Top Reasons to Go

The chance to visit a colonial city: Wonderfully preserved Álamos has great hotels and restaurants and a friendly community of American expats.

Having a beach all to yourself: Resort towns provide plenty of creature comforts, but secluded beaches await those with a sense of adventure and a four-wheel drive.

Experiencing ancient traditions: Several indigenous groups here still live close to their roots—you might get a chance to see Yaqui and Mayo ceremonies.

Going off the grid: An otherworldly landscape of volcanic craters and towering sand dunes, El Pinacate is isolated, mysterious, and strictly for adventurous sorts.

A drive along the Río Sonora: Exploring this river route into the sleepy towns in the foothills of the Sierra Madre gives you a glimpse of traditional Mexican cowboy life.