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Eat, explore, indulge – San Carlos awaits for you to enjoy any way you please! Sea Side Reservations is best known for setting up guests with clean, comfortable, well-appointed accommodations close to the best attractions in Mexico. We are also an open book for suggestions on the best places to see in San Carlos and the best things to do while you’re visiting. We know that time is limited and options are vast, which is why we’ve broken down the perfect San Carlos itinerary into a few manageable choices for your consideration.
The cuisine of Guaymas San Carlos uses a wide variety of seafood including fish, shrimp, ray, scallops, clams, oysters, and octopus in the preparation of their local dishes. They are also renowned for their juicy steaks, as the state of Sonora is one of the largest producers of livestock in all of Mexico. The food is richly seasoned and flavorsome, often fried in lard or roasted over hot coals in wrapped banana leaves. If you imbibe, be sure to try the famous Sonoran drink, Bacanora, which is a premium liquor made from agave. There are many quality places to eat in San Carlos, but here are a few of our favorites.
The owner of Blackie’s is a hardworking expat from Manzanillo whose vision was to create a restaurant with “international cuisine, drinks, piano music, and excellent service.” With vibrant walls, mosaic tiles, wood ceilings, Mexican décor, and chandeliers, the ambiance is cozy. Price and service reflect classiness, which tourists say is well worth it to get a good steak and fresh Tequila shrimp.
Tortuga’s might be a little off-the-beaten path, down a dirt road, but it’s, by far, the best place to feel like a local. They’re known for having “the best hamburger in town” and great Taco Tuesday specials, but you can also get a prime rib cooked to mouth-watering perfection or an exotic octopus dish. The service is friendly, but not hurried, allowing you a chance to enjoy the popular bands playing live acoustic or classic rock.
Nothing says “vacation” more than an elegant patio overlooking the setting sun’s pink and purple hues over the Sea of Cortez. Sunset can set up a private candlelit, beachside table for two to accommodate a romantic date night or proposal. Reviews praise the owners’ attention to detail, the friendly service, and the “out of this world” ambiance. They do a variety of dishes – from burgers, to fish of the day, to BBQ pork ribs, to stuffed avocados – and do them all well. Stop by on Sundays for live Jazz music.
To truly experience San Carlos, you have to spend at least one day out in nature. While many Mexican settings feature sandy, tourist-filled beaches, San Carlos offers a somewhat more rugged experience with its rocky desert landscapes jutting up against the sea. Our preferred hikes, bikes, and kayak trips have something to offer visitors both old and young:
Looking for a family-friendly hiking or biking excursion in San Carlos? Follow Nacapule Canyon for about an hour to the final water hole for a relatively easy trek through towering rock hills, tunnels, palms, cactus, and freshwater springs. If you look closely, you may see birds, snakes, frogs, tarantulas, squirrels, exotic insects, and perhaps even an elusive big cat attracted to the wet ravines amid the desert-like surroundings. Keep on through narrow canyon paths for a more challenging hike.
The protected mangroves of Estero el Soldado have mesmerized many a visitor to San Carlos. With turquoise estuaries, rock towers rising from the sea, white pelicans, majestic rosette spoonbills, and vibrant green vegetation, you can’t find a better spot for wading with the kids or kayaking in San Carlos. Guides are more than happy to take you through the “sea nurseries,” rich tidal pools, and indigenous shell mounds to enhance your knowledge of protected preserves and colonization history in this part of Mexico.
Mountain sport lovers won’t be disappointed with a mildly challenging three-hour trip up Cerro de Tetakawi, a unique rock formation offering stunning views of the San Carlos coastline, where deserts meet the sea. Climb in the winter to avoid snakes, in the morning to beat the heat, and during the week to beat the crowds.
Water sports are an adventurous way to dive headfirst into your surroundings while in San Carlos on vacation. Day tours range from an easy kayak paddle and sunset charter cruise, to deep sea diving and exhilarating power-snorkeling. Most rental agencies allow you the option to go off on your own for the day with rented equipment or hire one of their experienced guides, whichever you prefer. Here are a few San Carlos tour operators who can fulfill your needs.
Enrike’s Adventures has all you need to enjoy San Carlos – kayaks, tandem kayaks, paddle boards, mountain bikes, and snorkel gear. Pay less than $20/hour to rent the gear for a self-guided excursion or sign up for an activity-specific guided tour. The excursions take you to Nacapule Canyon, La Posa Canyon, Tetakawi, Turtle Trail, Pearl Farm, and other scenic spots around San Carlos.
Gary’s Dive Shop was the first licensed maritime operator in San Carlos back in 1971. Their friendly 29-person staff boasts experience in diving, fishing, snorkeling, bay cruises, and guided tours. You can reach them any day of the year, any day of the week, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’ll take you to Seal Island, Aquarium Cove, tropical tanks, or just cruising around the Sea of Cortez. Whether you’re interested in a sunset booze cruise featuring authentic mariachi music, or a nature tour of local sea lions and blue-footed booby, you’ll find an affordable adventure with Gary.
If sport fishing is your game, be sure to check out offerings by San Carlos Aquatic Adventures. Their charter boats can take up to six anglers on a four to eight-hour excursion to look for trophy billfish. Rates include boxed lunch, soft drinks, water, ice, use of fishing gear, fish cleaning, tagging, and bagging. The dock is conveniently located next to the Ruby Wine Bar – the perfect place to score appetizers, pizzas, sushi, and happy hour specials. In addition to sport fishing, the group also books kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and other charter cruise trips in San Carlos.
Let us be your guide to an effortless breath of fresh air in San Carlos, Mexico. Contact Sea Side Reservations to learn more about places to see and stay in San Carlos. We put A+ service and more than 15 years of local property management experience to work for you!
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