Guadalupe de Ures

Used to be a cane plantation where brown sugar was made, as well as different regional products such as “machaca”, and fresh cheese from the local farms.

Guadalupe de Ures is a small town, where different typical food stands are located around the road. Visitors can’t leave Guadalupe de Ures without eating corn and chili colorado tamales, as well as cocido and burritos. There can also be seen people making brown sugar candy and coyotas.

Ures

Founded in 1644 by the Jesuit Francisco Paris, and located 74 km away from Hermosillo it is commonly called “The Forgotten Athens,” not only because it once was the political center of the state, but also because many important personalities of the history and culture of Sonora were born here.

The city has a semi-warm dry climate, with an average annual temperature of 23.1°C. On July the average maximum temperature is 31.8°C; on January, the average minimum temperature is 15.2°C. Rainy season presents between July and August. Occasional frosts present from December to March.

Places to Visit:

Plaza Ignacio Zaragoza

Located in downtown, it has a rectangular form covered with leafy trees and in the center lays a kiosk. In front, there are four bronze sculptures with mythological themes, brought from New York, that date from the XIX century.

San Miguel Arcangel Mission

It was built in 1636 by the Fathers Bartolomé Castaños and Francisco Paris. It has been until now that they have rebuilt it almost totally.

Other places to visit: Hacienda La Quinta de Napoles (built in 1675); General Ignacio Pesqueira’s house; and the monument for the Mexican Independence 100 Anniversary.

Festivities:

San Miguel Festivities

On September 29th this town is filled with pilgrims and visitors that come from many parts to presence “Las mañanitas”, Baptizes and religious celebrations. They also come to have fun with the fair games, the delicious food, popular dances, etc. there are.

San Juan Festivities

It is variable the beginning of these festivities, but the most important day is on June 24th. The tradition says that the residents of Ures must have a horse ride for almost all day long through the town streets. The festivities include: horse races, fair games, popular dances and fireworks.

Other popular festivities are: La Caravana del Recuerdo where most of Ures residents and natives go; as well as the Baile de Blanco y Negro (Black and White Dance) celebrated in November and in where all the people who go have to dress in black and white.

Leaving Ures by the exit to El Gavilan or Mateboca, you will be able to enjoy the peace and freshness of the river shore.

Mazocahui

Mazocahui is a small village located in the intersection with modern roads. When you arrive there you will feel as if history had stopped in it.

Baviacora

The municipality of Baviácora is located in the center of Sonora, 125 km away from Hermosillo, the capital, to the margin of the Sonora River approximately.
Originally, the territory that is now known as Baviacora, was inhabited by Opata natives that were subjugated in 1637 by General Pedro de Perea.

Baviacora was founded in 1639 as a Mission by the Jesuit Bartolome Castaños, with the name of “Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion de Baviacora.”

The town owes its name to the Opata denomination of an herb that is plentiful in the region.

Tourists may enjoy the park, the Colonial architecture and the contrast between the old and the new church.

Baviacora has a warm dry climate, with an average annual temperature of 22.7°C. Between June and September the average maximum temperature is 30.1°C; between December and January, the average minimum temperature is 13.5°C. Rainy season presents between July and August. Frosts and hailstorms present from November to February.

Places to Visit:

Purísima Concepción Mission

This temple is unique in its type through all Sonora, because of its fine architecture and the thin columns that support its structures. A beautiful example of the Colonial architecture can be appreciated in the church and the plaza.

Festivities:

San Francisco Javier is celebrated every December 3rd.
The Purísima Concepción Festivity is celebrated on December 8th, and people can enjoy fireworks, regional gastronomy, popular dances, horse races, etc.

Aconchi

Aconchi is located 15 km away from Baviacora. In Prehispanic times, this territory was inhabited by Opata natives. The name “Aconchi” comes from Opata roots, and means “on the walls.”

It was a Mission founded in 1639 by the Jesuit Bartolome Castaños who dedicated it to Saint Peter and named it San Pedro de Aconchi.

Aconchi has a semi-warm hot climate. Between July and September the average maximum temperature is 28°C; between December and February, the average minimum temperature is 13.3°C. Rainy season presents between July and August. Frosts present from November to January, however hailstorms are occasional.

Places to Visit:

The temple of San Pedro

The temple of San Pedro is a Franciscan church that dates from the XVI century. It is located in downtown and with its decoration it can be easily identified among other mission churches. Two magnificent trees guard the temple in the front creating an entrance for the visitors.

Agua Caliente (Aconchi´s Thermal Waters)

To the northwest, 4 km away by the road that connects Hermosillo to Arizpe, there is a thermal water spring, where public fountains and pools can be found, as well as camping areas, children games, grills, and parking lots.

A beautiful forest surrounds this area and its beauty and mystic healing water attributes, makes it a great attraction.

The attractions are the Franciscan temple and the Parochial temple that has a black Christ which origin and reason to be are unexplainable, the thermal waters in “Agua Caliente de Aconchi” 4 kilometers to the west from Aconchi, as well as the furniture factories; and of course, the red chili chains, chiltepins and hot sauces.

