The Centro Ecológico de Sonora is a combined botanical garden, zoo, and nature centre on the southern edge of the city. It focuses on the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert and its associated ecosystems: you will find examples of cardon cacti, desert tortoise enclosures, Gila monsters, pronghorn, and a variety of native bird species in relatively naturalistic settings. It is one of the better-maintained nature facilities in northern Mexico.
The botanical section covers several square kilometres of native desert landscaping and is worth visiting in its own right. The whole complex makes for a good half-day outing, especially with children. It is located on the road south toward Guaymas; a taxi from the centre takes about fifteen minutes.