In the southwestern portion of the Sonoran Desert, a mere four hours south of Phoenix, lies the serene seaside town of Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point. This hidden gem, Arizona's Beach, is a paradise easily accessible for a tranquil getaway from the chaos of daily life. It's a magical place where the azure waters of the Sea of Cortez gently caress golden sands adorned with a variety of seashells, including clams, conch, sand dollars, and abalone, sprinkled with a few shards of colorful sand-burnished sea glass. Other areas are soft, silky sand that resembles a Native American sand painting.
Our family's long-awaited vacation to Puerto Peñasco was filled with anticipation and excitement. We had booked a luxury four-bedroom house nestled right on the beach in Playa Encanto, an area just south of Rocky Point that has drawn us like a magnet for many years. The beach here is a treasure, 100% sand, where you can wade waist-deep for more than 100 yards straight out into the 76-degree water, mirroring outside air temps.
Mornings are met with a salty breeze carried by the soft crash of waves. Each morning promises another day of barely conscious, surreal moments of vacation life. Our Mexican beach vacation has zero daily plans and no itinerary to be burdened by. In other words, it is a vacation for the mind and soul with several unplanned nod-off siestas, a.k.a. Mexi-Comas!
Days are filled with equal amounts of adventure and relaxation. Lazy mornings are spent noshing breakfast of homemade Chiliquilles, Huevos Rancheros, and the like, followed by sipping lime-spritzed Pacificos, eventually leading to tasty Margaritas and Pina Collidas. Daily sauntering barefoot beach walks swaddle you in nature's energy, paired with its soundtrack of sea birds and the pulse of waves ebbing and flowing, eventually dragging you into a foreign dimension. This sedentary release peels the layers of life's burdens off of you even while you intensely seek for that one unicorn seashell no one else possesses.
One day, we embarked on a thrilling adventure, hopping in my truck and going four-wheeling on sandy roads to the end of the peninsula. The estuary splits the area between Playa Encanto and Las Conchas. We timed it perfectly at low tide to wade out and spy tidepools on a rock/coral island. As we made our way, we spotted small stingrays and crabs moving about through water inlets. The journey was a mix of excitement and awe, with the gnarly, jagged Island resembling a distant planet in a sci-fi movie. Thousands of hermit crabs were moving about the pools, but not much else. The rocks were a safe haven for pelicans, sandpipers, seagulls, and blue herrings to bask in the warm sun between hunting for meals.
On another day, we had a stirring experience with boogie boards, paddling out into the endless sets of waves, just to turn abruptly and paddle fast to try to catch a wave, which hopefully sent us back to where we had come from. Many sets of this made for a fun day, followed by a thirst for more cold beer. Heading back, the sand crunches between your toes as you walk, imprinting your footsteps only to be erased later by the rising tide. In just a few hours, the beach will transcend into several feet of water, bringing in new seashells and thoughts of what I can encounter if I am the first one out at low tide around sunrise.
One afternoon, we had just enough energy to immerse ourselves in the wonders of Puerto Peñasco's town life. We ventured into the old port portion of town, where every step was accompanied by the constant heckles of "Pharmacia," "Fresha Shrimp Here Amigo," "Teeshirts," and "Looka... bootiful Jewelry." A short bit of time there was enough, so we trekked onto a nice shopping area on Rodeo Drive en route to all of the resorts along Sandy Beach. This area features beautiful shops with true Mexican art and local crafts made in the shops. Best of all, there are zero hecklers. The only thing nagging you to purchase is your inner voice and maybe the art of bartering in Pesos.
Evenings at the beach house held the most cherished memories. As the sun sizzled below the horizon, casting an orangeish-pink glow across the sky, our family would gather on the ramada after yet another dinner of housemade Mexican specialties like Birria Quesatacos and fresh shrimp from the bay. Laughter and banter seemed to protrude through glasses of tequila cocktails and mingle amongst the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, eventually fading into late-night card games.
Other nights, Aubrey strummed her guitar and sang melodies that spoke of love and longing. With her back to the horizonline, the equal lines of tangerine sky, sapphire ocean, and somber beach made for a dramatic backdrop. That and the flames of the fire set before her seemed to fuel her melodic beats, rising into an endless array of glittering stars. Gazing upwards into the dreamy heavens, we witness satellites chasing each other, seemingly piercing through stars suspended in the sable sky.
Amid life's chaos, we found many isolated moments of peace and harmony that will stay with us long after our vacation ends. Our hearts are complete, and our spirits are renewed, ready to face whatever tomorrow may bring. Knowing our family can endure the perils of life as long as we allow time to peel off the buildup of everyday strife and get back to a pure core of love, nature, and the elusive serenity that calms and centers our souls.
¡Saludos a mis amigos! Cheers to my friends!
To view more photos of this area than shown here, venture onto my site by clicking EFlattVisualart.com and check out the section of Arizona, Sycamore Falls.