Puerto Peñasco Post

Interesting reads...

A few articles related to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) that I read this past week...

Arizona Republic article about the continuing widening of Route 85 between Phoenix and Puerto Peñasco.

Reuter's article about the strength of the Mexican mortgage market.

Mexico Premier blog post about the different regions of Mexico.

The Arizona Republic reprints the LA Times travel article from February, instead of taking the time to send someone from their travel page to visit and write up Arizona's most popular seaside vacation destination.

Arizona Republic article about Mexican dentists (that mentions Puerto Peñasco).

Arizona Republic article giving "Tips for Rocky Point first-time renters."

ALSO:  Party pictures from Club Elixir (tip to Myaann)

LAX Flights to Puerto Peñasco Suspended

I have been informed that effective immediately, the Aeromexico flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Puerto Peñasco (PPE) have been suspended indefinitely.  My sources confirmed that the flights typically were carrying no more than five passengers per trip (out of 33 total seats available) and were sometimes cancelled because of no bookings.  This led Aeromexico to decide to suspend these flights at this time.  No word on whether they will resume in the future.

To add some background, the local developers group (ADITURPP) and Aeromexico worked together to put together and subsidize these flights to L.A.  It was determined that targeting Los Angeles for these initial commercial flights into the U.S. would open up a new market to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).  Phoenix was not considered for a route because it already supplies many of the tourists to Puerto Peñasco and is within an easily driveable distance.   

Looking back on this decision, it seems to be well-intentioned, but poorly executed.  Much of the promotional efforts for the Puerto Peñasco flights in Los Angeles did not swing into full gear until well after the flights had already started.  The flights also began during the traditionally slower seasons instead of beginning in March (Rule of thumb: every Puerto Peñasco business should have its grand opening in February or March).  It has proven difficult to coax a population of people - who already have beaches and an ocean - to a relatively unknown Mexican vacation spot without a sustained advance promotional effort - particularly when for about the same price, Angelenos can fly to Cabo, a much more developed vacation destination that is more familiar to Californians.  Hopefully in the near future, as Puerto Peñasco progresses, commercial flights from locations like Los Angeles will become more viable and in demand.

In the meantime, I am hoping that Aeromexico or another carrier will recognize the potential for flights between Phoenix and Puerto Peñasco.  The continuing Aeromexico flights between Hermosillo (HMO) and Puerto Peñasco have been relatively successful because of the high volume of traffic and trade between the two cities.  Similarly, Phoenix and Puerto Peñasco are closely linked.  I think a commercial flight between the two cities would prove successful as there is a growing vacationing population in Phoenix that owns a condominium in Puerto Peñasco but would prefer not to drive or deal with potentially slow border crossings.  There is also a significant population of business travelers who I think would utilize this route (similar to the HMO-PPE route that carries many business travelers).

While the suspension of the LAX-PPE flight is a small setback for Puerto Peñasco, I think it is temporary and can be chalked up more to the town getting a year or two ahead of itself and to well-intentioned, but poorly executed planning.  In the immediate future, Puerto Peñasco will continue to cater to its bread and butter base - tourists who drive - and eventually commercial flights will be phased into the equation as the new Puerto Peñasco international airport opens.  Rocky Point is Puerto Penasco.

DHS issues final rule on WHTI

The Department of Homeland Security issued its final rule on WHTI yesterday.   It can be read in its entirety here [pdf}.  I will read through it and provide a more thorough analysis after the weekend. 

The thing that immediately jumped out at me from the press release is that they will be accepting "enhanced drivers licenses" in lieu of passports or passport cards at the U.S. border.  Arizona is working on a program to provide these enhanced drivers licenses.  The final rule will be effective June 1, 2009.  Senator Leahy (D-VT) has a mixed reaction to it.

Check back for more from me this coming week.  In the meantime, keep bringing your passports or drivers licenses and birth certificates to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).  Rocky Point is Puerto Penasco.

