After years saving, dreaming, and finally planning it is just about time for you to start your journey south of the border, beginning your vacation in Rocky Point. If you don’t speak the language, however, you may not be able to understand all there is to do there and may be worried that you will miss out on something wonderful. Fortunately, your first step, choosing FMI Rentals for your Mexican retreat was a wise one, offering not just comfort and style, but also this ultimate first-time visitor’s guide, encompassing all the things to do in Rocky Point, the attractions in Puerto Penasco you shouldn’t miss, and all the places you will want to visit and ensuring that this getaway will be one that you will wish never had to end.
The Beaches Await
The beaches of Rocky Point are a huge part of what draws travelers to our doorstep, so of course it will be the first thing you want to do upon arrival. Stake a claim on a section of sand, marking your territory with colorful beach towels, chairs, and umbrellas, parking your cooler in the sand and prepare for a day filled with fun and adventure. Below, we have listed some of our favorite (and soon to be your favorite as well) attractions in Puerto Peñasco, including on the water activities.
Banana Boats
The first thing you may notice while perched on your sandy throne is the throngs of laughing and squealing people riding along behind speed boats while seated atop a float that resembles a banana. The banana boat rides are a traditional part of the Mexican experience on the Gulf, generally costing just $5 per person, and until you try it yourself, you really won’t understand how much fun they are. Most of the banana boats will be bright yellow, but if you choose Rocky Point Adventures, the bright orange hue of their boats will stand out in a crowd of fun seekers!
Sunset Cruises
What is it about a sunset over the water that just shines even brighter than the ones in landlocked areas? Our Rocky Point sunsets are something to write home about, and there are a variety of companies that offer all sorts of sunset cruises, often including dolphin watching in the adventure. Rocky Point Adventures also offers sunset cruises, costing just $25 to $30 per person. They provide the boat, the snacks, the music, and even better, the drinks that often accompany most activities in Rocky Point. While cruising, you will be able to spot dolphins frolicking in the surf, sea lions lazing about on the rocks from which our town got its name, and if you are here in January through March, you may even catch side of migrating whales breaching the surface!
Kayaks, Paddleboards, and Snorkels
The serenity of the Sea of Cortez can be felt even more when engaging in kayaking, SUP tours, or snorkeling tours that explore the clear waters around the islands located just off the shorelines of Rocky Point. Kayaking around San Jorge Island, snorkeling around Bird Island that keep you close to the water and all the beauty that lies within. EcoFun Adventures offers both kayaking and snorkeling adventures while SUPing the Sea rents SUP and offers an Islas del Mar SUP tour for just $25 per person.
Anglers’ Delight
There is more fun that awaits on the waters of Rocky Point, and if spending some hours pitting your wits against the slippery denizens of the sea sounds like a good idea, you are going to have a great time during your stay! Below we have listed a few ways to wet your line during your Rocky Point adventures.
Fishing from the Shore
Although you need a fishing license if you fish from a boat, fishing from the shore does not require one, so all you will need is your pole, your tackle, your bait, and of course, a cooler. Sandy Beach, Cholla Bay, and the Malecon area are popular and productive fishing spots, where corvina, halibut, and triggerfish will practically jump on your line.
Deep Waters Await
Fish on Charters is just one of many charter companies in the area, offering a variety of charters that will take you out into the deep waters. Their half-day charter will take you up to 12 miles out to sea and lasts about 4 hours, in the morning or afternoon. Trigger, rockfish, and bass are your targets on this expedition, and the cost of $525 covers up to 5 anglers. Their three-quarter day fishing charter heads out even further, 15-21 miles out, and grouper, pinto bass, snapper, and yellowtail will be on the business end of your line. This trip costs $735 for up to 5 Anglers. The last charter is a full day one, lasting 9 hours and costing $1365 for up to 5 anglers. Grouper, Pinto Bass, Black Sea Bass, and Yellowtail will be on your plate that night, and the memories will last a lifetime.
Exploring the Malecon
In beach towns all over the world, there is always that one road that serves as the community gathering place. Generally located along the beach and offering access to local shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, these roads will be an integral part of your vacation experience and in Rocky Point, that road is known as the Malecon. Looking for a good meal? Head to the Malecon. Want to take a family pic that best represents Rocky Point? Head to the Malecon and pose in front of the colorful Peñasco letters, perched between palm trees and offering the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez as its background. When it is time to buy some souvenirs, when you are searching for the perfect margarita, a stroll along El Malecon will bring you everything you seek and we have offered up a small selection of what you might find during your wanderings below.
Pay Homage to El Camaronero
Historically, it has been the sea that keeps the locals of Rocky Point employed and fed and El Camaronero, a statue depicting a shrimp fisherman pays homage to that history as well as providing another great selfie spot. The bare-chested man in a straw hat sits astride a shrimp larger than any we have ever seen in these waters but his point is made. Shrimping was his livelihood, and this statue stands in the plaza not far from where the shrimp boats would have began and ended each day.
