A recent press release revealed that around the middle of this year residents of Puerto Peñasco, and visitors, will be able to enjoy films at one of the six movie theaters set to open within the Porto Mío mall, currently being built by Metrópoli Arquitectos.
“This summer the red carpet will be unfurled in Puerto Peñasco, with the inauguration of the Porto Mío Shopping Center, which will house 6 movie theaters each with a capacity for 150 people. The theaters will offer high definition projectors and cutting edge sound,” the release states.
Current progress on the mall project is at 50%, representing the creation of nearly 1,000 direct jobs and an investment of 25 million dollars.
“Your Theater, Near You” is a program to bring quality theaters to areas that typically are not considered within expansion strategies of large theater chains.
The idea involves a new concept of movie theaters for small cities, one that without sacrificing quality or pinching pennies puts both national and international film at the grasp of a public that traditionally has to travel hours to larger cities in order to see the latest films. Read more…

Puerto Peñasco Celebrates CEDO’s 30th Anniversary

The unspoiled blue water of the Sea of Cortez, the stark desert, the pristine estuaries, the thriving marine ecosystems yielding shrimp, fish and mariscos — these are the things that draw us to Puerto Peñasco again and again. For three decades, CEDO (“Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans”) has watched over our community and its natural resources, teaching, conducting research, protecting, and sharing. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of one of Puerto Peñasco’s most important community institutions and the town is planning a year-long series of events to celebrate.

The Home Tour: A Special Journey through Las Conchas

On March 6, CEDO and the Las Conchas neighborhood held the annual Las Conchas Home Tour. Once a year, Rocky Point’s most exclusive neighborhood opens the doors to some of the town’s most beautiful residences. The Las Conchas Home Tour has been a tradition for twelve years and proceeds go to support CEDO’s community education programs. Read more…

A Golf Paradise

In offering high scale entertainment in Puerto Peñasco, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Laguna del Mar has reopened in order to showcase its world class golf course. The most demanding of players can relish in the course’s back-9, now open to the public, where they can develop and test their skills. One remarkable characteristic of this course is that it is practically located on an island. The surrounding lagoons and sand traps enrich the course’s natural scenery, which extends in front of the majestic Sea of Cortez and is capable of seducing the most demanding of golfers.
On the weekend of March 27th -28th, Laguna del Mar welcomed golfers to mark the reopening of the Signature course. The course, now open Tuesdays through Sundays, has the first available Tee-time at 7:30 a.m. and then in 15 minute intervals up until 6 p.m. The course will be closed on Mondays for maintenance. Fees are set to be accessible, without the need of costly membership. For 18-holes, or rather two rounds on the back-9, the rate for the general public is $70 US; local residents will be charged $50 US. In addition, there are a variety of rates available depending on group size including discounts ranging from 10% - 15%. The intent is to provide numerous options to assure anyone interested in playing on the course is able to begin planning their visit as soon as possible. Furthermore, a snack-bar open to golfers on weekends will offer delicious quesadillas and guacamole, nachos, sandwiches, french-fries, and sliders, to assure everyone feels right at home.
It’s important to remember that Laguna del Mar has been a pioneer among Puerto Peñasco developments as, in addition to its cutting-edge technology, the lagoon system that winds around the course is refreshed every 12 hours as the tides change. The development possesses its own well, therefore does not tap into City water. It also has its own water treatment plants, a reverse-osmosis plant, and is the first company on a national level to be environmentally certified by PROFEPA (Federal Office on Environmental Protection) in the realm of tourism, this means the development cares for flora and fauna as a 100% sustainable and ecologic project.

