Puerto Peñasco stands out as the only destination in Sonora with official authorization from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for whale watching. This privilege is an integral part of Puerto Peñasco’s tourism promotion strategy in 2025, leveraging natural phenomena that attract both domestic and international tourists.
Lizette Ibarra, director of the Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV), emphasizes the importance of utilizing these natural treasures, including whale watching, the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, and San Jorge Island, home to a community of sea lions and migratory birds, to boost ecotourism.
To maintain this authorization, Ibarra stresses that it’s crucial for nautical service providers to adhere to whale watching protocols. “Whale watching starts in January and extends through April, although we’ve already had early sightings. We’ve held meetings with the Port Captaincy and service providers to discuss these protocols. We are the only destination in Sonora with this Semarnat permit,” explains Ibarra.
Additionally, the OCV of Peñasco is preparing a promotion campaign for the spring season, spring break, and Easter Week, which will be launched in the first month of the year. For February and March, campaigns for the summer season are planned, along with the 2025 events schedule, promoting these events in advance throughout the year.