June was a good month and it has certainly flown by. Tourism was strong, I'm a year older, and I celebrated my 3 year anniversary with the Sonoran Resorts. The weather was great (albeit a bit windy). Now, it's starting to get hot, although it hasn't been as hot as Phoenix or Tucson. Our temps have been in the 90's instead of 119. The humidity hasn't been too bad but it did seem to kick in a bit over this past weekend. We all know that it's coming - It's a good thing that the pools and the ocean are nearby. Our resorts have been pretty much sold out in rentals every weekend and, lately we have stayed pretty busy mid-week as well. The Roger Clyne concert was a big success and it was a great show. The City has contracted a private company to do trash pickup and things have already improved around town. Paving is scheduled to start on the road past the Cholla Mall to the new convention center, and repaving will also start on Calle 13. The word is that the convention center will be finished in October. The Governor was in town last week to announce the new projects and present a check to the Mayor. Please read on for more news, updates, and stories... Sales have remained strong and show no signs of slowing down. We have already broken our record since entering the resale market for number of sales in a single year and we still have half the year left. We are also getting very close to breaking the total dollar volume of sales for a year as well, and I am confident that we will easily do so. Things are changing in our little paradise. If you're in the market for a Sonoran Resorts condo, give us a call sooner than later. Don't wait too long and miss the boat. I hope that you can make it down this month to enjoy all that we have to offer. You won't regret it. I know how lucky I am to live in this beautiful seaside community doing what I love, but I also love sharing it with others. As always, let me know if there is anything at all that I can do for you. I am here every day and I promise that I'll try to help.
Please check out some of our condos for sale along the right column.
You can see all of our listings by going to our website:
IMPORTANT: if you have email service through Yahoo or Gmail, please scroll to the bottom of this email and click "View Entire Message" to see the entire newsletter. For some reason, those email providers tend to cut part of it off.
Sincerely,
Jim Ringquist
Broker/Director of Sales and Marketing Sonoran Resorts Spa - Sea - Sun - Sky 602-476-7511
Once again, I hope that you enjoy the newsletter and continue to recommend it to your friends. Our audience keeps growing and I really appreciate all your positive comments. Thanks for the help in spreading the word. Also, please feel free to give me thoughts, suggestions, or ideas for future newsletters. |
Aerom�xico Connects Puerto Pe�asco to Hermosillo and Las Vegas
 In opening up more avenues for tourists to visit Puerto Pe�asco, Aerom�xico began its Hermosillo - Puerto Pe�asco - Las Vegas route on June 20th with the first flight landing at the Mar de Cort�s international airport just before 12:30 p.m. Transforming from a glimmer in the sky, the Aerom�xico flight made a soft landing on the tarmac before turning back to head towards the terminal under the bathing "christening" waters sprayed over it by the airport's safety crew. Puerto Pe�asco Mayor Prof. Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta, along with invited guests from the press and numerous local businesses filled the bright corridor of the compact airport, located about 15 minutes south of the city, to welcome the Embraer 145 with capacity for up to 50 passengers.
The flight, which will fly out twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, seeks to broaden the base of visitors to the area to complement the many who already make their way to Pe�asco's shores by car. Earlier in the year, local Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) President H�ctor V�zquez del Mercado explained the decision to pursue the flight to Las Vegas rather than Phoenix at this time had been based on the goal of broadening the area's tourism base, while expressing desire and support for expanded service at some point.
During a brief press conference following the flight's arrival, V�zquez del Mercado beamed as he expressed appreciation to all those from throughout the city who have contributed greatly in making this flight possible. V�zquez del Mercado was joined by Pe�asco Mayor Prof. Figueroa, Northern Regional Manager for Aerom�xico Carlos Rodr�guez Torrijos, Fernando Radillo, Vice President of Grupo Vidanta, Airport Director Fernando Antill�n, Federal Migration Delegate Alonso M�rquez, and Homero R�os Murrieta, Deputy Coordinator for Tourism Promotion in Sonora. R�os had flown in on the inaugural flight in representation of State Tourism Coordinator Javier Tapia Camou who, along with Sonora Governor Guillermo Padr�s, has been a strong supporter of getting this flight off the ground.
Stressing the importance of working together to achieve the goal of once again seeing a commercial flight come to Puerto Pe�asco, Mayor Figueroa welcomed all who had flown in and emphasized "There are more and better things coming for Pe�asco."...
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We Celebrate the Super Peacemakers Fans of RCPM Circus Mexicus 2013
Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers are such a stand out rock and roll phenomenon and of near incalculable importance to the economy of our little slice of paradise by the sea, yet they are the first to say that it's their fans, affectionately known as the Peacemakers, that make it all possible year after year. So in the spirit of one of the most loyal fan bases of any music group, we salute the Peacemaker Fans this year.
Two great friends, Tony Ballesteros, Rocky Point's award winning photographer, and Joe Houchin, Sonoran Resorts blogger and photographer,
strapped on their cameras and covered every square inch of Circus Mexicus week from the Kick-off party at Wrecked at the Reef Thursday night until the last taco at Chango's on Sunday evening, over 1600 photos, a six pack of barrels full of laughs, 750 hot dogs and ear-to-ear smiles on the faces of dozens of orphans as they received food and toys from generous fans later here's the full color result of two guys on a mission.
By the way, if you think this project was hard work, just label it a labor of love because the fun and purpose of it all out-weighed any semblance of work. The closest thing to work was the week it took to process and select the photos for this blog and that could only be classified as hard fun. We hated leaving any photos out that weren't duplicates, so if you don't see you here, know there was a good reason, any one of over 5,000 of them. And know we tried to get everyone in because you all deserve a salute for your loyalty, your generosity and your love of life!
The Kick-off party Thursday night gave most of us a first glimpse of Brian Blush who played with Roger and P.H. in the Refreshments 19 years ago. He came in to join Roger Saturday night for the first time in two decades. The fans started enjoying themselves that evening and never wound down throughout the four days and nights of back to back activities.
