Stand at the small parking area where Blvd. Jose Maria Morelos meets Blvd. Juan Bautista de Escalante after dark, and the city below you turns into a sheet of light that seems to run to the edge of the desert. That view is the quickest way to understand Hermosillo: a hot, flat, hard-working city with mountains pushing up right against its downtown streets.
This guide suits anyone with a day or two to fill, whether you are passing through on business, breaking a long drive, or basing yourself here to ride and hike the surrounding trails. It covers the viewpoints, museums, cathedral, ballpark and downtown wandering that the city does well, with the practical details you need to fit them together.
Top things to do in Hermosillo
1. Cerro de la Campana
A radio tower sits on a mountain right downtown, reached by a road that winds up to the top. The climb is not long, and it pays off with a wide view over Hermosillo and the countryside around it. There is parking space at the top and police surveillance.
Go for the view over the city rather than as a hike in itself, and keep it in mind as a daytime counterpart to the night viewpoint described below.
2. Hermosillo at night
In the northeastern part of the city, a small parking area sits where Blvd. Jose Maria Morelos meets Blvd. Juan Bautista de Escalante. Park there and bring your camera: the view takes in Hermosillo and Cerro de la Campana, and the lights appear to stretch out forever.
The view is especially impressive after dark. Police officers are often posted there at night; they will not bother you and will often chat with tourists and suggest other places to visit.
3. Museum of Sonora (Museo Regional de Sonora)
This museum occupies a castle-like old stone penitentiary built in 1897, with big stone walls and watchtowers. You can visit the old underground cells, and a permanent display of old coins and historical elements is arranged in timeline order.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-17:00 and Sunday 09:00-16:00. Pair it with a walk through El Centro, which is where you will find the surrounding shops and food stands.
4. Catedral Hermosillo
A very lemony-looking church on Blvr. Miguel Hidalgo. It is a straightforward stop, worth a look for its colour and its place in the centre of the city.
Combine it with the downtown wandering described below, since El Centro's shops and food stands are close at hand.
5. Regional Museum of Sonora's University
This university museum holds a small collection of historical elements, portraits, local crafts, and an interesting collection of appliances, guns, photographs, money and documents from the revolution era. It also shows temporary art exhibits.
Its main pieces are a group of mummies found in the Sonoran sierra. Plan it as a compact stop rather than a long visit.
6. Sonora Museum of Art
Housed at Centro Cultural Musas on Blvd. Agustín de Vildósola, this museum covers modern and ancient representations of Mexican art.
It works well as an indoor break in the middle of a hot day, and can be fitted in alongside the other museums on your route.
7. Hector Espino Stadium
In the Choyal area, at Blvd. Solidaridad and Blvd. Luís Encinas, this is the home of the Hermosillo Naranjeros. Games are played between October and January, so a winter visit is your chance to see the best Mexican baseball players along with some Major League Baseball players.
The atmosphere around the games is a party, and there is a souvenir store at the stadium. Notable former and current Naranjeros include Hector Espino, Fernando Valenzuela, Erubial Durazo, Curt Schilling, Vinny Castilla, Luis A. Garcia and Geronimo Gil.
8. Visit downtown Hermosillo (El Centro)
El Centro is where you will find many shops selling anything you can think of, plus food stands if you get hungry or thirsty. A heavy police presence is maintained because of the crowds, so help is never far away.
Be careful: the streets are always crowded and traffic is heavy, and the sidewalks sit higher off the street level than you may be used to, which makes the area difficult to traverse in a wheelchair or with a baby carriage.
9. Hit the trails
Mountain biking and hiking are popular here, and there are many trails to follow in the mountains around the city. The mix of desert and mountain gives the trails a distinctive character, and the wildlife is interesting: little lizards and roadrunners are all around, along with big deer and coyotes, and with luck you might see a bighorn sheep or even a rattlesnake.
Go early, before the heat builds, and treat the wildlife as something to watch from a distance rather than approach.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Cerro de la Campana, driving the winding road up to the radio tower for the view over the city and the surrounding countryside while it is still cool. Come down and spend the rest of the morning in El Centro, looking at Catedral Hermosillo and picking up food from the food stands.
Afternoon: Move between the museums: the Museum of Sonora (Museo Regional de Sonora) in the old stone penitentiary, the Regional Museum of Sonora's University with its revolution-era collection and mummies, and the Sonora Museum of Art at Centro Cultural Musas. If you would rather be outdoors, use the afternoon for the trails in the mountains around the city.
Evening: Drive to the small parking area where Blvd. Jose Maria Morelos meets Blvd. Juan Bautista de Escalante for the night view of Hermosillo and Cerro de la Campana. If your visit falls between October and January, take in a Naranjeros game at Hector Espino Stadium instead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see a Naranjeros game?
The Hermosillo Naranjeros play between October and January, which is also when you may see Major League Baseball players alongside the best Mexican players.
Is El Centro easy to get around?
The streets are always crowded and traffic is heavy, and the sidewalks are higher off the street level than you may be used to. This makes the area difficult to traverse if you are in a wheelchair or have a baby carriage.
Where can I get a good view of Hermosillo?
Two options: the road winding up to Cerro de la Campana, which has parking space and police surveillance, and the small parking area in the northeastern part of the city where Blvd. Jose Maria Morelos meets Blvd. Juan Bautista de Escalante, which is especially impressive at night.
What can I see at the Museum of Sonora?
The museum is housed in an old stone penitentiary built in 1897, with castle-like walls and watchtowers. You can visit the old underground cells, and there is a permanent show of old coins and historical elements arranged in timeline order.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the museum hours before you set out, and start building your days around the heat.