Puerto Peñasco Post

U.S. Senators in Opposition to New Border Crossing Identification Rules

I have been following some of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in Washington regarding the implementation of the new identification requirements this week for crossing the border.  Nineteen U.S. Senators (8 Democrats, 10 Republicans and 1 independent) have sent this letter to DHS Secretary Chertoff urging him to hold off on implementing the January 31st photo I.D./birth certificate requirement - effectively calling it a pointless intermediate measure in the stepped-up identification requirements that will eventually be implemented in June 2009.   

In December, Congress delayed the land border crossing portion of WHTI until June 2009 in order to give DHS/CBP the time and resources to be adequately prepared for an effective and smooth implementation of the stepped-up passport/passport card requirements (which most agree are necessary).  DHS decided to implement this intermediate birth certificate step anyway, even though it really accomplishes nothing towards increased border security.

The Senators in their letter rightly point out that U.S. birth certificates are issued by many different entities and therefore come in thousands of different forms and will be impossible to verify as legitimate - thus causing a major administrative issue for CBP officers trying to figure out whether a birth certificate is real or forged.  For instance, my birth certificate was issued from Bureau County, Illinois written on an old scrap of paper by typewriter and signed by someone named Tom Velon (try verifying that!).  If the real concern is making sure crossers are U.S. citizens, providing an easily-forged birth certificate surely isn't going to accomplish this.

As the Senators also point out, the birth certificate requirement will only compound the slow border crossings already being experienced at most U.S. border crossings - thus impeding commerce and restricting legal crossings by U.S. citizens (again, while accomplishing nothing towards border security).  The Lukeville border crossing is slated for expansion but is not currently well-equipped to handle the additional tourists now coming to Puerto Peñasco (even before this new requirement takes place). 

From what I have been told, these congressional efforts to convince Secretary Chertoff to eliminate the birth certificate requirements are unlikely to be successful.  So I want to again encourage everyone coming to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) to go ahead and apply for their passports or the new passport cards now - even though they aren't officially required until June 2009.  It is a pretty simply process, will save you a lot of headache over the next year when crossing the border and will speed up the crossing for everyone.

While you are waiting for your passport or passport card, make sure to have your government issued photo I.D. (driver's license) and proof of citizenship (birth certificate) available starting this Friday, February 1 and thereafter.  Not having the proper identification will impair your ability to cross and will slow down crossings for everyone else.  I have written about ways to obtain your passport or birth certificate here.   I will keep readers updated on any progress on delaying or eliminating the birth certificate requirement (but don't hold your breath). 

Puerto Peñasco TV

I've been meaning to post about PuertoPenascoTV.com for awhile now.  A group has gotten together to post video clips covering news and events happening in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) and to also provide video tours of condos, resorts, hotels, etc.  The site is in its infancy so appears to have a few kinks to work out still, but it is fun to click around and see what they are putting together.  From a tourist standpoint, probably the most interesting (and updated) sections of the website are "Fun News TV" and "Entertainment TV".

Travel Article about Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

Here is an article about Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) appearing in the Houston Chronicle's travel section the other day.  It sounds like the writer made a visit to Peñasco from Houston, enjoyed his stay and sees the continuing growth potential in the town.  He neglected to mention the current flights through Los Angeles (LAX) as an option for people wanting to travel to Puerto Peñasco from Texas, but overall it is a well written article.

The article can be viewed by clicking here.

Article on Mexican Housing & Mortgage Markets

This has been posted several different places already but I wanted to share this AP article with readers of my blog.  It does a pretty good job highlighting the current state of the Mexican housing and mortgage markets (i.e., excellent and growing) despite what is going on in the U.S. with real estate. As I have indicated before, the Mexican housing market is a little more complicated in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) because of the high land prices.  But there are certainly real estate opportunities beyond the standard beachfront condominiums, particularly with the increased availability of mortgages for Mexicans.

Click below to read the article in its entirety...

Reminder: Border Crossing Identification Changes Beginning January 31, 2008

As I wrote a couple of months ago, on January 31, 2008, border crossing identification requirements will change for Americans crossing back into the United States from Mexico.  As outlined in this article in the Arizona Republic, as of January 31, vacationers to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) will need to produce both a government issued photo identification (such as a driver's license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) in order to cross back into the U.S. from Mexico.  Children 18 and younger only need to produce proof of citizenship.  Of course, a passport will suffice in place of both forms of identification.