With an average occupancy rate of 52%, and an influx of just over 36,000 visitors, which brought in at least 10 million dlls to the area, 2010 Spring Break amply met expectations to surpass the previous year, reported Oscar Palacio Soto, President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
Palacio Soto stated that according to final numbers, occupancy rates across the city rose at least 20 points, as last year the average occupancy rate during Spring Break came in at 30%.
He indicated the first week of Spring Break had an average occupancy rate of 46%, which reached 56% during the second week.
Palacio Soto remarked an important phenomenon noted was that visitors stayed in Peñasco for longer periods of time than had been initially expected. This had a positive impact particularly with respect to economic figures. He noted the economy got a daily boost of approximately 1 million dollars per day, for a total of at least 10 million dollars from March 12 – 21. Read more…

With the relaunching of Aereo Calafia commercial flights to the area on March 25th, Puerto Peñasco is once again connected to other cities via air

Five months after the airline had suspended service to this port, Mario Adrián Luque Verduga, Manager of the Guasave Station of Aereo Calafia, announced they would be starting up again and in fact have already flown in the first flight along the route linking the state capitals of Hermosillo, Sonora and Mexicali, Baja California.
He detailed the flights, with a capacity for up to 13 passengers, will run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. However, he clarified, they may increase the number of available flights to meet demand if necessary.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro stated the March 25th relaunching of commercial flights along the Hermosillo-Puerto Peñasco- Mexicali route is a positive thing.
He noted this is a good sign, as it reflects the positive image Puerto Peñasco continues to have among investors who are looking at the city as a good option to boost their projects.
“It’s good news that we will once again have commercial flights to the city, particularly as we will be connected to cities of such importance as Hermosillo and Mexicali. We know this is just one of various projects with its foot in the door that will benefit the municipality,” explained the City Leader.
As one may recall, in October of 2009 the Aereo Calafia airline out of Baja California temporarily suspended flights along their Hermosillo-Puerto Peñasco route following nearly five months of service.
The economic crisis, along with waiting for the opening of the new Sea of Cortez airport were both factors weighing into the airline’s earlier decision to suspend the Tuesday and Thursday flights between Peñasco and Hermosillo.

Investment of 150 million pesos to generate up to 400 direct jobs

Through an investment of nearly 150 million pesos, representing the creation of between 200 to 400 direct jobs, on March 9th the first phase of construction on economic-ecologic housing began in the neighborhood of San Rafael.
A simple ceremony with the laying of the first stone marked the launch of a first package of 952 homes, of the 4,138 that are set to be built in the northeastern part of the city over the next seven to eight years.
With authorities, developers and invited guests on hand, Gabriel Madrigal, director of Delta Developers in charge of the project, noted that the “Bosques” subdivision seeks to promote the economic development of the region through promoting economic-ecologic housing.
He stated that his company, coming from the center of the country, has developed more than 9,000 homes in the states of Mexico, Michoacan, Puebla, Queretaro, Guanajuato and now Sonora. Read more…

More than 100 participants take part in event

With the participation of just over 100 people, the fourth Pinacate pilgrimage, entitled “Along the path of Kino” once again proved to be a resounding success, meeting and even surpassing expectations, reported Amaranto Celaya Celaya, Municipal Chronicler.
Celaya, who is also president of the Historic Studies Foundation, indicated the event held on March 6th -7th and now in its fourth consecutive year, was made possible through coordinated efforts of the Pinacate Reserve and the local administration of the 20th City Administration.
He expressed that just over 100 guests met at the Schuk Tok Visitors Center around 8 a.m. on the 6th in order to register. The caravan then departed and headed to a camp site located 3 kilometers from the Visitors Center at the base of the La Bambarria hill. From there, participants departed on foot at around 10 a.m. and headed towards the starting point of the dunes found in the Grand Altar Desert.
The hikers, numbering just over 90 people included men, women, and children of all ages, among them Don Enrique Ibarra Corona as the oldest and Jorge Pivac Palacio as the youngest. Despite inclement weather, steep paths, the burning sun, and difficulties of traipsing through the sand dunes, the climbers did not ease up their efforts. Read more…

Measure would be catastrophic for Peñasco and the country

On March 1st this year, the U.S. Department of State informed the Mexican government of their decision to not grant certification to Mexico allowing for shrimp importation. This decision was reached as the U.S. determined that Mexico does not have efficient manners, as compared to those in the U.S., to prevent the capture of sea turtles during shrimping operations.
The failure of certification is based on results of visits made to Mexico by experts from the U.S. State Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from the U.S., along with Mexican authorities, in review of the appropriate use of Turtle Excluding Devices (DET). Results state there were instances of noncompliance observed during these visits.
The embargo measure will go into effect on April 20th, when shrimp species in most federal waters of the country are off-season and export operations generally reflect significant decreases, thus having little effect on exports. Read more…