Friday afternoon drew a sizable crowd of Roger's Mexican Moonshine Tequila drinkers to the Tequila Factory where Roger signed bottles of his rapidly growing tequila brand. Much to the glee of his fans, Roger's highly anticipated A�ejo had arrived on the market and was easily the biggest seller that Roger autographed.
Later, Roger stopped by Ramon's Restaurant at the Sonoran Sea Resort Condominiums and had tacos and a couple (more) shots of tequila with more fans. He was last seen that evening fading off into the sunset of Sandy Beach. After all he had a Rock & Soccer Tournament to play at the crack of dawn on Saturday!...
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Mexican Chamber of Commerce Proactively Seeks Open Communication with Expat Community in Puerto Pe�asco
Antonio Mendivil was having a great time at the Sonoran Resorts Las Vegas Night for DIF Charity on Saturday night May 25th, laughing, chatting with the Americans sitting at the Black Jack table with him and happy he could contribute to such a worthy cause as DIF. He had even donated a couple of prizes for the evening on behalf of his company, Contra Plagas Exterminating.
As the recently installed President of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Pe�asco, Antonio couldn't help but notice that almost all the attendees of this great evening were Americans. He knew he had many Mexican friends who would be enjoying themselves as he was, and could only imagine how many other native residents would also enjoy such a night-if they only knew about it.
With both communities so active in organizing events, both for holidays and for social and environmental gatherings, Antonio could not stop thinking how great it could be if there was an opening of communication for these events, for example one calendar of events distributed to everyone. The result of that thinking led to his motivation to first bring the two communities together, and what better way than through the services of CANACO, the Mexican Chamber of Commerce. He knew that CANACO offers services that are important to the Expat business owners just as they are to the Mexican businesses and the time was ripe to publicize that fact.
With the help of local leaders like Kit Anderson of Pe�asco Beauty and Fitness Centers getting the word out, on Tuesday June 11, 2013, Antonio Mendivil and his Board of Directors gave a Power Point presentation in English to 30 business owners from the Expat community with the intent to take the first step to open communication and let the businesses know that CANACO is capable of providing important services to not only save the businesses money in many areas (see below), but facilitate them with services and issues they may find problematical.
Antonio also expressed his hope that one result of associating with CANACO would be to bring the Mexican and Expat communities closer together so they can make each other aware of sponsored events, holidays, festivals and other activities that don't necessarily make an intercultural splash with the public. Even though we work together like a small town because we all depend on the same market for survival: tourism; we are indeed an international community influenced by national and international cultures for which, fortunately, we all share a mutual appreciation...
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TECMED Begins Trash Collection Service in Puerto Pe�asco
City Press Release: On the morning of June 17, 2013, Puerto Pe�asco Mayor Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta waved the flag to mark the launch of trash collection services under a public-private alliance the City has established with the Spanish company TECMED. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Rafaela F�lix de Figueroa, and business leaders from TECMED, the mayor celebrated the beginning of the new services, which includes seven 2013 model dump-trucks, each with a 7 ton 20 cubic yard capacity. Four former mayors were present at the brief ceremony, along with representatives from numerous city sectors including business, fishing, and services. The mayor reiterated the most viable option to resolve the city's serious trash problem was this public-private alliance. "We looked for a serious, responsible company; this has been demonstrated in areas where (TECMED) has worked as they know how to fulfill their commitments. Working hand in hand with OOMISLIM (the City's Sanitation Department) we can achieve having a cleaner and safer Puerto Pe�asco," he indicated. We inherited this administration 9 months ago along with the city's serious trash problem, which has been our Achilles heel. The lack of equipment and poor management, as well as the lack of funds within OOMISLIM, has not been spent on finding guilty parties but rather "we are working on solutions because our commitment with citizens is that we know how do things well," stressed the mayor. On behalf of TECMED, Juan Cota, Director of Urban Services, congratulated Figueroa's administration for having placed trust in their company in order to provide this vitally important service to the community. Cota added they have been working on reconditioning the landfill area over the past two weeks, along with the administrative offices and vehicle parking area, as part of their commitment to keep Pe�asco trash free. Others in attendance for the launch of the TECMED trash collection services included City Secretary Oscar Villavicencio L�bbert, City Trustee Herme Dami�n Vel�squez, City Council members and officials from various City agencies, along with former mayors Rodrigo V�lez Acosta, Valente Cornejo, Oscar Palacio Soto and Heriberto Renter�a S�nchez... Read Entire Article:
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Destiny Dance Academy: Where Vision Meets Grace
We are fortunate here in Puerto Pe�asco to have many cultural events throughout the year that include presentations of the historic folklore of this colorful country in the form of traditional foods, music, dance and song. There is also a modern cultural element in our little slice of paradise by the sea that is brought to us in the form of music, such as jazz; song, such as modern rock; and dance, such as ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical interpretation. It is the latter cultural contribution that we bring to you in today's story.
Destiny Dance Academy trains and features young artists in all four of the creative areas listed above. Owned by the accomplished choreographer and dancer, Marisa Arellano Vel�zquez, the academy has gained international recognition for both the choreographed interpretations Marisa has designed and for the quality of performance by her students in all age groups from 3 to 17 years of age.
Marisa herself has been dancing since the age of three, started designing her own routines when she was eight years old and was given the unique opportunity to take choreography seriously in high school while still taking private training in dance. Her love for and experience in choreography continued through undergraduate and graduate level studies at ASU where she attained a Master of Arts in Communication and Advocacy, all the while stretching her creativity and talent in dance as well as choreography.
As the lead instructor for the academy under the previous owners for two years Marisa was in perfect position to take advantage of an opportunity to purchase the school in September of 2012. She immediately brought on board Beatriz Nava Mendivil a young phenom who studied in Hermosillo specializing in ballet, tap and jazz.
This enabled Marisa to concentrate on choreography and international competitions. It didn't take long to make Destiny Dance Academy a respected name among other studios, especially in Arizona, where at the Hollywood Dance Experience competition in Phoenix last February her students entered every category and placed no less than silver in every one, including four gold ribbons and one platinum, plus Marisa personally brought back the Platinum Trophy for Choreography. Destiny Dance Academy will be remembered next year for sure.
