Sonora

Desert Route

This route takes you through the extreme northwest of the state of Sonora through volcanic landscapes and the typical flora and fauna of the desert; the municipalities of San Luis Río Colorado, Sonoyta, Puerto Peñasco, La Proveedora Archaeological Zone (Fronteras) and Caborca correspond to this route.

Between the border towns of San Luis Río Colorado and Sonoyta is located the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, a volcanic area where you can see large craters such as the Elegante and Colorado, on a dirt road where it is recommended to access in a high vehicle and in the company of a guide.

The Schuck Toak reserve museum is accessible for all types of vehicles and is the road to walk through the dunes of the Gran Desierto de Altar, the largest sea of dunes in North America, characterized by its giant cactus and colorful trees such as palo verde and palo fierro.

Puerto Peñasco is one of the main tourist areas in the state of Sonora. The archaeological zone of La Proveedora shows us the rupestrian heritage of the Sonoran desert in the vicinity of the city of Caborca.

Route of the missions

This tourist route passes through the archaeological zone of La Proveedora (Fronteras), Pueblo Viejo (Caborca), Pitiquito, Oquitoa, Atil, Tubutama, Magdalena and Trincheras; in other words, it goes through the main sites where the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino founded missions and built temples that today are part of the history and identity of our state.

Caborca is currently the city founded by the illustrious Jesuit that has grown the most, the current temple of Pueblo Viejo was built in the Franciscan era in the early nineteenth century. Pitiquito is another of the missions that has been recently restored, showing mural paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. On the desert roads of Sonora are the missions of Oquitoa, Atil and Tubutama, unique examples of Desert Baroque.

At the end of the route connecting with the international highway is the Magical Town of Magdalena de Kino, where the remains of Father Kino, about to be beatified, can be seen. In the town of San Ignacio de Caborica you can appreciate one of the oldest examples of colonial art in Sonora.

On the south side of the route you can visit the town of Trincheras and its archaeological zone of terraces built on the slopes of the hill by the ancient farmers of the desert and returning to Caborca you can appreciate La Proveedora, another example of the archaeology of the desert and the largest example of rock art in Sonora.

Sonora Capital Beaches Route

Punta Chueca (Hermosillo), Bahía de Kino (Hermosillo), San Nicolás, Tastiota, El Colorado, El Himalaya, San Carlos, Guaymas and Empalme are part of the Sonora Capital Beach Route.

Hermosillo is the capital of the state of Sonora, with almost one million inhabitants this modern city is the gateway to the Sea of Cortez, a city characterized by its cultural activity. Nearby is the Comcaac or Seri territory, the Tiburon Island which is the largest in Mexico and the beautiful beaches of Kino Bay.

On the coast are the pristine beaches of San Nicolas where you can also practice sandboarding, further south are located Tastiota, the Colorado and Himalaya, where it is recommended to access in high vehicle because they travel dirt roads.

130 kilometers away is the port of Guaymas, the most important in Sonora, as well as the beaches of San Carlos, whose ocean views are considered the most beautiful in the world.

Yaqui Valley Route

This route passes through Tesopaco, Buena Vista, Cócorit, Laguna del Náinari (Ciudad Obregón). Ciudad Obregón is the second largest city in Sonora, has the Náinari Lagoon promenade, which is fed by the Yaqui River and in its vicinity is the Yaqui heritage town of Cócorit.

Following the banks of the Yaqui River are some spots where you can take boat or kayak trips, such as Cajamar or Rancho Galicia. Continuing towards the east in Rosario Tesopaco you can taste the traditional Bacanora drink and visit the Bosque de los Sabinos.

Sierra Mar Route

Southern Sonora offers a spectacular route of natural beauty and cultural attractions. The Sierra Mar Route runs through the municipalities of Navojoa, Alamos, Etchojoa and Huatabampo where you can perform a myriad of cultural, ecotourism and adventure activities.

From the indigenous artisan community of Mayo de Masiaca you can visit the Magical Town of Mayo de Masiaca.

From the indigenous artisan community of Mayo de Masiaca you can visit the Magic Town of Alamos, the maximum example of a Spanish town in northern Mexico and birthplace of Maria Felix, "The diva of Mexican cinema". In the vicinity of Alamos is the Riojas Cuchujaqui reserve where you can enjoy adventure tourism activities.

Down the sierra you can make a stop at the Real del Álamo ranch to see the production of Bacanora and reach the Del Valle del Mayo area where the modern city of Navojoa is located. On the way to the beaches of Huatabampito there are some communities like Etchojoa, Huatabampo and El Jugare with cultural attractions.