Cruise Ships and Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

One of my friends from Sonora Turismo sent along a few pictures from the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention being held in Miami this week.  A contingent of representatives from Sonora is attending due to the inauguration of the new cruise ship port at the Puerto de Guaymas - just completed in Guaymas, Sonora at the end of last year.  Guaymas is the larger town about 15 minutes from San Carlos, Mexico - a small vacation town populated predominantly by Americans and Canadians.  San Carlos is shaping up as sort of an echo market to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), catering more to full-time and snowbird American and Canadian populations than to the vacation market. Guaymas/San Carlos is expected to benefit when the cruise ships start to visit due to the increased tourism.  Holland America appears to be the first to announce stops in Puerto de Guaymas later this year on two 10-day cruises originating in San Diego.

As Myaann posted over the weekend, Sonora Turismo is working on bringing a cruise ship port to Puerto Peñasco over the next several years to complement the Guaymas cruise ship port.  Puerto Peñasco is approximately 290 nautical miles from Guaymas, so is a logal extension of the route into the Sea of Cortez.   

Even more tantalizing a possibility for Puerto Peñasco is becoming an origination point for cruises leaving for trips to Mazatlan and Cabo.  This makes great sense since Puerto Peñasco is easily drivable for millions of Americans who are retiring and are looking for good vacation options.  One can imagine driving to Puerto Peñasco, staying in a hotel or resort for a couple of days and then taking off for a five or seven day cruise to Guaymas/San Carlos, Mazatlan and Cabo.

More to come I'm sure and I will keep readers updated as I find out more information about the continuing discussions surrounding this effort.

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Chicago Tribune Picks Up Puerto Peñasco Travel Article

I noticed the Chicago Tribune (which is jointly owned along with the Los Angeles Times by Tribune Co.) also picked up the Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) travel article that ran in the LA Times last week.  It is here and here. 

Good to see my (former) fellow Chicagoans get a chance to read about a much warmer place (Chicago is expecting their 35th measurable snowfall of the winter overnight and lows in the 20's).

Los Angeles Times Article about Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

The article appearing in the travel section yesterday of the Los Angeles Times can be found here.  It is sort of unfortunate the writer didn't have the chance to visit during April or May (two of the nicest weather months in Puerto Peñasco), but it seems to be a fair - albeit it very broad - overview of where the town is today and where it seems to be going. It starts off by offering the following:

Once, it was enough to be Arizona's beach, a nice wide patch of below-the-border shoreline where college kids could camp out and drink too much.

But now, it wants to be more than a parent's nightmare. In less than a decade, more than three-dozen condo towers have risen in this town's Sandy Beach area, surrounded by ever-widening waves of upscale vacation homes. It looks like a cellphone commercial by Samuel Beckett, all these rectangles of steel and glitz erupting at the edge of the barren, sandpaper-flat desert.

A short pictorial from the LA Times can be found by clicking here.

And, finally, the LA Times' tips for traveling to Puerto Peñasco can be found here.  (Although, as with most large newspaper travel articles, their tips are very general and miss a lot of what the town has to offer.)

It's good to see some positive press being generated by the public relations efforts being undertaken by several of the groups in Puerto Peñasco. 

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). 

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.

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).

Passport Requirements Delayed until June 2009

Language was included in the Omnibus Spending Bill passed by the U.S. Congress this week that delays passport identification requirements for U.S. land border crossings until June 1, 2009 at the earliest.  This means that U.S. citizens vacationing in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) will not need to provide passports until June 2009 when crossing back into Arizona at the Lukeville border crossing. 

However, enhanced identification requirements requiring government issued identification (like a drivers license) and proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate) to cross back into the U.S. will still go into effect on January 31, 2008.  For more information about these requirements, read here.  To help educate border crossers, Customs & Border Patrol is now passing out flyers at the Lukeville border when re-entering the U.S. that outline these requirements.

The language passed by Congress also requires DHS to make significant progress in testing and preparation for implementation of the WHTI identification requirements before Congress will approve funds for this implementation.  This includes considering alternative identification requirements to passports such as passcards and enhanced drivers licenses.  Several states (including Arizona) have already agreed to pilot programs testing enhanced drivers licenses that are expected to contain citizenship information that can be read using radio frequency instead of being swiped (thus speeding up border crossings).  Enhanced drivers licenses will cost less than a passport and should be easier to implement using motor vehicle department resources already in place.

