San Carlos, Sonora
San Carlos, “just over the mountain” from the port city of Guaymas, is actually about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north via Mex. 15, then 24 kilometers (15 miles) west on four-lane Mex. 124. Guaymenas Indians occupied this area for a few thousand years before the Spanish arrival in the mid-16th century; Jesuit priests built a mission in 1710. San Carlos flourished as a major supply center during the Mexican-American and U.S. Civil wars, but following the Mexican Revolution of 1910 sport fishing took precedence over port activities.
Quiet San Carlos “went Hollywood” in the late 1960s when the movie “Catch 22” was filmed at nearby Playa Algodones. A Club Med followed, and today's resort was born. Natural beauty remains in the form of tranquil white-sand beaches and the clear, blue-green waters of the Sea of Cortez, inhabited by more than 650 species of game fish. You'll find upscale condos and Sonora's most luxurious accommodations in San Carlos, but there also are inexpensive motels and RV parks that cater to budget travelers.
Marina San Carlos, one of Mexico's largest yacht marinas, has extensive docking facilities as well as moorings on outer San Carlos Bay. The San Carlos Country Club, Avenida Cristobal #1390, has an 18-hole golf course; most hotels in the area can arrange a temporary membership. Gary's Dive Shop, on Boulevard Fabio Beltrones (at Km marker 10), offers a variety of fishing and scuba excursions; phone (622) 226-0049.