Puerto del Azotado

Two hikers in El Rio Preserve

NPS Photo / Kimberly Twardochleb

Quick Facts

Location:

10190 N. Coachline Blvd; Marana, AZ 85743

Significance:

Anza Expedition Historic Campsite #19

MANAGED BY:

Marana, AZ

Amenities

3 listed

Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Trailhead/Hiker Register

Puerto del Azotado roughly translates to "port of the whipping." When two muleteers tried to run away from Anza's expedition, he ordered Native Americans to retrieve the deserters. They were then punished at this site. Anza recounts in his diary:

"At the time when we set forth this afternoon two muleteers deserted us, and I entrusted their apprehension to the justices of Tuczon , who came to bid me goodbye. At eight o’clock at night six Pimas of the last pueblo came to camp and brought one of the fugitives. I immediately had him given a beating, and for this reason the soldiers called the place where we camped for the night the plain of El Azotado."

Today, this is the site of El Rio Preserve. It is a rich riparian habitat for nesting and migratory birds. More than 200 species of birds have been observed here. El Rio is one of the links in the chain of preserved riparian habitat along the Lower Santa Cruz River, including sites such as Sweetwater Wetlands and Kino Environmental Restoration Project. There are two interpretive exhibits at the parking lot recounting the indigenous and Spanish colonial history of this site.