So for now, bring your drivers license and birth certificate when coming to Puerto Peñasco (or use your passport if you have one).  Note that children 18 and under will only need a birth certificate (no ID required).  Also note that those flying from Puerto Peñasco to the U.S. are required to have a passport.

Birth Certificates to be Required for Lukeville Border Crossing (Passport Update)

The Department of Homeland Security issued a press release today reminding U.S. citizens crossing the border by land back into the U.S. that crossing rules are changing under WHTI as of January 31, 2008.  Border crossing guards will no longer rely on oral representation of citizenship and will instead require both a government issued photo I.D. (such as a drivers license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate).  If you already have a passport, it will obviously meet both of these requirements.

So for those of you planning trips to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) after January 31, 2008 who do not yet have a passport, you will no longer be able to cross back into the U.S. with only a drivers license.  There is an exception for U.S. citizens 18 and younger - only proof of U.S. citizenship (a birth certificate) is required.  So start digging out those birth certificates or contact your state of birth's vital statistics office (click here) to get a certified copy.  Even better, get a passport (click here) and you can quit reading all these updates.

DHS and DOS have not yet determined when implementation of the passport requirements for land crossings will occur.  The DHS Appropriations Bill for 2008 that is currently in conference (click here for full text; see Section 530) contains a provision sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) that mandates a delay in implementation of passport requirements (or alternative identification measures) for land crossings until at least June 1, 2009.  While this provision is not supported by the current administration, my sources who work on Capitol Hill indicate that it will most likely pass as part of the DHS appropriations bill due to bipartisan support in Congress.  If that happens, the passport requirement that everyone has been talking about will not take effect until at least June 2009.  I will work to keep everyone updated on the bill's progress.

Full press release from DHS can be found here.   

Lukeville Border Crossing Expansion Announced for Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

Big news coming out of the Arizona-Mexico Commission Fall Plenary Session taking place this weekend in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora.  Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano announced that the Arizona Department of Transportation has agreed to partially fund expansion of the border crossing in Lukeville, AZ to help handle the vacation traffic traveling from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) back home to Arizona on weekends. ADOT will help fund two additional processing lanes, bringing the total to six lanes (including one commercial lane). Funding will be contingent on additional private money being raised from Puerto Peñasco developers and businesses, which is expected to be secured.

To read more, click below...

Confirmation of Flights to LAX from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

Thanks to Mary Snyder from Puerta Privada for heading out to the Puerto Peñasco (PPE) airport yesterday to confirm the Aeromexico Connect flights to LAX actually happened (it's sometimes a necessity in Peñasco to confirm these things with a trusted set of eyes).  Mary sent me this picture of the airplane.  Looks like they are flying the Saab 340 and haven't yet had a chance to repaint the planes with the new Aeromexico Connect colors and logos.  The plane holds 33 passengers.

Aerolitoral now Aeromexico Connect

To clear up any confusion about the flights between Puerto Peñasco (PPE) and Los Angeles International (LAX), the flights were scheduled to begin on October 23rd.  The date was pushed back to tomorrow (the 30th) by Aeromexico (Aerolitoral's corporate parent) due to the recent sale of Aeromexico to Banamex.  The sale caused some short term organizational turnover that delayed flights commencing by a week. 

In connection with the sale, Aeromexico has announced that the Aerolitoral name will no longer be used and Aeromexico's regional service will now carry the name Aeromexico Connect.  Flights can be booked on Aeromexico's website.  This is a good development for promotion of the flight as the Aeromexico name is much better known in the western hemisphere.  And it also consolidates operation of the HMO-PPE-LAX routes under a major carrier's name.

A note that Aerolitoral's website that I have linked to several times in past posts is no longer up and running.  Also a reminder that passports are required for flights between LAX and PPE.

Short Term Lukeville Border Relief

Thanks to Brian at Puerto-Penasco.com and Terry who runs Playa-Encanto.com for alerting me to this article in the AZ Star today about a change in the processing at the Lukeville border crossing.

