More than 100,000 Beach Visitors Anticipated for Semana Santa

Semana Santa Expected to Bring More Than 100,000 Visitors to Sonora’s Beaches

Sonora newspaper El Imparcial reports that Sonora’s most popular coastal destinations are preparing for a busy Semana Santa holiday period, with tourism officials expecting more than 100,000 visitors to travel to beaches across the state.

According to regional tourism officials, Puerto Peñasco, San Carlos, and Bahía de Kino are projected to welcome tens of thousands of travelers during the holiday period, generating an estimated 152.9 million pesos in economic activity for the region.

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

In Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, tourism officials expect around 55,000 visitors between April 2 and April 5. Hotel occupancy is projected to reach approximately 60 percent, generating an estimated 70 million pesos in tourism spending.

Local officials say visitor numbers could be slightly lower than last year due to factors such as border crossing delays at Lukeville, Arizona, and broader security concerns. However, tourism leaders remain optimistic that travel demand could still match or exceed last year’s figures.

San Carlos and Guaymas

Further south along the Sea of Cortez, the beach community of San Carlos near Guaymas is preparing to receive about 30,000 visitors during Semana Santa.

Hotel occupancy typically rises throughout the holiday weekend, increasing from 40% on Holy Thursday to 90% on Holy Saturday.

Tourism officials expect hotel occupancy to increase slightly compared with last year as promotion of the destination continues.

Kino Bay

Meanwhile, Kino Bay, the beach town west of Hermosillo, is expected to see full hotel occupancy from Thursday through Sunday.

Tourism officials estimate the destination will generate approximately 13.6 million pesos in daily economic activity during the holiday period.

About 95% of visitors to Bahía de Kino come from within Sonora, and most travel from nearby Hermosillo for a short beach getaway.

A Major Travel Season in Sonora

Semana Santa is traditionally one of the busiest tourism periods of the year in Sonora, as families travel to coastal destinations along the Sea of Cortez to enjoy warm weather, beaches, and holiday festivities.

With strong visitor numbers expected in Puerto Peñasco, San Carlos, and Bahía de Kino, the region’s tourism sector is preparing for another lively start to the spring travel season.

Cruising the Malecon in Old Port Rocky Point, Sonora
Along the Malecon in Rocky Point, Puerto Penasco Sonora
Santisima Virgen de Guadalupe

HBO Max Revisits the Colosio Case

A new documentary series from HBO Max will revisit one of the most consequential events in modern Mexican political history: the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta.

Titled “Los asesinos de Colosio” (The Assassins of Colosio), the docuseries will reexamine the crime that shocked Mexico in 1994 and continues to spark debate more than three decades later.

The project is part of a broader lineup of investigative Mexican documentaries scheduled for release on HBO Max in 2026, focusing on historic events that shaped the country.

A Crime That Shook Mexico

Colosio, the presidential candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was assassinated on March 23, 1994, during a campaign rally in the Lomas Taurinas neighborhood of Tijuana.

The attack occurred in front of hundreds of supporters. After being shot, Colosio was rushed to a hospital where he died hours later from his injuries.

The killing stunned the nation and marked one of the most dramatic political moments of Mexico’s turbulent 1990s.

Authorities concluded that the gunman was Mario Aburto Martínez, who was arrested at the scene and later sentenced to 42 years in prison.

Yet from the beginning, questions emerged about whether the attack was carried out by a lone individual or whether a broader conspiracy may have been involved.

Reexamining the Investigation

The new docuseries will revisit the case using archival footage, interviews, and investigative materials to reconstruct both the assassination and the official investigations that followed.

According to early information about the production, the series will explore several key aspects of the case, including the political climate leading up to the 1994 presidential election, the events of the rally in Tijuana where the shooting occurred, the official investigations conducted after the assassination, and the theories and controversies that have surrounded the case for decades.

By revisiting testimony, records, and historical reporting, the production aims to provide viewers with a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding the attack.

A Case That Still Raises Questions

Although the judicial process concluded with Aburto’s conviction, the Colosio case remains a subject of debate in Mexico. Over the years, journalists, historians, and political analysts have pointed to inconsistencies in witness testimony and investigative procedures.

In recent years the case has resurfaced again in public discussion. In 2025, federal prosecutors detained a suspected participant connected to the assassination, reigniting speculation about whether additional actors may have been involved.

More than 30 years after the event, the killing continues to be one of the most analyzed political crimes in modern Mexican history.

