Photos and story by Kim Krause.
UTV Offroad Adventures: Rocky Point to El Golfo – December 5–7, 2025
This December marked an exciting milestone — UTV Offroad Adventures’ first official group event into Mexico. Riders traveled from across the U.S., including as far as Mississippi, to join this unforgettable international adventure.
Participants crossed into Mexico through Lukeville, Arizona — the main gateway into northern Sonora. From there, it’s a smooth 65-mile drive to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco), a lively coastal town known for its seafood, welcoming community, desert scenery, and the beautiful Sea of Cortez.
The journey began on Sandy Beach at the Playa Bonita Resort, where Friday evening check-in brought together all 10 side-by-sides gearing up for the weekend. Participants picked up their event swag bags and official event T-shirts before settling in for the evening. Playa Bonita hosted Saturday’s oceanfront breakfast, where riders fueled up for the day. Registration for the event included two breakfasts, one Saturday night dinner, and Saturday night hotel accommodations in El Golfo.
On Saturday morning, the group set off for the 100-mile ride south to the quiet coastal village of El Golfo de Santa Clara. The route delivered a combination of rugged desert, untouched coastline, and wide-open terrain perfect for off-road exploring.
Sights along the journey (Saturday & Sunday):
Beautiful views of the Sea of Cortez
Miles of untouched coastline
Long stretches of beach where riders could drive their SXS right alongside the water
Historic old train station
Salt flats stretching across the desert
Railroad track crossings in remote areas
Whale bones scattered along the coastline
Coyotes roaming the beaches
Amazing weather all weekend
Saturday night’s dinner at Cocina Mexicana Magui brought the group together for awards and laughs. Prizes were presented for the farthest traveled, oldest participant, best poker hand, and worst poker hand. The poker winner generously donated their winnings back to this year’s charity — Christmas Tree Angels — making the moment even more meaningful.
The group then headed to the beachfront Hotel Mar de Cortez for the night. One family, however, had a memorable detour: after making a quick “pit stop” on their way from dinner to the hotel (less than a mile away), they ended up lost and had to call for directions. This earned them Sunday morning’s “Dumb Ass Award,” announced during breakfast at the same restaurant.
The return ride on Sunday featured one of the most unique highlights of the trip: Sand Dollar Hill, where thousands of sand dollars are embedded in the cliffs and scattered across the sand — a breathtaking natural wonder.
As the group made their way back into Rocky Point, they stopped in Cholla Bay at the well-known JJ’s Cantina. Cholla Bay is a waterfront community famous for its tidal flats, off-road culture, and legendary cantina overlooking the Sea of Cortez — the perfect final stop.
The weekend concluded with shared stories, stunning views, camaraderie, and plenty of laughter. UTV Offroad Adventures’ first Mexico ride was a huge success, setting the stage for many more international adventures to come.
To see upcoming events and the full 2026 adventure lineup, visit UTVOffroadAdventures.com.
UTV Offroad Adventures: Rocky Point to El Golfo – December 5–7, 2025
This December marked an exciting milestone — UTV Offroad Adventures’ first official group event into Mexico. Riders traveled from across the U.S., including as far as Mississippi, to join this unforgettable international adventure.
Participants crossed into Mexico through Lukeville, Arizona — the main gateway into northern Sonora. From there, it’s a smooth 65-mile drive to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco), a lively coastal town known for its seafood, welcoming community, desert scenery, and the beautiful Sea of Cortez.
The journey began on Sandy Beach at the Playa Bonita Resort, where Friday evening check-in brought together all 10 side-by-sides gearing up for the weekend. Participants picked up their event swag bags and official event T-shirts before settling in for the evening. Playa Bonita hosted Saturday’s oceanfront breakfast, where riders fueled up for the day. Registration for the event included two breakfasts, one Saturday night dinner, and Saturday night hotel accommodations in El Golfo.
On Saturday morning, the group set off for the 100-mile ride south to the quiet coastal village of El Golfo de Santa Clara. The route delivered a combination of rugged desert, untouched coastline, and wide-open terrain perfect for off-road exploring.
Sights along the journey (Saturday & Sunday):
Beautiful views of the Sea of Cortez
Miles of untouched coastline
Long stretches of beach where riders could drive their SXS right alongside the water
Historic old train station
Salt flats stretching across the desert
Railroad track crossings in remote areas
Whale bones scattered along the coastline
Coyotes roaming the beaches
Amazing weather all weekend
Saturday night’s dinner at Cocina Mexicana Magui brought the group together for awards and laughs. Prizes were presented for the farthest traveled, oldest participant, best poker hand, and worst poker hand. The poker winner generously donated their winnings back to this year’s charity — Christmas Tree Angels — making the moment even more meaningful.
The group then headed to the beachfront Hotel Mar de Cortez for the night. One family, however, had a memorable detour: after making a quick “pit stop” on their way from dinner to the hotel (less than a mile away), they ended up lost and had to call for directions. This earned them Sunday morning’s “Dumb Ass Award,” announced during breakfast at the same restaurant.
The return ride on Sunday featured one of the most unique highlights of the trip: Sand Dollar Hill, where thousands of sand dollars are embedded in the cliffs and scattered across the sand — a breathtaking natural wonder.
As the group made their way back into Rocky Point, they stopped in Cholla Bay at the well-known JJ’s Cantina. Cholla Bay is a waterfront community famous for its tidal flats, off-road culture, and legendary cantina overlooking the Sea of Cortez — the perfect final stop.
The weekend concluded with shared stories, stunning views, camaraderie, and plenty of laughter. UTV Offroad Adventures’ first Mexico ride was a huge success, setting the stage for many more international adventures to come.
To see upcoming events and the full 2026 adventure lineup, visit UTVOffroadAdventures.com.