On Sundays and Mondays, when they reach the border, recreational vehicles and vehicles with trailers will be directed into the commercial vehicle processing lane (a lane that goes to the far right around the back of the CBP operations).  This will effectively add a lane to process the vehicles that often take the longest time in line.  It sounds like Mexican officials are going to try to direct these vehicles into the right lane when they initial get in line and hopefully keep two lanes of traffic on the Mexican side moving all the way to the border (instead of making these lanes merge into one like they did last Sunday due to the street vendors).  So if you are driving a recreational vehicle or pulling a trailer, don't expect to skip the entire line.  Get in line in the right lane and be prepared to be directed into the commercial lane when you get to the border.

It's good news that U.S. Customs is showing some flexibility and recognition of the problem since I know nerves get frayed while waiting in line and by the time crossers get to the border, they often feel that CBP isn't doing anything.  They are and I have proposed several other ideas, both short and long term, here.  This change isn't a solution but it will help wait times some.

Flights! LAX to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

Saw a beautiful thing today (while sitting in my living room on the internet).  I went to Expedia.com and did a search for a flight from LAX to PPE on Tuesday, October 30th.  It came back with a ticket ($176 one-way - which includes taxes and fees) on Aeromexico (operated by Aerolitoral).  To complete the round-trip coming back on November 4th totals $352.  If you book directly through Aeromexico's website, you will save $8.  There are probably start-up promotions that are happening but I do not have information on that yet.

More on the Lukeville Border Crossing from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

As I mentioned in my earlier post about the Lukeville border crossing, I wrote a column that was originally going to be included in the Peñasco Bulletin this past week, giving weekend visitors to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) more information about the border crossing, what is being done and what can be done.  This bulletin is passed out every week on Fridays to visitors arriving in Puerto Peñasco. The editors made the decision to keep the Peñasco Bulletin more focused on weekend activities and to potentially include my column in the upcoming issue of the AZ Tourist News.

Since the border crossing is such a timely issue and I want readers on here to have an opportunity to comment on the column, I am printing it in advance on my blog.  The column contains some of the same points I made in a blog post several weeks ago that can be read here. 

I think there is a little bit of fear within the real estate and tourism community in Puerto Peñasco to discuss the border issue for fear of driving visitors away (possibly the reason the column did not make it in the Bulletin).  However, during the high season, the border crossing slowdown coming back into the U.S. has become so bogged down, that I believe everyone needs to know about it in advance so they can plan their trip accordingly and take action to help change the situation.  It isn't a problem that can be ignored, hidden or swept under the rug because virtually every weekend visitors will be affected by it.  And I would rather visitors coming down these days not end up having a great weekend spoiled by being surprised by a 3.5 hour wait on Sunday afternoon.

The column is after the jump, so click below to continue reading my thoughts on the border situation...

Being Prepared at the Lukeville Border Crossing

There is an article today on the New York Times' website documenting another reason the Lukeville border crossing wait times have increased so dramatically over the last year (click here for the full article).  Not only has Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) experienced an increase in visitors, but the border agents have also been taking much more time to process each car that crosses the border.  I have been traveling nearly every week between Phoenix and Puerto Peñasco over the last 2 1/2 years and have experienced this change.  When I first started traveling several years ago, we would just give verbal confirmation that we were American citizens and not bringing in any contraband and we would get waved through.  Now CBP officials always check IDs and type in our information as we cross.  The extra 30 seconds or so to process each car quickly adds up on a very busy Sunday afternoon.

It seems that the Department of Homeland Security is intent on implementing this type of processing to create a national database of information on all people who are crossing and the purpose of their trip (ostensibly to increase security).  So at this point, there isn't much crossers can do but be prepared when they reach the processing station.  Crossers should have identification and any other documentation they need to cross already out.  I have been told that providing a passport will speed the process sinced the passport can quickly be swiped (while drivers licenses cannot and information has to be manually entered).  So if you have a passport, hand it over right away.  Crossers should also not be carrying any fruits, vegetables or meats back across the border (even if you originally bought them in the U.S.), as the time it will take a border agent to dispose of these items will further slow down the crossing time.  These minor steps should help the process some.

For more information on customs and what you should expect at border crossings, check out Puerto-Penasco.com's page on customs. 

