Ures is a small town in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in the Northern Mexico state of Sonora. There are natural areas nearby with canyons and the Rio Sonora, and some fascinating history with great stories to tell. It is a relaxing place to enjoy small-town Northern Mexico and is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.

Understand

Ures is a small town of about 4,000, though the population swells to almost 8,500 (2020) if you count rural residents who live in the surrounding municipality (county). It's a small town, but the only place for many miles if you need traveler services. The town lies within the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains at an elevation of 420 meters (1378 feet). The Sonora River runs along the north side of town and Ures is the southernmost point on the Ruta de Rio Sonora, an official tourism route sponsored by the State of Sonora.

History

Jesuit missionaries established a mission in Ures in 1636. During the 19th century, Apache indians fled U.S. cavalry troops in Arizona and moved into mountainous areas near Ures.

During the French incursions of the tumultuous 19th century, a nearby village (part of the Ures municipality) was the site of a battle between a Sinaloa-Sonora army of Mexican nationalists and an imperialist army supporting French interlopers during the Second French Intervention. Known as the Battle of Guadalupe, on September 5, 1866, Mexican nationalists routed about 1,000 troops of the imperialist army, capturing 4 cannons, killing over 40 imperialist troops and pursuing with machetes those fleeing the battle (those nationalists weren't messing around!).

Nobody walking around the town today would ever imagine the place to be a state capital, yet Ures served in that capacity not once, but three times. First in 1823 for just one year. Then again from 1838 to 1842. Finally, the longest period was 32 years, from 1847 to 1879, which helps explain why the imperialist troops would want to occupy what otherwise seems to our modern eyes as a sleepy, mostly agricultural community.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is Hermosillo International Airport (HMO ^IATA). Taxis from Hermosillo will take just over an hour to reach Ures.

By car

From Hermosillo, drive northeast on federal highway MEX-14. Ures is 52 km from Hermosillo and the trip will take about 75 minutes.

From the United States, cross the border between Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora, then drive south on federal highway MEX-17, which will become MEX-14 around Moctezuma and continue directly to Ures. The 300-km trip from Agua Prieta will take about 4 hours.

By bus

Ures is served only by second-class regional buses.

• 1 Central Camionera de Ures (Bus station). Small, old-fashion bus station with small waiting area that lacks air conditioning, bathrooms are available (buy your own toilet paper), food vendors sell tacos and snacks. (updated May 2024)

Get around

The town is very small and compact and most of the tourist sites are within a few blocks of the main square (Plaza Zaragoza). If you need a taxi to reach outlying areas, there is a sitio in front of St. Michael Archangel church.

See

Plaza Zaragoza

• 1 Plaza Zaragoza, Av. Lafontaine y Av. Miguel Hidalgo. The town square (zocalo) features towering palm trees and paved walkways with benches, gardens, and a central fountain. Lively public space with nearby shops, restaurants and historic buildings. 

Parroquia San Miguel Arcangel

• 2 Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel, Av. Lafontaine 1, Centro. Clean and relatively austere colonial-style church with white stucco exterior flanked by twin bell towers with a central arch over the main entrance topped by a statue of St. Michael, swinging his sword. 

• 3 Museo Regional y Casa de la Cultura de Ures (Ures Regional History Museum, Museo Costumbrista de Ures), Calle Raul Teran, ☏ +52 623 105 4959. W-F 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00, closed M Tu. Interesting small historical museum in a restored colonial-era house. Rooms feature exhibits about the town's colorful history with lots of artifacts and antiques in the various rooms, along with maps and documents. M$10. 

• 4 Casa de General Pesqueira, Av. Ignacio Zaragoza 36. Home of a colorfully fierce Mexican nationalist who was a former general and governor of Sonora during the 19th century. This well-known local landmark is unrestored and closed to visitors, though its exterior is a popular photo backdrop. 

Eat

Regional cuisine that you may find in Ures include coyotas, panocha (a sugar cane pudding), and jamoncillo, a candy made from can sugar and evaporated milk.

• 1 Mariscos La Laguna, C. Arista, Centro. F-M 07:00 - 18:00, closed Tu-Th. Traditional Mexican seafood restaurant. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Las Cachoriadas De Aram, Av. Gral. Contreras (MEX-14). F-M 10:00 - 17:00, closed Tu-Th. Traditional Mexican seafood restaurant. Shrimp cocktails and fresh fish. (updated May 2024)
• 3 El Rincon Botanero, Av. Garcia Morales, ☏ +52 623 103 1140. Daily 11:00 - 23:00. Traditional small town restaurant serving casual food like burgers, fries, and pizza. Good place for a quick grab and go bite to eat. (updated May 2024)
• 4 Yak Roll Sushi, Moctezuma - Hermosillo 189, Col del Nte, ☏ +52 623 103 9441. Daily 11:00 - 23:00. Take-out sushi restaurant. (updated May 2024)

Sleep

• 1 Hacienda Labrador, General Piña Final s/n, ☏ +52 623 232 0378. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Historic hacienda, renovated, updated, and now operated as an upscale boutique hotel. Room are quiet, clean and comfortable. Service is genuinely friendly.. Swimming pool available. Grounds include gardens, orchards, and spaces with roaming animals including peacocks, turtles, and dogs. A small artificial lake that has an island. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Hotel el Tejaban, Av. Gral. Contreras 52, Centro, ☏ +52 623 106 1973. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 13:00. Moderate hotel with spacious, air conditioned rooms. No TV in rooms. (updated May 2024)
• 3 Hotel Rut, Av. Gral. Contreras 10, Col del Nte, ☏ +52 623 232 7139. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with spacious, clean, comfortable rooms. Pretty quiet for a hotel on a main road. On-site restaurant. (updated May 2024)
• 4 Hacienda Aquaventura, San Felipe, ☏ +52 623 238 9605. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Event center set up as hotel with rooms and cabins available. Swimming pool. Horses on site. (updated May 2024)

Go next

• Ruta de Rio Sonora - 250 km driving tour of several small colonial towns, including Ures
• Hermosillo
• Bahía de Kino
• Guaymas