Most people driving Highway 15 south to the beach towns never set foot in Hermosillo. The new ring road makes it easy to bypass the capital of Sonora altogether, and for years that’s exactly what a lot of travellers do.
That’s a mistake. Hermosillo is Sonora’s largest city, with close to a million people and a real industrial base built in part on auto manufacturing. It also earns its nickname honestly — locals call it the City of Sun, and from May through November the highs routinely clear 45°C.
None of that matters once you’re standing in the historic center. The main square is lined with handsome colonial buildings, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary dominates the skyline, and the restaurants serve some of the best Sonoran cooking you’ll find anywhere in the state.
From Nogales it’s a straightforward drive — about 3½ hours, 178 miles or 286 km — so it’s an easy add to any trip down the coast.
Have you driven through Hermosillo, or always bypassed it on the cuota? Let us know in the comments.
Music: “Salute To Mexico,” YouTube Audio Library.
Leave a Reply