Planning Your Trip to San Carlos

San Carlos is one of Mexico’s most beautiful places, located on the Sea of Cortez, and surrounded by desert beauty and low lying mountains. The primary attractions of San Carlos are the marina and the beaches. Visitors also come for the delightful weather (year around average 76º), and for fishing and relaxing in the sun. The activities vary from season to season: Summer is for water sports and sport fishing, winter is better for golf, hiking, climbing, biking, horseback riding, sight seeing, and community activities.

Is it Safe to Travel to San Carlos?

San Carlos is a very safe place for visitors and residents. These tips will only add to your safety and security. Take the same precautions to protect yourself and your property that you would take at home. Avoid places and situations that may involve illegal activities. Travel on main routes and we recommend that you do not try to travel at night. Obey speed limits and traffic signs. Do not drink and drive. Do not even think of bringing firearms or ammunition into Mexico. Come and enjoy yourself but do not leave your common sense and good judgment at the border.

Winter in San Carlos

In the well-protected bay of San Carlos, winters are mild and sunny, seldom dropping below 60 degrees. RV’s and Vans, bearing license plates from Alaska to Arizona, start their journey south of the border beginning in November and reach their peak in February. The population of San Carlos fluffs up from 4,000 year around residents to about 6,000 when the winter visitors are here. Local boosters claim several thousand more. Weekend visitors come for the excellent sail boating, and popular events are the Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day sail boat races held by the Tucson Sailing Club .

Winter visitors enjoy bottom fishing and shore fishing. Bottom fishing is not as dramatic as deep-sea fishing, but fishing is closer to shore, it is more affordable, the fish are good to eat, and you don’t have to troll for hours hoping for some action. The most reliable catches are calico bass, red snapper, trigger fish, and white fish (salmón blanca). Mackerel (sierra) and skipjack are also taken.

The “Snow Birds’’ usually come for an extended stay between November and April. They are winter residents who, like migrating birds, head south for the winter and return to their homes in the north after the snow melts. The Snow Birds, who return to San Carlos year after year, contribute a lot to the community and keep a busy social schedule during the six months they stay here. From mid-November until mid-April, Clubs such as Club Deportivo, the San Carlos Country Club, the San Carlos Yacht Club , the churches, volunteer groups such as Rescate de San Carlos , the Animal Humane Society (SBPA) and informal social and cultural groups go into full swing. In January, the Rescate de San Carlos Golf Tournament is held. Every year, supporters of the Rescate emergency services raise money with an over the top Melodrama in early March and a fun-filled bazaar in late March. The week preceding Lent, the Mexicans hold a five-day Mardi Gras festival called Carnaval in Guaymas.

Spring in San Carlos

For visitors who came south to escape the cold in the United States and Canada and to enjoy the winter activities in San Carlos, the winter season ends about March 30th, and the Snow Birds go back to Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Alberta and other chillier climates. Year around residents who have made San Carlos their permanent home still have plenty to do. Some groups and organizations such as the Rotary Club , remain active all year.

Easter Sunday usually falls in late March or early April. The week before Easter is the occasion for the boisterous celebration when Lent is coming to an end, and is called Semana Santa (Holy Week). San Carlos is besieged with visitors who party intensively, camping on the beaches and filling up all the hotel rooms in town. This is something like the Mexican version of spring break in Fort Lauderdale, but more of a family occasion, and a lot of happy campers hit the beaches.

Summer in San Carlos

The winter months are busy with the activities of the “Snowbirds” and sun-seekers. Summer brings a different kind of tourist to San Carlos. Summer visitors usually come to San Carlos because in the hot months, from May through October, the weather and water conditions are ideal for swimming, diving, snorkeling, and fishing. In summer, the deep-sea fishermen come for the sailfish, marlin, tuna, and dorado.

San Carlos has miles of beautiful beaches, all open to the public by virtue of Mexican law. From June through October the weather is perfect for swimming in the ocean or in one of the lovely pools in San Carlos. The water reaches bath tub temperatures (85–89 degrees) during the summer, and water lovers can spend hours in the water. Every major hotel and club has its own pool, and some are open to the public for a small fee. If you only visit one beach while you are here in San Carlos, it should be El Club de Playa, part of the MarinaTerra Hotel operation. This brand new beach-pool-snack bar-dance floor is sure to become the showpiece of San Carlos.