On Saturday, March 6th, more than 3,500 people took part in the city’s first tremendous community fair, which brought together 26 state governmental offices to provide health and other services to members of the local community.
The event, held at the Community Development Center in the neighborhood of Nueva Esperanza, was presided over by Sonora DIF (Office on Integral Family Development) President, Iveth Dagnino de Padrés, who rated the activities to have been resoundingly successful in meeting objectives.
Sonora’s First Lady witnessed a number of dreams come to life, as well as achievements and goals met during the just over 5 hours of the fair. The location, set up on the Community Center’s soccer field, was barely enough to accommodate all of those who showed up from early on to take part in the day’s activities.
Accompanied by John Swanson Moreno, Sonora DIF Director, as well as Bernardo Campillo, Secretary of Health, Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro and municipal DIF president, Mrs. Marcela Avelaiz de Zepeda, Iveth Dagnino de Padrés visited all the booths taking part in the fair, which was put on principally for local families of limited means.
As had been planned, the Community Fair was a festive event held just before Family Day (March 7th). Entire families made their way to the fair in order to receive benefits and services provided by the various offices within the state government. Read more…

Presentation of equipment worth 6 million pesos

A comprehensive beach clean-up and surveillance program was recently launched, receiving a boost from new equipment valued at 6 million pesos. Sights are set on achieving certification of Peñasco’s beaches as Clean Beaches as soon as possible.
The equipment, consisting of 4 double-traction patrol units, 2 golf carts, 5 four-wheelers, a beach cleaning tractor, trash collector, a dump-truck and trailer, was recently presented to Peñasco during a ceremony held in the parking lot of City Hall.
With officials from the three levels of government on hand, along with invited guests, Deputy Director of Ecology Oswaldo Mendoza García gave a general explanation of the program aimed at cleaning up and monitoring the city’s beaches in seeking to obtain Clean Beach Certification for Peñasco.
He detailed the equipment will operate in four zones into which the beaches of Puerto Peñasco have been divided, having a tremendous positive impact on sprucing up the overall urban image.
In this manner, he added, they are seeking to raise awareness within the public, including residents as well as visitors, that when working together and as a team positive results can be achieved and progress made. Read more…

Police force and taxi drivers undergo training

As part of actions to strengthen a culture of tourism in the city, members of the Municipal Police and a number of local taxi drivers took part in separate quality service training workshops prior to the onset of the highly anticipated periods of Spring Break and Holy Week.
Twenty-five members of the police department successfully completed the course, presented by instructors from the State Office of Training and Tourism Culture, and received certificates during a simple ceremony held at the auditorium of the Public Safety offices.
Police agents Romina Hinojos Guerrero and Gustavo Alberto Trujillo Coronado expressed gratitude to the authorities for the support provided through these courses. Agent Trujillo Coronado expressed his great satisfaction at having concluded the training program, acquiring tools to improve their work for tourists and for the community in general.
Course instructor, Jesús María Martínez, congratulated the agents from the Tourism Police who enthusiastically participated in the 40-hour training, which addressed themes including quality service, basic English and regional history in order to provide better guidance for visitors. Read more…

The Puerto Peñasco General Hospital, inaugurated just four years ago, is operating with certain deficiencies in the area of equipment and staff, which are to be addressed and corrected promptly as soon as budgeted funds for 2010 begin to flow, reported Bernardo Campillo García, Sonora Secretary of Health.
In a spur of the moment press conference, the Health Secretary noted that these deficiencies, which were not detailed, were identified following a recent visit he made to the health facilities.
He detailed the current administration received nearly 20 hospitals throughout the state with certain deficiencies, some still undergoing remodeling or construction and others that have been finished yet are still lacking equipment or staff. Read more…

Safety Secretary Ernesto Munro announces installation of security cameras at schools