I have read in several articles that people attempting to cross without the proper identification will automatically be subjected to a secondary inspection in which border crossing guards will attempt to ascertain your citizenship (so brush up on your pledge of allegiance and try to learn all four verses of the Star Spangled Banner).  In all seriousness though, not coming to the border prepared will again cause major back-ups at the border.  So please make sure everyone in your car has all their identification for the sake of the other crossers waiting behind you.

Applications for the new wallet-sized passport cards, which can be used instead of a passport only for land border crossings, will start being accepted on February 1, 2008.  For more information on obtaining a passport card, click here, here and here.  For information on obtaining a passport, click here.  And for information on obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate, click here.

A reminder that all passengers flying from Puerto Peñasco to Los Angeles will need a passport (no other forms of identification - including a passport card - are acceptable).

Kicking Off 2008 in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

After a brief hiatus, I am back to posting and hope to be able to continue to provide some insight into the business and real estate communities in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico. Not a lot has happened over the last month as much of Mexico goes on an extended holiday break during the Christmas/New Year’s season. So for those of you keeping close tabs on the construction progress of your chosen condominium community, don’t expect to see a lot of change from the early part of December until now. About Wednesday of this past week, the town started to bustle again and businesses were reopening after the break.

While I was in Puerto Peñasco this week, I did notice several condominium developments starting to take shape going into 2008. Tessoro (located at the end of Las Conchas) has finished their foundation work and is putting up its steel structure. Corona del Sol (in the Las Conchas Resorts area) has delivered their first phase and has started construction on their second phase. Lindavista (also in Las Conchas Resorts) is finishing their common area and appears poised to deliver their first phase in March.

In Sandy Beach, Sonoran Sky has delivered their entire project in record time. I also noticed that the site for the Marriott Hotel being put in by Grupo Questro as part of “Peñasco Bay” (next to Esmeralda) has been surveyed and staked for excavation work to begin. Having a major hotel chain in Puerto Peñasco will be helpful as hotels tend to have extended promotional networks and will bring more visitors to Puerto Peñasco from places other than Arizona (a key to broader development in Peñasco). Marriott’s presence will also be important in the continuing development of international commercial flights into Puerto Peñasco, as the Puerto Peñasco international airport readies for operation in 2009 and flights between the U.S. and Puerto Peñasco increase in number.

On the commercial side of things, a couple of new restaurants have opened in Sandy Beach. Sonoran Sky has opened their restaurant which has large windows looking out onto the beach. Also by the entrance to the Sonoran Spa and Sonoran Sea resorts, a new restaurant/bar named Chango’s has opened. These restaurants will provide some additional options for vacationers staying on the Sandy Beach side of town (I haven’t tried either yet).

In town, we have regularly been going to Capone’s Pizzeria in Mirador (on Sinaloa past Reggie’s and the old Best Western) and it has become quite the popular hangout pretty much every day of the week. I have been seeing a lot of families there for lunch and dinner and then a younger crowd later in the evening. It’s also a good place to catch an NFL playoff game or college basketball. I recommend people check it out. Opening in the new Mission del Mar commercial plaza by the entrance to Las Conchas Resorts is Blue Buddha, a Spanish tapas and paella restaurant/lounge. Haven’t had a chance to try this out yet, but I have talked to the owners (who are from Scottsdale). They are aiming to create a casual lounge environment similar to something you might see in North Scottsdale. The interior is well done and hopefully the food matches the environment. I expect to see the Mission del Mar plaza fill up pretty quickly with some of the commercial services needed in Puerto Peñasco. Various shopping options, clothing stores, medical services, food shops and other stores are expected to go in here.

Finally, on the way into town, visitors will notice a good-sized new commercial plaza on the west side of Benito Juarez receiving some finishing touches. This plaza will be anchored by a grocery store with other shops surrounding it. It will provide vacationers on the way into town a good place to stop and grab supplies for their stay.

I encourage everyone to start planning and booking their trips to Puerto Peñasco in 2008 to see all of the latest developments in this growing resort destination!