The Sea of Cortez is a favorite destination of scuba divers from around the world. The water and weather conditions are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. The water temperature in San Carlos, which averages 61 degrees in January, changes to an average of 89 degrees in July and August. Scuba diving and snorkeling is best from June through September, not only because the water warm, but also because the water is clear and visibility under water is good. The seaweed dies back when the weather heats up and the ocean’s color changes from the green of winter to the blue of summer. Scuba diving lessons and divers’ certification courses are offered in San Carlos.

Boating and fishing are good all year around, but summer is the best time for those fishermen who are looking for the big ones, the pelagic, deep-water game fish. The pelagic, deep-water game fish come this far north only when the waters are warm enough for them. The warmer the water; the better the game fishing. Yet, a lot of people prefer the winter seas when you can have a lot of fun, bottom fishing, and shore fishing. Game fish caught here are: black marlin, sail fish, dorado (dolphin fish), tuna, and bonito. When the water is warm enough, yellowfin tuna are plentiful. Corvinas are also caught from May to September. In the summer, and winter as well, you can catch grouper, cabrilla, and sierra. (Cabrilla are becoming scarce and may be on the endangered, prohibited list by now.) There is a Ladies’ International Fishing Tournament (LIFT) held each Memorial Day weekend and the San Carlos Yacht Club and Rescate de San Carlos fishing tournament in June. An International Billfish Fishing Tournament is held in July, the Labor Day Invitational Fishing Tournament is held in September and the Cantina Cup in October.

The weather really heats up in June, July, August and September. Daytime temperatures are in the 90’s, nighttime temperatures are in the low 80’s, and humidity can run over 50%. However, on days when the wind shifts to the northwest, the day will be cooler and drier.

No matter how hot and humid it gets on land, the ocean is always cool and breezy, and boating, swimming and water sports can let you live happily with the heat. Popular water sports in San Carlos include: speed boat racing, parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing, riding banana boats and pedal boats, kayaking, sail boating, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Autumn in San Carlos

Autumn is one the nicest times of the year in San Carlos. September is still a little warm, but October and November are perfect. The winds are calm during November, December, and January. Thanksgiving of course is not a holiday in Mexico, but some of the restaurants and clubs serve turkey dinners. Turkeys can be hard to find, but if you just have to have one, Sam's’ Club in Hermosillo and Ley’s in Guaymas will probably have turkeys as will Soriana in Hermosillo especially at Christmas. You can have your own turkey al fresco on your patio, and you can be sure you will have a mild and sunny day.

Fall Flowers

In years when San Carlos receives winter rain, the fall wildflowers are spectacular. The yucca put out spectacular blooms. In the desert, cactus and wildflowers bloom in the fall. These include Apache plume, rabbit brush, golden eye, pincushion cactus, jumping cholla, and barrel cactus. The larger cacti such as cardón and saguaro don’t bloom until spring.

Garden vegetables can be planted in the fall and are ready to harvest beginning in November. Garden flowers are never damaged by the frost this far south and most summer flowers like pansies, petunias, carnations, hibiscus, roses, and mums are in their prime from November through May.

Hunting

The hunting season in Sonora runs from late October to early March. Hunting safaris depart from Guaymas for hunting in the desert on horseback. They hunt on private ranches from mid-November through early March. Deer hunting is permitted from mid-November through early February for mule deer, white tail deer, javelin, bobcats, rabbits, and coyotes. Bird hunting is permitted from late October to early March with turkey hunting permitted in April. For information, contact Solimar Hunting Safaris , P.O. Box 41, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Phone (622) 226-0644 Fax (622) 226-7039.

Money Matters

Pesos or Dollars?

You will need to bring a little cash with you, even if you use credit cards for most of your purchases. Most businesses in the tourist-oriented towns like San Carlos readily accept American dollars. It is slightly more economical to deal in pesos. Pesos give you a little more buying power, and dealing in pesos makes it easier to check to see if you are getting the correct change. Even if you pay for something with American dollars, you will usually receive your change in Mexican pesos. In stores and restaurants, the proprietors generally give the customers a lower, less advantageous exchange rate. If the bank is exchanging pesos for dollars at the rate of 11 to 1, a merchant may give you only 9.5 pesos to 1 dollar. Banamex does not charge anything to exchange your American dollars for Mexican pesos.

Exchanging Money

Exchanging money in the states is not necessary because you will not need to deal in pesos until you arrive in San Carlos/Guaymas. On the road to San Carlos, the tollbooths (casetas de cobro} and gasoline stations will accept American dollars, but not coins. In fact, USA coins are not accepted anywhere in Mexico. It is a good idea to carry some Mexican money in coins and small bills with you when going to stores or restaurants because the small merchants are always short on change.