Strengthening security and care for both national and foreign tourism is the objective of the recently formed Municipal Tourism Police Force, which is part of the office of Public Safety, begun on March 5th.
During the formal act launching operations of the newly formed force, in addition to the presentation of six recent model patrol cars and uniforms, Sonora Secretary of Public Safety Ernesto Munro Palacio announced a program to place security cameras and alert buttons in schools throughout Puerto Peñasco.
In a brief ceremony held in the early afternoon of March 5th, on Boulevard López Portillo in front of the Police department, the functions of the newly formed group were formalized. The tourism police force will monitor areas that are most frequented by visitors.
The Secretary of Public Safety stressed that safety is a very delicate and concerning issue, noting that in 2010 Sonora will invest more than 600 million pesos in solving tremendous problems that stem from criminal acts. Read more…

By Sami Rivero

I am pleasantly astounded at what can be uncovered when taking on the role of tourist in one’s own town. I suppose we all find ourselves in this situation at one time or another, no matter where we live. The idea of “oh, it’s just over there and I can enjoy it anytime” turns into “my, I haven’t been to the beach in how long??” Or perhaps, “wow, I’ve never been to the (fill in the blank), and it’s just right there.” In this case, I would like to share the joy of once again making my way to the Pinacate on a glorious Sunday following rains that fell just the week before, leaving the desert brimming with color.
Early March at the beginning of Spring Break proved to be a fine time to fill up our water bottles, pack up some apples, and drive to the vast Pinacate and Desert of Altar Reserve. After nearly 10 years of living in the area, this would only be my second time off into the Reserve.

Heading north out of Peñasco, we drove about 25 minutes or so to the Pinacate entrance – just at the first bend in the road and before the bridge. There, we had to get out of the car and go into the small gate office (on the right) to check in by filling out an entry form to indicate number in party, residence, and emergency contact info. The entry cost is $50 pesos per person, though just $25 pesos for th Read more…

Achievement marks first in Sonora and second on a national level

The Narciso Mendoza kindergarten recently received certification as a Cavity Free pre-school, becoming the first of its kind in Sonora and the second on a national level to achieve this accreditation, confirmed Angela Acuña Romo, President of the Puerto Peñasco Dental Association.
Acuña Romo, beaming with satisfaction and joy, stated that following work of just over five months, they were able to successfully pass the March 22-23 evaluation done by the Pre-School Oral Health Program of the Mexican Dental Association.
She stated that following this important achievement, the Puerto Peñasco Dental Association was congratulated and given recognition by the President of the Mexican Dental Association, Jaime Edelson Tishman, who stated he was proud of everyone who took part in the program.
Acuña Romo remarked they would be holding a ceremony on April 26th, marking the official presentation of the certificate to accredit the Narciso Mendoza kindergarten as only the second school in the nation to be declared a Cavity Free School; the first to reach this goal was in Colima. Read more…

Although the 2010 Peñasco Carnival “An ocean of dreams and fantasies” brought in minimum earnings for the City, municipal authorities reiterated the event successfully met outlined goals.
Through a press release, the director of the Office of Control and Governmental Evaluation reported that city income obtained from the Carnival was able to cover investments made to assure the event met its established objectives.
Cecilio Vásquez Ordez noted the event brought in $1,766,551.15 pesos while expenses were reported at $1,722,201.42 pesos, representing a positive income of just $44,349.73 pesos.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro deemed the event to have been positive noting that though there were not tremendous earnings, they were able to successfully meet targeted goals. Read more…

200,000 peso investment for expansion and remodel</strong
Through an investment of nearly 200,000 pesos work is soon to commence to expand and remodel the city’s central Fire Department, reported Rubén Salido Martínez, Director of Municipal Civil Protection. The intent, he furthered, is to improve service and care for the entire community.
Salido Martínez indicated that since the fire department currently has basic working equipment, they had decided to put resources into improving the department’s infrastructure.
He stated that the project, which has already been underway for a number of weeks, will include the construction of an office for the department’s board, an office for the Deputy Director of Civil Protection, an office for the Fire Chief, an office for the judicial department, conference room, storage space, restrooms, and the construction of a perimeter wall along the southern and western sides of the city’s main fire station.
The Director of Civil Protection indicated the expansion and remodel began with work on the perimeter wall, yet they are hopeful that with support from the recently renewed Fire Department Board, as well as from the Municipal Administration, they will soon have resources available to fully complete the project. Read more…