With that kind of favorable notoriety, it wasn't long before the academy received an invitation to dance in the famed Disneyland Parades. With their selection to appear in the parade came an invitation to submit a video to compete for a chance to perform in the prestigious Disneyland Talent Showcase during the weekend of July 12-14. They were selected from among hundreds of competitors worldwide and will be the first and only dance team to ever represent Mexico at the Disneyland Talent Showcase, a source of great pride for the 12 young dancers Marisa has trained for this unforgettable experience...
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Efforts In Play to Attract Baja 1000 Race to Puerto Penasco
 City Press Release (through a not-so-good translation by myself)
The promotional and economic impact for our City would great if the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races agree to add Puerto Penasco to their schedule next year. The City government headed by Mayor Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta made the first contact with company executives from Score International, the owners of the popular races last month. This first encounter with Mr. Roger Norman, owner of the firm, and Oscar Ramos Jassen, representative for the company in Mexico, was conducted in the during the 45th Baja 500 auto race held last month in Ensenada, Baja California.
The DIF City Charity president, Mrs. Rafaela Felix Figueroa, director Samuel Ortega Castro, and the head of the Committee on Tourism, Sergio Vega Gomez participated in the meeting with the intention developing and promoting this race in Puerto Penasco next year.
The State Tourism Development Commission (Cofetur) headed by Javier Tapia Camou gave consent through a letter to Mayor Gerardo Figueroa after beginning discussions with company executives of Score International agreeing to provide whenever they require in State Government support.
At the meeting, Mr. Roger Norman and Oscar Ramos were presented with a plan outlining the advantages offered by Puerto Penasco in terms of road infrastructure, clean air, hotel and condo accommodations, hospitality, entertainment, and other attractions.
After the municipal government's invitation to host this major sporting event, the directors of the firm Score International reported that in the next three or four weeks, they will visit the city for a flight over the area to survey the area and continue discussions.
Mr. Roger Norman, owner of the firm Score International, welcomed the interest of the municipal government and said he will work to make this race a reality in Rocky Point 2014.
In this type of race, drivers travel on a route of 1000 and 500 miles across mountains, valleys, deserts and beaches in one of several different categories ranging from the most horsepower in the motors as the "Trophy Truck" to the unmodified vehicle. This competition attracts people from several countries and would represent a positive influence, not only for Puerto Penasco, but for all of Sonora due to the promotion that would occur at an international level.
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Duncan Farms Family Demonstrate Unbridled Compassion for Infantil de Amores Children
"Tia Kati" (Spanish for Aunt Kathy) aka Kathleen Duncan of Arizona's Duncan Family Farms has rapidly become a near legend with the kids (and staff) at DIF's Infantil de Amores shelter in Puerto Pe�asco. And it's mainly due to the way she communicates with them-through love, compassion and consistency. Her philosophy is that these kids have been abandoned enough, not to mention the abuse and/or neglect that goes along with dysfunctional familial behavior that leaves children as young as 2 years of age walking the streets in the middle of the night, alone and afraid; some so heavily laden with lice that upon delivery to Infantil de Amores shelter, in many cases it's necessary to shave their heads to expedite extermination of these creepy germ carriers before they spread to the other children.
Kathleen has proven that creating consistency for these kids in as many parts of their little lives as possible can produce dramatic results in a very short time. She has taught them to read a calendar and points to the date of her next visit, which is at least once a week, then makes sure she shows up on that date or sooner. She's only been doing this since last September and relates that, while she knew she would fall in love with the kids, she soon found herself in love and awe with the entire staff of the shelter as well as the community. Dedication of the staff to the children has created an environment of unconditional love, so much so that the children affectionately refer to every care giver at the shelter as a "Tia", or aunt.
Kathleen makes the weekly drive from their 2,500 acre family farm in Buckeye, Arizona and participates in as much of the kids lives as possible. The June 21st weekend we were invited to a beach party for the entire shelter at the Duncan's Las Conchas home was also Kathleen's birthday, which, if you know her, she predictably chose to celebrate with the kids as well as her husband, Arnott and son, Sean. One look at these photos are worth the proverbial 1000 words as they tell the story in full color of admiration and joy on the faces of the kids, and the pure compassion for humanity that flows through the expressions of this well known farming family.
In fact, if you drive to Rocky Point via I-10 from the Valley of the Sun, you've surely exchanged wows with the other passengers in your car as you drive by that giant mural of the baby in overalls playing with a tractor in the middle of a crop field next to the highway. That southwest icon was commissioned by the Duncans 25 years ago as a fun gift to travelers on I-10!
The beach party for the kids at Las Conchas wasn't the only event that took place on the weekend of Kathleen's birthday. The family also attended a kindergarten graduation and the massive 6th grade graduation for all of Rocky Point students at the Malecon, an over the top memorable experience for all the family. In her own words, Kathleen describes one memorable moment as, "Tita grabbing my hand after her kindergarten graduation ceremony, leading me to her classroom and introducing me to her teacher as her 'Tia Katy'", and another as, "Seeing that, between Sean, Arnott and I and the wonderful women from the shelter who attended the ceremony Thursday night, our three 6th graders had just as many 'family members' there to support them as the other kids".
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Tea Party Collected 5,896 Diapers to Take a Big Load off Infantil de Amores Shelter
It's just amazing what miracles the women of Puerto Pe�asco can produce when they're on a mission, and how many come together to help. To get them into the miracle-creating mode just mention the needs of children.
As in the case of this Tea Party diaper caper, Kathleen Duncan mentioned to Kory Bonini about Infantil de Amores shelter needing diapers and how sweet it would be if they could figure out a way to collect enough diapers to last for the entire summer to...umm...take a load off the shelter.
