Sonora is Mexico's northwestern frontier state, bordering Arizona to the north and the Sea of Cortez to the west. It is a land of contrasts — the arid Sonoran Desert in the centre, the rugged western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the east, and long stretches of unpolluted beaches along the coast.
The coast is the main draw for visitors. Bahía Kino is the most accessible beach destination from Hermosillo, the state capital — a peaceful stretch of Sea of Cortez coast across from the Seri-controlled Isla Tiburón. The Sea of Cortez offers outstanding fishing, whale watching, and diving. Bird watching is excellent along the coastal wetlands.
In the southeast, Álamos is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in northern Mexico — a silver-mining city that was largely abandoned when the ore ran out, leaving its 18th-century architecture intact. On the far eastern edge, the mountains of the Sierra Madre tumble into the spectacular gorges of the Copper Canyon system, accessible by road or by the legendary Chepe railway.
Sonora also has a strong cultural identity. The Yaqui, Mayo, and Seri indigenous peoples maintain living traditions of music, dance, and craft. The food is distinctive — carne asada, flour tortillas, and machaca (dried beef) are staples here, different from the cuisine further south. The state's ranching heritage gives it a character more akin to the American Southwest than to central Mexico.