It is possible to exchange your dollars for pesos at the bank at the Mexican border crossing, but you can wait until you reach your destination before you go to the bank. ATM cards work very well and they give you the best rate of exchange. You must visit the bank at your destination anyway to pay your tourist visa of $22.00 or you may pay this at the border but the lines can be long there. We do not recommend using money exchange houses because of the fees they charge.

Personal Checks (Foreign Checks)

Very few businesses will accept foreign checks. Some stores where they depend on the tourist trade, such as gift shops, will accept personal checks, but ask them first. Workers and businesses want to be paid in cash (pesos).

Large hotels and real estate offices will accept personal checks written on either Mexican or American banks, and you can mail a check in advance for a room deposit if you mail it about a month in advance. (Remember, a check mailed from the states will take two to three weeks to get to Mexico and another week to clear the bank). Almost everything else calls for cash.

Travelers’ Checks

Travelers’ checks are safe, but are not always convenient to cash in Mexico. Banamex cashes travelers’ checks at no charge. Individuals who have a Banamex account can cash up to $1,000 (American dollars) a day in travelers’ checks. Individuals without an account can cash up to $300 a day. Only banks and large establishments will accept travelers’ checks. Gas stations do not take travelers’ checks.

Credit Cards

If you do not want to carry a lot of cash, your best bet is to use an international credit card: Master Card or Visa. Nearly all large hotels and tourist-oriented businesses accept credit cards, but they prefer cash, so many establishments give a 5% discount if you pay in cash. Many credit-card issuers add a surcharge of 2% to 4% on credit card charges in foreign countries. Nevertheless, it is usually more economical to use credit cards than traveler's checks in Mexico because of the fees that businesses charge for cashing travelers’ checks. Some gasoline stations do accept credit cards. A word of caution; credit card fraud is a problem world wide and Mexico is no different. Use cash wherever possible.

ATM machines

With an American credit card or debit card, you can withdraw up to 5,000 pesos (about $500) per day from an ATM, depending on the limit that your foreign bank has established. To use an ATM machine, you must remember your pin number. If you want a larger amount you must take your credit card to the bank and present it at the teller’s window. The local bank charges about $15 (varying with the type of credit card), for an individual to withdraw money on their credit card. (The Mexican bank charge is in addition to the American credit card charges for cash withdrawals.) To do this, you must show your passport to the bank teller. No other form of ID will be accepted for bank transactions. Mexico has ATM machines in banks and large stores. There is an ATM machine outside Banamex, next to the Pemex gas station on the north side of the street as you drive into San Carlos, a Bancomer cash machine at OXXO and there are several ATM machines in Guaymas at all of the banks. There is also an ATM in the Ley´s grocery store. Ley´s is located as you enter the City of Guaymas on the left side of the highway and it is open longer hours and on some of the holidays, when all the other banks are closed. There is no foreign surcharge on ATM withdrawals made with a credit card. Of course there are the usual fees your bank charges on ATM withdrawals. I don’t like the $5 fee my American bank charges, so I avoid the ATM’s. Before I opened a Mexican bank account, I brought cash to Mexico and exchanged dollars for pesos at Banamex. With a Banamex account you can deposit American checks in the bank but it will take several days to clear.

There is a limit on the amount of money that can be withdrawn from at ATM on any one day, so if you need more than $300, the only way to get it from your American or Canadian bank is by wire transfer into your local Mexican bank account. Check with your American bank to find out which of the Mexican banks will accept wire transfers. For example, Wells-Fargo will wire transfer to Bancomer in Guaymas, but will not wire transfer to Banamex in San Carlos. Short term visitors, of course, won’t have Mexican bank accounts, so they don’t have that option.

“Yikes! I have run out of money, my credit card is maxed out. I’m far from home and broke! What can I do?

What to do ? I guess your only recourse is to get someone back home to wire you a money order or send money by Western Union.

Money Orders

Be aware that there is a $50.00 charge for sending money orders. You can use the local Banamex bank.

¿Habla usted Español?

To enjoy life in Mexico, it’s a good idea to brush up on your Spanish. In San Carlos, many of the residents, shop owners, waiters, and clerks speak English very well. Many, many Mexican people here have been educated at prestigious universities in the United States and/or Mexico. Even the poorest old lady selling her chickens at the Mercado may have a son attending Stanford. It is not really necessary to speak Spanish to get around in San Carlos, but it is a good move toward friendship to speak what words you can in Spanish. Informal and low cost classes are held at various places in the community and Spanish instructional materials are available online . Others learn by watching soap operas in Spanish. Paul and I spent two years in college taking Spanish and came away with zero fluency. But here he quickly picked it up speaking to friends. That has truly been the best way to understand and appreciate the Mexican people and their beautiful culture.