Handicrafts:

Aconchi is famous because for its furniture’s quality, manufactured by town artisans. This furniture is made with the wood the client chooses, and can take forms as chairs, tables, shelves, beds, etc.

The visitor has the option to buy any article he wants, and the opportunity to make special orders to the artisans.

Festivities:

San Pedro Festivities

Takes place on June 29th and consist of: “Las mañanitas” to San Pedro, fireworks, pilgrimages, and a stroll of the image of San Pedro around the streets of the town. There is also typical food and popular dances.

Independence Celebration

Each September 16th, people from Aconchi commemorate the Mexican Independence of the Spanish empire.

There is also a traditional festivity that takes place on November 20th to commemorate the Mexican Revolution. With duration of four days, the party includes a civic parade and sport games. Also there can bee seen fair games, markets, horse races, and popular dances.

San Felipe de Jesús

San Felipe de Jesus was founded in 1657, when Captain Juan Munguia Villela reported the territory to establish an hacienda or ranch dedicated to mineral extraction.

The attractions in San Felipe de Jesus are the Santa Cruz Hill, “El Jojobal“ mill ruins, the church and the municipal square.

San Felipe de Jesus has a semi-dry mild climate with an average annual temperature of 16.3°C. Between July and August the average maximum temperature is 25.3°C; between December and January, the average minimum temperature is 8.3°C. Rainy season presents between June and July.

Festivities:

Festivities take place each February 5th in order to celebrate San Felipe de Jesus; as well as each June 24th to celebrate San Juan’s Day.

Banámichi

Banamichi is located at the left banks of the Sonora River, at the northeast center part of the state, 165 kms away from Hermosillo, the capital.

Banámichi is one of the small towns in this route, and is located in the land of the “Opatas,” an ethnic group that lived there long time ago. Its name is derived from the Opata, that means “where water turns.”

In 1639, missionary Bartolome Castaños founded Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Banamichi.

Banamichi has a semi-warm dry climate, with an average annual temperature of 21.4°C. Between June and September the average maximum temperature is 29.3°C; between December and February, the average minimum temperature is 13.3°C. Rainy season presents in summer between July and August. There are frequent frosts from November to March, due to its closeness to the mountains of the Sonora River.

Places to Visit:

Plaza Juarez

Plaza Juarez is a beautiful and colorful plaza where a monolith of approximately three meters of diameter that has ancient paintings on its surface, is located. These paintings were made by an “Opata” group many years ago.

Handicrafts:

People at Banamichi make “talabarterias” or leather work such as saddles; as well as garments.

Festivities:

Regional Festivity of Nuestra Señora de Loreto
It takes place each year on September 15th and 16th. The activities are: wind music presentations, regional food, Mariachi spectacles, horse races, sport events, fair games, and queen coronation.

Sinoquipe

Rocks, mountains, and river form a beautiful landscape full of colors at Sinoquipe. Huge eroded stone mountain sides called “Tetoachi Pillar” can also be seen.

Arizpe

The region of Arizpe was once occupied by Opata natives. Its name derives from the Opata Arit that means “fiery ant” and Pa, which means “in,” that is then, “place of red or fiery ants.”

Of Colonial tradition, Arizpe was founded in 1646 by missionary Jeronimo de la Canal. It was the first town in Sonora named as “City”, and it was capital of the state twice. It is located 65 km away from Aconchi.

Arizpe has a semi-warm dry climate, with an average annual temperature of 20.1°C. Between July and August the average maximum temperature is 28.9°C; between February and March, the average minimum temperature is 11.4°C. Rainy season presents in summer between July and August. There are occasional frosts between November and February.

Places to Visit:

Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Temple

Visitors can find the famous church of the Asuncion built in 1646, in which Don Juan Bautista de Anza, founder of San Francisco, California, is buried, as well as General Pesqueira and Jesus Garcia Morales. There are several altarpieces that have oil paintings of saints; as well as sculptures carved in wood, plaster, or other materials. There is a Christ that belonged to Father Francisco Xavier Saeta, brought from Sicily. In relation to the Christ, it is said that this Father died held to Him when he was assassinated in Caborca in 1695 and was taken to Arizpe by Captain Antonio Solis.

The altars of the church are Baroque Churrigueresque style. The right altar is to the Virgin of Loreto, patron of the Diocese. The ceilings are wood carved.
Other places to visit are: the Church of San Francisco, the Clock Tower, and the Hospital ruins built in 1780.

Handicrafts:

People at Arizpe make wood objects, such as furniture of very good quality.

Festivities:

The principal festivity is celebrated on September 4th since 1720, as an oath to women from Arizpe, in honor of Santa Rosalia, patron against illnesses, epidemics, tremors, and any kind of disasters or catastrophes.

There is a dance called “La Trenza” that consists in twisting colorful ribbons in order to make a braid around a pole at the rhythm of “Los Matachines.”

On October 4th there is a celebration in honor of San Francisco de Asis; on June 24th there are festivities in honor of San Juan; on May 15th there is San Isidro festivity; and on August 15th a Virgen de la Asuncion festivity.