First Choice RealtyGuide to San Carlos
Chapter 7: Sports, Recreation, and Community Activities
Sports
Golf
The San Carlos Country Club has a good, 18-hole golf course. Lower rates are in effect for guests of Hotel San Carlos Plaza, and possibly other hotels. Tel 226-1102.
Tennis
Paradiso Resort & Beach Club (formerly Club Med) has a few tennis courts for guests.
Horseback Riding
Horses from a ranch close to the Paradiso Hotel are for rent. The Rancho del Desierto has a good stable of horses and an experienced person to accompany riders. Call or email Astrid at El Rancho del Desierto inside the Paradiso property, Playa los Algodones, San Carlos
Phone: 011-52-622-227-0267 or 044-622-855-5930
(local nbr.only)
Exercise Classes and Gyms, Wellness center, Spa, and Yoga classes.
Yoga and Tai Chi classes are offered from time to time and posted on community bulletin boards. Inquire at The Wellness Center next to the Galeria Belles Artes.
Exercise classes are organized by the residents of the Tecalai Trailer Park . Exercise classes open to the public are held at the Club Deportivo. You can also take line dancing classes at Club Depostivo twice a week. The Gymnasio Verde has a variety of exercise equipment and holds some classes. Los Jitos Hotel and Spa , (Tel 226-1393) next to the bowling alley, advertises therapeutic massages, mud baths, facials, sauna, Jacuzzi, and a gym, but I wonder it these are only in the planning stage since I can’t see any evidence of these. Call 226-0092
There is a new Athletic Club that opened in the fall of 2007. It is located on Calle IV which is at the far east end of the downtown area of San Carlos on the north side in the area known as the Ranchitos. They have a heated pool and offer aqua aerobics, Jazzercise, Pilates, Yoga, all with certified instructors. There is also a tennis court and a climbing wall. They have a Pro Shop, child care and also have a coffee/juice bar.
Massage
The Wellness Center offers several types of massage, facials, and body treatments. Massages are also available at the Gymnasio Verde and Los Jitos Spa.
Music and the Arts
Performing Arts: Local groups sponsor musical events during the winter season. The Performing Arts Committee brings in instrumental groups, dance bands, and soloists for a series of concerts that are well organized and well attended. The delightful Folkloric Dancers, Musicians, and Mariachi Guadalupana from Guaymas presents performances by young dancers and musicians several times a year in San Carlos/Guaymas and make tours in the United States.
The San Carlos Art League meets regularly at the Tecalai Trailer Park clubhouse. They hold weekly meetings to explore some area of drawing or painting and from time to time offer workshops from visiting artists. Art supplies are nearly unobtainable here. Best to bring your own paper, canvases, and paints from the states. Art Shows are produced by the Belles Artes Galleria, and the Art League has two or three art show each year for members.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts classes are offered to the public at the Club Deportivo . Betty, the instructor is a long-time San Carlos resident. She offers informal instruction in doll making and painting and firing decorative objects from molds. You can buy doll making and ceramics materials there at a very reasonable price.
Books, Newspapers and Magazines
Grocery stores sell newspapers, or newspapers can be delivered to your home. Spanish language books are available at Ley’s Supermarket and bookstores in Guaymas. They do not carry English language books. There are several places in San Carlos where you can swap English language books or buy them for $1.00:
Tecalai Trailer Park Library (Tuesday and Friday AM in the winter, Friday only in the summer.)
Loma del Mar Trailer Park (members)
SPCA book sale held next to the Sagitario Gift Shop , Tuesday AM
Community Activities
There is a strong tradition of volunteerism in this community. New members are very welcome. One of the most active and indispensable groups is the Rescate Auxiliary which provide all the funding for the rescue and emergency medical services in San Carlos. Nearly every week during the Snowbird season, Rescate puts on a party or social event to raise money for the operation of the clinic.
Another group that works tirelessly for the benefit of the animals in the community is the SBPA . Some groups work to improve the ecology of the estuary, the whales, fish and other animals of the Sea of Cortez.
The members of Club Deportivo constitute a quiet, but effective source of community service. One of the Deportivo groups further the music education of young people of San Carlos through a series of concerts.
