San Carlos, Mexico - Transportation
San Carlos is easily accessible from the United States via a variety of transportation methods ranging from air, automobile, bus, and soon rail service.
Air
San Carlos is easily accessible via air transportation through both the Guaymas International Airport and the Hermosilla International Airport. Guaymas International is located approximately 15 miles south of San Carlos. The airport offers daily service to and from Phoenix via America West with a fare of approximately $400 round-trip. Additional direct flights and charters may be added as future increased demand warrants.
Hermosilla International Airport is an easy 1.5-hour drive north of San Carlos via Mexico Highway 15. Direct flights into Hermosilla may be found from a number of cities including Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Tijuana, Mexicali, Juarez, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City.
Automobile
Residents of the southwestern United States can easily reach San Carlos by automobile via Mexico Highway 15 (Mex. 15). This modern four-lane divided highway runs south from Nogales, Arizona through Hermosilla and into Guaymas. Mex. 15 offers frequent rest stops and provides Pemex gasoline stations at frequent intervals. Driving distances from Tucson and Phoenix are 320 miles (approximately five hours) and 440 miles (approximately seven hours), respectively.
Highway 15 is patrolled by what are known as Angeles Verdes, the “Green Angels”. The Green Angels is a fleet of radio dispatched trucks with bilingual crews that offer protection and services including medical first aid and mechanical aid for your car and basic supplies. The Green Angels patrol daily, from dawn until sunset and may be contacted by dialing 078 from anywhere in Sonora. The service is sponsored by the Sonora Department of Tourism and is free to motorists except charges for supplies.
Sonoran Government Encourages Tourism Development with Coastal Highway Project
Currently underway, is the construction of a new 375-mile long coastal highway which will hug the Sea of Cortez stretching from Puerto Penasco to Guaymas. This ambitious $200-million project began in late April 2005 near Puerto Penasco and is due to be completed in Guaymas by 2009. Noted Tucson real estate consultant, Bruce Greenberg, commented that the coastal highway would surely “open up the California marketplace.” With a coastal highway entering the U.S. not far from Arizona's border with California, "this is going to attract people from San Diego and Orange County to the Sea of Cortez. It's another stimulus recognizing the economic growth of Sonora," he said.
This highway project exemplifies the State of Sonora’s support of tourism development designed to attract US visitors. Tourism currently accounts for only four percent of Sonora’s economy. However, through initiatives such as the new coastal highway project, government officials hope to at least double this figure within five years.
Bus
Bus travel is offered from Phoenix or Tucson to Guaymas by Transportes Baldomero Corra (TBC) for a round-trip fare of approximately $100.
Train
New Rail Service Offers Visitors Another Travel Alternative
A new rail service will be available in Summer 2006 from Nogales, Arizona to Guaymas, with a possible expansion to offer service from Tucson in the future. This restored presidential train will offer a dining car and sleeper cars. The round-trip fare from Nogales to Guaymas is projected to be $180.
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