Exploring Calle 13, beach, motel, port, taco stands in Puerto Penasco

Calle 13, also known as Calle Miguel Hidalgo, is a major street that runs from Mexico Federal Highway 8 to the beach, where is terminates at a large complex of luxury condos, and allows access to the beach, restaurants and night clubs in the area, and also features a huge parking lot. It's a commercial street at its best, lined with motels, liquor stores, restaurants, taquerias, street vendors, souvenir shops, and just about every business that caters to the whims and needs of the many Norteamericano tourists. It's also a fun place to hang out, and catch up on your people watching...

Left: Looking east of Calle 13, from the comer of Calle 13 and Calle Calles. Right: How many guys can you fit into the back of a barely running, Ford F-150 truck, and maneuver it down Calle 13? I count 9 guys in the back.

March 12, 2007, and I found myself visiting Puerto Peñasco for the first time, and my first impressions of the town were that I'd stumbled into a disaster, and that it would behoove me to turn around, cut and run, and undergo the nearly two hour drive back to the small town of Sonoyta, close to the U.S. border. However, it was nearly four in the afternoon, and by the time late afternoon arrives, I prefer to be safely lodged into a motel, and out hiking the streets, in search of interesting people and things to photograph, and delicious tacos to eat.

Left: Motel Playa Azul, at the comer of Calle 13 and Calle Villa. Right: This restaurant, located near the high rise condos that line the north end of the street, is then sort of restaurant that I avoid, is its patronized by mostly the Spring Break, gringo crowd.

Photos: These street vendors seem to be putting their problem solving skills and teamwork effort into action to fix a flat tire.

Driving into town, I really didn't know where to go, so I just followed my instinct, and the general lay of the land, and I found myself in the Old Town Peninsula, south of Bayo Puerto Peñasco. The area didn't appeal to me, as it is a jumble of swank restaurants, fancy hotels, and more gringos than locals, not to mention parking seemed to be at a premium. That's where the small-town atmosphere of Sonoyta sounded good, and I thought that I'd just cut and run. After turning around, and finding myself back to Blvd. Benito Juárez, the major east/west street in town, a little instinct in the back of my head told me to turn south, on Av. Armada Nacionál, a.k.a. Calle 13, a.k.a (this gets complicated...) named Calle Miguel Hidalgo. So I crossed the railroad tracks and headed south, toward the beautiful Sea of Cortéz, and I found what I was looking for: A more laid-back atmosphere, plenty of places to walk, taquerias and taco stands, not fancy restaurants, and reasonably priced motels that offered plenty of parking, and were located within walking distance of the sea. After driving up and down the street a couple of times, I settled at the Motel Playa Azul, located at the corner of Calle 13 and Av. Villa, and cheerfully plunked down my MEX $400.00 pesos for one night in a comfortable, clean, but very basic motel room.

Photos: The side streets off Calle 13 are dirt and sand, and can prove rather dusty. In the right photo, the guy on the A.T.V. churns up the sandy dust and actually rides carrying his favorite dog. Only in Puerto Peñasco!

Needless to say I was out on the street within minutes, and I hiked all over the area, and took many photos. By going back to the main Puerto Peñasco menu, you can read about my dining experiences, my story about visiting the side streets and residential areas, my visit to the Port of Puerto Peñasco, and my visions of the Spring Break, party crowd. During my visit, I especially enjoyed the sunset over the Sea of Cortéz, as I sat on the bluffs overlooking the enterance to the Port of Puerto Peñasco, while savor the beautiful scenery, and the sounds and smell of the ocean.

Left: This friendly girl, who greets customers at Super Burros, where I had the pleasure to enjoy a delicious taco, flashes the peace sign as I snap her photo. Right: This lad is actually heading west on Calle 13, with dirt street Calle Barra in the background.

Left: Although the fishing industry isn't what it was a few years ago, Puerto Peñasco is still a fishing town, and many shrimp boats call the town, home port. Right: I love sunsets, especially over the Sea of Cortéz, as I photograph the enterance to the port of Puerto Peñasco.

Motel Playa Azul was inexpensive, by Puerto Peñasco standards, clean, comfortable, and has an outstanding location, except for one, minor detail: El Sombrero, located directly across the street. El Sombrero is an open air grill/bar/restaurant that definitely caters to the Spring Break crowd, with a party atmosphere and LOUD, way-too-loud music. I didn't discover this sad fact until I got back to my room, shortly after sundown, to be greeted to lots of drunken yelling, partying, and LOUD salsa music. However, El Sombrero turned out to be a good neighbor, as at exactly 2300, the dance music shut off, and the place quieted down to an acceptable noise level, for a dude like me that was trying to get a good night's sleep. I tip my sombrero to El Sombrero for being a good neighbor.

Left: Sunset, at the buoy that marks the entrance to the port of Puerto Peñasco. Right: Calle 13, just after dark, looking east from the corner of Calle 13 and Calle Calles.

Puerto Peñasco is a beautiful, relaxing place to visit. It offers beautiful scenery, fine dining, wonderful taquerias, and is a place that holds something for any taste. You'll love the place...

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