Service Clubs including the Lions Club , the Rotary Club, Las Madrinas, churches, and other groups provide services to benefit the elderly, orphans and school children. Church members help feed the hungry in Guaymas, assist the orphanage in Empalme, and provide assistance to DIF, the Mexican social service agency. Others work on behalf of the ecology, music education, educational opportunities for college students, and so forth. Participating in fund raising efforts or attending their special functions is a good way to make new friends and do good in the community. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, see the Web Page www.vivascancarlos.com
Community Service: Clean up Groups Individuals and groups do a lot to keep our streets and beaches clean. The police are a great help in this ongoing endeavor. I have never before lived in a place where the police are so helpful. The Rescate workers and supporters, the Bomberos (fire department), the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), and the police are aware of everything that’s going on, and keep the community safe.
During the winter season, the Snow Birds, who live here six months of the year, begin a busy round of meetings and cultural and recreational events, usually to raise money for worthy causes. A typical week runs as follows:
Weekly Events Calendar: November -April
Monday
Tai Chi ($5) Gymnasio Verde 8:00 AM
Exercise Class at Club Deportivo Mon through Fri 8:00—9:00 AM
Art League painting classes Tecalai Trailer Club 9:00 AM—12:00
Ceramics at Club Deportivo 9:00 AM—1:00 PM
Women’s Bowling League San Carlos BOL 10:00 AM
Bridge - duplicate (Sign up required) Fiesta Hotel -10:00 AM
Computer Club 2:00 PM beginners, 3:00 PM regular meeting at the San Carlos Yacht Club at the Marina San Carlos
Pinochle (Sign up required) Loma del Mar Club House 7:00 PM
Tuesday
Why not go to the library today? Swap your old books for new ones—Library at Tecalai Trailer Park open every Tues and Fri 10– 12
Duplicate Bridge (Sign up required) Tecalai Trailer Park 12:00
Bridge Palapa Pelicano Best Western Hotel 12:30
Bingo Club Deportivo 7:00 PM
Rotary Luncheon San Carlos Plaza Hotel 12:00
Women’s Golf
Have you been to the Tuesday Night Fiesta at San Carlos Plaza Hotel ? It features a Mexican Dinner and Entertainment—It’s really fun! 6:00-9:00 PM
Wednesday
It’s a good day for sports, exercise, and square dancing:
Tai Chi ($5) Gymnasio Verde 8:00 AM
Men’s Golf
Duplicate Bridge (Sign-up required) Club Deportivo – 12:30 PM
Bowling Mixed League San Carlos BOL
Square Dancing 7:00 PM Club Deportivo
Thursday
Ceramics 9:00—1:00 Club Deportivo
Dinner at Club Deportivo (monthly)
Card Party Rescate or SBPA (bi-weekly)
Friday
Porcelain Doll Class 9:00 AM
Library open 10—12 Tecalai Trailer Park
Square Dancing Club Deportivo 7:00 PM
Rescate probably has something planned for today: Card party, Beach Party, Fish Fry, Auxiliary Meeting? Check the signs on the road near the Rescate Headquarters.
Yacht Club Dinner San Carlos Yacht Club for members.
Saturday
Ceramics Club Deportivo 9:00-1:00
San Carlos Catholic Church , English Mass Saturday 4:00 PM
There may be a concert or art show Saturday night or Sunday afternoon at the Belles Artes Galleria or the Country Club. Check it out.
Have you been to Guaymas yet? Go early Wednesday or Saturday morning to the farmers' market—then see the Mercado; buy good junk, Mexican dresses, and serapes.There is a Wednesday market in Guaymas (and Empalme?) called Tianguis that sells second hand stuff. The Guaymas Mercado is closed on Sunday. Almost everything will be closed tomorrow except the restaurants.
Ballroom dancing classes at the Yacht Club at 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM.
Sunday
Catholic Church , Mass in Spanish at the Church Plaza, Scenic Highway, 10:30 AM
Chapel by the Sea , Nondenominational services at the Catholic Church, on the Scenic Highway, Sunday 9:00
Spanish Community Baptist Church , on Loma del Mar Road, 9-11
Christian Community Church on Loma del Mar Road, Sunday 9-10:30
San Carlos Community Church on Loma de Mar Road, Sunday 9:00—10:30 AM
Several nice restaurants put on a Sunday brunch, for example, San Carlos Plaza Hotel, MarinaTerra Hotel, and Playa de Cortez.