Alamos

Alamos Mexico's jumping bean capital If you're looking for a lively little town off the beaten path, don't go to Alamos the only guaranteed action there is that of the jumping bean. Alamo is known as the major producer of jumping beans not really beans at all, but little three sectioned nuts with a tiny worm in each section. It is the movement of the worm that makes this so called "bean" jump. There's a man in Alamos known as the "Jumping Bean King" because he buys all the beans from the natives who gather them, and then ships them in drums to the U.S. and all over the world. The beans are gathered in mid summer and must be sold before late September when the worm burrows his way out of the shell, curls up, and dies, unable to exist in his new habitat.

The colonial ambience of Alamos, a fascinating town 34 miles east of Navajo, pervades all aspects of the town's architecture and even influences the local inhabitants and their activities. Alamos has been declared a colonial monument by the state government, and a conscious effort has been made by its residents to maintain the image the town once had when it was a silver mining center in the late 1700s. Though some of the buildings of Alamos are little more than a century old, they blend to form a collage of colonial antiquity.

Founded in 1540 as a camp for one of Coronado's expeditions, Alamos later became the capital of both Sonora and of what is now the neighboring state of Sinaloa. In the 18th century, Alamos and its suburbs were the world's richest sources of silver.

Moorish arches, delicately fashioned iron grille work, and portales (covered walks) are indispensable elements in the Spanish personality of Ala mos. Don't miss the graceful fountains, the bright, splashy gardens, and the elegant mansions once occupied by silver barons. Art galleries, cantinas, courtyards, leather shops, and the Plaza Mayor, are some of the unique highlights of this treasure out of Mexico's mining past.

To get to Alamos you can drive, fly by private plane, or take a bus. Some excellent inns, motels, and trailer parks are available.

Places to explore near Alamos

Once you've explored the town of Alamos you may want to look at the surrounding country the tropical forest on nearby Alamos Mountain, the foothill oasis of the great Sierra Madre to the east, old mines and silver smelters, scattered ruins, and the bays and beaches along the coast. Alamos is on the border of two large ecosystems the great Desierto Sonorense to the north and the lush tropical jungles of Sinaloa to the south. Nature lovers are attracted the area's 450 species of birds and animals (including some endangered and endemic species) and over 1000 species of plants. Horseback riding, hunting, fishing, hiking and swimming as well as dining in opulent colonial mansions are popular activities.

La Ubalama. This cluster of thatched huts is known as a pottery village. It is an easy, leisurely drive from Alamos. Here you'll see women making clay ollas and bowls.
Aduana.This was the great smelting works where Alamos silver was cast into ingots. Today, not more than a dozen families remain in the countryside village. The tall cactus growing from the wall of the church has a special significance. According to legend, the cactus was on the site before the church was built, and an image of the Virgin that appeared on top of the plant pointed out a rich silver lode. Every year on November 20 a religious festival attracts thousands of Mayo Indians to Aduana.

Cuchujachi River. Deep pools in this river are hemmed in by bedrock banks, making it a good place for a swim. The 71/2 mile road is narrow, rocky, and rough, but passable for the ordinary passenger car. You might see flocks of parrots overhead, ducks in the water, and white tailed deer in the brush. Great sabino trees grow along the watercourse.

Mocuzarl Dam. This dam has backed up water and covered the tropical oasis of Aguas Calientes where hot springs once bubbled out of the rocks. Bass fishing is excellent, and you can park a recreational vehicle right on the shore of the reservoir. A visit to this area makes a worthwhile trip if you're interested in Sonora's new agricultural boom.

Mocoyabul and San Alberto Tungsten Mine. For the rough, 30 mile drive to the ruins of Mocoyahui Mission, you'll need a guide from Alamos. Along the way through upland farm country you'll pass burro trains bringing firewood, sesame seed, and oranges to Alamos. You'll see kapok trees laden with masses of silky fibers hanging from open pods.

The bells of the old mission (built about 1728) are supposedly in the possession of Mayo Indians who bring them out for special occasions. The trip from Alamos to the ruins takes about 3 hours. Four miles beyond Mocoyahui is the San Alberto Tungsten Mine, named after its discoverer, Alberto E. Maas, a native of Alamos.