Kory and Sandy Spain agreed they should come up with a way to help. Sandy suggested a "Tea Party" would be easiest and quickest to set up and sent an email to all the ladies of her Mariposas Club, the ladies who meet for Bunco the last Thursday of the month at Giuseppi's, and "The Connection" ladies who meet for happy hour at the Light House every Thursday afternoon. As Sandy puts it, "Like so many of our efforts to help fill the needs in Penasco, it just snowballs and so many people come forward to help when they hear about the need."
"It's a Tea Party at Giuseppi's on June 25th" Sandy's email said, "and bring a package of diapers, the kids need them."
The word spread like a tsunami, reaching the loyal readers of Mark
Olszewski's Facebook page, the widely read Sonoran
Resorts Blog and the Rocky Point 360 newsletter. Barb Olszewski volunteered to collect diaper donations from those who couldn't make the Tea Party. The ladies march was on.
"It's all about the children," is their battle cry.
When Sandy revealed that men were also invited to attend-with diapers in hand- a rare invitation for these ladies events, we knew it was going to be a big one. That's how we found ourselves in the diaper aisle of Super Ley running late for the Tea Party, of course, two senior expats valiantly displaying our ignorance of the personal hygiene fashions for babies, turning heads of laborers and mothers alike. Ultimately, we found ourselves in the checkout line clutching the "latest in baby comfort" being stared down by a little old lady placing her own preference of packaged absorbency on the counter. "Uh, Tony, check the absorbency of these things, did we miss something here?"
"Dollars or pesos, please?" sings a petit cashier...the little old lady was gone and we still had neither idea nor time to learn about absorbency.
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On arriving at Giuseppi's, the "tsunami" had built to a crescendo forming stacks and stacks of diapers and baby wipes occupying a sizable portion of the patio. We quickly felt better about our choices seeing the myriad selection of products sure to please even the most fastidious infants. We snapped a couple of set up pics and went inside to invite the 11 hard-working early birds outside for a group victory photo.
About 30 ladies and a hand full of guys gathered inside Giuseppi's over the two hour Tea Party, adding to the diaper booty on the patio. Kathleen showed up even after her whirlwind four day birthday celebration over the previous weekend (as covered in our last blog at: http://www.sonoranresorts.mx/?p=9434). She profusely thanked this hard working group for the amazing success of their efforts. She shared some stories about the history, children and staff of Infantil de Amores shelter, her impressions after working closely with them since last year and talked about some of the plans for it in the future.
The final count on the diaper and wipes drive was a mind boggling 5,896 diapers and 5,488 wipes-enough for the summer and then some! The ladies of Rocky Point are an inspired and inspiring group of caring individuals who get the job done time after time, especially when it's all about the kids in our little slice of paradise by the sea.
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La Spa de Pe�asco: Synchronizing Body and Soul from Head to Toe
Located right in the modern marbled lobby of the Sonoran Resorts inaugural luxury condominium has served owners and residents of Puerto Pe�asco since 2002.
Jerri and Tony Poteste, owners of La Spa as well as owners of a condominium in the Sonoran Spa designed and built this comfy retreat to their tasteful specifications and have maintained and upgraded their treasured possession since it opened.
Among La Spa's six individually decorated and quite comfortable accommodations that are fully equipped for facials, waxing, and specialty body treatments, there's a cozy couples massage suite, separate waiting areas for men and ladies, complete with their own steam showers, and an impressively spacious pedicure and manicure area that invites a stunning view of the Sea of Cortez while licensed professional cosmeticians work their magic to transform your digits into soothing works of art.
Meanwhile, in the body and facial treatment rooms, La Spa offers five types of exotic massages, at least three types of facials-including one for men; a variety of waxing services too thorough (men read: too painful) to list; three different Aromatherapy Mud Treatments; a Body Polish and an Herbal Body Wrap cover most of the many services, but not all. You can select a combination of any of these creative treatments customized just for you in a specially priced package.
The value that Jerri and Tony place on service at La Spa de Pe�asco is obvious from the moment you cross the threshold into their little haven of beauty and relaxation. The first indication comes from the genuine welcoming smile of Puerto Pe�asco native, Olga Durant who has managed La Spa for eight years ensuring the complete satisfaction of each and every guest. It's no wonder that Jerri credits Olga with being an integral part in the continuous growth of repeat and regular clientele to La Spa.
Pricing at La Spa is very reasonable with massages starting at just $35 US dollars, manicures and pedicures are $30 and $40 USD respectively; the fascinating facials and full body treatments start at $70 USD and the waxing services, nearly a dozen of them, start at only $7 USD and up.
Jerri and Tony are very loyal to the owners at all the Sonoran Resorts, offering them a 50% discount off their already affordable prices for massages anytime year around, and a 25% discount off all other services La Spa offers...
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Mexico's Natural Pinacate Desert Wins World Heritage Status 
PHNOM PENH, June 21 (Xinhua)
The extraordinary landscape of El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve in Mexico with its sweeping dunes, huge volcanic craters and rich cultural heritage is the latest site to achieve World Heritage Status.
The decision was made Friday by the 37th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
"I would like to congratulate to Mexico on listing the property on the World Heritage List," Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, chairman of the 37th WHC session, said during the plenary session.
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Sonoran Desert, an ecosystem shared by Mexico and the United States, according to a press statement of the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN), which is an advisory body for UNESCO on natural World Heritage Sites.
"Inscription of this spectacular site on the World Heritage List is extremely welcome recognition of its significant values and impressive local conservation efforts," said Tilman Jaeger of IUCN's delegation to the World Heritage Committee meeting. "We hope the attention generated by such recognition will help consolidate its conservation for future generations and further increase existing ties between authorities, NGOs, scientists and indigenous peoples in the bordering American part of the Sonoran Desert."
Covering more than 715,000 hectares and a large buffer zone, the reserve is a relatively undisturbed protected area comprising two very distinct landscape types. To the East is a massive, dormant volcanic shield -- the Pinacate Shield, with extensive black and red lava flows, the IUCN said.
The shield features 10 enormous and almost perfectly circular Maar craters and more than 400 cinder cones.
