Getting to San Carlos
Beaches in San Carlos
San Carlos has several beautiful beaches so you can frolic in the water or just lay out soaking up in the sun. Some of these beaches include:
Algodones Beach
The word Algodones means “cotton.” The word cotton would perfectly describe this beach because of its soft white dunes. It also has the smoothest and the softest sand in San Carlos. Fun fact: the movie Catch 22, a 1970 movie, was filmed here. How cool is that?
San Carlos Plaza Beach
The fact that it is in front of a hotel means that the beach area is well maintained and very clean, albeit a little crowded during the holiday season; but it is still perfect for sunbathing.
Posada beach
La Posada, as it is referred to by most locals, is a few minutes away from the main road. It is a beautiful beach that’s cove-protected. This beach is perfect for swimming and for reading on the shaded lounge chairs under the palapas.
Marinaterra Beach Club
Marinaterra is a quiet and beautiful area. It is a great place for most water sports like swimming, diving, kayaking, and snorkeling. However, snorkeling equipment is not available here so bring your own.
Miramar Beach
This is quite the regular spot and is busy on the weekends with activities such as volleyball, kayaking, and pedal boating.
Playa Piedras Pintas
This beach is also in a cove; and there is a second cove and a beach area a little further to the left. There are no shaded structures on this beach, so don’t forget your umbrella.
Pilar Beach
This beach is long; its sandy beaches are cream-colored with plenty of shells and are good for swimming.
Other Travel Information
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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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