Driving to Puerto Penasco

From Phoenix: take I-10 west to the interchange for US 85. Take US 85 to Gila Bend. In Gila Bend, watch for the sign directing you to Mexico. US 85 goes all the way to the border.

Shopping on the way out of Phoenix:
    75th Ave exit, go north (right):
  • Albertsons, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Target, Sears, Lowes
    Dysart exit, go south (left):
  • Wal-Mart, Fry's
    Litchfield exit, go north (right):
  • Michaels, Target, Chili's
From Tucson: take I-10 north to I-8 and I-8 west to Gila Bend. Follow the signs to exit I-8 to connect to US 85 SOUTH. US 85 goes all the way to the border. Map below.

Stops along the way:
Gila Bend:
Love's has gas, good restrooms, a Taco Bell & a McDonald's next door. Gila Bend also has a Burger King, a Baskin-Robins, and a sit down restaurant at the Space Age Lodge. Gas gets more expensive beyond Gila Bend.
Ajo:
Several good restaurants & maybe the "Eat My Buns Bakery" will be open. We especially like Marcela's Cafe, on the right. There is also a Dairy Queen, a Pizza Hut, & a Chinese restaurant.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: watch the speedlimits closely. There is almost always a speed trap before, after, or in Ajo.

The border at Lukeville is about a 3 hour drive from either Phoenix or Tucson. The Mexican side is Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico. The U.S. side of the border is Lukeville, AZ. There is a gas station, cafe, vendor of insurance for Mexico, and a large grocery/sundries store (just in case you forget something).

The drive to Puerto Penasco from the border will take about another hour. Because there are no streetlights on the Playa Encanto beach, it is best to arrive before dark. If you are arriving after dark, bring a flash light!



After you cross the border:
First you go through Sonoyta. Leaving the border, go straight until you come to a major intersection where you will turn left. At the next big turn, bear right . You are now on Highway 8 that goes to Puerto Penasco.

There are no services until you reach Puerto Penasco. The road is good but watch for animals & slow moving vehicles. You will know you are nearing Puerto Penasco when you pass the huge sand dunes on the right.

Highway signs along the way
Speed limits are posted in KPH not MPH
EJ = Ejito or communal lands
Principia Zona de Vados = Flash flood zone
No rebase = No passing
No rebase con raya continua = No passing with solid line
Area de descanso = Rest area (no services)
Gracias No Tirar Basura = Thanks for not littering
No Molestar la Fauna = Do not harm the animals
Poblado Proximo = Nearing populated area
Reserva del la Biosfera el Pinacate Gran Desierto Altar = The Pinacate Biosphere Reserve

Directions to Vida Dulce, Playa Encanto, Pureto Penasco:
About 8 kilometers before you get to Puerto Penasco, look for the bypass for Caborca. The ramp takes off to the right side and curls around to cross the highway ( in essence a left turn ). You will know you are approaching the end of the bypass when you cross the railroad tracks . At the intersection, turn right towards Puerto Penasco. It is only a couple hundred meters to the large white sign for The Village , and lots of smaller signs, marking the left turn to Playa Encanto. From this point, the road is not paved but it is maintained. At a little over 5 kilometers after you turn off the highway, the road bears right about 30 degees; half a kilometer after that it turns right. Watch for the sign marking the 'bear left' turn up the hill to Playa Encanto.

To get to Vida Dulce Before you can get settled, you'll need to go to the management company. It is a few blocks beyond the turn for Vida Dulce. So keep going on the main beach road, follow the curves when the road jogs to the left, until you get to the Manzano neighborhood. You'll get instruction with your packet on getting the key & making payment, but this is where all that happens . Turn toward the beach at the sign for Calle de Las Anguilas. In recent months a local 'character' has occasionally moved some street signs, here is the turn onto west Calle de Las Anguilas

Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico


When you are ready to go "into town", take the unpaved road back out to the pavement and turn left. Maintenance of the road into town is inconsistent, so watch for potholes. To go into the Old Port, stay on Blvd Freemont ( you will pass the Red Cross & the Black Dog ) until you come to the stoplight at the 'T'. Turn left, follow the road as it bears right until you get to the Malecon (sea wall walk), where you have to turn left. Park & walk, it is not a big neighborhood.

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