When Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo joined Encántame Resorts CEO Miguel Guevara Askar at the July 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for Encantame Soleil, the message was unmistakable: Playa Encanto had arrived. Situated 15 minutes east of downtown Puerto Peñasco on a 150-acre master-planned site with over 1,960 feet of beachfront, this once-quiet stretch of the Sea of Cortez coastline is now home to the tallest buildings in Sonora and the number-one selling resort development in Rocky Point.
This guide walks you through what makes Playa Encanto the destination insiders are watching—and why Encantame Resorts is at the center of it all.
What Is Playa Encanto? A Beachfront Transformation Through Real Examples
Playa Encanto is a beachfront zone located on Puerto Peñasco’s eastern coastline, along the northern edge of the Sea of Cortez. For decades, it remained a quiet, undeveloped stretch of sand—accessible but overlooked while the Sandy Beach corridor to the west drew most of the tourism traffic.
That changed when MG Developments, the parent company behind Encántame Resorts, purchased the 150-acre property over 20 years ago. According to CEO Miguel Guevara Askar, speaking at the Soleil groundbreaking ceremony covered by RockyPoint360 in July 2023, the team first invested in foundational infrastructure: bringing water from over 17 miles away and establishing electrical service to the remote site before any construction began.
The flagship project, Encantame Towers, comprises three completed 24-story towers—Velero, Verano, and Viento—making them the tallest buildings in all of Sonora. Each tower offers one-bedroom through three-bedroom condominiums featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls, Smeg appliances, marble bathrooms, and double-pane windows throughout. A penthouse in the Velero tower sold for $2.6 million USD, which Sales Director Keith Allen described to RockyPoint360 as a landmark transaction for Puerto Peñasco.
(Source: RockyPoint360, “The Soleil is Rising Over Encántame Resorts,” July 2023)
How Encantame Resorts Built Rocky Point’s Premier Destination
The development of Encantame Resorts followed a phased, infrastructure-first approach that CEO Guevara Askar has described as essential to the project’s long-term vision.
Phase 1: Infrastructure and Encantame Towers (2000s–2023)
Before laying a single foundation for residential towers, the Encantame team spent years building the utility backbone of Playa Encanto. Water lines were extended over 17 miles to the site, and electrical infrastructure was installed to support the eventual scale of the community. Encántame Towers was the first vertical development, with all three 24-story buildings now fully completed and nearly sold out.
The resort includes a central heated and chilled infinity-edge pool with a swim-up Aqua Bar, multiple jacuzzis for adults and families, lazy rivers, waterslides, and a full fitness and wellness center. Dining options on-site include the Santo Coyote Ocean Cantina for fine and casual dining, Blue Palm Café featuring the only Starbucks in Rocky Point, the Wingman Ocean Bar, and the newer Marea Ocean Bar—a beachfront restaurant with live music events and panoramic Sea of Cortez views through large windows.
Additional amenities include EV charging stations in each aboveground parking lot, a Blue Harbor convenience store, golf simulators, a game room, a racquet club with pickleball courts, and an exclusive weekend shuttle service between Encantame and downtown Puerto Peñasco.
Explore Encantame Towers amenities and rentals
Phase 2: Encantame Soleil (2023–Present)
Construction on Encantame Soleil began in 2023 following the formal groundbreaking attended by Governor Durazo, Sonora Secretary of Tourism Roberto Gradillas, and Puerto Peñasco Mayor Jorge Pivac Carrillo. Soleil consists of three 24-story towers—Rendezvous, Jubilee, and The Residence—housing a total of 318 condominiums.
According to listing data from Playa Sonoran Realty, Encantame Soleil has been the number-one selling resort in Puerto Peñasco for two consecutive years. The development offers 13 different luxury beachfront floor plans ranging from studios to four-bedroom penthouses, with prices starting in the $200,000s and developer-assumable 20-year financing with as little as 30% down at rates starting at 5.9%.
Guevara Askar told RockyPoint360 that Soleil represents a continual improvement over the Towers: “It is an improved product from the Towers, as it should be, and Jubilee will be even better.” The Rendezvous building was anticipated for delivery by late 2024 or early 2025, with Jubilee following.
Planned Soleil amenities include the only skytop pools in Rocky Point, a skytop restaurant, a racquet club, spa, golf course, golf driving range, bowling center, and an outdoor movie theater.
View Encantame Soleil sales and floor plans
(Source: Playa Sonoran Realty listing data, 2025; RockyPoint360, July 2023)
Phase 3: Encantame Estates and The Residence
Encántame Estates is an exclusive residential community within the master plan, offering luxury beachfront home sites for custom builds on Playa Encanto.
