1a Cortés Open Guaymas

Along the coastline of Guaymas in the Mexican state of Sonora, the 1a Cortés Open Guaymas brings open water swimming to a dramatic marine wilderness. Held in the clear turquoise waters and across the white sand shores of the bay, the event marks its first edition on this stretch of the Sea of Cortez. Swimmers can take on courses measuring 1.3 kilometers, 3 kilometers, 5 kilometers, or 7 kilometers, offering options for sprinters as well as experienced marathon racers. Navigating across these open desert waters requires each participant to tow a mandatory personal safety buoy. The course cuts directly into one of the most spectacular marine environments in the world, with registration organized by Cortés Open.

Cerro Tetakawi and the sheltered waters of San Carlos

Known to the Yaqui tribe as Tákale, meaning split hill because its silhouette evokes the fork of a snake's tongue, the Cerro Tetakawi remains a sacred landmark in San Carlos. In centuries past, this area served as a natural shelter for the indigenous Yaqui, Guaimas, and Seri tribes. The maritime shelter provided by these surrounding inlets has drawn sailors since the earliest European explorations of northwestern Mexico. In 1539, two Spanish ships named Santa Águeda and Trinidad anchored within the waters of Guaymas Bay under the command of explorer Francisco de Ulloa. The strategic nature of the gulf's deep anchorages also shaped modern history along the Sonoran shore. During the Mexican-American War between 1847 and 1848, United States warships stationed themselves off the coast, anchoring by Isla Pájaros and Isla Almagre Grande to capture the maritime settlement.

Estero El Soldado: northern mangroves and Isla San Pedro

Roughly eight kilometers down the coast from the swim site lies El Soldado, an ecologically vital coastal wetland permanently connected to the sea by a narrow 30-meter-long mouth. Averaging a depth of just 60 centimeters, with deeper pockets reaching between 1.6 and 2 meters, this shallow tidal lagoon was formally designated as a Ramsar Wetland in February 2011. The lagoon represents the northernmost geographic limit for mangrove distribution on the California region's coastline. Red, black, and white mangroves flourish side by side along the muddy channels, creating a protected sanctuary for wildlife. Over 120 species of birds inhabit or visit the estuary, with populations peaking through the winter months of December and January.

Further offshore, the open waters extend toward Isla San Pedro, celebrated as a haven for scuba diving, snorkeling, and colonies of sea lions. Closer to the mainland coast, the scuttled vessel Santos P0-106 rests submerged below the surface, acting as an artificial reef that attracts underwater explorers. The interplay between tidal estuaries, offshore islands, and artificial reefs creates an exceptionally rich environment for anyone swimming in the open bay.

San Carlos and Guaymas: desert cliffs and the Malecón

The municipality of Guaymas encompasses 175 kilometers of diverse coastline along the Gulf of California, weaving through natural inlets including San Carlos, Bahía Guaymas, Lobos, and La Herradura. The stark topography presents a rare contrast where arid red desert mountains drop directly into turquoise water. High above the sea, the Mirador Escénico lookout points provide sweeping panoramas over the bays, an ocean view ranked in 2011 by National Geographic among the ten finest on earth. Beyond the beaches, natural canyons cut through the terrain. After a morning out on the water, coastal life converges along the Malecón Turístico in Guaymas, where visitors gather in the evening breeze to watch the sunset across the harbor.