travel to nogales mexico

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Is Nogales Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

OVERALL RISK: HIGH

Kidnapping is common in Nogales, people can be detained for a long time and forced to withdraw money from an ATM. Being on the street at night is quite dangerous, it is also better to move around the city only in groups.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Travelers should avoid public transportation in the Nogales based on the lack of safety on it. Use only certified taxi services or call it from the app.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

The risk of being robbed by a pickpocket is possible here. Don't flash with valuables and cash, keep an eye on your belongings and you'll be safe.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Mostly Nogales can suffer from floods. Explore proven sources on this subject prior to your visit to the city.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The consequences of careless behavior in the city can lead to kidnapping, carjacking, and even murder. Travel in a group and do not show up on the streets late at night.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Nogales does not suffer much from terrorism so the risk of it is minimal here. But due to poor border controls and a bad criminal situation in the city, you must always be on the alert.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There is not much risk of scamming in the city, but you should be careful when withdrawing money ATM and communicating with local people.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH

Nogales district is quite unsafe so women traveling alone have a great risk of falling into an unpleasant situation where they can not fight back. Female travel alone is not recommended in this city.

• So... How Safe Is Nogales Really?

Nogales is not a tourist city.

The tourists crossing into Nogales are going to visit the dentist or pharmacy, not for having a travel inspiration.

Locals stare at travelers, here you can only be treated like a wallet on your feet.

Often people can come up and ask for money without hesitate.

Nogales is safe enough, but here, every foreigner is closely watched, as if under a magnifying glass.

Travelers can safely walk in the city daytime, but it’s not recommended going for a walk at night.

You can become a target for robbery.

Roads and sidewalks are in bad condition.

Everyone should be watchful to avoid harm yourself, whether you are walking or driving.

Drug cartel-related violence continues to dominate as the motive behind many of the homicides and violent crimes in the Nogales district.

Most crimes in Nogales are armed robbery, assault, and burglary, also the city suffers from homicide, vehicle theft, home invasion, and rape.

But all these crimes occur in this area after dark. Travel throughout the city only during daylight hours.

Avoid walking after dark in Nogales.

• How Does Nogales Compare?
• Useful Information

No visas required for tourist proposals to enter Mexico for many countries of Europe, US citizens and so on. You should have a valid passport and a tourist permit. The maximum possible of stay is 180 days. For a longer stay or other options, you should visit the Mexican embassy.

The Mexican peso - is the official currency in Mexico. There are one hundred Mexican centavos to every peso. The symbol for the Mexican Peso is $, so you can see MX$ or MN$ in banks and exchange points.

The best weather here is during the month of March and November. The hottest season is in May, June, July, August, September, and October. Most rain month is July.

Nogales International Airport is an international airport located at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Nogales.

Travel Insurance

The medical travel insurance is required for travelers in any country as well as Mexico. On the border, any traveler may be asked by a customs officer to show insurance.

Nogales Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Mexico - Safety by City

• Where to Next?

10 Reviews on Nogales

Nogales is safe.

I am curious as to where you got your information from about Nogales. I would visit, as a white female, the city very often from 2013 – 2018 alone, with no issues. I made many friends over the years of visiting. I would also sometimes stay at a hotel on the Mexican side of the border, again alone, with no issues. The town is no more dangerous than any other city in the U.S. after dark. You are not watched “as if under a magnifying glass”. Most of the people who live in Nogales are more helpful than harmful. I ended up moving here in August of 2018. I lived on my own for almost a year before moving in with my boyfriend, who was born and raised in Nogales, Sonora. Are there issues with crime? Of course – like any city. Are there Cartel? Yes – but you don’t have the problems like the U.S. government and media would like one to believe. Additionally, the Cartel fights and Cartel and they try to avoid getting innocents, especially the tourists, involved. This is a beautiful town with beautiful people. I have now been here for 2 years, and I can honestly say I feel safer here than I did when I lived in Phoenix, AZ. Also, you do not need a tourist visa to visit Nogales if you are going to stay within the “border zone”, which most tourists do. You do not need proof of medical insurance. Even driving across, I have only been asked once for proof of car insurance and it was with a rental car. There is no international airport. One has to fly into Tucson (about an hour away) or Hermosillo (about 3 hours). I am rarely asked for my passport coming into Mexico, even when I get the red light. Nogales is an amazing town to visit. The food is great, the people are amazing and you can have a lot of fun with the shopping. You do not need to exchange your U.S. dollars, as just about everywhere will accept the U.S. currency. I have many friends who have businesses that have suffered from false information about Nogales, especially with the current President, and then COVID hit. As long as you are not acting like an idiot (crazy drunk, fighting, etc) and you pay attention to your surroundings (like you should EVERYWHERE), you will not have any issues in Nogales.

Visited here on our way to San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico December and January 2021. My friend and I, both women and in our 60’s had zero issues with feeling unsafe while traveling through here. We are both careful to pay attention to our surroundings just as we would anywhere. We visited a local Pharmacy without any issues, treated kindly and respectfully. Our biggest issue traveling from Nogales to San Carlos, Mexico was that plumbing isn’t the best. You really should carry personal wipes and never ever put anything in toilet. It will destroy their sewer or septic systems. Be aware of your surroundings, don’t flash your fancy jewelry or open your wallet to expose your cash, etc., just as you should in ANY area you travel. ONLY travel in daylight hours. THIS is a desert. Act accordingly. The people are the same as in anywhere. We were treated kindly and politely at all points. Obey the speed laws. My friend has traveled alone this route many times over the years as a single woman. Now for myself, I wouldn’t but my reasons have nothing to do with personal safety but rather the long drive. Map out your drive and be aware of much needed bathroom stops. There are no trees to hide you in an emergency. Keep a full tank of gas BEFORE you cross the border. Must of all, YOU be respectful and courteous. A few kind words in Spanish wouldn’t hurt to learn, either. Bring pesos with you as there are a few points where they have protesters where a 20 peso bill would be very much appreciated. Most of all, enjoy your visit. Remember, if you are from the USA, you are considered wealthy as the exchange rate is amazingly in your favor. Enjoy your visit to this beautiful country. God bless you. Que Dios te bendiga.

I was there just this past Sunday for the first time and actually did not feel any danger but after reading what was said, I was going to never come back for thinking my life is in immediate danger. I appreciate your comment and like you said WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS. I will next time take off my wedding ring and proceed on. I was amazed with the scenery and was happy when I saw the wall. Once again & I do feel better and ready to make another visit.

Very good for a visit and food!

Both writers are correct. I have been there by myself as well as with my friends, mostly evening/nights. Used to park my car in a fast-food parking lot and walk across. Was never asked for insurance or anything. People were friendly, helpful. Delicious Mexican food, especially at a majestic old mansion converted to a restaurant, close to the crossing, even Mariachi band on weekends. Why would you write such a negative report?

Truth of Nogales (Sonora)

Nogales Sonora mexico is Safe! I have traveled alone and with my 2 children many times several times a month for years. I havr stayed in several hotels there and many are so beautiful! One has a gated entryway and another has a garage attatched to the room! The tall white hotel is very updated and has a seperate gated and gaurded parking area a block away down from the nightly Mariachi band posted up. As with any city you always have yo be kind and courteous to all when visiting. The only shady people you have to watch for is some drug users near the border or crooked police. But you will not have an issue if you do not break laws, not following traffic laws or not fighting or being an annoying drunk. Many are very kind and hardworking trying to make an honest dollar, so all purchases are very much welcomed for them to feed their families. The only time i was asked for insurance was for when leaving sonora (border cities) and going deeper into Mexico it is highly reccomended amd needed just in case. When traveling deeper into Mexico, the best tip is to always stay on the main highways to prevent any further scary occurrances that could possibly be. Other than that Mexico amd its people are extremly kind and caring for all humans alike and you are nit watched under a microscope as this article may state! Maybe the perwom whom assumed they were watch, could have a different look or outfit. I know i was stared at occasionally but in a good way because i am white with blonde hair and speak spanish. Wo they all had gotten a kick outta me speaking their language with ease and were proud that i tool time to learn to fit in and underatand their way of life. My youngest was stared at by many because her hair was long and silky soft, funny one ladybwtopped walking on the widewalk and asked if she may touch her hair. I agreed and she loved how soft her hair was. I also have a significant other who lives in nogales now. It is home my lils and i feel at homr in Mexico, being welcomed there as their own. Many speak english also and are very kind to help.