In the west, towards the Colorado River Delta and South towards the Gulf of California, is the Gran Altar Desert, North America's largest field of active sand dunes, some of which reach 200 meters in height.
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar's variety of landscapes has led to extraordinary habitat and species diversity. Many species are found only in the Sonoran Desert or even within the protected area.
The subtropical desert ecosystem is reported to host more than 540 species of vascular plants, 44 mammals, more than 200 birds, over 40 reptiles, as well as several amphibians.
The area also has a rich archaeological history and is considered sacred by the indigenous Tohono O'odham, today living on both sides of the international border.
Mexico is the one of five exceptional natural properties added to the World Heritage List this year. The other four sites are China's Xinjiang Tianshan, Namib Sand Sea in Namibia, Tajik National Park of Tajikistan, and Mount Etna in Italy, which had been already adopted by the World Heritage Committee earlier Friday.
The World Heritage Committee is currently holding its 37th session in Phnom Penh to consider inscribing 30 new properties on the World Heritage List.
Dim Sovannarom, a spokesman for the 37th WHC session, said Friday that about 17 of the 30 candidate sites are likely to be inscribed on the list during the session.
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Many of us have come to Mexico to visit the dentist and have realized a huge savings over the cost of the same quality work in the United States. There are also a few who have found that the medical care can be just as lucrative.
As a personal example, two years ago, I had an emergency appendectomy right here in Puerto Penasco. The ambulance ride, the surgery, and the 4 days in the hospital came to a grand total of just over $3,000 Dollars. I don't even want to imagine how much that may have been in Arizona. Anyway, I came across this article and it was just too good not to share. Enjoy.
In her own words: How one American came to do her hip surgery in Hermosillo
Doctor Cinco
HERMOSILLO, Sonora - Cindy Lundy, 65, originally from Bend, Ore., is one of those legion of Americans caught in an increasingly common and oft-tragic scenario of needing surgery and having no savings or insurance to pay for it.
Like others, Lundy, who travels Mexico with her husband, Bill, in a motorhome, sat at a computer to research alternatives anywhere and everywhere. Her searches led her to Intermed - www.gointermed.com - a quasi-public firm in Tucson that links foreigners to medical professionals in Sonora state in Mexico. That connection, in turn, led Lundy to this city, the capital of Sonora, and Dr. Eduardo Quiroz Cinco of Hospital San Jos�.
Here, in Lundy's own words, is her experience:
"I had been having trouble walking for several years. I was laid off from my job in 2008 and did not take the COBRA insurance (continuing health insurance coverage after leaving employment) option since it was over $900 per month."
As a sidenote she explained, "I was actually trying to stall getting my hip fixed until my 65th birthday but it progressed too quickly. I now have Medicare."
Back to her story: "I had seen a surgeon in Portland and he told me he wouldn't even consider putting me in the hospital for surgery, without insurance, unless I had at least $65,000 in the bank. Another surgeon referred me to a charity agency. I did not go there because I was embarrassed. I started looking on the Internet for other alternatives. India seemed like my only choice. I filled out a questionnaire online and started getting phone calls and emails from people that could barely speak English. The calls became harassing."
"My sister had given me a contact of someone whose daughter went to Thailand for dental work. She had said she would go to Thailand with me. That is what I really wanted - someone to be there with me."
"In 2010, we spent three weeks with Bill's sister and brother-in-law in San Carlos, Sonora. They bought their house that year and we met her real estate agent. After leaving San Carlos, we went to spend a month in Yuma, Arizona. While there, Bill's sister called us telling us that Pam had been in Tucson for company meetings and heard about Intermed from the Tucson tourism bureau.
"I called immediately. We scheduled a meeting with two people from (toursim bureau) and drove from Yuma to Tucson to hear about the program. The two, Phillip and Marta, were the deciding factor. They were not slick salespeople. They were regular people and also Mexican. From there, I met Jessica Borchardt of Intermed, and she took over. I didn't have to worry about any details. They made it very easy for me."
"Jessica made hotel reservations and met us at the hotel for the interviews."
"Then we met Dr. Eduardo Cinco at San Jos� Hospital. He asked if I had an X-ray of my hip and I did not. He prescribed one and sent us down the hall. They took it right away. Jessica asked if we wanted to pay the bill or add it to our bill. The X-ray bill was 125 pesos, approximately $12.
"Dr. Cinco then explained what would happen in surgery and showed me three different prostheses from which to choose. Dr. Cinco's reputation was that he did all orthopedic surgery on athletes in Hermosillo and he had also done a hip replacement on Jessica's father five months before."
"They broke down the costs for us and told me they could do surgery the next day or in two weeks, which is when the doctor would have again the necessary equipment. I had chosen the titanium-to-titanium prosthesis, which required I stay on my back for two weeks (in a hotel) to allow the hip bone to grow around the cup instead of using screws. The top-of-the-line prosthesis cost $3,900. Our nephew, in the U.S., was going to get me a prosthesis, wholesale, for $12,900. Intermed sent me a breakdown of all costs. It would be $15,400 for everything - including meals."
"The room I had in the hospital was approximately 800 square-feet and the bathroom was approximately 400. The ante room, where family could stay, was approximately 600. This was way too much for what I needed but obviously top-of-the-line."
"The biggest fear that I heard about from my family when I was going to do this was: Aren't you afraid of crossing the border and getting killed. Or 'Mexico is a Third World - how can they have competent doctors.' I still get asked if I have any problems with my surgery. If you have ever been to Mexico for any extended time, you would know that these are ridiculous questions. The media in the U.S. has created this type of hype. I hope we can change those perceptions...
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Here is another interesting article that I found and wanted to share. This one is of special interest to all of us sport fishermen who love to fish the Sea of Cortez.