The Residence at Encantame Soleil is a separate, non-rental enclave of only 90 condos positioned directly on the seawall, designed for owners seeking maximum privacy. Its rooftop owners’ lounge features a sky pool, jacuzzi, fire pit, and panoramic sea views. A grand air-conditioned lobby with a doorman ensures a full-service arrival experience, and a state-of-the-art fitness center overlooks the ocean horizon.
Measurable Outcomes: What the Numbers Show
The growth of Playa Encanto and Encantame Resorts can be tracked through several publicly documented metrics:
| Metric | Detail |
| Total Beachfront | 1,960+ feet along the Sea of Cortez |
| Master-Planned Acreage | 150 acres |
| Towers Completed (Phase 1) | 3 towers, 24 stories each (tallest in Sonora) |
| Soleil Towers Under Construction | 3 towers, 24 stories, 318 condos total |
| The Residence Condos | 90 exclusive non-rental units |
| Landmark Penthouse Sale | $2.6 million USD (Velero tower) |
| Sales Ranking | #1 selling resort in Puerto Peñasco (two consecutive years) |
| Developer Financing | 20-year terms, 30% down, rates from 5.9% |
| Unique Amenity | Only rooftop (sky) pools in Sonora |
The broader Puerto Peñasco market context supports this trajectory. According to AMPI-certified agent Joseph Sanchez, writing in the Rocky Point Times in March 2025, home values in Puerto Peñasco surged between 2020 and 2024, setting all-time records driven by increased tourism and pent-up demand from COVID-19 lockdowns. High-end beachfront properties continue to command strong prices even as the market moves toward a more balanced state in 2025.
(Source: Rocky Point Times, “Investing in Puerto Peñasco: What to Expect in 2025,” March 2025)
A trade-off worth acknowledging: guests at Encantame Towers’ Verano building may experience construction noise or views of the active Soleil construction site, as noted in rental listings. This is the natural byproduct of a phased master-plan development still being built out—and an indicator of the community’s ongoing growth.
Why Playa Encanto Is Drawing Attention: Industry Context
The growth of Playa Encanto sits within a broader trend of Americans investing in Mexico’s coastal real estate. According to TheLatinvestor’s Mexico Property Market Outlook 2025–2026, Mexico’s overall real estate market is expected to reach $183.7 billion by 2030, fueled by nearshoring investments totaling 652 billion pesos, tourism expansion, and major infrastructure projects. Coastal areas with strong tourism demand are expected to significantly outperform rural and secondary markets.
Puerto Peñasco holds a unique position in this landscape. Located just 60 miles south of the Arizona border—roughly a four-hour drive from Phoenix and three hours from Tucson—it is the closest beach destination for millions of residents in the American Southwest. This “drive-to” accessibility eliminates the need for flights, making it a viable weekend destination rather than a once-a-year vacation. TheLatinvestor reports that in high-demand Mexican markets, well-priced beachfront properties sell within 14 to 23 days.
Mexico’s property tax rates average just 0.1% to 0.3% of assessed value, a fraction of what comparable U.S. beachfront properties incur. For foreign buyers, the fideicomiso (bank trust) structure provides a legal framework for controlling property in Mexico’s restricted coastal zones. Encantame Resorts’ no-qualify developer financing—with 20-year terms and as little as 30% down—removes the barrier of qualifying for a traditional Mexican mortgage.
Encantame Resorts has also invested in the community beyond its property lines. CEO Guevara Askar stated at the 2023 groundbreaking that the resort would contribute half of the funds needed to implement a new city landfill and waste management system for Puerto Peñasco, noting that the destination itself “needs to be up to par” for the resort’s promotion and sales efforts to succeed.
(Sources: TheLatinvestor, “Mexico Property Market Outlook 2025–2026”; RockyPoint360, July 2023)
Practical Guide: Visiting or Investing in Playa Encanto
Whether you are planning a vacation rental stay or considering a purchase at Encantame Resorts, the following practical details are drawn from official Encantame documentation and third-party travel resources.
Getting There
- From Phoenix, AZ: Approximately 4 hours by car via Mexico Highway 8 through the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing. The crossing operates between approximately 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM, with extended hours to 10:00 PM on Fridays from March through October per recent agreement between Puerto Peñasco’s mayor and the Lukeville port director (as reported by the Arizona Daily Star, March 2025).
- From Tucson, AZ: Approximately 3 hours by car via the same border crossing.
- Direct Route to Encantame: From Highway 8, exit before the overpass north of town and turn left onto Highway 3 toward Caborca. Continue 7 miles past the railroad tracks and take a slight right at the Encantame Resorts sign. The security gate will be on your left.
- Through-Town Route: Continue on Highway 8 into Puerto Peñasco (which becomes Blvd. Benito Juárez). Turn left at the intersection with Blvd. Fremont (Carrillo)—look for the large Encantame Resorts sign. Follow Blvd. Fremont east; the resort entrance is just past KM 11.
