Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico
The municipality of the port city of Guaymas has 135,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest in Sonora, covering more than 7,500 square miles. More than 100,000 of those residents are in the city of Guaymas, also known as San Jose de Guaymas, which is Sonora’s main maritime port (the second largest on the Pacific coast, after Manzanillo), and a popular tourist destination.
The city was originally founded by Jesuit missionary Juan Salvatierra in the late 1600’s as the mission of San José de Guaymas. Starting in 1703 the mission was abandoned and re-established a number of times due to attacks by the local Seri Indians. In 1769 the town of Guaymas was founded by José de Gálvez, and was renamed “Guaymas de Zaragoza” in 1862.
The port has a fascinating history, from pirate raids to attacks and occupation by the French Navy in the mid-1800s. In addition, three Mexican presidents came from Guaymas – Abelardo L. Rodriguez, Plutarco Elias Calles and Adolfo de la Huerta.
Guaymas’s main tourism draw is its beautiful coastal areas, including the areas of Miramar beach and San Carlos Bay (Bahia San Carlos). A multitude of activities are available for tourists to enjoy, from ecotourism tours to more traditional pursuits of fishing, diving, or just relaxing on the beach.
Other popular locales in the area are historic buildings such as the mission of San Jose de Guaymas, traditional Yaqui villages, and areas of natural desert beauty such as giant saguaro cacti.
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