Bahia De Kino
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Bahia De Kino

Bahia De Kino

Quiet Sonoran beach town on the Sea of Cortez, facing Isla Tiburón across Kino Bay.

Bahia de Kino is where the Sonoran Desert meets the Sea of Cortez -- a quiet beach town with none of the disco-and-resort glitz of Cabo or Cancun. The sunsets alone are worth the trip.

The town splits into two halves. Kino Viejo Fishing Harbour is the heart of the old Mexican fishing village — authentic and unhurried. Kino Nuevo is the gringo side, with beachfront houses and a long sandy strip facing Isla Tiburón, the largest island in Mexico and a biosphere reserve managed by the Seri people. Both are relaxed, friendly places where the pace of life slows to a crawl.

The Museo de los Seris in Kino Viejo offers a good introduction to the Comcáac people, whose ironwood carvings are the town's most distinctive souvenir. Accommodations range from moderate to expensive. For supplies, head to Miguel Aleman (locals call it Calle Doce), the nearest shopping town where you can find most everything you need.

Guide

Eating Out

Bahia de Kino is not a restaurant town — options are limited and modest. The best eating is fresh seafood, either at small taco stands in Kino Viejo or the handful of simple restaurants along the beach road in Kino Nuevo. Shrimp from the Sea of Cortez is outstanding: grilled, in tacos, or as cocktail (ceviche served in a tall glass). Budget on paying very little and getting very good fish if you're willing to eat where the locals eat.

Guide

Getting There

The Coastal Bus (Transportes del Pacifico) runs several times daily from Hermosillo to Bahia de Kino, a journey of roughly two hours on a mostly two-lane highway through the Sonoran Desert. Most visitors arrive by car. There is no commercial airport; the nearest is Hermosillo International, which has connections to Phoenix and several Mexican cities.

Guide

Things to Do

Bahia de Kino's pleasures are simple: beach, sea, desert, and silence. The main draw is Isla Tiburón, the largest island in Mexico and a federally protected biosphere reserve managed by the Seri people. Beyond the island, the Seri Museum in Kino Viejo, the pelicans at the harbour, and the wildlife of the surrounding desert and coast keep slow-paced visitors happily occupied.