do. I am still hoping to find a starfish soon, but I have seen all different types of shells, crabs, sea slugs, tiny octopus, and tadpoles. Just a tip, if you take shells, please check for live animals inside first. Also think about bringing some water shoes.

Enjoy A Massage

If you venture over to the public beach, (or walk down further to the front of the resorts along the beach), you will see massage tables set up along the way. They change the sheets after each massage and you can feel the breeze on you while you listen to the ocean. There are salons in the area that also offer massages and the rates are comparable. Many are within a short walk of the Pinacate, but you can even have them come to you!

Water Sports

Kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, kite surfing, and banana boating are just some of the activities you can find to do if you walk along the beach. You can also rent paddleboards, boogie boards, and skim boards. There are vendor booths located right outside of the Marina Pinacate Security gates that can get you set up as well.

Pinacate Biosphere Reserve

As it is one of the most important landmarks in Mexico, it’s on my list of things to explore. The Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is a group of volcanic peaks and cinder cones. It is located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 30 minutes from Puerto Peñasco. Once you are inside the reserve, the scenic drive is about 45 miles long. You can stop at lookouts along the way or get out and explore. Some of the stops offer trails to hike, so be sure to get a map when you enter the site.

Ultralight Flight, Zip Lining, Horseback Riding

An ultralight plane is a small, lightweight aircraft that lets you see Rocky Point from above.   If that sounds exciting, so should zooming at 30 mph through the air and over the desert.  Horseback riding is more my speed, however.  You can find people offering all of these experiences right outside the Marina Pinacate, in town or close to the beach at any time of the day.

ATVs

You can find ATV rentals throughout town just off the side of the roads. There are tons of off-road locations around town and near Playa Encanto, Cholla Bay, Sandy Beach, and Las Conchas that you can go out on.

Snorkel or Scuba Dive

There are a few different companies that offer snorkeling and scuba diving tours. There are vendor booths located right outside of the Marina Pinacate Security gates that can provide more information. 

Get on a Boat

Take a sunset cruise, go whale watching, catch something on a fishing charter, or take the Bird Island tour.

Rocky Point has some of the best sunsets in the world.  Watching the sunset on the water is a truly magical experience.

The best whale sightings have historically been recorded starting in January and often last until the month of April. There have been sightings as early as November and after April, depending on temperatures.

Rocky Point is known to be a fishing town. Since Rocky Point is surrounded by reefs and estuaries, it makes it an excellent location for fishing. The Sea of Cortez is home to mackerel, triggerfish, grouper, spotted seabass, red snapper, whitefish, halibut, dorado, marlin, and other fish too.

Bird Island is located 27 miles southeast of Rocky Point and is considered a reserved area of shelter for migratory animals and wild fauna. It is home to over 3,500 sea lions and 20 different species of birds. During certain times of year, you may even see some dolphins, stingrays, and whales around the island. It is also a wonderful place to scuba dive and snorkel.

Golf

Rocky Point has some of the best weather year-round and is a perfect place to go golfing. There are several golf courses in the area that you can google.

Check out FMI’s site on what to do during your stay for more information https://fmirentals.com/what-to-do/