Getting to San Carlos
Activities in San Carlos
San Carlos has something for everyone. The allure of near-perfect temperatures attract people from all over the world for sightseeing in San Carlos. You will find unique vacation rentals overlooking sun-kissed sand and hypnotic blue-green water. To make your stay more enjoyable, add these treasures to your itinerary:
Beaches
Whatever your pleasure—relaxation or adventure— you will find the perfect spot on one of the beaches. If you’re in the mood for a leisurely stroll, follow the pebbles along the shoreline at La Posada Beach or feel the soft, smooth sand as you walk along Algodones Beach. You will also discover popular spots for mingling, volleyball, and kite boarding. If you are looking for a place to unwind and enjoy the view, try San Francisco Beach. Many vacation rentals offer oceanfront views, so you’ll have many opportunities to scan the beaches for private areas and activities to suit your mood.
Water Sports
Framed by spectacular mountains and miles of desert, the Sea of Cortez awaits to fill your day with endless activities. You’ll enjoy every water sport imaginable near Algodones and La Posada beaches. Go snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and kayaking. Get up close and personal with playful sea lions. Swim with tropical fish. Charter a vessel to catch big game fish like striped red snapper, sea bass, marlin, and tuna. Discover aquatic life in underwater caves and canyons. You can rent the gear of your choice to enjoy picturesque views of the coastline while kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, hydro biking, or parasailing.
Land Recreation
Play 18 challenging holes of golf at the San Carlos Country Club Championship Golf Course. The desert course sits in the heart of the city, spans 6,542 yards and offers amazing views of the sea and mountains. The country club also has tennis courts, a dining area and a bar.
Hike the rocky trails to Mount Tetakawi and enjoy a panorama of San Carlos 650 feet above sea level. Or, spin around the sand dunes and open plains in an ATV. You can also ride horses on the beach.
Hot Spots
San Carlos offers a variety of guided tours to make sure visitors experience all it has to offer. You don’t want to forget your camera when you go sightseeing in San Carlos. Snap pictures of a diverse group of fish, exotic birds, and other must-see attractions. You can take an excursion by boat, ATV, or horseback. Sail on the ocean and watch the glow of the sun hit the water and highlight the mountains as it sets. Listen to the captain provide commentary while munching on savory appetizers and sipping drinks.
Book a guided tour to explore the beaches, canyons, and dunes in a four-wheeler. You will zip through the old Catch 22 movie set, stop by an ocean estuary, and pause to admire the Nacapule and La Poza Canyons. Or, you may prefer to gallop along the beach with an experienced horse trainer as he or she takes you on a journey through the soft sands of Algodones Beach.
Enjoy over 900 species of fish as a tour guide takes you on an exciting snorkeling or scuba diving adventures through the underwater canyon of Seal Island. Oddly enough, Seal Island does not have seals, but you will get to see sea lions, octopuses, and sea stars. Occasionally, you will spot a pod of dolphins.
There are a variety of vacation rentals near popular hot spots and attractions. Whether your trip is for two or an entire family, you will find the perfect accommodations to make your holiday a memorable and comfortable one.
Other Travel Information
Explore more travel information
Frequently Asked Questions
Located on the western coast of Mexico, the best way to travel fast is to use the Hermosillo airport. Regular flights from Mexico City, La Paz, Monterrey, Phoenix, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Culiacan, Mexicali, and Chihuahua arrive at the airport. US Airways has daily non-stop flights from Phoenix, Arizona to Hermosillo Airport. Once you land, you can pick up a rental car or hire a taxi. You can also reach Guaymas bus station with a taxi, and travel to your rental home from there. Online travel sites and travel agents can be contacted in advance to book flights and give you the most accurate San Carlos travel information. You can use the preparatory phase of your trip to secure your travel and trip by booking vacation rentals.
Driving to the waterside community is easy and safe on the highway from Nogales, Arizona. The road is full of interesting landscapes that you can enjoy while traveling. The highway reaches Hermosillo where you will continue south onto Mexico Highway 15 that connects with Sonora 17 Highway West. Keep on it until you reach San Carlos. Stops along the way include drinks, food, gas, and restrooms. There are toll roads along the way, so be sure to have pesos with you. Follow the speed limits around Hermosillo and San Carlos to avoid any fees. Always carry your US passport, and be sure to get Mexican car insurance if you are driving.
Once you reach the community, you can get around by using a taxi, bus, rental car, or ferry. In town, taxis can be picked up in front of the Marina Terra Hotel or the Plaza los Jitos between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. You can ride around the town for anywhere between $3-$6 dollars. Modern buses go around the resort. The buses take off every 20 minutes from their starting place and operate between 6:15 a.m. and 7 p.m. Three late buses depart at 8, 9, and 11 p.m. The bus goes through Boulevard Beltrones, through Marina Terra, and towards the Marina San Carlos end.
Ferry boats are an easy way to reach mainland Mexico and return. Vehicles can also go on the ferries. San Carlos travel information can be acquired on site together with booking of vacation rentals for the perfect all-inclusive trip.
In San Carlos, summers are short, with temperatures in the 90s or above, and the skies partly cloudy. In contrast, the winters are warm and mostly clear. There are basically two seasons in San Carlos: the hot season, which lasts for 2.2 months, from March 22 to May 30, with an average daily high temperature above 94°F; and the cool season lasting for 3.1 months, from November 3 to February 6, with an average daily high temperature below 85°F.
The best time of year to visit San Carlos for warm-weather activities is from early December to early March.
As the sun dips below the horizon, travelers will have no shortage of bars, nightclubs and lounges to choose from. Enjoy drinks with friends, hit the dance floor and mingle at these San Carlos hotspots:
- Hammerhead’s – popular sports bar with big TVs, draft beer and happy hour specials
- Froggy’s – Live music, cheap margaritas and ale, Froggy’s is where the locals go to party
- Shots Bar and Restaurant – Located in the marina, features live entertainment on Friday and Saturdays and is a terrific bar to enjoy sunset cocktails
- Tequila’s Restaurant and Bar – Known for their delightful margaritas, Tequilas has a dance floor and features live music every weekend
San Carlos is a prime example of why the Sea of Cortez is known as “The Aquarium of the World”, from being biodiverse. This makes it ideal for sports fishing and scuba diving, and also a scientists’ natural laboratory. The ocean is a habitat for 40% of the earth’s mammal species, including over 900 fish species and the widest variety of dolphins and whales on earth.
Snorkeling, Kayaking, Scuba
The destination is rich in marine life, so take a day and view the coral reefs, dolphins, turtles and more. How about scuba diving? If you aren’t certified, there are local outfits that give lessons. La Posada Cove is an especially nice spot for going out for a snorkel or to take a kayak out for a paddle.
Whale watching, visiting sandy beaches, scuba diving in “The Aquarium of the World,” visiting El Soldado Estuary, and visiting Sonora Dolphinarium are some of the things to do around San Carlos.
Mountain climbing
You can hike to the top of the Tetakawi Mountain. It stands at 200 meters above sea level.
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