As visitors approach San Carlos, their eyes are drawn to the high rugged peaks of the “Tetas” which lie at the end of the road into town. This mountain, San Carlos’s most beloved landmark, presides over the whole town. The entrance to San Carlos takes one down the 15 mile scenic highway, lined with flowers and palm trees. To the left of the highway is a stunning view which, in one sweep, takes in desert, ocean, tiny islands, and long stretches of sandy beaches. Soft low mountains painted with lavender shadows surround the whole scene. At sunset, the sky changes to orange, the mountains to pink, and the water to deep vermilion. From this comes the poetic name given by John Steinbeck to the Sea of Cortez, “the vermilion sea.”
