Rocky Point, located in the Mexican state of Sonora, is somewhat of an anomaly compared to the more expected evolution of Mexican resort locales. For example, Puerto Vallarta and Cancún have both garnered international acclaim, but have followed a much more planned and predictable growth pattern.

In the 1920s, Puerto Vallarta was still nearly uninhabited. The Montgomery Fruit Company had just begun cultivating its new purchase of 70,000 acres for banana plantations in the neighboring town of Ixtapa. These new job opportunities helped Puerto Vallarta to flourish, and eventually a railroad was put into place to transport the fruit to El Salado and then on to the United States. In the 1950s, the city was “discovered” by North Americans, whose numbers in the town increased as the newly built airport was finally completed. Service from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta began in 1962 by Mexicana Airlines and brought in celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who filmed Night of the Iguana in 1963 and officially put the city on the Hollywood map.

A few years later in 1967, the Mexican government identified Cancún as a possible tourist destination. Located on the very tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancún was nothing but an empty white-sand beach. The National Trust Fund for Tourism Development (NTFTD), Mexico’s most prominent agency for promoting all non-Mexican usage and ownership of its resources, initiated heavy, rapid infrastructure creation. This included an international airport, water and electrical resources, and very extensive master planning. As large hotels began to arrive in the 1970s, tourism grew hand in hand with each new commercial development, and now Cancún is one of the premier resort cities in the world.

In contrast, Rocky Point has grown much more organically. Arizonan pioneers began moving there more than thirty years ago, long before there were paved roads, an airport, or any sort of established infrastructure. The population has slowly grown over time without the aid of the NTFTD or any other master-planned tourism influence. Recently, however, the government has finally stepped in with three exciting initiatives to further stimulate tourism: The Coastal Highway, The Nautical Ladder, and the new international airport.

The Coastal Highway project is an enormous undertaking, and will connect Rocky Point to the United States with a new modern highway. Drive times from Southern California will be greatly reduced, and the distance from San Diego will drop below 300 miles! This project is in its advanced stage of completion and will be finished very soon. The Nautical Ladder is a plan to develop tourism up and down the Baja coast with a “ladder” of hotels, marinas, golf courses, and restaurants, all within a day’s sail of one another. Rocky Point, as other cities on the coastline, stand to gain both infrastructure and waterway upgrades that will be financed by the government.

Finally, construction of the new international airport has begun and is being funded by a three-way collaboration of the state of Sonora, the Mexican federal government, and a group of private investors. The airport will open Rocky Point to all residents of the United States and Canada, and will serve as an entry point for travelers moving on to other parts of Mexico.

Even before the Coastal Highway project is finally completed, this booming little town will be well within driving range of any of the Southwestern U.S. states. From Phoenix, it’s only about a 3.5 hour drive to travel the 210 miles down into Mexico. The roads are paved and well marked with opportunities for snacks, supplies, and gasoline.

When traveling to Rocky Point by car, make sure to purchase special Mexican auto insurance and keep the paperwork in a safe place. Do not keep it in the glove box. A written policy document doesn’t help nearly as quickly if it’s located in the car that just got stolen. Mexican law states that only companies licensed in Mexico can provide “civil liability” coverage that’s recognized by their judicial system. A select few U.S. insurance companies may provide coverage for physical damage to your vehicle, but they can’t provide any liability insurance. Finally, vehicle insurance is considered invalid if the driver is found to be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, so always be responsible when driving in Mexico.

Currently, driving between Rocky Point and the United States does not require a passport for reentry, but the more proof of citizenship available— a social security card or birth certificate, for example—will only speed the return back home. If flying from Mexico, a passport is mandatory for U.S. reentry, but will not be necessary when driving until January 1, 2008. Finally, be aware of Mexican law that prohibits guns or ammunition.

If you bring your dog, make sure you carry documents from your veterinarian with proof of rabies inoculation. Do not bring any wildlife, plants, fruit, or fireworks back across the border into the United States. Enjoy the beauty, but be mindful of the laws and customs that are already in place.

Upon arrival into Rocky Point, there is a myriad of activities to enjoy! The fabulous beaches ebb and flow, leaving behind sparkling tidal pools filled with barnacles, crabs, small fish, and beautiful seashells. Kite surfing has become very popular among visitors and can be seen daily up and down the coast from Laguna del Mar to Miramar. Other activities include playing 18 holes of golf, shopping, sailing, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and whale watching. Finally, there’s always the old standby: lying on the beach and relaxing with a cold refreshing margarita!

With so many amazing new resorts and condominiums in Rocky Point, both first-time visitors and seasoned real-estate investors will find plenty of opportunity in this expanding city by the sea. The Las Palomas luxury resort is part of the Sandy Beach Resort Area and features 430 deluxe suites, all with outrageous ocean views. They have contemporary one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations, an 18-hole golf course, a world-class restaurant, fitness center, and negative-edge swimming pools with a spectacular view of the Sea of Cortez.

Other resorts scale up or down, depending on the level of service and amenities desired, and are available for anything from vacation stays to investment purchases. Many of the resorts operate as full-service hotels, with the actual suites owned and furnished by individual people, families, and companies. There are also plans for a Hilton and a Sheraton hotel to be built, and when that happens, the demand for Rocky Point leisure will skyrocket. Housing and condominiumpurchasing opportunities are still very attractive and can only appreciate as the new airport finishes construction and Puerto Penasco becomes available to the rest of the world.

The electric aura of growth is in the air, and the daily clanging of hammers should be a cue to savvy travelers and investors that Rocky Point is poised to emerge as the next great destination in Mexico.

www.las-palomas-resort.com
US: (480) 545-4737
Toll-Free: (888) 686-5575
email: info@las-palomas-resort.com

www.loscoralesmexico.com
US: (928) 208-4764
Mexico: (011) 52-638-388-1200
email: sales@loscoralesmexico.com

www.otptrust.com
US: (602) 253-9161
Mexico: (011) 52-638-383-1739
email: info@otptrust.com

www.puertopenascorealestateclub.com
US:(480) 308-8948
Mexico:(638)388-6391
email: memberships@puertopenascorealestateclub.com

www.puertaprivada.com
US: (602) 324-9090
email: puertaprivada@prodigy.net