A note that the NY Times article incorrectly states that passports will be required on January 31, 2008.  So far DHS has only indicated that on that date, the only change will be that border agents will have to ask for some form of ID (a U.S. drivers license or birth certificate are expected to still suffice) instead of relying on oral representation of citizenship.  Passports or some alternative ID are expected to be required sometime in summer of 2008.  See my previous posts on passports and border crossing here.

My next post will be a short article I submitted to the AZ Tourist News for publication about what crossers can do to further help the situation.

L.A. Press Conference Announcing Flights from LAX to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

The press conference announcing Aerolitoral flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Puerto Peñasco (PPE) that begin on October 23, 2007 and will fly three times a week will be held on October 24, 2007 at The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel at 10 am with representatives from Aerolitoral (Aeromexico), ADITURPP and Sonora Turismo present.  I have uploaded to Youtube the promotional video that will be shown at the press conference.  Following is the video.

Confirmation of Flights to LAX from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

I spoke with the director of our developers association this morning and she indicated that the Director of Planning at Aerolitoral has confirmed that the Aerolitoral flights between Puerto Peñasco (PPE) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will begin on October 23rd and will run on the schedule I previously posted here.  A press conference will be held in Los Angeles on October 24th to publicize the flight.  The Aerolitoral commuter jets carry 33 passengers.  I will post more information as it becomes available.

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) Videos

I created a new page to share a few of the many Youtube videos people have created about Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).  For those of you not that familiar with the area, they provide a good overview of some of the current tourist activities in the town and also provide some great views from the air of the development of the town.  They focus primarily on Sandy Beach (on the west side of town), which is where a lot of the recent development has been focused.  New development is now spreading eastward as well into Las Conchas (the Las Conchas Resorts area), Playa Encanto and North Beach (both east of Las Conchas) and of course out at the Mayan - which is across from the almost-completed international airport.  I will be posting more information about this eastward expansion as it progresses.

Link to the new video page is here.

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) International Airport Update and Pictures

A friend provided me some pictures of the new Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) international airport during the Border Governor's Conference a couple of weeks ago.  As you can see, the runway is complete and striped and was used for parking jets during the conference.  Governor Bours reportedly landed his plane at the airport for a dedication with Mayor Renteria, and other conference attendees used the airport as parking for their jets.

My source indicates that "the new airport will be available to commercial operations in the first quarter of 2009. Aeromexico Connect [Aerolitoral] will move its current operations at the Municial Airport (PPE) to the new instalations and probably new routes to both Mexico and the US will follow; there are several airlines that are looking at this new market."   So commercial airline operations to Hermosillo, Los Angeles and soon Las Vegas will ramp up using the Puerto Peñasco (PPE) airport as I have written in previous posts here and here and will eventually shift to the international airport as demand dictates.  Good news for the future growth of Puerto Peñasco.

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Breaking News - Flights from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) to Los Angeles (LAX) to Begin

I just received confirmation that the Aerolitoral flights from Puerto Peñasco (PPE) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) have been approved and are tentatively scheduled to begin October 16th or 18th (following some final paperwork).  This is great news for Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) as the town is finally connected to flights through an international airport.  Visitors are now able to fly into Puerto Peñasco from anywhere in the world.  This will greatly expand the breadth of tourists in town and will be a big factor in the continuing growth of Puerto Peñasco into a world-class vacation destination.  Next on the list for Aerolitoral are flights to Las Vegas (LAS) - which should be coming soon.  See my previous post here for more details about Puerto Peñasco's airport status. 

Flight times are tentatively scheduled as follows:

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays
Depart Hermosillo (HMO) to Puerto Peñasco (PPE) - 9:00 AM
Arrive PPE - 10:00 AM

Depart PPE to Los Angeles International (LAX)- 10:40 AM
Arrive LAX - 12:10 PM

Depart LAX to PPE - 1:30 PM
Arrive PPE - 3:00 PM

I do not have information on the final leg of the flight, but I am assuming the last flight from PPE to HMO will leave around 4:00 PM and arrive in HMO at 5:00 PM.  A reminder that passports will be required for U.S. citizens flying on the flight between PPE and LAX.

A big thanks to the local developers group, ADITURPP, and all the members who were able to contribute to providing a temporary subsidy to Aerolitoral to get these flights started.

