Itinerary Map: Click Here
TOUR DESCRIPTION:
You are invited to join us on an unforgettable week-long trip to the Sonoran Dry Tropics in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Focusing on the natural and cultural heritage of the colonial community of Álamos, this excursion will explore this unique historical and natural landscape where the Sonoran Desert meets the sub-humid tropical south of Mexico. To break up the 400 total miles (approx. 7 hours) drive down to the pueblo mágico from Nogales, we will spend the first day driving to San Carlos where we will overnight, refreshing with the sight of the water of the Gulf of California and having a mariscos dinner in town. The following day we will resume our journey south through the lands of the Yaqui. To have the opportunity to become more familiar with the Indigenous past of this important agricultural region of the Yaqui River, we will visit one of the traditional pueblos, Cócorit, to have lunch and visit the state of Sonora’s Yaqui Museum. Continuing on to Álamos, we will spend three nights in the colonial silver city meeting with locals for activities such a historical and architectural walking tour of Álamos, and a visit to the nearby mining town of La Aduana with its stone temple, as well as partake in the delicious Sonoran gastronomy. On our return, we will have lunch at a stop along the way to Hermosillo, and an overnight in the Sonoran capital.
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Included: 5 nights of hotel accommodation, all meals (alcoholic drinks not included), transportation with a professional driver, local guides, cultural sites and museum admission fees. Not Included: Traveler’s Insurance Parking in Nogales, Arizona Alcoholic beverages Accommodations: Night 1: Marinaterra Hotel, San Carlos Nights 2-4: El Pedregal, Álamos Night 5: Hotel Lucerna, Hermosillo Themes: Cultural Heritage, Gastronomy, History, Nature, Contemporary Life, Geography, Economy. To Remember: Please do not forget your valid passport booklet or passport card only as your official travel document. Global Entry, SENTRI, and/or “Enhanced” Driver’s License from the United States are not recognized by the Mexican government at customs but will help you return to the U.S. as a legal document. Please be also sure to bring your printed, signed waiver in hand the day of the trip. The when & where of tour meeting & parking location: We will meet as a group at a table inside the Burger King located at 47 Sonoita Ave. in Nogales, Arizona, USA at 9 AM. You may park only in the back lot section of their lot (the front is for their customers). If there is no space
available, there are multiple other parking lot options directly in front of the Burger King and adjacent to park your vehicle. At the Burger King, you’ll have a chance to use the restroom, pay for your parking fees (approx $5 a day, not included in the tour) at the cashier, check-in, and be a part of initial introductions before we have a chance to get to know one another after walking across the border together in the peace of the sprinter van. Travel Insurance: The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have traveler’s insurance. We recommend you get a personal policy for any and all unforeseen incidents. A look online offers many options. Diet: Please let us know by email if you have any dietary allergies or restrictions to advise the accommodations and restaurants with anticipation. Thank you! Transportation: Mercedes Sprinter with a professional driver waiting for us directly across the border. A tip: If you do have the tendency to experience car sickness we recommend bringing some Dramamine tablets along with you in case. Hydration: We are committed to avoiding the consumption in the overuse of plastic in the environment. For water, we recommend bringing a large refillable water bottle.
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Some Exchange Advice: In Mexico, it is best to have small denominations on you rather than large bills. We will have an opportunity to exchange dollars for pesos at the Mexican Customs stop just south of Nogales. You’ll never know what you’ll find in your travels to Mexico - having some handy spending money makes it easy and you get to help your neighbors, the civil society of Mexico’s economy. Attire & Sun Protection: We recommend long pants or jeans since we will be entering holy places like missions and restaurants. We recommend lightweight loose long sleeve shirts and sun protection in the form of sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen. Please check the forecast for the destination prior to departure for packing clothing accordingly. Layers are always the way to go.
Return to the U.S.: Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to predict waiting times to cross back into the US and they can vary to no waiting at all to a couple of hours. We try to mitigate by crossing on foot rather than in-vehicle, avoiding busy crossing times, such as returning on a Monday rather than a Sunday, and arriving before evening traffic. So please be prepared. You can also expedite your border crossing with a Global Entry (Trusted Traveler) Card and access to Sentri lane. Guide Contact Details: Alex La Pierre info@borderlandia.org (619) 777-0040 Finalmente: Let’s have fun.
Communication: We will set up an Alamos Trip group communication channel on WhatsApp for ease of information sharing during the trip. You can download WhatsApp for free on iTunes or Google Play Stores on your smartphone.
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D AY 1
Destination: San Carlos - Travel from Nogales to San Carlos (419 km | 260 miles). » 9 AM Meet at the Burger King in Nogales, Arizona (47 N Sonoita Ave, Nogales, AZ 85621). a. Pay for parking at the cashier inside ($5 a day, not included). b. We will be waiting for you inside the BK at a table checking companions in. » Cross on foot (with luggage in hand) as a group through the Dennis DeConicini Pedestrian Crossing to Mexico from the Burger King on the U.S. side. » Rendezvous with driver and Mercedes Sprinter along Calle Internacional. » Travel to KM 21 Mexican Custom & Immigration Station. a. Present valid passport cards or passport booklets (enhanced state-issued US driver’s licenses are not valid to travel documents recognized by Mexican Authorities) to receive a free 7-day Tourist Visa (FMM). » Travel from KM 21 to Santa Ana. » Lunch in Santa Ana. » Continue on to San Carlos with the Hermosillo Toll Booth bathroom stop. » Check into Marinaterra Hotel & rest opportunity. » Dinner in San Carlos.
D AY 2
Destination: Álamos - Travel from San Carlos to Álamos (273 km | 170 miles). » Breakfast at hotel. » Check out of the hotel. » Travel to Cócorit. » Visit plaza, Museo de los Yaquis and lunch. » Continue on to Álamos. » Check-in to El Pedregal Hotel. » Dinner at hotel / Night 1 in Álamos.
D AY 3
» Breakfast at hotel. » Mercado Visit & Centro Histórico. » Lunch in Álamos. » Plaza & Historic Cemetery » Free Afternoon. » Dinner in Álamos. » Night 2 in Álamos: El Pedregal.
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D AY 4
» Breakfast at hotel. » Visit a Bacanora Distillery. » Visit La Aduana. » Lunch in La Aduana. » Free Afternoon. » Dinner at Hotel. » Night 3 in Álamos: El Pedregal.
D AY 5
Destination: Hermosillo - Travel Álamos to Hermosillo (372 km | 231 miles). » Breakfast at hotel. » Depart Álamos for Hermosillo. » Lunch en route. » Travel to Hermosillo. » Check into Hotel Lucerna & rest opportunity. » Dinner in Hermosillo.
D AY 6
Destination: Nogales, AZ - Travel Hermosillo to Nogales (278 km | 173 miles). » Check out of the hotel. » Breakfast in Hermosillo. » Depart Hermosillo / Bathroom break in Santa Ana. » Return to Nogales, Arizona on foot across the pedestrian crossing. Our scheduled arrival time back to the Burger King is an early-mid afternoon on November 4.
Cancellation Policy Overnight tours to Mexico are fully refundable up to ten weeks before the initial tour date. If cancellation occurs between ten and six weeks before the tour’s first day, they are subject to a $250 (per person) administrative fee. There is no refund if cancellation occurs from six weeks to the start date of the tour. There’s also the option to transfer the registration to another individual found by the original registrant.
Borderlandia is a binational organization committed to building public understanding of the borderlands..
PLEASE NOTE: This entire itinerary is subject to change depending on availability, conditions, cancellations, and other circumstances.
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