Crossing the border back into USA

The only problem I have experienced in Nogales has been the border crossing back driving a private car… it has taken us up to 4 yes FOUR hours waiting on line and there are no bathrooms! Twice On different occasions I had to walk to the border to use the restroom, (no restrooms on the mexican side) and if I had not been traveling in a group so someone else was able to take the wheel I don’t know what I would have done. Once on the line there is no way to turn around. Lots of street vendors came by during out waiting hours offering drinks, food, crafts. A smart entrepreneur would have found a way to carry a port-a-potty up and down the waiting lines… Moctezuma revange really is a thing!

You are a Target if you go to Nogales

Just remember this. Once you are out of the United States, you have no rights. You can be accused of anything, and extorted by an police officer, and there’s nothing you can do, except pay them money. I’ve been to Nogales, and Rocky Point, and would never go there again. It’s dirty, overpriced, the people hate Americans, except for their money, and if you take a cab somewhere, you’re going to get overcharged, and if you don’t pay, the police will be called and they will arrest you. Pick a spot in the U.S. to go!

Thank you for pointing this out. I was accused of a crime and had no idea what was going on. I was actually arrested and was stuck in a jail cell for almost 2 days before they finally let me out. They didn’t even give me my stuff back or tell me what I did wrong. Come to find out a taxi driver accused me of running off and not paying him, he was lying! I will never go back.

No problems

I have visited Nogales many times. Staying in hotels. NEVER had problems. Taxi drivers polite and fast. No meters, so ask the fare before getting in taxi. As with any big city (in the US or elsewhere in the world) watch where you are. Shopping good, pharmacy prices much cheaper than US (and same name brand meds). Good food and if you walk across it is fast and faster than driving.

If you want to avoid Montezuma’s Revenge eat in Nogales, Arizona. To avoid other types of problems, park on the American side and walk across the boarder.

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Article Contents

• Nogales : Safety by City
• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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Is Nogales Mexico Safe For Tourists? Ultimate Safety Guide

Is Nogales, Mexico, safe? It’s often one of the first questions that people ask when they start planning a trip to this city on the AZ-Sonora border. And they’d be right too. It’s no secret that Nogales has been a major hotspot for narco-traffickers and cartels for some decades, and crime rates are noticeably higher here than in other, more-visited, parts of the country. Burglaries are relatively commonplace and there’s even the potential for violent crime, especially in certain areas.

On the flip side, Nogales remains a very popular entry point for US visitors to Mexico. It’s also a major medical and dental tourism destination, thanks to the uber-cheap private healthcare clinics that await just past passport control. Oh, and folks flock over to the markets of downtown Nogales to shop for traditional Mexican wares and handicrafts, much of it brought up from states far further south.

A majority of trips to the town go off without a hitch. Thousands of travelers move in and out of Nogales and the namesake town of Nogales, AZ, just across in the US, every day and night – just look at the queues on the border! However, there’s no ignoring the dangers of these sorts of US-Mex border towns and the potential risks that they bring with them. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, which answers is Nogales, Mexico, safe by addressing all the key points and details.

Table of Contents

Where is Nogales, Mexcio?

Roughly speaking, Nogales is in the far northwestern part of Mexico. Set deep in the dusty and sun-blasted lands of the Sonoran Desert, right at the northern end of Sonora state, it’s surrounded on all sides by cacti-spotted hills and brittlebush valleys that seem to go on forever.

The location is very important to consider when you come to decide if Nogales is safe to visit. Border towns in Mexico are natural flashpoints in the underworld of drug trafficking. Simply by being close to the United States, they have the potential to attract narco gangs and all the dangers that go with them. On top of that, border towns are obvious places for immigrants to gather before making an attempt to cross illegally from Mexico to the US. That happens a lot around Nogales, especially in the desert to the west and east, where you can even see long, high fences intended to keep people out.

These facts dovetail together to create somewhere that’s hardly your typical tourist hotspot south of the border.

Major dangers in Nogales, Mexico

Increasing reports of violent crime and kidnappings up and down this section of the US border are directly related to narco-gang activity in the region. It’s all about the presence of what the US Overseas Security Advisory Council, a State Department and private sector security collaboration that focuses on threats abroad, calls Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). You and I know them better as drug cartels, and they are driving key crime stats to all new and dizzying heights in Nogales. Here are just a few threats that you’ll need to be wary of:

• Homicide – The homicide rate in Nogales increased two thirds from 2018 to 2019, hitting a whopping 248 in the consular district (an area to the south of the downtown) alone.
• Residential burglaries – The rate of residential theft in Nogales tripled from 2018 to 2019.
• Car theft – More than 500 incidents in 2019 in Nogales. TCO gangs specifically look to steal MPVs and pick-up trucks.
• Gun crime – Possession of a firearm is technically illegal in Mexico but gangs are known to carry weapons (including heavy weapons and machine guns) throughout Nogales.

Although there’s no evidence that gangs target US tourists and international visitors in Nogales, the threat from TCOs can’t be ruled out. That’s especially true if you venture to less-trodden parts of the city (more on those later), where there’s a smaller police presence. What’s more, crime rates are generally on the increase all across Sonora and Mexico . Recent arrests of drug kingpins have caused division and strife between gangs, making violent crime all the more likely.

Minor dangers in Nogales, Mexico

Nogales is not a place for tourists. Despite the overload of shopping spots and dental tourism clinics in the downtown, this town isn’t up there with Cancun and Acapulco. Visitors report being “stared at” as they walk the streets, and begging for money is commonplace. You’ll notice that there are lots of locals simply hanging around the main shopping plazas from morning until night. They are a direct result of soaring unemployment numbers in Sonora state and often double as petty criminals. Others won’t hesitate to ask for money from anyone they deem to be visiting from the US.

You should also watch out for physical dangers like uneven sidewalks and roads. There’s a noticeable dip in the quality of the infrastructure the moment you cross over the border in Mexico here. Always watch where you’re placing your feet, as the concrete is often broken and slabs are often laid badly.

Is Nogales safe for solo travelers?

There are certainly some destinations in Mexico that welcome solo travelers with open arms, from Cancun to Puerto Vallarta . However, Nogales isn’t one of them. Traveling solo here presents even more of a danger than if you were in a group. You’re more likely to be targeted by petty criminals, more likely to be asked for money in the shopping areas, and more likely to fall victim to major violent crimes and drug-related crimes. We’d always recommend going to Nogales as at least a pair and never, ever walk around the more dangerous areas away from the tourist zone by yourself, especially not after dark…

Is Nogales, Mexico, safe for nightlife?

After dark, Nogales, like Acapulco, becomes much, much more dangerous. Exploring the strip in downtown Nogales offers a taste of Mexico’s famous tequila bars and mariachi music. Our advice, though? Simply do not be tempted. The late-night spots here are gathering points for members of Nogales’s narco gangs and have proved to be some of the most dangerous locations in the whole city .

What’s more, heading out at night means you also have to head back. That’s a total no-no. Walking anywhere in Nogales once the sun has set presents a much higher risk of falling victim to serious crime. In fact, the vast majority of major gun crime occurs after hours in the backstreets of Nogales. That’s not something you want to have on the travel itinerary.

Is the tap water in Nogales safe to drink?

The tap water is not safe to drink in Nogales. Tap water can be contaminated with sewage and other toxic elements, so it is best to stick to bottled or filtered drinking water throughout your stay south of the border. Some hotels will offer free filtered water, which is also typically safe to drink. When purchasing bottled H2O, always insist on opening the bottle yourself. According to www.tapsafe.org information from Nogales and nearby locations showed that the average water score in Mexican cities is about 39 out of 100. That’s not too good, eh?

The main tourist areas of Nogales, Mexico

Most of the crime in Nogales isn’t in the area immediately by the border with the United States. In fact, the authorities here have made a conscious effort to make the shopping and healthcare areas close to the US as safe as can be, mainly to encourage cross-border tourism. The people that work and live in those areas also have a vested interest in keeping them as safe as possible. The result is a sort of enclave of the city where things are generally better, although we’d still warn of getting too comfortable.

There are three main parts to the tourist area in Nogales: Plaza Pesqueira, Campillo and Obregon. The first is a small plaza that opens onto the medical tourism area that stretches on down Campillo, filled with pharmacies and clinics of all shapes and sizes. Obregon is the place to go for shopping. All of these are easily accessed via the Deconcini Port (one of the main pedestrian gateways on the border). You can also enter an area that hosts the town’s best Mexicana eateries that’s still sort of within the tourist zone by crossing via the Nogales-Morley Gate to the east.