Tourist Transportation Proposal for Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

I was having lunch Friday with a couple of new friends and one of them remarked that a problem he sees at the resort he works for in Sandy Beach is that people want to get out and go visit the town, restaurants and bars/clubs. However, they often don’t want to drive around town for various reasons – particularly at night (DUI concerns, worried about their car, not knowing their way around town, etc.). Taxis in Puerto Peñasco aren’t perceived as that reliable yet by Americans (even though I and my friends will use them), so he suggested what I think is a great idea – a weekend shuttle. Click below to read my full proposal....

No "Deadly Amoeba" in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico

In case you were wondering, there is no deadly amoeba in the beautiful Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) or on the sandy beaches of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).  The amoeba exists in warm freshwater (such as the sad tragedy documented at Lake Havasu), but not in saltwater (such as we have in Puerto Peñasco).  So enjoy the great fall season in Puerto Peñasco and enjoy the beaches!

Fall High Season in Puerto Peñasco

Late-September and October bring great weather to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) and mark the beginning of the fall high season for the town – which these days extends right through New Years. On the heels of the excellent promotional efforts this past year done by Sonora Turismo in the U.S., bars and restaurants, resorts, hotels and tour operators will be extra busy as the town is expecting one of the largest fall high seasons yet.

Planned activities this fall for vacationers to Puerto Peñasco include the first International Jazz Festival on October 13th, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers concert and OTP Beach Volleyball Tournament on October 20th and 21st and the always well-attended Rocky Point Motorcycle Rally on November 8th-11th.

While in town this fall, I encourage everyone visiting (and even locals) to try out a new restaurant or activity. This past year has seen the introduction of many new venues, so take a drive around town and re-familiarize yourself with Puerto Peñasco. Also stop by your favorite realtor’s office to check out the latest residential developments for sale. The impending completion of the international airport and coastal highway and the steady implementation of new commercial tourism infrastructure (restaurants, shopping, golf, spas, boat cruises and other new activities) is pushing Puerto Peñasco into its second phase of development – steady growth into a recognized, international vacation destination.  And it certainly isn't too late to purchase a house or condo now that will steadily appreciate with this growth over the next 25 years.

I will try to put up some more tourist-oriented posts over the next couple of weeks for those readers who are interested in learning more about what a local "gringo" would recommend to see, eat and do in Puerto Peñasco.

Border Crossing Update & Proposed Solutions

For those weekend warriors wondering what is being done about the increasingly long wait times at the Lukeville border on the way back into the U.S. from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), our friends over at puerto-penasco.com and Defrente have done some investigative reporting on the situation. From their reporting, it appears that state and federal officials are aware of the situation and are working to rectify it as quickly as possible. For the full article, click here.

I have more thoughts on the situation after the jump, so click below to read on…

Passport Update (Arizona Secure ID)

In doing research for the post I am writing about the border crossing situation, I stumbled upon the late August news release about Arizona's pilot program to develop a WHTI/Real ID compliant driver's license for Arizona residents (much like the Washington state pilot program announced earlier this year).   The program looks like it still needs to be approved by the Arizona state legislature, but will hopefully be implemented. 

However, it remains to be seen whether the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State will allow these types of ID's to be used instead of passports for land border crossings from Mexico into the U.S.  While getting an Arizona driver's license with additional security information on it will cost a bit more than a regular driver's license, it should be a quicker process (and more familiar to Arizona residents).  If DHS and DOS allow these driver's licenses with additional security information on them to be used instead of passports for border crossings, travelers will have an easier option than getting a passport.  The full press release can be read here and you can read a more detailed discussion about the pending passport/ID requirements here.   However, I still encourage everyone to get their passports.

Puerto Peñasco Airport(s) Update

I managed to get a couple of updates on the existing airport and the new international airport.

Aerolitoral

As many of you know, Aerolitoral is now offering the first regular commercial airline service into Puerto Peñasco (PPE) from Hermosillo (HMO), flying in and out of the current Puerto Peñasco airport on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  This is major news as now visitors can fly directly into Puerto Peñasco instead of having to fly to Mexicali, Phoenix or Hermosillo and driving in. I have heard different prices for this flight from various sources, but it sounds like it will cost around $300 USD round trip – not cheap, but much quicker than the five hour drive.