Historical Charm of Guaymas

Guaymas is seven miles southwest of San Carlos.

Guaymas is a coastal city of 150,000 that is the birthplace of three Mexican presidents. It is roughly a five hour drive from Tucson and seven hour drive from Phoenix.

Guaymas is port on the Gulf of California, and the outlet for Hermosillo. Situated on a scenic inlet and surrounded by desert mountains, it’s fine beaches, excellent deep-sea fishing, and transportation facilities have made it a popular tourist resort.

Guaymas hosts one of Mexico’s major Carnival celebrations, and is one of the oldest in Mexico. The annual event begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and ends at the stroke midnight of the beginning of Lent.

Guaymas is a commercial center for the region, and has a substantial fishing industry. The area was explored as early as 1539, with the city established in the early 18th century by Jesuit missionaries. U.S. forces occupied Guaymas in 1846, during the Mexican War, and it was held by the French in 1865-1866.

Landmarks:
The city has two main plazas, one called 13 de Julio, which is nicknamed the “plaza de los flojos” (lazy men’s plaza) for the large number of people who relax there. In the 13 de Julio Plaza there is a monument commemorating the defense of Guaymas by General José María Yáñez against a French incursion in 1854. The town’s two main churches, San Francisco, built in the 19th century and Sagrado Corazon face this plaza.

The other major plaza is the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes with statues of Plutarco Elías Calles, Adolfo de la Huerta and Abelardo L. Rodríguez all of whom are from near Guaymas. Facing this plaza is the Municipal Palace, built and a small concrete pier with the Statue of the Fisherman, on which is the lyrics of the song “La Barca de Guaymas.”