History of the Totoaba:
Mexico's Gigantic, Marlin-Sized Croaker
By Gene Kira, Western Outdoor News:
I first learned of the totoaba when it's pure white fillets were sold as "totuava," a common English spelling, in neat, plastic-wrapped packages on Southern California supermarket shelves in the early 1960s--and then mysteriously and quietly disappeared again after only a few seasons. My introduction to the history of the totoaba and the people who fished for it began one fine spring day, some 20 years later, during a pleasant but unproductive morning of fishing on the Sea of Cortez, at San Felipe, about 50 miles from the mouth of the Colorado River. As you look out over the calm waters of San Felipe today, it's hard to imagine that as recently as the 1950s these beautiful beaches were the scene of one of the most dramatic lessons mankind has ever learned about how fragile the life of the sea really is. At that time, I was unaware of the fantastic fish slaughter going on only 150 miles away, at the extreme north end of Mexico's Sea of Cortez. I was also unaware that the swift disappearance of those plastic-wrapped packages was merely the final act of a fascinating tale that had its origins in the very early years of the past century. Ramon, my Mexican "panguero" fishing guide at San Felipe, was an old man--well over eighty--and no longer able to pull the starter rope of his outboard motor. But no matter, the fishing had been deadly slow all morning anyway. As we floated together on a glassy-calm sea, three miles off the barren desert Mexican coast, I reeled in my line and set my rod down on the worn wooden seat of his skiff. Ramon continued to tend his baited hand line, staring silently down into the water, occasionally pulling in an eight-inch croaker or small corvina, which he would toss into a plastic laundry basket. "Not many fish at San Felipe today," I ventured. "Very few." As he continued to add small fish to a growing pile that I knew was intended for the table of his great-grandchildren that night, Ramon began talking--with perhaps a bit of sadness and pride in his voice--of his early life in San Felipe and the truly magnificent Mexican fishery that was once the northern Sea of Cortez. In particular, he began talking of that gigantic member of the croaker or drum family (Sciaenidae), the legendary totoaba, or totuava, Cynoscion macdonaldi, that grew to the size of marlin and once swam in these waters in schools so thick they could be harpooned from the beach, literally with ones eyes held closed. Ramon's family was originally from a small fishing village near Guaymas on the Mexican mainland shore of the Sea of Cortez. In 1928, Ramon's father heard of the great totoaba harvest that had been going on for several years near the mouth of the Colorado River--at the extreme northern tip of the gulf--and especially near the very small fish camp of San Felipe, which at that time consisted of perhaps half-a-dozen families. The harvest of totoaba near Ramon's village in the Guaymas area had begun shortly after the turn of the century and had already reduced the local population to the point that the fishermen there were looking for another source. Ramon, his mother, and his brothers and sisters walked around the north end of the Sea of Cortez to San Felipe--a trip of about 500 miles along a blistering-hot desert shore--while his father paddled their few possessions in a dugout canoe just off the beach. Reaching San Felipe, they made camp on the white sand of what is now the downtown area of a growing city of 25,000 people, and Ramon and his father threw baited hand lines out from shore to catch many tons of the giant croakers that came to spawn in the extreme northern Cortez from late February to early June. Business was good, and the fish were enormous, averaging about 100 pounds, with many larger ones over 200 pounds, and a few approaching and even thought to have exceeded 300 pounds. (In 1961, California Fish & Game biologist, John Fitch, was quoted as having witnessed the weighing of a 330-pound specimen at San Felipe. In 1954, Western Outdoor News, the Southern California outdoor weekly, published a photo of a fish described as weighing 312 pounds.) But the profit was not in selling the delicious white meat, which is almost indistinguishable from that of the white seabass, Cynoscion nobilis. Instead, Ramon and his father cut out the fishes' yard-long buche (boo'-chee) or air bladders, dried them in the sun until they were hard as cardboard, and tied them into large bales which they sold to the buyer for as much as $5 U.S. per pound--a fortune for the time.
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Nine Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About Seagulls
Easily the most ubiquitous bird around our little slice of paradise by the sea is the seagull. Not long after walking the beach regularly you'll begin to notice slight differences among what you thought were probably one species of seagull. In fact there are dozens of species that call our beaches home most of the year, and even one endemic to the Sea of Cortez, the Yellow-footed Gull distinguishable by its white head, bright yellow beak with a red spot under the tip and bright yellow legs.
Although known by most in coastal cities more as pests than graceful, intelligent, skillful seabirds, the seagulls we come across along the beaches of Puerto Pe�asco are primarily in the latter category, though not without their quirks and uniqueness among seabirds.
Here are just a few of those facts that make the seagull interesting among its winged peers:
- Seagulls are monogamous creatures that mate for life and rarely divorce. They have a strong societal structure that works very effectively against predators to their breeding colonies, as they will gang up on the intruder with up to a hundred gulls and drive them away, on occasion even driving them out to sea to drown.
- As parents, seagulls are attentive and caring, with both involved in incubating the eggs as well as feeding and protecting the chicks until they fledge.
- Seagulls are one of the few species of seabirds that can survive drinking salt water, enabling them to venture far out to sea in search of food when necessary. This is made possible by a special pair of glands just above the eyes that flush the salt from their system out through their nostrils.
- Seagulls have excellent vision, better than human vision in fact, and they are one of the few birds with eyes that can move in their sockets.
- Seagulls are expert fliers, having mastered control of wind and thermals, sharp directional changes, climbs and dives. They are a marvel to watch on windy days as they hover motionless using the wind and their superb vision to study the sea life below for potential prey.
- Seagulls' intelligence is best demonstrated by their developed feeding methods, such as dropping clams or other hard-shelled mollusks onto hard rock surfaces to break them open. They also teach their young this maneuver and other creative methods of hunting, showing the intelligent ability to pass skills to others.
- Studies have shown seagulls to have a highly developed, complex communication system using a wide range of vocalizations and body movements.
- The seagull is the state bird of Utah with very good reason. They helped the Mormon settlers deal with a plague of crickets that well may have prevented them from settling Salt Lake City. The event is known as the "Miracle of the Gulls."