Top safety tips for those visiting Nogales, Mexico

• Don’t go alone – It’s much safer to visit Nogales as part of a group.
• Don’t be flashy – Swap out the new DSLR for something more modest, take off the jewelry, and never pull out your wallet or wads of cash in public. That’s just asking for it.
• Return to the US by nightfall – It’s much safer to stay in the US and be back over the border by sundown. Remember that queues can get pretty long at the border, especially on weekends, so allow ample time for the crossing.
• Know your Mexico emergency numbers – It’s 911 for police and 078 for the Green Angels , crews of English-speaking tourist assistants that service major highways.
• Stay away from parked cars and don’t stop to ask questions about them – You never know whose car you’re looking at and it’s best to keep yourself to yourself in Nogales.
• Don’t share your travel itinerary – Kidnappers love to plan ahead, so don’t go telling them where you’re going to be before you arrive.
• Stick to the main tourist areas – These are Campillo, Obregon and the Plaza Pesqueira. Anywhere beyond these points is where things will get more dangerous.

So, is Nogales, Mexico, safe to visit?

Is Nogales, Mexico, safe? Well…yes, and no. While most of the visits to this city go smoothly, there’s no denying that there are potential dangers and risks when it comes to crossing over from Nogales, AZ. That’s true of many of the border towns that dot the deserts in the extreme north of the country, though. Simply because of where they are, they’ve emerged as fertile grounds for gang activity and narco-traffickers. That’s why we’d say be sure to steer clear of Nogales at night, especially in certain areas where crime rates are higher. It’s not advisable to go to bars or clubs, period. Oh, and be very careful driving around as traffic accidents are commonplace.

Reece is the creator and editor of Travel Snippet. He has visited more than 38 countries over a 10-year period. His travels have taken him through the majestic mountains of Italy, into the cities of central Europe, across the islands of Indonesia, and to the beaches of Thailand, where he is currently living. He is passionate about travel and shares his expertise by providing the best travel tips and tricks to help you plan your next adventure.

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Is Nogales Mexico Safe to Visit in 2024? What Is Nogales Crime Rate

Is Nogales Mexico Safe? Nogales is the border city crossing between Mexico and the United States in the 9th Mexican state of Sonora. It is a popular destination for American tourists and a hub for cross-border trade and commerce. However, the safety concerns when visiting Nogales, Mexico, are common for many potential travelers.

The city’s proximity to the U.S. border towns and its role in the flow of goods and people have made it a focal point for drug trafficking and other criminal activities. As a result, the U.S. Department of State has issued travel advisories for some regions of Mexico, including Nogales, due to the high levels of crime and violence. Let’s dive into and uncover more details about the safety situation in the city.

Is Nogales Mexico Safe to Visit in 2024 –  Key Takeaways

• Cartel Violence Risk  –  HIGH
• Kidnappings Risk  –    LOW
• Fraud Risk   –  MEDIUM
• Petty Theft Risk  – MEDIUM
• Level of Danger When Driving  –   MEDIUM
• Level of Danger in Buses   –  MEDIUM
• Level of Danger in Taxi  –  MEDIUM
• Level of Danger at Night  –  MEDIUM
• Bad Areas  – Colonia Benemérito, Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas, Remote border regions
• Safe Places  – Downtown/Avenida Obregón, Nogales Cathedral, Plaza Pueblito, Morley Avenue (Nogales, Arizona), Parque La Raza
• Crime in Nogales compared to other cities in Mexico  – Rating based on real reviews from travelers and locals according to  Numbeo . Crime index meaning: 0-20 is very low, 20-40 is low, 40-60 is moderate, 60-80 is high, and 80-100 is very high.

All material presented in this article is based on official Mexican and U.S. government data and recommendations, statistics from reputable publications, and local news reports. The information is intended for general guidance purposes only and does not constitute professional travel advice.

Our danger level study is based on:

• Mexican government statistics National incidents of crime for 2023, January 2024.
• US Government travel advisory levels and precautions in 2024.
• US Government travel map in 2024.
• Risk map analysis of the Mexico Cartel War in 2023.
• Elcri map of most violent tourist destinations and homicides map upon on the Mexican Justice System  and the INEGI in 2023 and 2024.
• Numbeo’s statistics are derived from the real experiences of travelers and residents in 2024.
• News summaries from local presses as well as authoritative resources from Mexico and the United States in 2023 and 2024. In some cases, these data are taken for an earlier period if the type of crime or hazard is not present in 2023 and 2024.

Each risk level will be indicated by a different color red for high risk, orange for medium risk, and green for low risk.

Risk Levels Meaning:

• High Risk : High number of offenses in the last year, skyrocketing incidents, crime rate higher than the Mexican average. Regarding Numbeo travelers express fear and concern.
• Medium Risk : The amount of infractions over the past year is close to the national average. Visitors’ worries and concerns are at a moderate level according to Numbeo.
• Low Risk : Low number of prior year offenses, there has been a decrease in incidents, and crime is lower than the Mexican average. Travelers feel safe according to Numbeo statistics.

Crime in Nogales 

Like any other border city, Nogales experiences its share of criminal activity. But visitors can stay safe by taking reasonable precautions. While the total crime in the state of Sonora was 36,125 and Nogales registered a total of 1,235 cases for the year 2023. Like any other border city, Nogales experiences its share of criminal activity. According to the National Incidence Report, there have been 122 reported cases for the first two months of 2024.

Let’s take a look at the different types of crimes and their associated risk levels in Nogales:

Cartel Violence Risk – High

While Sonora state is an area of caution due to organized crime, Nogales has generally not been excluded from travel advisories related to cartel violence. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury , Juan Carlos Morgan Huerta, better known by his alias “Cacayo,” presides as the Sinaloa Cartel’s preeminent “plaza boss” overseeing operations in Nogales.

Huerta’s operations are responsible for about 62 homicide cases in 2023 as recorded in Nogales annual incident reports. This is equivalent to 5% of the total annual crime recorded in Nogales.

By the end of 2023, 4 homicide cases remained ongoing at Santa Cruz County Superior Court related to cartel violence. The months of January and February 2024 recorded a total of 10 homicide cases which pose significant security threats.

Kidnappings Risk – Low

Kidnappings have some concerns in the Sonora state, where Nogales is located. There were 15 kidnapping cases in 2023, according to the National Incidence Report. The same report shows that as of February 2024, there were 0 kidnapping cases, showing low enough kidnapping risks.

The majority of kidnapping cases likely involve local residents. But the risk extends to visitors and tourists as well. The State Department advises travelers to take basic precautions to reduce their risks of being kidnapped in Sonora state.

However, this is not the case for the city of Nogales because the statistics show zero kidnapping cases in 2023 and as of February 2024, maintaining a low risk of kidnapping incidents. According to the National Citizen Observatory, there have been no reported kidnappings in Nogales for 2023 and 2024.

Frauds Risk – Medium

In Nogales, tourists can find themselves unwitting targets of fraud schemes, such as virtual kidnapping scams, where criminals claim to have abducted a loved one and demand ransom or direct threats of extortion if money is not paid.

According to local statistics, there were 9 cases of extortion reported in Nogales in 2023, and 1 case of extortion in January and February of 2024, highlighting the persistence of this issue. The U.S. State Department warns travelers to be cautious of unsolicited requests for funds or personal information through emails, which could be attempted as fraud or extortion schemes.

Petty Theft Risk – Medium

Petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag snatching, and opportunistic thefts are a significant concern for visitors to Nogales.

• In 2023, Nogales recorded 101 cases of robbery with violence, 157 cases of vehicle theft, 11 cases of home robbery, and 18 cases of robbery against passersby.
• For 2024, in January and February , there were 10 and 7 cases of robbery with violence, 20 and 18 cases of vehicle theft, and 4 and 0 cases of robbery against passersby, respectively.

Nogales’ crime index ratings on Numbeo  further underscore the risks:

• Worries about being mugged or robbed: 54.17 (Moderate)
• Problem property crimes like vandalism and theft: 54.17 (Moderate)
• Problem violent crimes like assault and armed robbery: 45.83 (Moderate)

In tourist areas, crowded markets, and public transportation, travelers should remain vigilant about protecting their belongings. Common tactics include:

• Slashing/cutting bags or purses to remove contents
• Distractions like spilling something on you create confusion
• Snatch-and-grab thefts of phones, cameras, or bags
• Thieves on motorcycles driving by and grabbing purses/bags

While very unlikely to escalate to violence, falling victim to skilled pickpockets or bag snatchers can disrupt your travel plans.

Avoiding Bad Areas

While parts of Nogales cater to tourists and are generally safe, there are some areas visitors should avoid, especially at night. Use extra caution when venturing outside of the main tourist zones.

