Tourist News, Observations and Insights of Sonora, Mexico
The state of Sonora covers a large area of land and has a marvelous variety of natural beauty, history, culture, culinary delights, activities and experiences to enjoy. I love exploring Sonora, meeting its people, capturing moments in photographs and learning about all the state has to offer.
But Sonora is not Disneyland. Although we have personally never felt threatened there, I understand that any tourist locale has its inherent risks, and Sonora is no exception.
So this page is where we will post news and information of interest to tourists, including travel advisories, as well as images of this marvelous place and its people.
And we invite you to participate with your comments, and share information, experiences and images from your Sonoran travels. I want this to be a place where travelers and those interested in traveling can get a clear picture of the current environment south of the border, fun places to visit, unique experiences and any other information that may have an impact on Sonoran travel.
Thanks for visiting this page, please come back and visit us often! And if you have Sonora tourism-related experiences or insights to share, please contact us.
Explore Sonora Tourism News, Events and Insights
Books
Books The Explore Sonora Books Gift Collection is dedicated to readers who want to understand Sonora beyond the headlines. Here you’ll find curated titles on Sonora’s history, geography, Indigenous cultures, borderlands identity, wildlife, food traditions,...
Sonora Governor Announces Record Social Budget for 2026
Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo announced that the state will implement its largest social budget in history in 2026, allocating over 12.6 billion pesos specifically for social programs aimed at reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable families. The total state...
Seven Murders in Five Days: Violence Surges Again in Hermosillo
In the first five days of October, seven homicides were recorded in Hermosillo — including a decapitation case that shocked the city. The alarming start to October follows what authorities describe as the most violent month of the year so far, with 12 murders in...
Is It Time to Return to Sonora?
Is It Time to Return to Sonora? It has been years since I’ve traveled widely in Sonora. Other than a brief trip to the beach resort of San Carlos last year, my journeys through the state have been on hold. The primary reason, of course, has been the increase in...
Is Sonora Safe in 2025?
This is the question most travelers ask before visiting Sonora — and it’s a fair one. The truth is that Sonora remains a complex destination, rich in culture and beauty but facing challenges that demand awareness and caution.As it has been for some time, the answer...
Northern Sonora Hit by a Winter Storm
Winter Storm Brings Freezing Temps to SonoraFile photo: Snow on a Sonoran desert cactus. (c) B. R. WaldonFreezing Temperatures Expected in Sonora: Northeast to Be Most Affected by a Winter Storm Sonoran media have announced the arrival of the second winter storm in...
Arizona family robbed at gunpoint during Sonora beach vacation
Lessons to be learned regarding travel in Sonora, Mexico A family of four from Mesa, Arizona traveling to their Sonora, Mexico beach house were forced to pull over at gunpoint as they traveled south of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora (also known as Rocky Point). The assailant...
US-Sonora border closed for “nonessential travel”
Early closure notice results in rush of holiday weekend visitors On Wednesday, July 1, in order to try to stem the rapid growth of coronavirus cases in her state, Sonora Governor Claudia Pavlovich announced that the border between Arizona and Sonora would be closed...
Woman with COVID-19 symptoms dies on Sonora passenger bus
Boarded the bus on Saturday; died on Sunday night A 28-year-old woman traveling with her family on a commercial bus was unresponsive at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Sunday night when the bus reached at the Querobabi military checkpoint south of...
Weekend accident kills 4 on Sonora highway
Adults and children killed and injured in multi-vehicle accident According to published Sonora news reports, a collision between two vehicles at kilometer 74 + 300 on the highway between San Luis Rio Colorado and the Gulf of Santa Clara on late Saturday night or...