Banámichi

Banamichi is a Mexican town of 1,400 people (2020) in the center of the state of Sonora, close to the Sierra Madre Occidental area and the influx of the Sonora River through that region. The town was founded in 1639.

Understand

The original Opata name, Banamitzi, means, where the river turns. The town of approximately 1500 residence is supported mostly by agriculture, cattle ranching, farming. Wonderfully sweet onions called cebolla verde are grown in the fields close to town as are chili verde (green hot chilies) a staple of the local diet here. The beef raised on the ranches in this area is well known for its special flavor and ranchers sell their calves to the US through a Sonoran/American trade agreement. The Banámichi territory has rugged areas all around its location, reaching elevations close to 2,000 meters above sea level, formed by several mountain ranges such as Jucaral and several high points such as Cerro la Luz, Cerro la Laja and Cerro el Cobre, which is the highest point in the entire municipality. The semi-flat areas are found to the near west of the town, formed by the El Picacho, Peña Blanca, San Antonio, Murocotochi, Pirinola, Bajío and La Palma hills, these below 1,200 meters above sea level. And the low areas are in a valley in the exact location of the town and through which the Sonora River passes, which flows from north to south, from which the streams are connected, or smaller rivers of El Álamo, Cañada de la Mora, El Oro, Guitonchi, La Cruz, Onofre, de Motepori, Los Vallecitos, Salmón, Los Tatos, El Chinal, Las Delicias, Opodepe and El Carrizo.

Climate

The town has a dry - semi - warm climate , with an average monthly maximum temperature of 29.3 ° C in the months of July to September and a minimum monthly average of 13.3 ° C from December to February. The rainy season occurs in summer in the months of July and August, with an average annual rainfall of 424 millimeters; there are frequent frosts from November to March due to its proximity to the mountains near the Sonora River.

See

La piedra histórica de Banámichi

• The Plaza Hidalgo is very attractive with a gazebo/bandstand in the center.
• Facing the plaza is the main church, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, which was begun in the 17th century and retains its original structure with additions from the 1940s.
• The Palacio Municipal, or city hall, also faces the plaza.
• The city park on the main highway contains the Piedra Histórica, an ancient petroglyph, being held aloft by statues of four imposing Opata warriors. Scholars believe the petroglyph represents an irrigation map.
• Just south of the town is the Bacachi warm springs pools.
• The town has a baseball stadium where the home team, the Halcones, play in the municipal league and games are often televised.
• Quarter horse racing takes place at a track near the airport.

Do

Festivals

• June 24: Feast of San Juan
• September 15 - 20: Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, and the coronation dance of the local queen and traditional horse races
• November 13 - 15: Sonora River Festival

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Los Arcos de Sonora, Obregon 38, ☏ +52 303-838-6505. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Eleven individually decorated rooms all facing an intimate interior courtyard filled with lush gardens and fountains. All rooms have air conditioning/heat, private baths, ceiling fans and pillow top queen beds. Free Wi-Fi, private off street parking, dining room, gift shop, wood burning fireplace, second floor terraza. Alternate US phone number 520-333-2655, number in Mexico is +52 623-231-0289, or you can book online. Breakfast available daily US$70-$99. 
• La Posada del Río Sonora, Calle Gral. Igancio Pesqueira 70. An historic inn with a full restaurant, cafe, and cantina, located on Plaza Hidalgo. The main part of the hotel is remodeled from a 17th-century colonial adobe house. La Posada has a large rooftop terrace that is pretty at sunset. Single or double from US$88. (updated Jul 2021)