Here are some areas you should avoid when visiting Nogales Mexico:

• Colonia Benemérito: This neighborhood on the northern outskirts of Nogales is known for excessive crime quotes and drug-related activities.
• Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas: Located near the U.S. Border, this place has a recognition for gang interest and must be prevented, especially at night time.
• Remote border regions: The faraway areas alongside the U.S.-Mexico border are liable to drug smuggling and human trafficking activities, making them probably risky for traffic.

Staying in populated tourist-friendly districts is the best way to avoid wandering into risky territory. While crime can happen anywhere, limiting exposure to isolated areas with known criminal activity reduces the chances of becoming a victim.

The Complete Guide to Transport

Getting around Nogales can be challenging for visitors and residents alike. With high crime rates, one must take proper precautions depending on the mode of transportation used. Let’s explore the risks associated with various ways of getting around Nogales.

Is it Safe to Drive in Nogales Mexico? – Medium Risk

Driving on the roads of Sonora comes with risks. In January 2024 alone, there were 92 cases related to traffic incidents in the state, and throughout 2023, the total number of such cases reached 929 . The main danger doesn’t stem from conflicts involving drug cartels that often make headlines.

Instead, the hazardous routes and heavy traffic between cities in Sonora pose the primary risks. A single mistake on these roads can lead to a tragic accident. In Nogales for instance, vehicle theft is a major concern. According to the National Incidence Report:

• In 2023 the were 157 incidents of vehicle theft.
• In 2024, January saw 20 cases, and February had 18 cases reported.

Furthermore, data from Numbeo indicates that the worries about car theft and things being stolen from cars are high in Nogales, with scores of 58.33 and 41.67 , respectively, on a scale of 100. When driving around Nogales and Sonora, consider the following additional precautions:

• Use Highway 15 when driving because it has moderate traffic. However, watch out for jaywalkers.
• You must have auto insurance that is valid in Mexico . Most U.S. or Canadian auto insurance will not provide coverage.
• A rental car from the U.S. needs authorization paperwork to enter Mexico.

Safety in Buses in Nogales, Mexico – Medium Risk

According to the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Nogales , buses play a major transportation role in Nogales and throughout Mexico. However, there are concerns about using public transportation services in the Nogales Consular District since they are not known for their safe driving.

Some reputable bust companies in Nogales include:

• Tufesa (Transportes Unidos Fronteras S.A.)
• Estrella Blanca
• Autobuses Norteños
• Omnibus Mexicano

Visitors should also be aware of some of these specifics when traveling by bus in Nogales, Mexico:

• Apart from the local customs, the U.S. searches all buses crossing the border, leading to delays and questioning from police if contraband is found.
• Major Mexican bus companies servicing Nogales include Auto Tufesa and Estrella Blanca.
• Visitors should remain alert, secure valuables, and use the buddy system when possible.

Safety in Taxis in Nogales Mexico – Medium Risk

Taxis represent another prevalent mode of transportation in Nogales. Still, opting for licensed, registered taxi providers or using well-known ride-sharing apps is crucialfor your safety Taxis cannot be deemed entirely safe, as certain drivers may attempt to overcharge visitors or take them on longer routes, compounding safety risks.

The influence of criminal elements looms large over the taxi industry in Nogales, making robust vetting processes for drivers and companies a challenge. Because of this, The U.S. Consulate strongly recommends avoiding taxis and rideshares unless no other transportation option is available. Recommended Taxi and Ride-Sharing Services in Nogales:

• Nogales Taxis Rojos
• Servi Taxi Sitio Fundo Legal

It’s advisable to research and compare reviews for these services and prioritize reputable, well-established providers to minimize risks during your stay in Nogales.

Is Nogales Mexico Safe at Night? Medium Risk

Nogales sees higher risks after dark that require caution. According to Numbeo’s safety index, walking alone at night in Nogales is rated 55/100 , indicating moderate danger levels. In January and February 2024, there were 10 homicides recorded in Nogales, reflecting the ongoing security challenges in the city.

Proper vigilance can prevent major trouble, but risks rise significantly after dark. Given the crime statistics, tourists should exercise extreme caution or consider restricting outings at night in Nogales. In 2023, Nogales recorded 101 cases of robbery with violence, 157 cases of vehicle theft, and 11 cases of home robbery.

Safe Places to Visit in Nogales Mexico

While parts of Nogales deal with higher crime rates, plenty of areas and attractions are generally safe for visitors when taking basic precautions. The border city has a vibrant downtown filled with markets, historic sites like Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), and cultural activities that draw tourists from Mexico and the United States. Here are some safe places to go when visiting Nogales.

• Downtown/Avenida Obregón:  The main downtown area centered around Avenida Obregón is a lively tourist district with shops, restaurants, and street vendors selling souvenirs and local goods. The presence of Mexican authorities keeps this area relatively secure during daytime hours.
• Nogales Cathedral:  This beautiful cathedral, dating back to the early 1900s, is a popular attraction located right off Avenida Obregón in the downtown area.
• Plaza Pueblito:  An open-air market near the border crossing, Plaza Pueblito, has stalls selling Mexican food, clothing, and handicrafts in a controlled, touristy environment.
• Morley Avenue (Nogales, Arizona):  Just across the border, the historic Morley Avenue in downtown Nogales, Arizona side, offers shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions in a safe, welcoming district.
• Parque La Raza:  A green space in central Nogales frequented by locals, Parque La Raza has walking trails, sports facilities, and playgrounds that draw families during the day.

Sticking to these busier central tourist zones, especially when guided, and avoiding isolated areas go a long way in ensuring you don’t have any safety concerns.

Safety Tips for Nogales Mexico

While exploring Nogales’ museums, markets, and other sites, as a tourist, you are strongly advised to adhere to essential safety guidelines issued by travel advisories:Considering risks and taking the right safety measures is critical for an incident-free visit. Here are some tips:

• Purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance:  Given Nogales’ high crime rates and risks, getting adequate travel insurance is highly recommended. Policies with emergency medical coverage, evacuation services, and trip cancellation start around USD 4-8 per day.
• Avoid Carrying or Purchasing Any Illicit Drugs:  Mexico has strict laws against drug possession with minimum 10-year prison sentences, even for small personal amounts. Trafficking crimes are rampant in towns like Nogales. If you respect local customs and avoid drugs, it eliminates this substantial risk, especially during the spring break season .
• Only Use Regulated “Sitio” Taxi Stands and Verified Rideshares :  Unlicensed taxis pose huge safety risks, with over 75 reported taxi crimes in Nogales last year. Only use regulated stands (“sitios”) or booked services like Uber. Never enter random unmarked cabs. Confirm driver credentials and vehicle information beforehand.
• Stay in Well-Lit, Populated Areas and Avoid Deserted Streets:  Stick to the main tourist areas downtown with safety in numbers and plenty of lighting and patrols by the Mexican authorities. Avoid deserted side streets or alleys. Most of the violent crimes occur after dark when fewer people are out.
• Don’t Drive at Night Due to Road Risks:  Avoid driving between at night if possible. 6 0 % of homicides happen overnight, plus roads are more dangerous in the dark. Use regulated taxis/rideshares only at night. Drunk driving and poor lighting raise crash risks. Additionally, you risk your car being stolen according to annual data statistics .
• Keep Valuables and Cash Out of Sight:  Don’t wear expensive jewelry or watches, and avoid flashing signs of wealth. Only carry minimal cash and one credit card if needed. Petty theft and muggings are common via pickpocketing or snatch and grabs. Only bring valuables you are willing to lose.
• Notify Family/Friends of Your Plans and Hotels:  Share your detailed itinerary and hotel address with emergency contacts at home. Check in regularly via text/call so they know your movements. Program their numbers into your phone if issues arise or you need help or a funds transfer. You can also join a smart traveler enrolment program that helps you keep tabs on situations.

Is Nogales Mexico safe for tourists?

Yes, Nogales is safe for tourists. However, the place requires vigilance due to some crimes. Nogales recorded 101 robberies with violence cases, 157 vehicle thefts, and 18 robberies against passersby in 2023. By the usage of common feel precautions, staying in populated regions, and restricting nighttime walks, dangers can be controlled.

Is Nogales a safe border town?

Yes, Nogales is a medium-safe border town. It sees moderate crime as compared to other locations. In 2023, Nogales recorded 11 home robberies and 18 robberies towards passersby. Extra precautions help mitigate dangers.

What is the crime rate in Nogales?

Nogales has a completely moderate crime index of 45.39 according to Numbeo. This town does have not an unusually high violent crime rate or kidnappings.

Is it safe to walk into Nogales?

Yes, it is safe to walk into Nogales. However, walking is safe downtown during the day if you stick to busy commercial and tourist zones. According to Numbeo, the safety rating for walking alone during the day in Nogales is 79.17/100 , which is a high level. Avoid unpopulated areas, especially at night when risks are higher citywide.

