Puerto Peñasco Reports Drop in Formal Lodging Tourism in 2025
Puerto Peñasco closed 2025 with a 20% decline in visitors staying in formal lodging establishments, according to the local Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
OCV Director Lizette Daniela Ibarra reported that approximately 1.6 million tourists rented hotel rooms and condominium units during the year, compared to 1.9 million in 2024.
Average hotel occupancy for 2025 stood at 26%, and estimated economic impact from formal lodging reached $115 million USD (about 2.2 billion pesos), down from roughly 2.5 billion pesos the previous year.
Ibarra clarified that these figures do not include short-term rentals booked through digital platforms. When those properties are considered, total visitation may have approached 2 million visitors for the year.
While 2025 is still viewed as a solid year overall, she acknowledged that expectations had been higher. Officials noted the need to strengthen destination marketing efforts and address concerns such as public safety and visitor perception in order to reverse the decline in hotel occupancy.
Despite the slowdown, Puerto Peñasco remains Sonora’s leading tourism destination, generating more visitors than Hermosillo.
Looking ahead, the OCV plans to intensify promotional efforts in key domestic markets such as Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, and Hermosillo, while continuing to cultivate international visitors from Arizona and California.
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