89 degrees in Rocky Point!
Colin’s Cantina at Princesa
Roger Clyne to Rock Banditos Saturday, July 5th
Confirming that Rocky Point is where his heart is, Roger Clyne will be playing a set at his own place, Banditos, with Peacemakers lead guitarist Jim Dalton.
Expect Peacemaker fans to try to turn the show into a mini Circus Mexicus! Music will begin around 8:00pm, and the house musicians Riband will be there to keep the party rocking into the night. What better way to celebrate Independence Day in Rocky Point, than with ‘The Independent’?
Banditos can be found on Sandy Beach near the entrance to the Sonoran Sea and Sonoran Spa.
Turtle nesting on Sandy Beach
Just in time for the Fourth of July, it appears that an Pacific Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) has come ashore on Sandy Beach to deposit her eggs! We see one or two of these events every few years, so it is pretty special. Olive Ridleys are found in the oceans throughout the world. The western coast of Mexico is one of the prime nesting areas, but it is more common to see them a lot further south, especially around Puerto Vallarta.
‘Arribadas’ are when masses of these turtles come together to give birth on one beach. Here in Rocky Point, this lone nesting site will be protected by the authorities to enhance the chances that the eggs will reach maturity (something that takes around fifty days, and produces up to one hundred eggs).
Visitors to town were walking Sandy Beach near Puerta Privada when they came across the turtle, wading out of the water. They made a call to the local police, who contacted Profepa, more or less Mexicos’ EPA. Minutes later, eggs tucked into the sand, the turtle hit the waves and was gone.
The nesting of this endangered species is a reminder of just how connected to the natural world Puerto Penasco is.
The hour when everything turns to gold
Rocio del Mar dive ship
Eco-Tourism in Rocky Point is a growing business. There are boat trips to Bird Island; a place where you can experience a colony of Sea lions up close. People choose to kayak or dive in, you can actually swim with the young and curious animals.
The nearby Pinacate Biosphere Reserve is popular with those who love a true wilderness experience. Over six hundred square miles of black lava flows, cinder cones, and seas of rippling sand dunes spread to the horizon, inviting the adventurous to see Mexico at its’ wildest.
Puerto Peñasco is also the point of departure for voyages to the remote Islands that dot the Northern Sea of Cortez. Much of the treasure of Mexicos’ natural world lives in its’ oceans. The 110 foot Rocio del Mar takes divers to explore places that can be seen no other way. This fourth of July weekend, the Rocio heads out for a week long live-aboard dive trip to the Midriff Islands.
Once called ‘The worlds’ aquarium” by dive pioneer Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez still maintains an attraction for those who want to encounter the large pelagic species that frequent these waters. Schools of hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, manta rays and more are a regular part of a dive trip. A live-aboard allows for multiple days in remote locations, as well as the ability to dive in more than one spot.
Dora and Francisco Sandoval, experienced dive masters, own the Rocio del Mar. Beginning its’ sea going life in 2009, the Sandovals built her from scratch, with the intention to provide a ship designed around the experience of diving, unique in a sport where most are modified fishing boats. The Rocio accomodates twenty divers, and is in service with multiple trips per year to not only the Sea of Cortez, but out to the Revellagigedo Islands, known as Mexicos’ Gallapagos. Having just completed her yearly maintenance in the docks of Rocky Point, she readies for her next adventure.
These voyages are for experienced divers, coming from over the globe. Normally sold out months in advance, the next voyage departs this Fourth of July from the Fonatur docks. Over a dozen dive sites are possibIlities as the Rocio del Mar plys thewaters around Angel Island and others.
*Rocio del Mar departs out of Rocky Point and Cabo San Lucas during the spring and fall
*Trips exlore the Sea of Cortez and Soccoro Islands
*Twenty divers maximum, with a very experienced staff and state of the art supporting equipment.
*Visit rociodelmarliveaboard.com or contact 602-558-9580
Who’s going on a Sunset Cruise?
Pirate Cruiser on her way back to the port.
One popular way to start a visit to Rocky Point is to board one of the Sunset Cruises that set sail in the evening. Some boats are small with an intimate feel, others are a big floating party. All offer a chance to unwind, have a drink and a snack, and enjoy the beauty of a Rocky Point sunset with friends and family. These cruises are popular with dolphins too! It’s very common for them to swim along in front of the boat, like tour guides taking you to their favorite spot.
You can find the boats in the harbor as you drive into the Malecon area. The front desk where you are staying can usually help you reserve a spot.
Luck be a Lady? Las Vegas Night for Charity
Something special for this 4th of July weekend is the chance to feel like a high roller in Vegas, baby! The Sonoran Sky Resort turns their Los Volcanes ballroom into a full on Casino for Las Vegas Night. Blackjack. Roulette. Poker. Dancing girls. O.K., no dancing girls, but for the past two years this fun event has been packed, and a gets thumbs up from all who have come to play.
What’s Las Vegas without a buffet? Your entry fee gets you a great one, as well as a big stack of chips to get you started. Then it’s up to Lady Luck! Play til you drop, or til you win. Winners choose from some terrific prizes. Raffles will be going on too, and there will be a photo booth to remember your night of fun. Won’t your friends be jealous? And best of all, money raised from the event goes to the local community.
“I want people to know that 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity” says Sheri Jaymes, Senior Sales Associate at the Sonoran Resorts. Credit belongs to the Sonoran Resorts Sales team. They organize this event, make sure there are volunteer dealers who do it like the pros, and work with the City of Rocky Point’s DIF, the social services organisation that this event will benefit.
*Las Vegas Night is in the Los Volcanes Ballroom at the Sonoran Sky Resort, easy to find on Sandy Beach.
*Saturday, July 5th, 7pm to 11pm. Doesn’t that make you feel lucky?
*cash bar
*cost is $35 dollars and includes a dinner buffet, and $300 worth of ‘Charity Chips’. Tickets are available at the door, or stop by the Sonoran Sky Sales office.
The beach is waiting. Are you coming?
Festival de Vino & Cerveza Artesanal
El Sabado, 28 de Junio será el primer festival del vino y cerveza artesanal en el Hotel Laos Mar; El Tapeo Bar está organizando este evento y como lo han hecho en ocasiones anteriores, éste promete ser informativo y muy divertido.
En ésta ocasion, el vino compartirá las luces con la cerveza de micro-distiladadoras de diferentes partes de Mexico. Estarán allí expertos para compartir sus conocimientos con quienes visiten sus exhibidores, ofreciendo muestras de sus cervezas, incluído en el costo de la admision; si has estado en alguna de las degustaciones de vino en El Tapeo, sabes de la excelente labor que realizan siempre.
Los clientes locales aman éste lugar, encuentran la mezcla perfecta de calidad y presentación en sus platillos; deliciosos aperitivos tendrán también en el Festival del vino y Cerveza Artesanal.
La música estará a cargo de artistas locales, con la presentación estelar de Nicho Hinojosa y su banda (guitarra, bajo y cajón); Honojosa toca Trova, música tradicional con raíces de cantantes y guitarristas viajeros, probablemente la comparación mas cercana al folclor musical de los años 60s.
Existe una gran variedad de Vinos y Cerveza artesanal en Mexico que probablemente no conocemos, el primer Festival anual del vino y Cerveza Artesanal reunirá a novatos y expertos para compartir la experiencia de algo que aman. A realizarse en el complejo Turistico de Playa Bonita, en Hotel Laos mar, el Sábado 28 de Junio, iniciando a las 7:00 pm