Is Nogales, Mexico, safe? While Nogales offers cultural attractions and a vibrant downtown area, visitors must exercise vigilance due to elevated crime rates in this border city.

Specific risks in Nogales include threats from cartel violence, kidnapping, fraud, and petty crimes like theft. In 2023, Nogales recorded 101 cases of robbery with violence, 157 vehicle thefts, 11 home robberies, and 9 cases of extortion. The first two months of 2024 saw 17 robberies with violence, 38 vehicle thefts, and 1 extortion case. According to Numbeo, the safety rating for walking alone at night is a moderate 55.00/100.

While downtown areas are relatively secure during daylight hours, risks rise significantly after dark. However, by staying in well-lit populated areas, using licensed transportation, avoiding isolated areas (especially at night), and following common safety precautions, tourists can mitigate risks and experience Nogales’ cultural attractions.

Explore Nogales

Plan Your Trip to Nogales: Best of Nogales Tourism

Discover the best of mexico with meliá.

Essential Nogales

• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Nogales
• Hotel Fray Marcos
• Hacienda Del Real
• City Express By Marriott Nogales
• Hotel San Carlos
• La Roca Restaurant
• Nogales Mall
• Museo de Arte de Nogales
• Laser Tech MedSpa
• Catedral Santuario De Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe

• 1.1 History
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.5 On foot
• 3 Get around
• 11 Stay safe
• 12.1 Consulates

Heroica Nogales is a city of 220,000 people (2010) in Sonora on the United States - Mexico border. Nogales is a divided community which extends into Nogales (Arizona) ; the Arizona border runs down the middle of International Street.

Understand [ edit ]

Due to its location, Nogales is one of the most important ports of entry for U.S. tourists. The downtown area consists of bars, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and a large number of curio stores, which sell a large variety of artesanias (handicrafts, leather art, handmade flowers, clothes) brought from the deeper central and southern states of Mexico. Local dishes commonly available in restaurants include many types of antojitos (Mexican food) such as enchiladas, tacos, burritos with carne machaca (dried meat), menudo and tamales.

Nogales is also known for medical tourism as medical and dental care in Mexico is inexpensive by US standards.

History [ edit ]

The independent Nogales Municipality, established in 1884, used to be separated from Nogales (Arizona) by a wide, open International Street. After the 1910 Mexican Revolution, it was not uncommon for Mexican townfolk to purchase supplies from merchants in Arizona whenever items became scarce locally.

On 27 August 1918, American authorities opened fire on a Mexican civilian attempting to return to Sonora without US Customs inspection. The Mexicans, angered by years of mistreatment of their people and mistakenly believing their civilian to be lying dead on International Street in Sonora, returned fire. The Battle of Ambos Nogales raged for days with gunfire and multiple casualties; reinforcements were brought in by both sides. Nogales, Sonora mayor Felix B. Peñaloza was gunned down and killed when waving a white truce flag. The US, engaged in the Great War (World War I) at the time, claimed the Mexican armed defence was a German-backed attack on the USA - a spurious allegation which was never proven. The one lasting impact of the battle was the construction of the first permanent border fence to separate the US from México, right down the middle of International Street.

Nogales petitioned the Mexican Congress in 1961 to grant the title of "Heroic City", conferring the community's official name, Heroica Nogales. A monument stands on Calle Adolfo Lopez Mateos in Nogales (Sonora) in remembrance of the Mexican participants of the Battle of Ambos Nogales.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

• The nearest airports for commercial flights from Mexico are in Tijuana ( TIJ  IATA ), Mexicali ( MXL  IATA ) and Hermosillo ( HMO  IATA ). From the U.S. side the nearest commercial airports are in Tucson ( TUS  IATA ) and Phoenix ( PHX  IATA ).

By train [ edit ]

There is no passenger train service provided to Nogales, Mexico from anywhere in Mexico or the U.S. despite the city's status as a major border crossing for commercial rail freight. The nearest Mexican passenger train station is in Chihuahua and the nearest American train station is in Tucson

By car [ edit ]

• U.S. I-19 South
• Mexican Federal Highway 15D (Carretera Federal 15D) North
• You must have auto insurance that is valid in Mexico. (Most U.S. or Canadian auto insurance will not cover you in Mexico.) If you are simply making a day trip along the border at Nogales, it might be much more of a hassle to bring your car across the border. Insurance issues, and very long waits to cross the border back to the US side (wait times are sometimes in excess of two hours) make good incentives to instead leave your car parked at a secure location on the US side of the border (such as 31.33317 -110.94449 1 Ed's Parking - which used to cost about US$6 during the daytime).
• Americans may travel up to 12 miles (20 kilometres) inside Mexico without a tourist permit/vehicle permit . Beyond that distance, or if you intend to stay more than 72 hours in Mexico, a permit is required. Vehicle permits are available at the 21 km mark in the immigration and customs office. Passport, drivers license, and proof of Mexican insurance are required for processing an application for a permit. Permits costs M$170 ( pesos ) and must be paid to one of the banks listed on the application form.
• Rental cars from the US must have documentation granting authorization to the driver on the rental agreement to bring them across the border into Mexico; otherwise, you may be suspected of stealing the car.
• Driving around the city is a real hassle. Expect bumper-to-bumper traffic inside the city, and moderately congested traffic along Highway 15 south. Watch out for jaywalkers at all times when driving along the border.

By bus [ edit ]

• Shuttle buses run from both sides of the border daily. US customs will stop and search these shuttle buses for drugs and people attempting to cross the border without paperwork, so expect delays – and questioning by US police if drugs are found in an unclaimed suitcase found aboard.
• Buses are the main mode of public transportation within Mexico. There are several bus companies – two of the main carriers are Auto Tufesa and Estrella Blanca [formerly dead link] . For Executive lines see TAP .

On foot [ edit ]

Most people simply park their cars in Nogales (Arizona) and walk across the border into Mexico. Typically, you won't even notice any border police on the Mexican side of the border so entrance into the city is fairly easy.

If you are walking across the border from the United States into Mexico, do not forget your passport , US Passport Card, or your alien registration card (commonly called the "green card"). You are required to have such documentation to return to the US. An enhanced driver's license is acceptable documentation for entry to the US, but the few US states participating are clustered on America's northern border ( Michigan , Minnesota , Vermont , Washington State and New York State ).

To enter into Nogales from the US border crossing (if you are using a baby stroller or wheelchair), you'll have to walk against the traffic of people entering from Mexico (don't worry, the US border police do this all of the time, and you won't have any problems at all entering Mexico this way - there's an entrance into Mexico for such visitors). If you don't you have to pass through a turn-style walkway which will be impossible to pass through with a stroller or a wheelchair.

Get around [ edit ]

• Those walking across the border into Nogales with either infants in a stroller, or those who utilize a wheelchair for transportation will find out quickly that the walkways in Nogales are uneven. Otherwise, it is very easy to walk around the city.

See [ edit ]

• 31.33051 -110.94438 1 Museo de Arte de Nogales , Av Plutarco Elías Calles s/n ( Centro ), ☏ +52 631 690 8505 . M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-14:00 . An art museum. Free . ( updated Nov 2017 )
• Along the US-Mexico fence, there are some interesting painted murals (on the Mexican side of the fence) that might be worth photographing.

Do [ edit ]

Most people visit Nogales to buy some inexpensive goods, purchase duty-free liquor and tobacco, or undertake inexpensive medical and dental tourism . Dental services are of good quality and utilized by thousands of visitors annually; pharmacies also charge far less than corresponding American prices.

Buy [ edit ]

One of the primary reasons Americans come to Nogales is to shop. There are many quality goods for sale, and many handicrafts on offer. Fakes are plentiful, so buy only if you think you've negotiated a very cheap price and don't mind the possibility that your item isn't genuine. There are also many finer shops throughout the city for those who are seeking something a little nicer.

One of the most colorful places to pick up a bargain is from the scores of street vendors who set up along the two blocks of Pasaje Morelos, about a block from the border crossing. This is a repainted alleyway which has been converted into an open-air pedestrian shopping strip. Even if you are "just looking", you will find 31.33124 -110.94511 1 Pasaje Moreles an interesting walk, although you may also find it to be a bit crowded. There are also a number of shops a block further west along 31.33167 -110.9457 2 Alvaro Obregon , near the intersection with Campillo.

While all prices are listed in pesos (M$), these are typically displayed with the same "$" monetary symbol as the US dollar. Expect some laughs at your expense if you mistake one currency for another. Most merchants however prefer US dollars (paper currency, not coins) over Mexican pesos. Carry enough cash for your purchases for the day, as credit cards are not as widely accepted as they are in the US. Beware of giving a very large US denomination bill for a fairly cheap item (like a $10 or $20 bill for a $5 item); carry smaller bills with you.