Previous Films and Series About Colosio

The assassination of Colosio has inspired several film and television productions.

One of the best known is the 2012 film Colosio: El asesinato, which presented a fictionalized story inspired by the investigation.

In 2019, the streaming platform Netflix released the dramatized series Historia de un crimen: Colosio, depicting events surrounding the assassination and its aftermath.

The HBO Max series “Los asesinos de Colosio” will take a different approach, presenting the story through a documentary and investigative lens.

The Rise of True-Crime Documentaries

The production also reflects the continued growth of the true-crime documentary genre on streaming platforms.

Services like HBO Max have increasingly invested in investigative storytelling that examines historical events, criminal cases, and unresolved controversies.

With the release of “Los asesinos de Colosio,” the assassination of one of Sonora’s most prominent political figures will once again return to the center of public discussion.

Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta
Mausoleum of Luis Donaldo and Diana Laura Colosio in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora

Hollywood Arrives in Cananea

Sonoran news media report that Hollywood has arrived in the historic mining city of Cananea, where an international film production is transforming the city into a cinematic set inspired by the 1930s and 1940s.

The upcoming film “De Noche,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, stars Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramírez. The production is expected to spend approximately four weeks filming in Sonora, generating excitement throughout the community.

A Historic Mining Town Becomes a Film Set

Residents in Cananea have already noticed the transformation of their city. Production crews have arrived with camera equipment, props, set pieces, and technical teams, preparing various streets and historic buildings to recreate the atmosphere of the early twentieth century.

Among the most prominent filming locations is the iconic Casa Greene, one of the city’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Classic vehicles, period costumes, and vintage set design will help turn Cananea into a cinematic recreation of the 1930s. The city’s historic architecture and preserved urban landscape made it an ideal choice for the film’s setting.

Although some residents say they have spotted Pascal around town, the production has not officially confirmed sightings.

The Story Behind “De Noche”

The film is described as a dramatic romance with elements of film noir, set primarily in Los Angeles during the 1930s.

The story follows the relationship between a police officer and a professor who fall in love while navigating an era marked by corruption and social persecution. As tensions escalate, the two characters become fugitives and flee toward Mexico, bringing part of the narrative into Mexican settings.

Pascal and Ramírez portray the central couple in a story that explores themes of identity, danger, and resilience during a turbulent period of history.

A Production That Changed Course

The project initially drew attention in the film industry because it originally starred Joaquin Phoenix. However, Phoenix withdrew from the production shortly before filming began. The casting of Pedro Pascal allowed the film to move forward and resume its international production schedule.

Economic and Cultural Impact for Cananea

Major film productions typically generate local economic benefits, and Cananea is expected to see increased activity during filming.

Hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and local suppliers often support film crews that include technicians, designers, production assistants, and other staff working behind the scenes.

Local businesses have already embraced the excitement, with some even creating advertisements featuring Pascal’s image—though several have clarified that those promotional images were created using artificial intelligence rather than official marketing materials.

Sonora’s Growing Role in Film Production

The filming of “De Noche” highlights the growing interest of international filmmakers in Sonora’s landscapes, architecture, and historic towns. From desert scenery to preserved early-20th-century streetscapes, the region offers filmmakers authentic locations capable of representing different eras and environments.

For several weeks, the “City of Copper” will serve as the backdrop for an international film production, bringing a touch of Hollywood to northern Mexico.

Cananea, Sonora - photo courtesy of AmbosTours.com
The William Greene mansion - photo courtesy of AmbosTours.com

Cananea to Host Expo Minera 2026 in March 2026

300+ Companies, 4,000 Daily Attendees, and a New “Shark Tank” Business Format

Sonoran newspaper El Imparcial reports that Cananea, Sonora, one of Mexico’s most important mining cities, will host Expo Minera 2026: “Viviendo la Minería” (Living Mining) from March 25–27, with cultural and artistic events taking place March 22–28.

More than 300 companies are expected to participate, with attendance projected at over 4,000 visitors per day. The event will feature a large mining pavilion highlighting four major sector projects, along with an expanded commercial exhibition floor.

For Sonora, and for cross-border supply chains tied to Arizona and Canada, the expo underscores the state’s central role in North America’s mining ecosystem.

