Semana Santa Beach Fiesta

The week leading up to Easter sees an influx of thousands of people into Sonora’s beach-side towns. This is a popular time for family vacations. And what better place to spend it than on a sandy palm-lined beach?

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, goes from Palm Sunday to Easter. It is Mexico’s second most important holiday season, after Christmas.

School children have a two week holiday, and many companies close-up shop during that time so that their employees can spend time with their families.

For some, it is time to spend in church, but many Mexicans will also take advantage of the holiday to go on vacation. And, for their vacation, half of Mexico flocks to the beaches looking to play in the surf, camp on the beach, spend time with family and friends and to dance, drink and have a fiesta.

Yes, Semana Santa is noisy and crowded and the traffic can be horrible, but it’s a fantastic Mexican celebration that should be experienced at least once. You will not regret or soon forget sharing in the excitement of a whole town celebrating together.

By day the beaches are overflowing with tourists and locals alike, flying kites, swimming and soaking up the beautiful weather. Enjoying fun in the sun and a couple cervezas. If you need to drive anywhere, this is the time to do it, because by late afternoon, the roads are bumper to bumper with trucks, cars, ATVs and motor bikes cruising up and down the strip. The vehicles are loaded to overflowing with people. Whole families ride on ATVs. And, speakers and plastic Tecate chairs in the back of pick-up trucks convert them into parties on wheels.

From one end of the town to the other, celebrants, young and old, families and friends fill the streets. Thirsty revelers guzzle Pacifico and Tecate. The already raucous atmosphere is pumped up even higher with roving musicians who add to the cacophony coming from hundreds of vehicles’ sound systems turn up to the max. People dance in large groups anywhere and everywhere that the feeling moves them.

Vendors line the street selling everything from souvenirs and sunglasses to local crafts. The mouth-watering smell of BBQ wafts through the air. All the local food specialties are available, from ceviche to carne asada. In addition to all the regular restaurants, there are dozens of temporary stalls set up to sell these tasty eats.

Photos by Paula Fishman www.sunphoto.biz

KPICASA_GALLERY(SemanaSantaSanCarlosSonoraMexico)

Sandy beaches, tantalizing cuisine, cold beer and music. What are you waiting for? Book your trip now to one of Sonora’s beach resorts and experience the joy that is Semana Santa. The hotels will fill to capacity, so book early or come ready to camp on the beaches.