Puerto Penasco was nicknamed "Rocky Point" by the British in the 18th century. Rocky Point is located just 66 miles south of the US border on the North end of the Sea of Cortez. From Phoenix and Tucson the 210 mile drive takes approximately 4 hours. Rocky Point is surrounded by the Sonora Desert on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other. It is located on the small strip of land that joins the peninsula of Baja California with the rest of Mexico.

Puerto Penasco has two main beach areas. To the west of the Old Port area, there is a wide, flat area known as Sandy Beach. This is the home to several large hotel/resorts, and more are under construction. East of Puerto Penasco, there is a long coast with several areas, known in parts as La Mirador, Playa del Oro and then Las Conchas, an area of beachfront and near-beach condos, homes and timeshares. It now lures more and more resort-oriented vacationers as facilities and lodging improve. Most visitors arrive by private auto, entering through the Mexican city of Sonoita (opposite Lukeville, AZ). The drive takes about 90 minutes (100 km.) via Route 8. The two-lane road (recently widened) is in excellent shape. From Phoenix and Tucson, the distance is 210 miles (about a four and a half hour drive).

To promote tourism here, the city was declared to be part of the border free zone although it is about 100 km from the U.S. This means that foreigners can drive from the U.S. to Puerto Penasco without obtaining visas (Note: It's a good idea to carry proof of citizenship anyway). Mexican auto insurance is, of course highly recommended, and can easily be obtained in Lukeville at several roadside agencies.This makes the area attractive to visitors from Arizona, California and Nevada. Most visitors come for the beaches and to fish. The annual fishing festival occurs in June starting on Navy Day on June 1. These celebrations feature mariachis, folk dance and a festival queen.

One attraction of the beaches is the tidal pools. Tides here can raise and lower the sea on the relatively flat land from dozens to hundreds of meters. Low tide reveals a large number of tidal pools in the craters of the rocky coast. In these pools are large numbers of crabs, starfish, and other marine life. There is also an estuary by the name of Morua east of the community of Las Conchas. Here live thousands of birds, including migratory species.

Puerto Penasco is a popular destination for spring break, especially for high school and college students from Arizona and California for both its proximity and its 18-year-old drinking age. Many residents here are American, most restaurants offer menus in English, and most businesses accept U.S. dollars. You can also play golf on championship seaside golf courses, hike and explore the great scenery at the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. For dinner, enjoy fine cuisine while viewing the most amazing sunsets from our local restaurants.

The city has a reported population of 30,000 residents, although it seems smaller. This is partly due to its sprawling layout and the area's rather distinct visitor and residential districts. The original settlement dates back to the 1920's when the town was American enclaves (listed from south to north) Playa Hermosa, Playa Bonita, Sandy Beach, and Cholla Bay. Backing Sandy Beach is a series of large sand dunes buzzing with ATV and dune buggies during the high season winter months and summer weekends.

The beautiful beaches, which stretch for 100 kilometers along the surrounding coastline, have long been a popular weekend getaway for RVers and Arizonans. Rocky Point is sunny almost year-round with practically no rainfall. Rocky Point offers many sporting events including; Swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, water skiing, parasailing and other water sports that can be enjoyed virtually all year long, not to mention the wonderful fishing, shopping and amazing Rocky Point Restaurants.