It shouldn't be too hard to engage in commerce if you don't speak much Spanish. Although many people (usually police and merchants) do speak some English, you'd be wise to learn some basic Spanish phrases before visiting Nogales. You'll earn more respect and be rewarded with better prices when shopping. Haggling is expected for most purchases in the market, so don't be afraid to make an offer. Just make sure you've looked around and asked for prices before you blindly make a first bid: folks know when someone's looking to buy something as the word spreads quickly. Haggling is never done in a restaurant/bar or a supermarket (where the listed prices are fixed and not negotiable).

Other items to look for:

• Mexican vanilla extract is very good.
• Mexican Coca-Cola is a nice treat to pick up to bring back to the USA, as it's made with sugar cane rather than the corn syrup typically used in US Coca-Cola.

Eat [ edit ]

While in Nogales, make sure you stop to have lunch or at least a snack.

• 31.32987 -110.94591 1 La Hacienda del Caballo Rojo , Av Álvaro Obregón 140 ( Centro ), ☏ +52 631 312 5118 . Su-Th 08:00-22:00, F Sa 10:00-03:00 . If you like Mexican food you are in for a treat here. The tortilla chips are fresh and crispy, and the salsa hot and spicy – a great and an inexpensive lunch given the exchange rate. ( updated Nov 2017 )
• 31.33096 -110.94302 2 La Roca Bar & Restaurant , Plutarco Elías Calles ( Buenos Aires Oeste ), ☏ +52 631 31 20760 (Mexico), +1 520-313-6313 (US) . Su-W 09:00-18:00, Th-Sa 08:00-23:30 . Can't miss it, as it's right on top of the hill at the borderline, over the walkway overpass. Family-owned restaurant featuring Sonoran cuisine. Expect prices to be in the US$20 range, but don't try to negotiate with the owner or waiter to get a lower price – haggling typically is conducted nearly everywhere else where commerce is conducted, except in restaurants. ( updated Nov 2017 )

Drink [ edit ]

• 31.332 -110.9447 1 Salón Regis , C/ Municipio de Benito Juárez 34 ( Regis Hotel ), ☏ +52 631 312 5580 , [email protected] . An iconic local drinking establishment. It is full of history, and any waiter will gladly explain to you the origins of the bar. There is also a VIP room in the back which is reserved exclusively for bullfighters, but any waiter will gladly let you in if you ask nicely. Be sure to try the Indio beer, which is delicious. ( updated Nov 2017 )

Sleep [ edit ]

• 31.25727 -110.957589 1 Fiesta Inn Nogales , Av Calzada Industrial Nuevo Nogales 3 ( Parque Industrial Nuevo Nogales ), ☏ +52 631 311 6000 . Offers amenities such as a pool and fitness center, plus a great selection of food and drinks. Free Wi-Fi and parking. ( updated Sep 2016 )
• 31.33138 -110.94546 2 Hotel Fray Marcos , Campillo 91 ( Centro, 5 min from the border ), ☏ +52 631 312 1651 , toll-free: +52 1 800 561 0964 , [email protected] . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 13:00 . This very popular third-generation family run hotel offers drinks and tapas at their bar, and also hosts a restaurant and nightclub. Has a designated smoking area, free Wi-Fi and parking, and pets are permitted on request. US$40+ . ( updated Sep 2016 )
• 31.26134 -110.95071 3 Plaza Nogales Hotel , Avenida Álvaro Obregón 4190 ( Carretera Internacional Km 6½ ), ☏ +52 631 314-1510 , toll-free: +52 800-716-8018 . In an industrial area near city center and Mexican Federal Highway 15 south. Room service, tennis courts, pool, event/meeting rooms, restaurant and bars. Looks OK on the outside, but rooms show some signs of neglected routine maintenance (like leaky faucets or toilets); the quality of the rooms is typical of a hotel in an old part of a city. The on-site restaurant is open all day and serves national and international cuisine. US$50+ .  

Connect [ edit ]

Mexico is not part of the North American Numbering Plan. It has its own country code, +52. The area code for Nogales is 631.

Mexican and U.S. Customs are open 24 hours a day for any questions. US Customs may be reached at +1 520-287-1410.

Dial 00 + country code + area code + number for outbound international calls from México; dial 01 + area code + number for Mexican domestic intercity calls.

Dial 011 + country code + area code + number for outbound international calls from the United States of America.

Stay safe [ edit ]

• As with other communities along the US border, there is a danger posed by drug traffickers and criminal gangs; see the country and region articles for details.
• It's best not to drive alone on Mexican Federal Highway 15D (between Nogales and Hermosillo), or at least be extremely vigilant and aware of your surroundings on this route. Night-time driving along this route is not considered safe, and should be avoided if at all possible.
• The area is prone to flash-flooding during the monsoon season, so keep the weather in mind during your visit.
• Do not advertise wealth, and don't flash cash or credit cards. You do not want to draw the attention of beggars looking for a handout or thieves looking for an easy mark.
• Never bring firearms, live or spent ammunition, or any contraband weapon (even something as innocent as a Swiss Army knife) across the border into Mexico. In doing so, it will land you into jail very quickly without any sympathy from the Mexican authorities.
• Walking around the city of Nogales in sparsely populated areas at night, especially alone, is extremely foolish. Use common sense and use the same level of precautions you would normally use in other large metropolitan cities to avoid being a victim of crime.
• Be cautious when buying prescription medicine in Mexico and attempting to import it into the U.S.. Typically you do not need a prescription to purchase medicine in Mexico. Nonetheless, be sure you have a valid doctor's prescription preferably from a U.S. doctor (and maybe a Mexican doctor), and always check ahead with the U.S. Border and Customs. [1] Attempting to bring prescription drugs into the U.S. without such documentation may get you arrested by U.S. Border police, or at the very least, have your medicine confiscated.
• Never attempt to purchase narcotics such as Valium, Vicodin, or Morphine from a Mexican physician without a legal U.S. and Mexican prescription. If you do so, you (and in some cases the vendor who sold the drugs as well) will get locked up in a Mexican prison for up to 15 years for possession or sale of a controlled substance. If someone is luring you to make such a purchase, don't do it. Always assume it is a setup either by undercover police or an unscrupulous pharmacist working with a corrupt police officer to extort money from you.
• Drink bottled water or bottled pop/cola and avoid ice cubes or bring your own bottled water from the US side of the border if you're worried about getting "Montezuma's Revenge" (or travelers diarrhea). Take standard precautions to minimize the risk of becoming infected by not consuming food or drink from food stalls on the streets.

Cope [ edit ]

Consulates [ edit ].

• The US operates a Consular Emergency Line at +1 202 501-4444 (or +1-888-407-4747 toll-free in US/Canada); the US Embassy (Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City ) is reachable on +52 55 5080-2000 ext 4440 (8:30AM-4:30PM, M-F) with some after-hours emergency support for US citizens.

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On the Border

Two Cities, Two Countries, Common Ground

By Cecilia Ballí

• Feb. 5, 2018

The border between the United States and Mexico is in the news every day, in ongoing debates about immigration and spending on security initiatives. But what is it like to visit destinations along the border? To find out, writers for Travel spent time in five pairings of places: Brownsville, Tex., and Matamoros, Mexico; El Paso and Ciudad Juárez; Big Bend National Park and Boquillas; San Diego and Tijuana; and Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales across the border in Mexico.

“Please don’t write another story about drugs,” Sigrid Maitrejean, a volunteer guide at the Pimeria Alta Museum inside the old city hall in Nogales, Ariz., beseeched me in a playful tone. It was not the only time during my three-day visit to the region that people would make a similar plea: enough of the endless media stories and political rhetoric about the supposedly dangerous United States-Mexico border, which only serve to keep visitors away.

Residents of this town of 20,000 souls wanted me to see the Nogales they see: a place steeped in layers of rich history and culture, which maintains a uniquely special relationship with its namesake and sister city across the border, Nogales, Sonora. And indeed, in the two Nogaleses — or Ambos Nogales, as locals refer to them — I found the most quintessential of all the border cities.

I love the concept of twin cities on the border. Maybe it’s because I grew up in one, or because I’m a twin. I love the idea of two worlds that coexist and intermingle, and in fact, depend on each other for survival.

The descendant of families that were already living in the Texas border region when the international boundary was drawn up in 1848, I grew up almost in two countries, spending Sundays across the border immersed in the Mexican universe of my abuelitos and tías and primos. We didn’t talk about it like we were visiting another country — we went to el otro lado, the other side. I liked that my sisters and I could choose what we loved about each of our two upbringings, and creatively mix languages and systems of meaning.

