Puerto Peñasco, (population 26,100) on Sonora’s northwestern Gulf of California coast, is situated in the middle of some of Mexico’s most inhospitable territory – hot, arid and desolate. No matter. About 60 miles (97 km) from the International Border and just 3 hours from Tucson, Arizona, Puerto Peñasco, like much of northern Baja California, attracts legions of weekenders. This shrimping village – known as Rocky Point to many U.S. visitors – might have ended up an Arizona seaport had it not been for the negotiating skills of the Mexican...