SAN CARLOS MARKETING COMPANY SA DE CV
A "GRUPO CABALLERO" COMPANY
SAN CARLOS DEVELOPERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS
History of San Carlos
San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, home to several thousand American and Canadian retirees and beautifully immersed in Mexican culture and tradition, is a relatively new resort, officially becoming a 'commissariat' of Guaymas in September 1963. And, as such, its history is significantly tied to nearby Guaymas - a seaport city of 150,000 residents, just 11 km (seven miles) southwest of San Carlos. It was Guaymas that was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1539.Guaymas Area History
The Guaymas area was occupied by the fierce Guaymenas Indian tribe, which created enough resistance for the Spanish that they were not able to actually occupy the Guaymas area until the 18th century. The history of Guaymas, due to the early Indian inhabitants, dates back over 2,000 years. The Yaqui, Guaimas and Seri Indians lived in this natural habitat, sustained by the waters of the Sea of Cortez, which provided an abundance of food and the imposing figure of the Tetakawi mountain, which supplied the mystical powers for the spirits of warriors that so valiantly defended its shores.
In 1701, Padres Salvatierra and Kino founded a short-lived mission settlement in Guaymas. The mission was soon destroyed by the Guaymenas Indians, but another attempt was made in 1769. This proved to be successful, and the new town of San Jose de Guaymas was named. Numerous small villages (camps) were located around the area, and the largest still remains inhabited and is located about 12 miles to the south of Guaymas with a population of 200.
A desirable port city, Guaymas/San Carlos was occupied by foreign military forces and attempted by pirates. During the 1847-48 Mexican-American War, 2 US naval vessels, the 'Eagle' & 'Reliant' captured the San Carlos/Guaymas areas taking control of the harbors & town until late 1848, and then very briefly in 1853 by the 'freebooter' William Walker.
1854 saw the French pirate 'Captain Rousset' operating in the Sea of Cortez. His pirate forces attempted to overtake Guaymas in a surprise attack with a well-armed group of 400. The battle, which lasted 4 days, initially overwhelmed local forces but by the end local militia forces remarkably managed to capture the pirate leader. After his capture and execution his surviving pirate crew disappeared and scattered into the seven seas!
The area was briefly occupied again in 1865 by the French under Emperor Maximilian. The first two decades of 1900 brought revolution again to Mexico, and the port/cove areas suddenly became supply points for General Francisco (Pancho) Villias 'Army of the North'.
By 1910, ships from California, China, England, France and Germany were regularly unloading freight at Guaymas. While its import/export role declined, it's commercial and sports fishing role gained in importance. Today, Guaymas is Mexico's 7th largest port, handling approximately 4% of the nation's total maritime cargo. The city's large commercial fishing fleet brings in an abundance of Mexico's fishing harvest - shrimp being the largest catch.
San Carlos History and Legal Background
The community of San Carlos was founded on lands that previously integrated a large cattle ranch known as the Baviso de Navarro. This was later subdivided in four great estates known as Ranch Los Algodones, Ranch San Carlos, Ranch El Baviso and Ranch El Represo. In the mid 1950s, Mr. Rafael T. Caballero acquired the ranches Los Algodones, San Carlos and El Baviso, contracting the services of City planners who designed the first stages of a gradual and carefully planned tourist development that in time would become one of the first and most important tourist and recreational communities in the State.
When the private investors began the initial works for this development, in support of this vision, the State Congress of Sonora during the governorship of Lic. Luis Encinas Johnson issued a declaration establishing the official incorporation of the Township of San Carlos, Nuevo Guaymas, Municipality of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, through a Decree published in the State Official Bulletin Government no. 26, on the 28 of September,1963, with an endowment of 2,774.60 hectares of privately owned lands located in the Southern portion of the estate Ranch El Baviso.
To complement the Township Land Endowment, the State Congress, during the office of Governor Faustino Felix Serna, increased the Legal Land Fund by adding the estates known as Ranch San Carlos and Ranch Los Algodones, both with a surface of 2,204 hectares, as published in the Official State Bulletin no. 23, on the 21 of March, 1973. A total of 4,979 hectares of privately owned lands constitute the territorial reserves of this development.
On July 1, 1976, The Agrarian Reform Secretariat, through the Director of Legal Affaires, declared by means of official notification no. 240-438155, Reference XV; that the mentioned privately owned lands located in the remaining lands of the estates El Baviso and San Carlos, HAVE NO AGRARIAN LEGAL CLAIMS UPON THEM, and consequently the proprietors are free to lien, to encumber, to contribute to societies, to merge, to cede on trusteeship and to freely dispose of these lands. In that same official notice it is recognized that the proprietors of these four estates, voluntarily ceded to the Federal Government part of their lands for the creation of the new center of population and for the formation of the Ejido 13 of July, affecting the Northern and the western portions of the estates San Carlos, El Baviso, Los Algodones and El Represo. The above in accordance to the Presidential Resolution of July 15, 1968, was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on the 27 of August of 1968.
In support of the objectives set forth by the private investors for the development of a new tourist destination, the Agrarian Reform Secretariat, the Secretary of Human Settlements and Public Works, and the Secretary of Tourism, altogether issued a Declaration of High-priority Tourist Zoning, for all the effects of law; in favor of the estates El Baviso, San Carlos and Los Algodones, owned by Grupo Caballero. The cited declaration was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation No. 34 on the 15 of August, 1980.
Politics, Motion Pictures and TourismIn the State of Sonora as well as its personable cities and towns, you will find diversity in 'real time' leisure attractions, as well as a strong historical perspective. Filled with great presidential traditions, Guaymas is the birthplace of three former Republic of Mexico presidents:
Abelardo Rodriguez,
Plutarco Elias Calles and
Adolfo de la HuertaIn the Mid 1950's, Rafael T. Caballero (Grupo Caballero founder) purchased 3 large ranches known as "El Baviso", "Rancho San Carlos" and "Los Algodones" and began planning and development of San Carlos. The idea of a low density, environmentally friendly resort and retirement community has been proven not only prudent, but visionary!
In the 1960's, San Carlos caught the eye of the motion picture industry from California - going 'Hollywood' as the location site of many movies, including:
The classic 'Catch 22' -starring Alan Arkin, Orson Welles, Martin Sheen, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins & more
'The Mask of Zorro' - starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins & Catherine Zeta Jones
'Lucky Lady' - starring Liza Minelli
'Camaroneros' - Mexican production staring Erick del Castillo
Spanish language Soap Opera - Por Tu Amor
Later, directors, actors and movie crews descended on the area just 7 miles to the northwest of Guaymas and started planting the seeds of modern day San Carlos.Soon thereafter, the hotel/resorts of Paradiso and the San Carlos Plaza were built - occupying exceptionally attractive beach frontage.
By 1963 a "Master Plan" was in place and the infrastructure development underway. Enjoy these "Before" and "After" photos. In these days of "Mega Resort" developments, San Carlos still retains a "small town" feeling with "5 star" services and amenities in a safe and secure "magical" setting. For thousands of years the energy and beauty of the mountains, desert and sea have captured the hearts and minds of all who visit here.
Not
quite tropical, but distinctly warmer than the cool waters of the U.S.
Pacific Coast, this 1000 mile, long sea is home to an incredible
menagerie of fishes and invertebrates. San Carlos environs have over 800
species of fish, 400 species of shell, as well as 3,000 species of
marine animals - a truly unique compilation found nowhere else in the
world.