A New Business Model: “Shark Tank” for Mining Suppliers

One of the most notable innovations this year is a redesigned Business Center operating in a “shark tank” presentation format. Suppliers will deliver 10-minute pitches to mining companies in focused rooms dedicated to safety, sustainability, operations, and maintenance. Organizers say the goal is to accelerate supplier–operator matchmaking and create more efficient commercial linkages within the industry.

According to Roberto Carlos Reyes, director of the Sonora Mining Association (AMSAC), more than 50% of participating companies are new to the commercial exhibition, reflecting rapid growth and renewed sector confidence.

“We’ve seen exponential growth in the commercial exhibition,” Reyes noted, emphasizing the organic expansion in both participants and attendees.

A Moment of Reflection

Before presenting event details, Reyes asked attendees for a moment of silence in memory of workers from the Concordia mine in Sinaloa who were recently killed. He called for justice and accountability, reminding participants that mining’s economic importance must be matched by security and respect for human life.

The gesture underscored the human dimension of an industry that drives billions in economic activity.

Cananea: Mexico’s Copper Engine

Cananea produces approximately 83% of Mexico’s copper, according to Mayor Esmeralda González Tapia, reinforcing the city’s national and international relevance.

The mayor described Expo Minera as a now-established national reference event, even after prior editions were held in Hermosillo and other municipalities.

In addition to the expo, Cananea will host the First National Meeting of Mining Municipalities on March 18–19, inviting representatives from 362 mining municipalities across Mexico. The objectives are to strengthen cooperation, align interests, and create a unified voice for mining communities.

Why This Matters for Arizona-Sonora

Sonora’s mining sector is deeply integrated with U.S. industrial supply chains, Arizona’s copper ecosystem, Canadian mining investment, and critical minerals for energy transition.

Expo Minera 2026 reinforces Sonora’s positioning as a strategic hub for mining services, equipment suppliers, sustainability innovation, and cross-border partnerships.

For companies operating in Arizona or Canada, this is more than a trade show. It is a signal that Sonora’s mining sector is expanding its commercial, technological, and geopolitical relevance.

More Information

Springtime in Sonora

Springtime in Sonora

Desert Light, Coastal Festivals, and Living Tradition

In Sonora, the first signs of spring arrive long before the calendar says they should. The evenings soften, the light turns golden, and the rhythm of daily life begins to shift from winter stillness into one of the most culturally meaningful seasons of the year.

This is the time when Sonora transitions from Carnaval celebrations into the more reflective period of Lent. In Yaqui and Mayo communities, the season carries an even deeper meaning, as traditional ceremonies and processions begin to unfold week by week, building toward Semana Santa. These observances are not performances. They are living expressions of faith, identity, and continuity that have endured for generations.

For travelers, March and early spring are one of the best times to experience Sonora with fresh eyes. Historic pueblos, coastal towns, markets, and mountain scenery, all set against the backdrop of a season that feels both festive and sacred.

In Sonora, spring is more than a change in weather. It’s a change in spirit.

Check our Sonora Events page to find a springtime event. 

Fiesta de Bacanora Feb 2026

Fiesta en Sonora con Bacanora 2026 in Hermosillo

Fiesta en Sonora con Bacanora 2026

Two Nights of Music, Culture, and Sonora’s Signature Spirit

Hermosillo is getting ready for one of Sonora’s most anticipated cultural events of 2026: Fiesta en Sonora con Bacanora, happening February 13–14 at the Expoforum Explanada.

One of the festival’s key highlights will be the presence of Engineer Tadeo López, a respected representative of Bacanora Las Trincheras, a brand widely recognized for its quality and authenticity, with growing prestige in both Mexico and international markets.

His participation is also a point of pride for Magdalena de Kino, a town with deep bacanora tradition, and a reminder that bacanora is more than a drink. It is a symbol of Sonoran identity, history, and craftsmanship.

The festival will bring together live music, culture, and mixology over two full evenings, running from 3:00 PM to midnight, in a family-friendly and festive atmosphere.

The live music lineup Includes Tropicalísimo Apache, Chuy Vega, Vega (Freddy & Sergio), Grupo Apenas, La Mira, Rancheritos del Pueblo, Element, and Madafakers.

And yes, both nights will include a bacanora dance and a complimentary bacanora cocktail for attendees.

Tickets are available through XTicket, and at Discos y Novedades, Óptica RB, and XTicket offices.

If you want to experience Sonora’s culture in one place, this is one to mark on your calendar.

Fiesta de Bacanora Feb 2026