By Daniel Little at Ventana Magazine

Why Kino?

We like Kino because it is very laid back and relaxed. The only time of the year that it is crowded is Semana Santa (Easter Week). In Bahía de Kino you will not find any of the fast food chains or hotels in Kino. No McDonalds, no Holiday Inns. Just 6 miles of beautiful beach, friendly people, good food and peace and quiet. Kino is a town of 5,000 sitting on the Sea of Cortez and with the Sonora Desert to the east. The desert sand meets the ocean with spectacular results. The population is a mix of locals, weekenders from Hermosillo and American and Canadian snowbirds. Many of the foreign people have purchased homes and retired in Kino. Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon

The road to Kino

You cross the border from the United States at Nogales, AR to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The northern part of Sonora State is a "No Hassle Zone" which means you can bring your vehicle into Mexico and go to Hermosillo and Kino without getting an importation permit. Take highway 15 south to Hermosillo, about a two hour drive. As you enter Hermosillo the signs directing you to Bahía de Kino are very easy to follow. The road heading west from Hermosillo is Sonora Highway #100 also called Blvd. Garcia Morales and Blvd. Encinas in Hermosillo. Highway 100 takes you west from Hermosillo and passes the Hermosillo International Airport (HMO). Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon
Highway 100 to Bahia de Kino is 2 lanes with wide shoulders. Most cars and trucks will move onto the shoulder to let you pass and even oncoming cars will move over to give you room. Notice that I said "most" as not all of the drivers will do this. As you drive west you pass through desert, orchards and vineyards. There are great place to get pictures of the giant cactus but make sure that you pull well off the shoulder when you stop.

Along the way to or from Kino you will pass police checkpoints. Every time we have made this trip we have passed at least one and sometimes two checkpoints. Make sure that you slow right down and watch the officer carefully to see if you are waived through or asked to pull over. In all of times we have made this drive we have never been pulled over so I cannot tell you what to expect if you do get stopped.

The only town between Hermosillo and Bahía de Kino is Miguel Alemán. The shops along the main street sell hats, umbrellas and other items for the beach and it makes it a good place to pick up items you may have forgotten to bring along.

About an hour from the time you left Hermosillo you will arrive in Bahia de Kino. The signs are very good and you just go straight ahead at the stop light to get to Kino Nuevo (New Kino) which is the resort side. If you turn left at the lights you will be in Kino Viejo (Old Kino). Kino Viejo is the fishing village and it is worth spending a couple of hours there to see how people live and to see the shrimp boat fleet anchored in the bay.

There is also regular bus service from Hermosillo. Just check in the airport or the bus terminal for information. Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon

Restaurants

One of our favorite spots in Kino is Jorge's which has a patio on the beach. Jorge's
has friendly service, good food and reasonable prices. We love to sit on the back patio and watch the pelicans make their kamikaze dives to catch fish. Jorge's is located at the north end of the main street and there is parking on the street and in the lane beside the restaurant. Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon
On the street next to Jorge's a number of vendors have set up stalls to sell handcrafts. You can pick up hammocks and wood carvings there at reasonable prices but be prepared to negotiate.

The other restaurant in Kino that we frequent is El Pargo Rojo. It is also along the main street and is distinctive for the red paint on the exterior of the restaurant. There is a parking lot for the restaurant at the north side of the building. The fresh seafood is phenomenal here and we have always been treated well.

There are a few restaurants in Kino Viejo that are very good as well so feel free to explore and experiment. Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon

Public beach

There is a main public beach area with Palapas and parking. There are many other areas where you can park and walk to the beach with ease. Just follow the local custom but please make sure that you do not park where you will block an entrance to a property or a lane.

Accommodations

There are a number of small hotels in Kino but be warned that they are Mexican style, clean but not luxurious. Another option is to rent a house on the beach or off. We like to rent a house right on the beach. A four bedroom, four-bathroom house on the beach will cost about $170.00 US per night.

There are also many RV parks along the main street. Some of these have raised patios for you sundowners.

For information on rental properties contact Pamela Crutchfield at Kino Bay Property Management. Her phone number is 662-361-8302.


Kino resources

There is a museum on the main street that shows the culture of the Seri natives. We paid 10 pesos each for admission and it is well worth the price.

You can buy beer, liquor and convenience items at the OXXO store on the main street. The Tecate stores sell beer and snacks.

If you follow the main street north and stay to the left you will find a public boat launch. There is also a small beach area there.

Google Bahia de Kino or Kino Bay for more information, or go to: www.kinobay.com
Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Mexico Real Estate, Boomers in Mexico, Live in Mexico, Retire in Mexico, Mexico Retirement, Daniel Gordon
Daniel Gordon Little has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing. A published writer, he has authored articles on manufacturing and travel, specializing in Canada, the US and Mexico. You may contact Dan on his web-site:
www.daniel-little.com