There are 16 sets of sister cities that line the 1,950-mile United States-Mexico border, and as a journalist who has focused on the region, I’ve experienced all but two of them. While I’d been in Nogales before to report on immigration and the border wall, what I learned on this visit is that calling Ambos Nogales “one town in two countries” may be a slight exaggeration, but it’s a very apt metaphor. And this is what makes it a fascinating place to visit.

“This is one city,” Ms. Maitrejean said. “This is one place that was cut in half. That’s essentially what happened.”

That explanation is more or less true.

In 1841, when the territory was still part of Mexico, a family by the last name of Elías received a land grant from the government it established as Los Nogales de Elías, a name derived from the walnut trees that blanketed what today is known as the Santa Cruz River Valley.

The Spaniards had utilized that mountain pass during the previous two centuries when they explored the Pimería Alta, as northern Sonora and southern Arizona were known, west to California, and it’s believed indigenous groups had traveled the same path for millenniums. Nogales, then, has formed part of an important northern migratory route far before the United States became concerned with border walls.

The land was not part of the original territory gained by the Americans at the end of the Mexican War, but the United States government acquired it in 1853, through the Gadsden Purchase, to build the southern transcontinental railway line. Foreseeing the boon in international commerce that intersecting railroads could bring, two Russian brothers named Jacob and Isaac Isaacson set up a trading post in 1880, which was renamed Nogales by the U.S. Postal Service soon thereafter.

To support the new trade, a community emerged on the Mexican side of the line that people also referred to as Nogales. Unlike the Texas border, however, where the boundary is defined by the Rio Grande, Arizona’s is a land border, and in Nogales, the border was an unobstructed street called International, half of which technically lay in one country, half in another. Around it, a seemingly singular town spread north and south.

But managing an international division, it turned out, wasn’t simple. The first fence on the United States-Mexico border went up here — after the Mexican government called for it.

The United States government had grown wary after the Mexican Revolution began in 1910, and relations had tensed as each side accused the other of banditry and incursions. The United States set up a military camp in Nogales, Ariz., and General John J. Pershing was dispatched to chase after the Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. The Sonora governor put up an 11-wire fence, which got torn down four months later.

In 1918, after the two cities went to war for a day because an American guard shot a Mexican citizen at the border crossing, authorities on both sides agreed to construct a permanent chain-link fence between them.

But as life resumed, the fence became a technicality, not a reflection of how people related across the line. During Prohibition, Mexicans built saloons that straddled the border, so that patrons could drink so long as they were on the correct side of the building.

Ms. Maitrejean remembers how this tight-knit existence endured as she was growing up. In the 1950s, a Mexican shop on International Street would put up a huge blackboard to transmit the World Series as nogalenses watched the games excitedly from the United States side. On Cinco de Mayo, city leaders would build a platform over the fence and crowned a binational queen as a joint parade marched across the border.

Eventually, migration from other parts of Mexico grew through the area, and stricter United States enforcement followed. “The border crossing was getting more difficult,” said Ms. Maitrejean, “and, of course, once they put up our horrible Vietnam landing-mat fence in the ’90s, that was really the end.”

Made of 10-foot panels of corrugated steel that the United States Army had used to land helicopters in the Vietnam War, that was the fence that locals most resented, for it blocked the view they had always had to the other side. Then in 2011, the federal government replaced it with a rust-colored steel bollard fence, encased in cement footing with four-inch slats between the bars. Now, the two Nogaleses could see each other again, somewhat. Soon, families that didn’t have the right paperwork to cross started coming to either side on weekends to catch up with each other across the bollards.

Today, Jessy Zamorano, the owner and operator of Baja Arizona Tours , is struck by how her clients, many of whom are from the northeast or Midwest, react when she takes them to the fence. “Women are very much more sympathetic,” she said. “They will look at it, and some find it quite shocking and obtuse. But many of the men say, ‘build it higher.’”

When they spot some of the families reaching between steel bars to hug each other, or holding up a newborn baby for their relatives on the other side to meet, she said, “women will frequently cry.”

On the Arizona Side

Driving south the 60 miles from Tucson, where the closest commercial airport is, the highway rises thousands of feet as the desert scrublands of the lower Sonoran desert give way to hilly terrain ringed by the Santa Rita, San Cayetano and Tumacacori mountains.

The region nurtures some of the best bird-watching in North America and an abundance of wildlife, such as javelinas, rattlesnakes and hawks. There are many activities in the region that can be paired with a visit to the two Nogaleses, including hunting for deer and mountain lion; fishing at Peña Blanca Lake; wine tasting and hiking in Patagonia and Sonoita; and golfing in Tubac, Kino Springs or Rio Rico.

A worthwhile stop is the artists’ colony of Tubac, where you can learn about the Spaniards who first explored the region at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and nearby Tumacacori National Historical Park , as well as hike or ride a horse along the same trail that Juan Bautista de Anza traveled by foot with 240 women, men and children on his 1,200-mile journey to establish the first nonindigenous settlement at San Francisco Bay.

But in my view, as a lifelong student of the border, the cultural treasure is Nogales itself.

Here, the kind of tourism you’re doing changes, and you train your eye and ear to catch things you wouldn’t see or hear in other parts of the country. In Nogales, I heard perfectly bilingual speakers mix Spanish and English more as an artful form of expression than a linguistic deficiency (“le pide a la señorita que nos traiga un sautéed spinach?”).

Almost everything is bilingual and international. Twice, I assumed that individuals with fair skin and Anglo last names were white, only to learn they had at least one Mexican parent. I met Mexicans who had dual citizenship and owned homes on both sides of the border, and white residents who spoke excellent Spanish. The Paul Bond Boots shop that has made the traditional custom boots of classic Western films is staffed by Mexican craftsmen.

“I sit here every day and I marvel at it. I totally do,” said Nils Urman, the executive director of the Nogales Community Development Corporation . A native of Germany, he married into a local family in the late 1970s. “I think it’s the most fascinating thing I’ve seen in my life, and I’ve been here 38 years.”

And there’s more diversity in the city than American and Mexican, he said. “This community’s got French, it’s got Irish in it, it’s got Greek in it, and they’re on both sides of the border.”

Economically, Nogales today still thrives on international commerce. It depends on the logistics and transportation services industry that supports maquiladoras in Sonora and on the import of produce, which makes up half of the Mexican vegetables and fruits consumed by Americans.

It also relies heavily on Mexican consumers — Nogales, Sonora, has 450,000 residents to its 20,000 — and those shoppers are coming over less and less. Mr. Urman said annual pedestrian crossings into Nogales, Ariz., have dropped to 2.7 million from 7.7 million in the past 10 years.

John Doyle, the mayor, said various factors have led to the decline, including the devaluation of the Mexican peso and increased wait times at the ports of entry because of heightened border security. Still, he said, President Donald Trump’s talk of building a longer and heavier border wall is of less concern to him and the mayor of Nogales, Sonora, than his roiling against international trade.

“We’re more worried about where the Nafta agreement’s gonna end up, you know?” he said. “But even so, everybody’s getting creative and looking ahead in case of it. Everybody’s working harder.”

On the Sonoran Side

On the other side of the dividing line, the steel fence gives way to a protest of walls and borders. The government has permitted some local artists to put up creative works that make bold statements, while others have informally drawn on it with spray paint.

One piece, titled “Paseo de Humanidad” (“Parade of Humanity”), features a procession of extraterrestrial-looking steel figurines marching toward the border with emblems on their bodies that evoke the economies that drive people to migrate (one figure is made of maize, and another bears an “Hecho en Mexico” stamp, possibly alluding to the maquiladora plants that displace people from their home regions). Another installation consists of 60 small wooden crosses that lean against the fence, each one symbolizing a migrant who has died crossing the border.

One painting, which makes a haunting image at night when the streetlights reflect the wall’s bars onto the street below it, simply shows the boyish face of a teenage boy. It memorializes Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, a 16-year-old who authorities say in 2012 was throwing rocks to distract Border Patrol agents as two males tried to drop back down to the Mexican side of fence after smuggling bundles of marijuana. One of the agents shot through the fence and killed the young man on Mexican land.

The border and its themes naturally infuse some of the artistic production of Nogales, Sonora, because of the way it shapes the artists’ daily lives, said Elena Vega, a local poet and photographer who also experiments through painting, dance, music and spoken word.

“In the art world, it’s always like that — some people live over there and come play here, or else we go and present our work over there,” she said. “So, it’s a coming-and-going. Maybe my work has that essence, but it’s not that I’m looking for it. It happens, it emerges from the work.”

