The Del AmoFlyers are flying to Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. The plan is to arrive in Alamos on Wednesday, November 7 and depart on Sunday, November 11, 2012. We will be staying at the Hacienda de los Santos. Sandy and I have been to Alamos many times over the last 30 years and highly recommend it. Sign up now. You won’t be disappointed.

Alamos, Sonora, Mexico

The Hacienda’s web site says it all. “Set in the foothills of the Western Sierra Madre in the state of Sonora, Alamos is one Mexico’s most splendid colonial cities. It has history rich with Spanish Conquistadors, mining barons, imperialists and revolutionaries, all of who have left their mark. Once you enter the village, you’ll experience the feeling of a different age, the romanticism of Spain and the sweetness of Old Mexico…

That’s because Alamos is Mexican through and through—while there are some foreigners living here, its ex-pat community is small, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture side-by-side with the people who call it home. More a town than a city, the population hovers around 15,000 souls, with another 4,000 or so in the outlying areas.

Everyone knows each other, thanks to its size, the pedestrian nature of its colonial layout and its magnificent weather of cool, pleasant days in the winter, a few hot days in the summer and spectacular monsoon thunderstorms in July and August. Complete strangers will happily greet you as they walk by—it’s just one more charming aspect of life in Alamos.

The village is pristine, cherished by the villagers for its beauty and tranquility. The conquering Spaniards designed it over 350 years ago in the image of Andalusia—one of Spain’s proudest cities—the birthplace of many its founders. Today it offers the visitor many attractions, festivals and activities, including bird watching, visits to indigenous villages, horseback riding, history, photography and much more. This enchanted pueblo is a Mexican Historical Monument and a Sonoran State Historical Site; rumor has it that Alamos may be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

The Del Amo Flyers’ Package Activities

Alamos Town SqaureThe owner of the Hacienda de los Santos and our host, Jim Swickard, has put together a fantastic package for the Del Amo Flyers to help us experience the flavor of Mexico. The price of all meals, transportation to/from the hotel, and all activities are included in our package deal except where indicated. The activities include the following:

• On landing in Alamos, you will be treated by Jim to a welcome hangar party. Chips, salsa, and Margaritas will be served. A Hacienda driver and van will drive you to the Hacienda from the airport. The Hacienda is about two miles from the airport. Have lunch whenever you wish. All meals are included in our Del Amo Flyers’ package. You don’t need a rental car. Besides, there are none.
• During our stay we will be treated to a BBQ with a live band at the ranch near the airport. If you wish you can rent a horse to ride from the Hacienda to the BBQ. Horse rental is $25.00. If horses are not your thing, ride to the BBQ in a Hacienda supplied van. Food, beer, and wine at the BBQ are included in our DAF package.
• One night we are invited to a Mexican Fiesta near Zapata’s Cantina. We will be entertained by a special musical group called “La Estudiantina”.
• There will also be a tour by bus to the nearby mining village of Aduana.
• If you want a Mexican Cooking School experience, a Hacienda chef is planning classes.
• An optional tour of three or four homes in Alamos by the local ladies is planned. The ladies will request donations for scholarships for the local students.
• We can add a “Ballet Folkloric” event with a 40 person group of dancers and musicians for an additional $50 per couple. We will make this decision later.
• We plan to arrange several walking tours of Alamos to get the full flavor of the town.
• You should also plan to explore Alamos on your own. Bring a good pair of walking shoes for the cobble stone streets. The Hacienda has horses, mountain bikes, putting greens, and, of course the La Dulce Vida Spa.

The Del Amo Flyers’ Alamos Costs

The cost of the DAF package is $999.00 per couple plus 18% tax. The package is four nights and includes all meals. Drinks are extra. There is no tipping at the Hacienda. You may leave an optional tip for the Hacienda staff when you check out. For an additional $100 you can upgrade to an Estate Suite. For an additional $200 you can upgrade to a Master Suite. See Hacienda de los Santos web site for a description of the suites.

To sign up, email Jim Swickard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and a notation that you are making a reservation for the Del Amo Flyers Nov 7-11^th trip to Alamos. Please send a copy of your email to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Also mail a check in the amount of $400 as a deposit to:

Hacienda de los Santos
PMB 332
6336 N. Oracle Rd., STE 326
Tucson, AZ 85704

Include your name and a reference to Del Amo Flyers Nov 7-11^th trip to Alamos on your check.

Credit cards payments are NOT accepted for deposits. However, you can use your credit card to pay the balance due when you checkout of the Hacienda.

Alamos TerminalThe Alamos Airport has a fee of about $15.00 US per day which includes landing and parking. Danielle is the city employee who collects the fee. A tip of $3.00 to $5.00 US is given to him by most aviators when departing because his city salary in minimal and he has a large family.

The Hacienda cancellation policy for the Del Amo Flyers is the following:

1. If you cancel your reservation more than two weeks before Nov. 7, 2012, there is no charge.
2. If you cancel your reservation less than two weeks before Nov. 7^th, 2012 and your room is filled by another couple, there is no charge.
3. If weather prevents the flight to Alamos on Nov. 7, 2012, there is no charge.
4. Cancelling for all other reasons less than two weeks before Nov. 7^th, 2012 will forfeit your $400.00 deposit.

Flying to Alamos from KTOA

Alamos airport is about 640nm South East of KTOA. The airport does not have Mexican customs, fuel, or an Instrument Approach, so plan accordingly. The ICAO designator is MM45. This designator is not in the Jepp database but is in the Foreflight database. The latitude and longitude are 27.04 deg N and 108.95 deg W, respectively. The runway is 4,921’ by 82’ and is asphalt. The airport elevation is 1,312’ MSL. It is in very good condition for you guys with small wheels or little prop clearance. The local time is Mountain Standard Time.

On the way to Alamos, you must land at a Mexican Airport of Entry to clear customs, get tourist cards, file Mexican flight plans for next leg, etc. I have found that the most reliable airports for clearing into and out of Mexico and getting fuel are:

1. MMML – Mexicali
2. MMHO – Hermosillo
3. MMGM – Guaymas
4. MMCN – Ciudad Obregon

There is a new rule in Mexico which prevents some airports from accepting US dollars for fuel and fees. Credit cards are accepted at some airports depending on whether the credit card machine is working. The fail safe way of paying for fuel and fees is cash in Mexican Pesos. Fuel prices in Mexico are currently running around $5.00 US per gallon.

Stay tuned to this web page. I will be adding a lot more information on this trip. For those of you who are not familiar with border crossing procedures or flying in Mexico, I will be conducting a briefing later some time before the trip. In the meantime please feel free to talk to me at any time about any of the details.

You don’t want to miss this fly-in.

Thanks,

Joe Cogan