English GBWhere in Mexico are you from?
I am from the City of Obregón, located in the State of Sonora, México. It is bordered by the states of Chihuahua to the east, Baja California to the northwest and Sinaloa to the south.
What makes this place special and stand out from other parts of the country?
Sonora is a great State in northern Mexico – the second largest in the country – where you can find mountains, extensive agricultural valleys, a spectacular desert, more than 750 miles of coastline with the incredible Sea of Cortez, and an active border with the United States.
We are home of the Seris, Yaquis, Mayos and 5 other native ethnic groups that provide identity and courage to our people. The City of Obregón is the land of the Yaquis, where we get to know one of their eight towns called Cócorit, a place with history and tradition, that over time has preserved, valued and defended its historical, cultural and natural heritage.
National Geographic gave us the title of the best ocean view in the world from the Scenic View Point in San Carlos. We have majestic volcanic craters of the Pinacate Reserve, which are World Heritage Sites. We have two Magical Towns, Álamos and Magdalena de Kino, a beautiful port that has given us three Presidents of Mexico in Guaymas, the largest copper mine in Mexico in Cananea, as well as agricultural valleys that feed Mexico. We have this and so much more to explore.
Coming to Sonora is discovering a new face of Mexico. It is to find honest and hardworking people, forged by heat and effort. It is drinking coffee in a ranch house or in an old farm. It is to breathe the history of Padre Kino and his adventures. It's discovering a friendly State.
I understand there is a unique form of spirits coming from your region. Can you speak more about this?
Well, in Sonora, we have Bacanora for you to try, this is also an ancient and craft agave distillate that has been passed on over the generations by our ancestors. It is not that well known, because for many years, not that long ago, it was prohibited by the government. We invite you to visit to give it a taste, and get to know its historical and cultural value in one of the many beautiful towns in the mountain range where it is produced, called Tesopaco.
How did you get started in tourism?
I have a degree in tourism business administration. I got started in this area 5 years ago as a travel influencer, with the desire to promote all of the riches my State has to offer. Then, I realized I could also give my followers a present experience and decided to open my own tour operator, where I control, reserve and operate unforgettable tailor-made trips in English and Spanish.
What do you enjoy the most about offering these experiences?
What I enjoy the most about offering these unforgettable experiences is seeing the amazement that my clients have when we share with them our culture, history, way of living, attractions, gastronomy, flora and fauna, destinations and the beautiful and unique scenes that we have. I get a sense of pride observing them enjoying their time and having fun with us in Sonora!
What are your most popular destinations and what makes them unique?
-City of Obregón and Cócorit. Obregón is the land of the Yaquis, where we get to know one of their eight towns called Cócorit, a place with history and tradition, that over time has preserved, valued and defended its historical, cultural and natural heritage. It was founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1617. The streets of Cocorit preserve a picturesque fantasy that honors nature through colorful ecological murals. In addition, in an old guest house built in 1890, is the Museum of the Yaquis which is one of the five ethnographic museums that exist in the world and was recognized by National Geographic for being one of the few destined for the preservation of the native culture.
-Magical Town Álamos. Alamos is a Magical Town with a special atmosphere, where the past mingles with the tranquility of the present. Also known as “Ciudad de los Portales” due to the beautiful arches that frame its main plaza and its streets, it receives thousands of visitors every year. Let yourself be seduced by the striking beauty of the historic center, where the baroque style brought from Andalusia is mixed with that of the ancient settlers of these lands, resulting in a wonderful syncretism. The town is distinguished by the Plaza de Armas, City Hall and the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, one of the most representative symbols of Alamos. Stroll through its streets and be amazed by the facades of its mansions full of elegance, some of them or its courtyards become museums, galleries or cultural centers where artists show their works. One of the main events in town, which takes place the last week of January, is the International Musical Festival “Dr. Alfonso Ortíz Tirado”, the most important opera forum in northwest Mexico, which features multiple national and international artists.
-San Carlos. San Carlos is located in the Sea of Cortez, surrounded by mountains and beaches, where the sea merges with the desert. This unique landscape makes San Carlos one of the tourist gems of Sonora. It offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, like scuba and snorkeling in an underwater paradise of more than 700 marine species with two artificial reefs where you are sure to encounter dolphins and sea lions in their natural habitat. Sport fishing attracts visitors from all over the world in search of sailfish, dorado and marlin. National Geographic recognized San Carlos as having the Most Spectacular Ocean View in the World.
-Tesopaco. Well, in Sonora, we have Bacanora for you try, which is also an ancient and craft agave distillate, that has been passed on over the generations by our ancestors. It is not that well known, because for many years, not that long ago, it was prohibited by the government. The agave distillate was by tradition the family drink, elaborated in secret and against the Acordada, the guardians of the law of that time after the prohibition decreed in 1915 by the Governor of Sonora, General Elías Calles, where producers were besieged and persecuted. We invite you to visit and get to know its historical and cultural value in one of the many beautiful towns in the mountain range where it is produced, called Tesopaco.
Where are most of your guests coming from?
Most of my guests are coming from the South of Mexico, USA, and South America.
How are most people arriving, by bus, plane or train?
Most people are arriving by plane to City of Obregón or to the capital of Sonora, called Hermosillo. I would like to point out that it is much easier if they could fly to Obregón so that we can give them the service since we are located in this city.
What´s the farthest place someone has come to visit?
The farthest place someone has come to visit is Europe.
For first-time visitors, how many days do you recommend staying?
For first-time visitors, we recommend they stay for 6 days/5 nights to live a great week of Sonorense jewels.
When is the best time to come and are there any special holidays and events that stand out?
I would say that the best time to come would be between September and May because we have very, very, very hot summers and honestly, I find that tourists, especially from other countries, enjoy the experience more when the climate is refreshing. In regards to the special holidays and events, it depends on each one of the destinations. For example, Cócorit during holy week (first week of April) is a different and rich experience because of the community's religious celebrations, around March we have the Bacanora Fest in Tesopaco, in January and we have the International Musical Festival “Dr. Alfonso Ortíz Tirado”, the most important opera forum in northwest Mexico, which features multiple national and international artists in Alamos.
Can you talk about the type of accommodations offered? Are these hotel stays, resorts or private homes?
As I mentioned before, we make tailored-made trips, so we focus a lot on what our clients are looking for. If they need a certain type of accommodation, we can definitely make that happen. Our go-to in City of Obregón (the base to get to know all of the other destinations), is Holiday Inn Express & Suites because we consider that they give a very good accommodation service and we have an agreement with them to be able to offer a great price.
You have an impressive footprint on Social Media. What came first, tourism or being on Social Media?
Tourism came first, because Turismo con Pao started as a school project, while I was studying to get my degree. I like to think that they are not separate, at the end of the day, my followers are possible clients when they are interested in purchasing our services and products and my content on social media has always been related to the industry.
What is your favorite platform to reach your audience?
It depends. In regards to the tours, I prefer to use Facebook, because I use this platform to post about them more. Although to have a conversation with my audience to talk about our services and products, I definitely like WhatsApp more.
How can people find you if not using social media?
Unfortunately, I do not have a physical location yet like an office to receive my clients. I am working on having one in the near future, but for the time being, everything that I manage has been online.
When not involved in tourism what are other passions you enjoy?
I enjoy spending time and going out with my family and friends. When I have free time, I tend to travel. I like to read, watch movies, TV and have nice meals. Because being involved in tourism can be kind of hectic sometimes, I look for relaxing activities to recharge my energy.