Route 17

This route is made up of Agua Prieta, Esqueda, Nacozari de García, Cumpas and Moctezuma. From the city of Moctezuma to the border of Agua Prieta are located a series of cultural attractions, such as the Ejido Esqueda, where there are fossilized dinosaur footprints that, according to specialists, are among the best preserved in the world.

In the town of Fronteras is the paleontological museum with a collection of fossils found in the region and the cave where the famous Geronimo Indian, who terrorized Sonora and Arizona, was imprisoned.

Sonora River Route

The protagonists of this route are Cananea, Arizpe, Banámichi, Huépac, Aconchi, Baviácora, Mazocahui, Ures and Hermosillo. At 70 kilometers from Hermosillo, this route begins in Ures and ends in Cananea after a journey of about 250 kilometers.

Enjoy nature, tranquility, rich gastronomy and admire the history through its buildings and monuments. From the mining town of Cananea, cradle of the Mexican Revolution, you follow the course of the Sonora River, cultural origin that gives its name to the entire state, its typical villages are ideal places to relax in a rural setting.

Novillo Route

The Novillo Route passes through Hermosillo, Hacienda Los Moreno, Giottonini, Pueblo de Álamos, San Pedro de la Cueva, Villa Pesqueira and Mazatán.

Leaving from Hermosillo you can visit regional vineyards in San Pedro (Hacienda los Moreno) and Ures (Viñedos Giotonini), passing through Pueblo de Álamos. Between Mazatán and Villa Pesqueira it is possible to visit Rancho Nidopa, where you can taste traditional products and the typical bacanora drink.

In Matape or Villa Pesqueira is located the ranch 7 coronados, where you can take a sightseeing tour. In San Pedro de la Cueva you can visit the El Novillo dam, where you can visit the united church of Batuc and also taste the bacanora.

Bacanora Route

Bacanora is a beverage characteristic of the state of Sonora that has a denomination of origin. Such denomination is a process by which a product receives an instinct for its authenticity related to a special region, with traditional, historical and cultural characteristics, which generally depends on certain geographic conditions and natural resources to be generated. Tequila is another example of this in Mexico.

The Bacanora Route, organized by Joan Coronado, Coordinator of the Route, is a tour that begins in the town of Mátape and has the intention to educate and promote about the elaboration, product and history of this drink and its importance as a Sonoran product. Depending on the tour, other towns or municipalities with production of this liquor are visited, and it is usually accompanied by a tasting.

Examples of such towns or municipalities include Hermosillo, Mazatán, Bacanora, Sahuaripa, Arivechi, Tepoca, Tecoripa, Suaqui Grande and La Colorada. Among some of the ranches and points of sale of this beverage are the Nidopa Ranch in Mazatán, the Bacanora Rancho of Julián Urquijo, the Rancho of Lorena Rascón in Sahuaripa, the Rancho of Luis Guillen Cruz in Arivechi, the town of Tepoca that belongs to the municipality of Yécora, the Rancho Fimbres in Suaqui Grande and the business of Don Jecho in La Colorada.

Caballero de Anza Route

It is a binational tour between Sonora and the United States that seeks to promote the cultural richness of both regions following the route taken by the military and explorer Juan Bautista de Anza to San Francisco, California.

In 1775-1776, Anza took more than 240 men, women and children on an overland journey across the border from New Spain to settle for Alta California. He covered 3,245 kilometers in the footsteps of this multiethnic and intrepid expedition, and explored the rich cultural history of the communities from San Miguel de Horcasitas, Sonora, to San Francisco, California, across the inhospitable desert. In such an important feat, José Joaquín Moraga participated as lieutenant and the Franciscan friar Pedro Font as chaplain, for his ability to fix coordinates. They established a Mission and Presidio in the present city of San Francisco, California. The Anza trail was designated a National Historic Trail by the U.S. Congress in 1990.

The soldiers and families who departed carried the language, customs, religion and all that encompasses the Hispanic-Mexican culture from our Sonoran lands. Most of the members of the expedition were born in America, in the lands of New Spain, but their roots came from different races: European, mestizo, indigenous and African.

Mexican.

The route passes through several municipalities, such as Hermosillo, San Miguel de Horcasitas, Ures, Baviácora, Aconchi, San Felipe de Jesús, Huépac, Banámichi, Arizpe, Cucurpe, Carbó, Opodepe, Santa Ana, Magdalena de Kino, Ímuris and Nogales. In all these places there is a historical trace of the tireless gentleman.