Small Home – Big Yard

Our trip to Organ Pipe is twofold, to get out of the Phoenix noise and lights and to check out RV parks in Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point.  Puerto Penasco, MX is located about 65 miles south of Organ Pipe, and a favorite destination of RV’ers and Spring Breakers.  With our Mexican Car Insurance policy (purchased online) in hand, on Friday we cross the border and make the trek down to the Sea of Cortez.  Puerto Penasco appears to be a fun destination, with great seafood restaurants and Cobo-like party environment.

After a delicious seafood lunch at Pedro’s on the Malecon, we begin our park tours at Playa de Oro RV Resort, rated 8.9 on CampgroundReviews.com.  Playa is located just east of the central area of Puerto Penasco, but is probably too far to walk to town.  And, it might not be in the best neighborhood either.  RV’s are arranged in fairly tight quarters in this graveled lot.  There appears to be full hookups and towers for WiFi access points.  The “premium” beach side sites have a bit more room, but still lack any outside amenities such as a cement slab or tables or grills.  There are also spaces across the street in the “North Forty” that appear even tighter and of course don’t have the advantage of ocean views.

Leaving the eastern beach area, we checked out 3 resorts along the western area, starting with Concha del Mar rated 9.0!  This is a dry campground, providing a beautiful location along the ocean, fenced & gated, with onsite laundry facilities and showers.  Fresh water fill and waste tank disposal is available by truck at unknown costs.  Nightly space rates are $12/night.  Stays beyond 1 week accrue free nights, 1 for every 7 you stay.

Right next door to Concha del Mar is Playa Bonita Resort & RV Park providing full hookups right on the edge of the beach. Spaces were well laid out, a bit tight and again, the best were those along the beach.  WiFi towers were visible, but we didn’t try to connect.  Pretty much the same as all others, gravel and hard packed sand sites, no outside amenities and fairly tight quarters.

Much further to the west and directly next door to Wrecked at the Reef is the relatively new Reef RV Resort.  Providing full hookups, this beach side RV park is probably our favorite at Puerto Penasco.  The downside is the long trip into town, the upside is that the park is the largest and newest in the area.  Sites are laid out on gravel and hard packed sand, most fairly tight, but those along the beach providing great ocean views.  And, it might be expensive to be living next to Wrecked on the Reef Restaurant and Night Club!

So, the question is – will we come back with the RV next year?  At this point it’s doubtful.  The beach resorts and RV parks are no nicer than those that are available along the Texas Gulf Coast – and there’s a certain comfort of remaining “in-country” along with no insurance hassles.  Will we visit Rocky Point again – probably.  It appears to be a fun town, provides great value and it very close to where we travel in the spring.