Rocky Point Travel Guide: My Stay at Las Palomas Resort

Disclaimer: This post has been sponsored by Las Palomas Resort! Thank you to all the brands that make The Wandering Brunette possible! All opinions are my own.

Finally, the post is here. My three days in Rocky Point and stay at Las Palomas Resort is finally and officially on the blog.

My weekend trip to Mexico was much needed after a stressful week of midterms and graduate school projects. It also went by much too quickly in my opinion.

It was also my very first time in Rocky Point and, therefore, my first time ever driving in Mexico. It was a bit stressful driving in a new country for the first time, but I’m here to dispel any fears you may have about driving there and help you plan the most relaxing trip possible!

Planning Your Trip:

Before you leave:

Make a copy of your passport. Every time you leave the country, you should make a scan of your passport just in case it is stolen. I don’t say this because Mexico is unsafe; I say this as a smart travel planner. Each and every time I’ve traveled abroad, I’ve kept a copy of my passport and sent an electronic copy to my parents or another close contact. I’ve done this when I studied abroad (twice) and again when I made any out of the country trips. Trust me on this one – it’s a good idea.

Get Mexican Car Insurance. Did you know that your car insurance isn’t good in other countries? I didn’t either. Since you will be driving into Mexico (I drove from Tucson), you will need temporary Mexican car insurance. We got ours from my boyfriend’s car insurance agency, so you can try contacting your American car insurance to see if they offer any international plans. Some car insurance includes Mexican car insurance for a certain number of miles into Mexico and some car insurance have partners in other countries that they work with. Ours ending up costing $30 dollars total for the 3 days. If you can’t find car insurance with your current provider, try searching the internet or asking around if you have any friends who have gone before. I do know that AAA offers Mexican car insurance and is discounted for AAA members.

Get a phone data plan. It doesn’t have to be a big one, but it’s a good idea to get a little international phone data for the trip. Tanner has unlimited data vith Verizon and we were able to get unlimited international data at $5/day with the Verizon travel pass. I also got additional data with AT&T for $10/day.

Pack smart. For packing tips for your trip, make sure to check out my other post on What to Pack for an All-Inclusive Resort Getaway in Mexico.

When you go:

Go through the Lukeville/Sonoyta border. The most efficient way to go to Rocky Point is through the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing. Sometimes, map apps on your phone may want to take you through the Nogales crossing, but Sonoyta is both easier and shorter.

Have your passports easily accessible. Tanner and I went through three border checkpoints on our way to and from Mexico. Having our passports in the front seat with us made things easier and faster, just in case they needed to see them.

Be friendly to all border patrol agents. This should go without saying, but be nice to all border patrol agents. It will make your trip go smoothly and leave the both of you in better moods. Just smile and show them your passports whenever they need them.

Make smart decisions on the Mexican highway. Driving on the Mexican highway is no different than in America. The road to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco on the signs in Mexico) was recently redone, so you don’t have to worry about too many hazards on the road. The current travel advisory recommends you don’t drive at night, and there aren’t many lights on the highway, so I would also recommend daylight driving. The stop signs can be hard to see and sometimes pedestrians just step into the road, so be very careful driving in the towns. Otherwise, just stick with the speed of traffic (just like on an American highway) and you should be totally fine!

This was the most nerve-wracking part of my trip and it went so smooth both ways! The initial drive was a bit more stressful on the way there, but on the way back, both Tanner and I were much more relaxed and ready for the easy drive.

Las Palomas Resort:

I can’t recommend staying at Las Palomas Resort enough! This place far exceeded all my expectations and I already can’t wait to go back!

It was a bit of a hectic week leading up to the trip; I was coming off of four grad school exams and had to pack in between studying. Right after my Friday morning class and Tanner’s half day of work, we threw our things in the car, filled up the tank with gas, and headed off to Mexico. The whole drive took about 4 hours and it was well worth it! Just look at the view from our room when we arrived!

Day 1:

Since we arrived a bit late on the first day, we ended up showering and getting dressed for dinner and then hit the hot tub afterward.

Dinner Outfit:

I’m still loving my first outfit of the week that I wore to dinner. The wrap maxi skirt and bright white crop top was giving off the perfect resort vibes.

Dinner:

We ate dinner on-site at the El Citron restaurant. The whole table started with a cheese platter, which I may have eaten too much of.

I ordered a few Sangrias (it was too tasty to order just one!) and the salmon. The sauce on the salmon was so rich, buttery, and delicious – I was so full by the end of the meal! Tanner ordered the pasta with shrimp, which was delicious as well.

Day 2:

We started the second day with breakfast on the patio while we enjoyed our amazing view (and watched a bit of a volleyball tournament).

We followed it up with a bit of golf, a couples’ massage, some pool time and ended the night with another delicious meal at the other on-site restaurant, La Maria.

Breakfast:

For breakfast, I ordered the Chilaquiles Rojos with two eggs and Tanner ordered the chorizo and eggs breakfast burrito.

Golfing:

I hate to admit it, but Tanner’s golf game is really picking up. It is so fun to have a sport we can both enjoy together now though!

We ended up playing a best ball format on the resort course (which was so beautiful) with the two other bloggers and their plus-ones, which made the round a lot more fun. We were a huge group, and enjoyed some beers and music on the course while we played! It wasn’t a typical round of golf, that’s for sure, but it was definitely fun. I have some work to do to get my old swing back to normal, but my short game was on fire.

Pool time:

After golf, Tanner and I enjoyed a couples’ massage and some much-needed relazation time by the pool. I enjoyed a nice float around the lazy river and my boyfriend took a quick dip in the ocean. The ocean water is perfect this time of year; it’s not too cold like in California and it’s not too warm either!

Day 3:

I was pretty sad to wake up and have to leave on Sunday, but we made the most of our last day.

Breakfast:

We ate breakfast at El Citron, the same restaurant from the first night, which also offers a full breakfast buffet. I had the most delicious omlet with a little bit of everything from the omles bar, including some delicious chorizo.

I also enjoyed a delicious mimosa, of course!

Exploring:

After packing up and checking out of our room, Tanner and I walked on the beach to explore a bit. We had yummy shrimp tacos from a local vendor in town and I got a piña colada before I left. It was my goal to get one of these drinks when I left and I’m glad I got one before I left. It was one of the best piña coladas I’ve ever had!

Overall, I would say the trip was a complete (and much-needed) success! I’m already looking forward to my next trip back. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, this is the place to go!