Is San Carlos Mexico’s best secret beach destination?

Secluded in a serene corner of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, lies San Carlos, a small, peaceful beach town that boasts dramatic desert landscapes, deep-blue waters, a mouthwatering seafood scene, and thrilling outdoor adventures.

Sitting ashore in the magnificent Gulf of California, San Carlos offers an alternative to more popular destinations like La Paz or Los Cabos — without the crowds. With a limited selection of beach resorts favoring boutique hotels, condos and short-term rental apartments, San Carlos remains one of Mexico’s best-kept secret beach destinations.

I had the privilege of visiting this quaint resort town over the summer. Here are my best tips and recommendations for your next trip to San Carlos.

How to get there?

There’s no airport in San Carlos, which is part of the reason it gets so few visitors. To get there, visitors must fly to Hermosillo, the state capital, and drive for 90 minutes through the cacti-dotted desert. They can either rent a car or hire a transfer service at the Hermosillo International Airport. 

What to do in San Carlos?

The Gulf of California is one of the world’s most diverse marine environments. Explorer Jacques Cousteau dubbed it “the world’s aquarium,” and UNESCO recognized its islands and protected areas as a Natural World Heritage Site. Thus, there’s plenty to explore in the seas that bathe San Carlos. Travelers can spend days diving, kayaking, sailing, kite surfing, fishing, and sunbathing.  

For those who are not into watersports, an alternative is to rent a yacht for a few hours to navigate to nearby natural attractions, including deserted beaches and small desert islands, and swim in the refreshing waters of the Sea of Cortez. I recommend renting a yacht at Gabbys Yacht Rental (no relation).  

In addition to its marine attractions, the region’s distinctive lunar landscape also offers a great terrain to go hiking, biking, and camping.

For stunning vistas and unforgettable sunsets, head to the Mirador Escénico of San Carlos, which National Geographic listed among the Top 10 ocean views in the world. The viewpoint offers spectacular views of the Sea of Cortez and its rugged canyons and islands, including the Tetakawi, a volcanic hill jutting out of the sea. It is also a great spot for whale and other wildlife watching.

Admiring the wild contrast between water and rocky desert is one of the best gifts the mirador offers. 

Where to eat?

The cuisine of northern Mexico may not be as recognizable to international travelers as the central and southern cuisines of mole, chiles en nogada or tacos al pastor. But we Mexicans know Sonora offers some of the best seafood in the country. Since it is located on the Pacific coast, which is richer in marine biodiversity than the Atlantic coast, Sonora’s seafood scene includes a wide variety of dishes made from fish, prawns, rays, octopus, oysters, and more. Unlike the rest of Mexico, dishes here are dominated by flour tortillas.

Here are my recommendations for places to eat in San Carlos:

Mesa Cortez: 

We loved the food here so much that we had lunch there two times. The aguachile, made from fresh prawns with avocado slices, pickled onions and a reddish hot sauce, was spectacular. While I didn’t try it, I’ve heard the quesabirrias (quesadilla dipped in birria) are a staple there. 

Mesa Cortez is also a beach club, offering sunbeds and shades. However, you must bring your own towels.

Embarcadero Cocina + Mar:

Located at the MarinaTerra hotel facing the San Carlos Marina, Embarcadero offers an authentic Mexican buffet experience — of the kind in which food seems to never end. From fresh fruits, fresh juices, chilaquiles, machaca (a traditional beef stew from northern Mexico), refried beans, hand-made corn tortillas, quesadillas, eggs your way, waffles and beyond, it’s no wonder people queue up to eat here.

Tortuga’s Restaurant and Bar: 

For casual drinks and dinner, head to Tortuga’s Restaurant and Bar in the heart of San Carlos. The outdoor terrace offers a relaxed and romantic ambience with dimly lit bulbs hanging from the surrounding trees and live music every night.

The pizza, made in a brick oven at the terrace, is hands down one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. 

Barracuda Bob’s:

On our last day, we had breakfast at Barracuda Bob’s, a place whose interiors are reminiscent of a U.S. diner. Its menu offers Mexican dishes such as huevos divorciados and chilaquiles, as well as American staples like muffins, waffles and scones.

When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit San Carlos is from September to October and from March to May, when the weather is just right — not too hot like in the summer and not too cold like in the winter. 

However, summer and winter are also good months to travel to San Carlos. Even though summer months can get really hot, the waters of the Gulf of California remain cool and refreshing, bringing much needed relief from the heat. 

Meanwhile, the cooler winter months are ideal for whale-watching and outdoor activities, as temperatures remain around 20 degrees Celsius during the day.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.