Essential Travel Tips
- Mexican Auto Insurance: Your U.S. auto policy likely does not cover you in Mexico. Secure Mexican auto insurance before crossing.
- Tourist Permits (FMM): In 2025, Mexico began enforcing tourist permit requirements for visitors to Sonora more consistently. Carry your passport and be prepared to obtain an FMM form at the border. As reported by the Arizona Daily Star in March 2025, at least one couple was given 10 days to self-deport from another area of Mexico for lacking FMM forms.
- Recommended Route: The U.S. State Department recommends using Federal Highway 8 from the Lukeville port of entry directly to Puerto Peñasco. Avoid alternative routes through volatile regions of Sonora.
Rental vs. Ownership
- Rentals: Encantame Towers condos are available for short-term vacation rental through the resort’s management partners. Floor plans range from one to three bedrooms with full ocean views. Guests must be 24 years or older, and all guest counts (including infants) are strictly enforced per HOA rules.
- Ownership (Soleil): Studios to four-bedroom penthouses with 13 different floor plans. Two-bedroom standard units offer 1,306 sq ft of interior space plus a 393 sq ft terrace. Three-bedroom deluxe units provide 2,037 sq ft interior plus 620 sq ft of terrace. Developer financing removes the need for traditional mortgage qualification.
What to Do Nearby
- On-Site: 11 pools (including rooftop sky pools for adults 21+), lazy rivers, waterslides, swim-up Aqua Bar, pickleball courts, golf simulators, fitness center, spa, and multiple restaurants.
- Within 15 Minutes: Downtown Puerto Peñasco’s Malecón, Old Port restaurants and shops, Sandy Beach activities, jet skiing, banana boat rides, and parasailing.
- Day Trips: El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Isla San Jorge wildlife refuge, CEDO marine research center, whale watching (February through mid-May), and the Jack Nicklaus Vidante golf course.
Conclusion
When Governor Durazo stood alongside Encantame’s CEO at that 2023 groundbreaking, Playa Encanto was already home to Sonora’s tallest towers and a $2.6 million penthouse sale. Today, with Encantame Soleil under construction, 318 new condos on the way, and the resort claiming the number-one sales position in Puerto Peñasco for two consecutive years, this 150-acre stretch of the Sea of Cortez coastline has evolved from Rocky Point’s best-kept secret to its most ambitious beachfront community.
Your next step: Visit encantame.co/sales-inquiries to request a free, pressure-free information packet on available floor plans, pricing, and developer financing options at Encantame Soleil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Where exactly is Playa Encanto in Rocky Point?
Playa Encanto is located 15 minutes east of downtown Puerto Peñasco on the Sea of Cortez coast in Sonora, Mexico. It is accessed via Blvd. Fremont (Carrillo) heading east from town, with the Encantame Resorts entrance just past KM 11.
Q2: How tall are the Encantame Towers?
Each of the three Encantame Towers—Velero, Verano, and Viento—stands 24 stories, making them the tallest buildings in the state of Sonora. Rooftop sky pools on the upper levels are the only rooftop pools in the region.
Q3: Can Americans buy property at Encantame Soleil?
Yes. Foreign buyers use a fideicomiso (bank trust) to legally control property in Mexico’s coastal restricted zone. Encantame offers no-qualify, 20-year developer financing with 30% down and rates starting at 5.9%, per Playa Sonoran Realty listings.
Q4: What is the drive time from Phoenix to Playa Encanto?
Approximately four hours via Mexico Highway 8 through the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing. The Lukeville port operates from about 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with extended Friday hours (to 10:00 PM) from March through October.
Q5: What amenities does Encantame Resorts offer on Playa Encanto?
Current amenities at Encantame Towers include 11 pools (with rooftop sky pools), lazy rivers, waterslides, a swim-up Aqua Bar, Santo Coyote Ocean Cantina, Blue Palm Café with Starbucks, Marea Ocean Bar, fitness center, racquet club, golf simulators, EV charging, and a weekend shuttle to downtown Rocky Point. Encantame Soleil will add a skytop restaurant, bowling center, spa, golf course, and outdoor movie theater.
This article references publicly available information from Encantame Resorts, MG Developments, RockyPoint360, Rocky Point Times, Playa Sonoran Realty, TheLatinvestor, Tucson.com (Arizona Daily Star), and Casago, including official documentation, press releases, real estate listings, and published case studies dated July 2023 through March 2025. All metrics and quotes are from documented sources. Results described are specific to Encantame Resorts and Puerto Peñasco and may vary based on market conditions, timing, and individual circumstances. For current information about Encantame Resorts products and services, consult www.encantame.co.