- Seagulls, particularly the Heermann's Gull, are relentless kleptomaniacs that have developed many clever ways of stealing the catch of other seabirds. You've surely seen it happening but may not have known what was actually going on. Ever notice that there are always a couple of seagulls hanging around the pelicans while they are hunting and plunging for food? These devious gulls know that the pelican must drain the water from its beak before it can swallow its catch. During that process the gull will go for any exposed part of the fish and take what it can get until the draining process is completed. Seagulls also use their flying skills to pluck fish from birds in flight, or use truly fascinating maneuvers to pester them until they drop the food which the gull will catch before it hits the water...
Read Entire Article:
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Flavorful Flounder For the Oven
 Living on the ocean has its advantages. One of them is the availability of fresh and inexpensive seafood all year long. Flounder (Lenguado) is one variety of fish commonly caught here and it is one of my favorites. It has a mild flavor and the fillets are completely boneless. If you don't have the patience to catch them yourself, there are many places to buy fresh flounder. My favorite is called Seafood Industries on Sinaloa Blvd. behind the first Pemex on Benito Juarez Blvd. If you don't know your way around town and prefer an easier place to find, just go to the Malecon (Old Port) fish market. You can get most any variety that you want there from one of the many vendors. Since I generally don't like fishy tasting fish, and I need a break from the breaded, deep fried kind once in a while, this recipe worked out great. It is very easy and it came out delicious and not at all fishy... Ingredients: (original recipe makes 6 servings) Cooking Spray 2 Pounds Flounder Fillet, Rinsed and Patted Dry 1/4 Teaspoon Salt 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 1/4 Cup Melted Butter 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise 3 Tablespoons Chopped Green Onion 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice Directions- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Prepare a 13x9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Season both sides of flounder fillets with salt. Place into prepared baking dish. Brush 1 tablespoon lemon juice over fillets.
- Mix Parmesan cheese, melted butter, mayonnaise, green onions, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a bowl; spoon over the fillets.
- Bake flounder in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Switch oven to broil; broil fillets until the tops are just browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
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Will a Hanging Ziploc Bag Filled With Water Really Repel Flies?
 You have probably seen a little restaurant or outdoor stand with a bag of water hanging above the door or window. If you didn't know what it was for, you certainly must have wondered and probably even asked about it. And, while this isn't necessarily a Mexican only theory, I have seen many more of them here than anywhere else. I still see several of the smaller "mom and pop" type places that utilize this high tech method of repelling flies. I saw one just the other day and I wondered where the idea came from and if there was any research or evidence to show how the idea originated and whether it actually worked or not. So I did a little looking. The best answer that I could get regarding where the idea originally came from was a story about a fisherman who noticed a lack of biting flies attacking him on his boat after he stacked some water-filled plastic bags containing live fish on top of his cooler. When he realized what was keeping them away, he hung some at his house. His neighbors asked about them, hung some at their houses, and the rest is supposedly history. Whether they work or not was a more difficult determination to make. I can say with absolutely no doubt that the places I have visited with the little hanging bags seemed to have just as many flies as any without them. But, many people firmly believe in them and swear that when they are not there, the fly population is much worse. Of course, there is also the school of thought that it only works if you put pennies in the bag. Some even have an exact number of pennies that are supposed to be "just right". Mythbusters proclaimed it Busted but Snopes says that it is Undetermined. Personally, I seriously doubt it but, if you have the time on your hands to look further into it, there is enough testimony and information online to keep you busy. Or, better yet, conduct some of your own experiments - that is, if you have absolutely nothing better to do. Have a great July. I'll be back next month,
Saludos,
Jim Ringquist
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Great Views from this
Beautifully Furnished End
Unit at the Sonoran Sea.
Fully assumable 20 year
loan available with 18 years
left at 5.9%. This one will
sell quickly as there are
no others like it available.
Must see to appreciate.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
PENDING SALE
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Sonoran Spa W109
2BR Ground Floor
$255,000
Link to Listing
Super low down payment
on this beautiful two
bedroom ground floor condo
at the Sonoran Spa Resort. Just $36,000 down and
you can assume a fully amortized loan at 5.9%.
That deal is hard to beat.
Fully furnished and ready
to go. Great rental
income potential.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa N605
1BR North Building
$119,900
Link to Listing
Now offering Financing!
Perfect location for the best views in the Spa North building. Great condition and Priced right! And now financing available with 25% down. This one will sell soon.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
PENDING SALE
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Sonoran Sea W104
2BR Ground Floor
$269,900
Link to Listing
 Walk right out your door to the pool and the beach. This beautiful ground floor condo is the perfect choice for either rentals or just to enjoy yourselves. Nicely decorated and turn key ready for you.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa E209
2BR East Building
$179,000
Link to Listing
 Prices like these are almost a thing of the past! Buy this one before it's gone. It is a great price on a turnkey 2 Bedroom. Fabulous views and priced to sell at only $179,000!
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa N302
1 BR Unit
$99,000
Link to Listing
GREAT price on this one bedroom at the Sonoran Spa. This one won't last long so come and take a look. This unit is unfurnished and ready for your special touches.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
PENDING SALE
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 This beautiful condo will make a great rental! It has a beautiful bedroom, and sleeper sofa in the living room, plus it has a extra Murphy bed built in to sleep more. That makes this one bedroom very unique and a very good rental unit. Can't beat the price!
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa E203
2 BR East Building
$189,900
Link to Listing
Great views from this oceanfront 2 bedroom at the Spa. Nicely furnished. Ready to move in and priced to sell.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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 Step right off your patio and onto the lush grounds of the Sonoran Sea Resort. Directly ocean front and steps from the beach. This condo will make a great rental or keep it all for yourselves. Either way, you can't go wrong with the fully amortized 20 year financing available. Condos like these don't come along very often Come check it out for yourself. You'll be glad that you did.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Spa W301
3 Bedroom End Unit
$335,000
Great price on this immaculate end unit 3 bedroom at the Spa. This is a very nicely decorated, move-in ready condo that needs nothing. Come and take a look before the prices go up. Stunning Ocean and Old Port Views.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sea W505
2 BR Model Perfect
$235,000
Price just reduced on this model perfect 2 bedroom condo at the Sonoran Sea. This unit is very nicely furnished and is on the 5th floor with the great arched terrace. Just 20% down and you're in. This condo is totally turn key and the only thing missing is you...
