TUCSON – A business and government leaders are speaking out in defense of Puerto Peñasco as spring breakers decide where to go.
Spring breakers who may be worried about reports of violence in Mexico should also know that recent violent incidents happened hundreds of miles away from Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) on the other side of the country, says Puerto Peñasco Mayor Kiko Munro.
“We are always saddened to hear reports of violence in Mexico, but rest assured, Rocky Point has one of the lowest levels of crime in Mexico. Avoiding travel to Rocky Point because of news reports would be akin to avoiding travel to Phoenix because of reports of violence in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Rocky Point’s local law enforcement is constantly working hard to ensure our residents and visitors are comfortable and have a wonderful experience in Rocky Point,” said Munro.
Keith Allen, founding member of the Peñasco Business Coalition advises potential partiers that the highway from Lukeville, Arizona, to Rocky Point has been designated a “Safety Corridor” by the governments of Arizona and Sonora and is continuously monitored by authorities and volunteers.
For those concerned about long wait times at the Lukeville port of entry, Allen advises visitors to utilize the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website to view estimated wait times for entry. He adds it is recommended to plan ahead and check the wait time trends to avoid the longest wait times.
Travel to Rocky Point has been on the rise since 2011, launching the tourism recovery period following the Great Recession. In 2011, more than 500 thousand personal vehicle passengers were recorded crossing the Lukeville Port of Entry. Border crossings have steadily increased year-over-year, tripling to more than 1.5 million crossings in 2019.
In 2019, Forbes ranked Rocky Point as one of the Top 10 Spring Break Destinations, citing its close distance to Arizona metropolitan areas and seaside activities.