What to bring and what to wear

San Carlos is a VERY casual place. The most important item of clothing for men, women, and kids is a cap or hat to keep the sun off. Straw hats are nice, but if you are boating, they may end up in the drink. The next important thing, especially for kids, is a pair of beach walker shoes (water shoes). If you plan to spend a lot of time on the beach, bring a sun umbrella. If you go out on the water, wear a good pair of Polaroid sunglasses. If you are subject to motion sickness, bring you favorite seasickness remedy.

Men never need a sport coat or tie. Slacks and a sport shirt are fancy enough even for a wedding. Most of the year, you will only need shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, sneakers, sandals and swim suits. Want to be a fashion plate? Wear a Hawaiian shirt! Women wear casual clothes: skirts and shorts, and occasionally cotton dresses. In the summer, sleeveless shirts and dresses are cooler. Don’t forget your swimsuit and snorkeling gear. Bring sun tan lotion, insect repellent and a soothing lotion for sunburn and insect bites. Andantol is a good salve to stop itching. It is available at local pharmacies.

In the cool months, bring shorts, a pair of jeans, short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts, and a sweat shirt or sweater. It might be warm enough to swim, so bring a swim suit just in case. At night, women wear jeans and such. If they like to dress up a little, mini skirts, long casual skirts, and pants suits are all it takes. Be prepared for light rains in December and again in August. You will want a light jacket or windbreaker in December, but you won’t need an umbrella. Don’t forget your camera and film. Film here is a little high priced. If you have binoculars, bring them along. In the winter, bring a wet suit if you have one.

Food and Water

Fortunately, in San Carlos the drinking water is not dangerous and should not upset your stomach if taken in small amounts. It is OK to brush your teeth with it. San Carlos water is heavily chlorinated, a little salty, and full of chemicals and natural minerals. A little won’t hurt you; many locals drink it regularly with no ill effects. However, you are advised to use bottled water and purified ice for drinking and cooking. Restaurants in San Carlos-Guaymas serve bottled water and pure ice . Vegetables need to be washed carefully, and good restaurants always do this. If you have particular concerns, see Chapter Nine: Staying Healthy on Your Vacation .

Paperwork and Passports

We have heard too many sad stories about tourists who never made it across the border because they didn’t bring the proper documents. To be sure this doesn’t happen to you, read Chapter Two: Traveling to San Carlos , to determine what papers you will need to enter Mexico with your car, RV, boat, kids, and pets.

What’s the Weather Like in San Carlos?

The weather in San Carlos is mild year around. It never snows and it rarely rains. Summers are hot and winters are cool. It is usually windy in March and April, and this may interfere with your plans to go boating or fishing. August is likely to have many stormy days. The best months for boating and outdoor recreation are September through mid-March. The weather in late October, November and December is absolutely perfect.

Averages	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Day Time Air	67	71	76	82	91	95	99	104	94	89	77	69
Water Temp	63	64	67	72	77	85	89	89	87	80	71	65
Rain (Inches)	.4	.2	.1	.0	.0	.0	1.6	2.6	1.8	.4	.3	.7

Average Air Temp	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	76	74	77	79	85	90	96	97	96	91	81	74
Low	54	53	55	55	64	69	78	82	80	71	60	55

January-April: Breezy (12 mph) May-August: Windy (13 mph) October-December: Calm (10 mph)

Home	Trip Planning	Getting Here	Visitor Info	Fun for Kids
Beaches & Pools	Water Sports/More	Community Activities	San Carlos Sights	Area Sight Seeing
Guaymas Sight Seeing	Sonora Sight Seeing	Staying Healthy	Becoming a Resident	Home Ownership

Chapter One: Planning Your Trip

What to Expect When You Get To San Carlos

Is it Safe to Travel to San Carlos?

Winter in San Carlos

Spring in San Carlos

Summer in San Carlos

Autumn in San Carlos

Fall Flowers

Hunting

Money Matters

Pesos or Dollars?

Exchanging Money

Personal Checks (Foreign Checks)

Travelers’ Checks

Credit Cards

ATM machines

Money Orders

¿Habla usted Español?

What to bring and what to wear

Food and Water

Paperwork and Passports

What’s the Weather Like in San Carlos?