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa W609
2BR Premium Patio
$349,000
Link to Listing
 Beautiful two bedroom condo with huge extended patio for entertaining. Owner will carry with 40% down. Great Views!
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W207
2 Bedroom West Building
$249,900
Link to Listing
 Great Terms on this beautiful 2 bedroom West building condo at the Sonoran Sun. Just 20% down gets you in and you will have 20 years at 5.9% to pay it off. True oceanfront living can be yours for only $49,800 down.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W612
1BR West Building
$149,000
Link to Listing
Not many of these great one bedrooms left and this one is a beauty. Fabulous views and a great price. This would make a great rental or keep it for yourself. Either way, you can't go wrong here. Beautifully furnished and ready to go, this condo can't be beat. You really need to come and see this one before it's gone.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun E801
3BR End Unit
$439,000
Link to Listing
 You really need to see this condo! Grand views of the Sea of Cortez from your wraparound balcony is just the beginning. Priced to sell and one of the very nicest condos on Sandy Beach. This one is a must see.Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W307
2 Bedroom West Building
$249,000 Terms
Link to Listing
New on the market and poised for a quick sale. This condo shows very well and has outstanding views of Sandy Beach and Old Port. Fully furnished and turn key. You can get into this beauty for as little as 10% down with attractive Seller financing available. Come see this one soon or you'll miss the boat.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa E101
3BR Ground Floor
$359,000
 PENDING SALEGreat Terms! 20% Down,
5.9% interest for 20 years.
This is a beautiful ground floor end unit condo. Enjoy the privacy and step right out to the pool and beach.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W801
3 Bedroom west Building
$469,000 Terms
True luxury with a wrap around patio doesn't even begin to describe this beauty. The views from this condo are unbelievable. Fully furnished and turn key ready to go, this dream come true can be yours with a reasonable down payment and owner financing terms. Come and see this one. You'll be glad that you did.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sky 1410
4 Bedroom Premium End Unit
$700,000
This is a rare opportunity to own an upper floor premium end unit at the Luxurious Sonoran Sky for a great price. Buy this condo and have instant equity. 4 bedrooms and a huge wraparound patio with absolutely stunning views. These 4 bedrooms don't come on the market very often and this is a great price.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Fabulous 2 Bedroom condo at the Sonoran Sea Resort. This is one of the few remaining great deals at the Sea.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa W306
2BR West Building
$189,000
Great views from this 2 bedroom in the West building of the Sonoran Spa. Priced to sell at only $189,000 cash.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
PENDING SALE
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Sky 705
1BR Premium Condo
$259,000
Link to Listing
Best priced 1 bedroom at the Sonoran Sky Resort. This one is unfurnished and waiting for your creative design. Seller financing is available with 25% down. Great Buy!
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun E707
2 Bedroom East Building
$219,000
Link to Listing
 PENDING SALE
Beautiful 2 bedroom condo at the Sonoran Sun overlooking the pools and the beach. Great price and not many at this price left for sale.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W902
2 BR West Building
$219,000
Link to Listing
Huge price decrease and fantastic views make this one a HOT buy. Great condo. Great price. Great views. You can't lose on this one. Take a look!
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sea E901
3 Bedroom End Unit
$429,000
Link to Listing  Luxury 3 Bedroom end unit condo at the Sonoran Sea. This is an immaculate condo and a great rental income property. Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W404
2BR West Building
$249,900
Check out this beautiful 2 bedroom condo. Sold unfurnished and ready for all of your finishing touches. It is on the desirable 4th floor in the West building. See the lights of Old Port every night. Just 20% down and 5.9% for a full 20 year fully amortized loan.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun E709
3 Bedroom Premium
This 3 Bedroom 3 Bath Premium condo must be seen to be appreciated. Great price and shows like a model. Not used as a rental. This one is a Must See beauty with ocean front views beyond belief.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun E514
1 Bedroom Wrap Patio
$169,900
Link To Listing
 Great Ocean Front Views from this beautiful East Side End Unit Condo. Wrap around terrace makes end units unique. Not many of these available.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Spa E503
2 Bedroom East Building
$189,900
This is a great price on a two bedroom condo at the Sonoran Spa. Prices are going up and now is the time to act.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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Sonoran Sun W708
2BR West Building
$209,000 Cash
 PENDING SALE
This is simply a fantastic deal The condo has over $35,000 of furnishings included in the sale. The views are fantastic Old Port shines at night from your terrace. The price is great. What's not to love. Come see this one before it's gone.
Call Today: 602-476-7511
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We are Rocky Point's only exclusive and dedicated team who have always, and will always, sell Sonoran Resorts and only Sonoran Resorts!
If you are looking for a team of real professionals who specialize in Puerto Penasco's best family of "True Beachfront" resorts, you've found us, and we are here to serve you.
No one can serve you better when it comes to the Sonoran Resorts. We were there at the beginning, and we will continue to be there.
We don't just sell the Sonoran Resorts, we ARE the Sonoran Resorts. We work directly with the Developers, the HOAs, and the Rental companies. We can help you in ways that no one else can.
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Special Offers
We are constantly looking for new ideas to help us sell our listings. Here are a couple offers that you may or may not be familiar with:
Promotional Stay:
If you know of someone who may be interested in getting to know our resorts better with the idea of a possible purchase, we will offer them a 2 night stay for only $99. No tax, no cleaning fee. However, we are not a rental agency. We try to limit these promotional stays to potential Buyers.
Finders Fee:
If anyone refers a Buyer to us, we will pay them up to 1.5% of the sales price. There is no need to be licensed as Mexico does not have that requirement at this time. Just give us the name and contact information of a potential Buyer before we have any contact with them and, if they buy, we will send a check for up to 1.5% of the sales price to the referrer. This is only valid if they are new clients, unknown to us. Once we make contact with someone, they can no longer be referred by an outside source. Please contact me personally for the details.
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