Sipping Margaritas
The best part about vacation life is you aren’t stuck having to follow society’s mores when it comes to drinking adult beverages, and during a Rocky Point journey, that means margaritas are permanently on the agenda, with Margarita Mermaids in the Malecon inviting you to sample theirs! Offering 20, yes, you read that correctly, 20 different types of margaritas, and a menu of American and Mexican foods, you might have to go back more than a few times if you want to sample all the different versions.
Shopping on the Malecon
The truth of the matter is that the shops on the Malecon trend towards souvenir shops, fun, but nothing fancy, so if you are looking for something unique, we suggest venturing a couple of blocks away for a visit to Curio Sofia, a massive shop filled with pottery, art, craft, and home décor. This wonderful shop is filled with all the things you imagined you would come home with when you first started planning your vacation and as you may have guessed, the reasonable (read cheap!) prices will ensure that you come back to your FMI Rentals retreat with your arms laden with packages.
Time to Dine
Although you can get a fantastic meal at Margarita Mermaids, Moo Steakhouse & Grille will make every carnivore’s food dreams come true, offering a menu filled with just about every protein dish you can imagine, including chicken, burgers, seafood, and, those amazing steaks. Feel like splurging? Their Tomahawk steak sells for approximately $87 per kilo; a little pricey compared to standard Rocky Point fare, but we promise, the flavor will make your taste buds sing.
One Last Selfie
Selfies make the world go ‘round, and before you leave the Malecon, be sure to make your way to the supersized Peñasco letters, painted in all shades of the rainbow and serving as a perfect photographic reminder of the adventures you enjoyed during your first time visit to Rocky Point. The Sea of Cortez will make a big splash in your photo, shining through the openings in the letters.
Something Different – Top Attractions in Puerto Penasco
Up until this point, we’ve pretty much toed the traditional line when it comes to things to do in Rocky Point, but because no two vacationers can visit our village on the sea and experience the same vacation, we thought we would show off the diverse and unique qualities of the region by pointing you in the direction of the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, located at Carretera Sonoyta-Puerto Peñasco Km 51 Ejido Los Norteños. When you think of Rocky Point, we are going to guess that you probably don’t think about a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but that is exactly what Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is. Known as El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar in the native language, its volcanic landscape may make you feel as if you have stepped into a futuristic movie and the wildlife that inhabit the area will fascinate as they provide an authentic glimpse of the natural side of Rocky Point.
Iconic Party Spots
We love a good fiesta down here in Mexico, and if you have done any research at all, chances are you are curious about visiting the places we have listed below.
Wrecked at the Reef, Blvd. Paseo de la Duna, Playa Arenos
Wrecked at the Reef is first on our lists of party spots, known as the area’s premiere beachfront grill and offering live music performed on a tiki type stage, a sandy dance floor that you just have to take your flip flops off and dig your toes into the soft granules as you boogie, and their famous Chango Sucio. Translating to dirt monkey, this beverage packs a kick and consists of a blend of Kahlua, banana liqueur, and Malibu Rum.
Manny’s Beach Club, Av. Coahuila S/N, Benito Juárez
Manny’s Beach Club offers much of the same as Wrecked at the Reef, including live music and the sandy dance floor, but the similarities end at the outside bar surrounded by wood swings instead of the standard barstools! Also offering a swim-up pool bar and direct access to the beach, Manny’s is known for making one of the best Pina Coladas in Rocky Point.
The Ice House Bar & Night Club, Mariano Matamoros, Av. Durango y, Benito Juárez
Offering an open bar from 7AM until 3AM, the Ice House Bar & Night Club is one of the largest discos in the area. The music is hot, the drinks are cold, and this cool spot offers the perfect place to dance the night away during your Rocky Point adventures!
What to Expect from Your FMI Rentals Mexican Retreats
Beach days, fishing expeditions, delicious restaurants and World Heritage Sites—your first time visit to Rocky Point (Puerta Peñasco) promises to be a whirlwind of fun and adventure, but it just may be the moments you spend at home in our Rocky Point retreats that bring you the most treasured memories. We offer a large selection of vacation rentals here and the variety ensures that every traveler will find the spaces that fit their family best. Choose a modern condo furnished with sleek furnishings and feature state of the art televisions in the living room and forget, for a moment, that you are hanging out south of the border. Pick a beach house that features the sandy beaches of Rocky Point as its backyard and rooftop decks that encourage sunset sips and nighttime fiestas. Explore the colorful side of Mexico in homes filled with Mexican tiles and examine the comfortable side of Rocky Point as you sleep deep every night in the most comfortable beds in town. Reserve your first time FMI Rentals escape today!
