Guaymas

Guaymas is a city in Sonora, Mexico. The city is mostly an industrial port and is the principal port for the state of Sonora. Nearby San Carlos and its beaches are major tourist attractions.

Understand
Guaymas sprawls over several towns in between rocky outcroppings -- among them Guaymas, San Carlos, San Jose de Guaymas and Empalme. Guaymas the central part is a natural harbor completely ringed by beautiful rock cliff formations, beaches, and the Sea of Cortes and numerous islets. Around 2006 the malecon (harborfront) was built, though it tends to be quiet rather than busy and services the private boating community. The central town is a working city with a fishing/shrimp fleet. The entire state including Guaymas is known for its excellent, fresh seafood. Guaymas is a port city and ships to many places in the world. It is a major naval port for the Mexican military, and has an industrial zone. Like many Mexican towns, it has a pleasant central square (zocalo), however, places towards the bus station look run down -- don't let this scare you, people are helpful and friendly and it is a safe place to visit and or live. Spanish, of course is the main language; but there are people in the service industries that speak English due to proximity with San Carlos. San Carlos is an American expat retirement community. Some of the cruise lines are beginning to stop in Guaymas. Nevertheless, Guaymas in winter still feels a bit too chilly for some, including tropical plants, which tend to be able to tolerate and grow in the zone that begins in Los Mochis/Topolobampo area about 350 km south on the main highway. As Los Mochis isn't geared to tourism and Topolobampo is tiny, many opt for areas well south such as sweltering Mazatlan. An alternative is to cross the gulf to Loreto.

Climate
The municipality has a hot, dry climate with maximum temperatures averaging 31 °C and minimum temperatures averaging 18 °C. Maximum temperatures can reach 50 °C during the summers and from June to October ocean temperatures are around 30 °C.

By train
not available at this time.

By bus
The cost of the bus varies by company and service. Costs range from M$50 (pesos) from Ciudad Obregon and Hermosillo by 2nd class service. Luxury services TAP and Tufesa stops on the main road in town, Serdan, close to where it reconnects with Garcia Lopez, the main highway between Culiacan and Hermosillo. The rest of the buses including Estrella Blanca Group cluster around Calle 14, a few blocks south of Serdan. This bus station open 24 hours a day.

Get around
Understanding Guaymas is simple. There are 2 main roads -- the highway and Serdan. Streets and Avenues are either north or south and are numbered.

Rent a car or use the city wide bus system which costs M$5 per trip (less than US$0.50). There are lots of taxis available at a reasonable cost and many of the drivers speak some English. Trips to San Carlos (~10 km away) cost M$12 per trip, leaving from the central market, one block south of Serdan.

See

 * Guaymas has some architectural attractions such as the Temple of the Sacred Heart, Church of San Fernando (nineteenth century), Plaza de los Tres Presidentes, Plaza 13 de Julio, the old Bank of Sonora, the monument to the fisherman, monument to Benito Juárez, the Palacio Municipal, and Plaza de Tres Presidentes.
 * Malecon: walkway along the bay in centro Guaymas.
 * Statue of La Pescador (Fisherman Statue) along the Malecon.
 * New Marina in centro Guaymas.
 * Visit former jail being refurbished (looks like a castle -- near the EB bus station)

Do

 * Fishing, water sports, beach, cycling, boating, hiking (blaze your own trail).
 * Every year there is a carnaval in February.
 * Free Pearl Farm Tour
 * Hike up to Tetakawi (Goats Tits Hill) for a view.
 * Hike up to radio towers.
 * The Carnival of Guaymas is a well-attended annual carnival, which has been held since 1888. It begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and ends at the stroke of midnight of the beginning of Lent. Events are held in several locations with a number of events, such as the yearly parade, extending over multiple days. It begins with the Quema del malhumor or Hoguera, when an effigy of something or someone who has displeased the public is burned. Other major events include concerts by regionally and nationally known artists, a multi-day parade with floats and the election of the King and Queen of the Carnival.

Buy

 * There are large supermarkets nearly every other block, including a Walmart and Sam's Club.

Budget

 * Lucaritas: Grilled Tortas at the stand by all the busline terminals. Yummy.
 * La Barca de Guaymas: Typical Mexican dishes.  Very tasty.  Turn north off of Serdan on Calle 9, it is about 1 block.

Budget
Tons of places to stay are off the main highway between San Carlos and Guaymas. Many places also offer long stays.

Mid-range
Lots of mid range accommodations in San Carlos catering to retired Americans and/or their families.

Stay safe
Hot water to soothe stingray stings, as hot as you can bear - heat deactivates the poison.

The Guaymas/San Carlos area has not been immune to violence seen in other parts of Mexico: in March 2018 a police commander was shot and burned while driving his vehicle in Guaymas. This was followed by a shooting of even greater scale in August 2018 when 5 police officers were shot and killed.

Go next

 * Cajón del Diablo, a biosphere reserve between Hermosillo and Guaymas.
 * San Carlos, American retirement town 10 km from Guaymas, very quiet expat suburban community sprawling across the beachfront, lively in some bars at night.
 * Empalme, next town over.
 * Los Mochis, Sinaloa where there is another nice beach.
 * Bahía de Kino, Sonora.