While Mexico, like the United States, sometimes looks down upon its border cities, Ms. Vega said it is creative precisely because it’s a fluid, heavily traversed zone. “I think it’s the border environment. There’s more openness, it’s more diverse.”

Even as downtown Nogales, Sonora, also struggles to remain vibrant with fewer Americans crossing over, the rest of the city is thriving, seemingly growing by the day and producing not just art, but a new gastronomic culture, said Alex La Pierre, the program director for the Border Community Alliance.

The alliance, which works with organizations in both countries to increase social investment and improve Americans’ understanding of the border, offers tours for Americans who prefer to visit with a guide. One of the tours introduces them to nonprofits including a migrant shelter. Another takes them to a craft brewery and to Calle Hermosillo, a long street that is home to many new restaurants and bars.

“Sonora, in addition to having the best beef in all of Mexico,” Mr. La Pierre said, “also has some of the best seafood in Mexico, because they’re adjacent to the Gulf of California, which Jacques Cousteau called ‘the aquarium of the world.’ What I tell our guests is that Sonora really has the best of surf and turf.”

On a warm Saturday in early January, as I walked the downtown zone, averting my eyes to avoid the many vendors who will immediately try to pull you into their curio shops, I felt the energy change immediately. Mexican border cities are always a little busier and more alive than their American counterparts. Cars backed out of parking spots from every direction, and people moved briskly along the sidewalks. Amid endless pharmacies and dental offices catering to mostly-gone Americans, local life pulsed and thrived.

As I turned a corner and made my way toward Calle Internacional, the street that once singularly marked the border, to view the wall art, I glimpsed a young woman on the American side of the fence who was reaching through it as she lovingly stroked the head of a teenage boy squatting on the other side. And I remembered Jessy Zamorano’s comment about tourists reacting when they witness these displays of humanity.

It seems something fantastic happens when you draw a line on the ground: People almost instinctively reach out across it toward each other. And that’s a hard thing to appreciate from anywhere else but the border.

Cecilia Ballí is a writer-at-large at Texas Monthly and has also written for Harper’s Magazine. She lives in Houston.

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Once upon a time, migrating peoples headed from the North American continent south, using a long trail that wound through Arizona on down Mexico way. It only takes a short walk to cross the border from Nogales, Arizona to Nogales, Mexico, but the ancient footpath was long ago replaced by asphalt.

This border city is located at the top of one of Mexico's major highway systems and provides access to the Baja Peninsula via ferry from Guaymas.

Day trippers over from the United States visit Nogales to buy pharmaceuticals, bargain for souvenirs and sample Mexican fare before making the trip back across the border. Visitors in transit can get an introduction to Mexican-style markets before venturing off to enjoy the state of Sonora.

Stop in at the Pimeria Alta Historical Society Museum on the Arizona side of Nogales for an introduction to area history.

Nogales is 244 miles north of Guaymas and 175 miles from Hermosillo.

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Jaunting Jen

Travel for the history lover, visiting nogales, mexico: what you need to know.

Updated 5/18/2023 for a return trip for a routine dental cleaning. Not much has changed.  Is Nogales, Mexico safe? Will we get caught up in drug trafficking? How long will it take to cross the border? Is it even worth it? Despite the reputation for drug violence and underground tunnels, we decided to see what the town is really like. Below is what happened when we crossed the border for the day.

Walk or Drive Into Nogales?

Not a hard decision really for a first time pedestrian border crossing. We left our car in a lot on the U.S. side of Nogales and walked across the border. We found a lot on Park Street (really). You can leave your car all day for $5.00, plus they have clean restrooms. There’s also a McDonald’s right in front of the border crossing, which is a good place for a restroom stop. We paid our $5.00, and left the green ticket in the car window. There were a few yellow boots on the tires of several vehicles. It makes one wonder what happened on the other side of the border? We were confident that we would be back by the 7pm closing time. We started walking.

Travel Safety

In 2007 and 2011 (when I was stationed in Arizona), military personnel were prohibited from crossing the border. We weren’t allowed to visit even the U.S. side of Douglas or Nogales. Although I’ve lived in southern Arizona for almost two years, we haven’t had the desire nor the time to cross the border. We really didn’t know if it was safe, or of the stories of shootouts in the streets were true. We decided to take a few safety precautions before we left home:

• Only brought one credit card, passport, and $40.
• Left the silver jewelry and coach bag at home.
• Wore jeans and a t-shirt.
• Left the big red DLSR at home in favor of a decade-old point and shoot.
• Packed hand sanitizer and tissue paper.
• Hats and sunscreen are a necessity. The sun was intense, even in March.
• Bottled water is sold everywhere but we still brought a liter each.

Crossing The Border

Crossing into Mexico is quite simply, the most ridiculously easy border crossing ever. Just walk through the turnstile and that’s it. Even after COVID, nothing has changed. Welcome to Mexico. No one looked at or even talked to us. We weren’t asked for a passport, or to declare anything. No one searched or x-rayed our bags. It was so easy, we felt like we had done something wrong. So this is how it’s done. Stroll across the border like it really isn’t a border. After all, thousands cross every day to earn a living. After crossing the borders of twenty countries, this is by far the easiest.

Walking Around Nogales

Nogales, is not a tourist town in the traditional sense. Medical, dental, and pharmacies, sure, but it’s not a touristy hang-out spot.  Were were among a few other Americans wandering around, but most people were going about the business of daily life. The tourists crossing into Nogales are going to visit the dentist or pharmacy, and that’s it.

No one but Joey and I were wearing hats. They’re hiking hats so we stuck out like the tourists we are. The first three blocks are lined with dentists, pharmacies, nightclubs, bars, shops, as well as the usual colorful Mexican tchotchkes. The dentists and pharmacies all have someone outside calling you to stop in for a minute.

No, gracias, I don’t need a half-gallon of unsealed vanilla extract right now.

Once you leave the three or four tourist blocks, a whole different Nogales emerges. As soon as we started to get the, “what are you doing all the way up here stares,” we turned around to find some lunch.

Be Prepared for the Staring and Requests for Money

Even though it was a Tuesday and the middle of the day, there were a lot of people just sitting around and doing nothing in Nogales. Men, women, children, just sitting. Mexico officially did away with the siesta a few years ago. People stared at us everywhere we went. Back home my teacher’s salary and side gigs don’t seem like much, but just across the border, it’s truly wealthy.

The requests for money began immediately. Children and adults alike all wanted a dollar. It was much worse and much more aggressive than strolling down the streets in Tulum . Although I did my best to hide my “wealth” by dressing in a jeans and t-shirt, and leaving the jewelry and expensive bag at home, we still looked like wealthy gringos. A few minutes into the trip I realized that we ARE wealthy. We have so much to go back to at home.

Is Nogales Safe?

First of all, the rumors of gun battles in the streets and drug trafficking on every corner are simply not true. We felt perfectly safe the entire time. However, the people watching our every move made me a little nervous. Nogales seemed fine for the day, but it’s not a place I would want to visit at night. Next to every shop was a bar or nightclub.

Just like Cancun, garbage is  everywhere . When I say everywhere, it’s not an exaggeration. It’s also not a stretch to say that Nogales is the worst smelling place I’ve ever visited. China is a close second, but the stench of open sewage in Nogales is unbearable. We saw it bubbling up out of the street and being hosed away at one point.

Let’s Talk About the Sidewalks

Strolling through Tucson and Sedona’s perfectly maintained sidewalks can spoil a person. In Nogales, the pavement is broken and uneven. Unexpected changes in sidewalk elevation occur without warning. Holes big enough for your entire foot and leg to pass through are also common. Joe and I were continually looking out for each other by pointing out the hazards. My visit was uneventful, but it’s easy to see how a serious injury could occur. Be careful and pay attention to the sidewalks in Nogales. The residents are used to them, we aren’t.

We ate twice in Nogales. Even though I failed to follow my own rule of never eating on the “tourist” strip, both meals were inexpensive and pretty good. We had carne asada tacos at Restaurant Sinaola. The place was packed at 1pm. Crowds at a restaurant are always a good sign. The staff was friendly and the food was good. The beef was a little less lean than I’m used to. The total for five tacos and two drinks, $9. Not bad, even though during our wanderings we saw plenty of shops where lunch could be had for half of that. We also had ice cream at La Michoacana. Even though lunch didn’t win any awards, the ice cream was really good, and I would go there again.

Crossing Back into the U.S.A.

My first question is, why do all of these people keep shoving to the front of the line? Yes, shoving, with sacks full of who knows what. While Joey and I were chatting with a lovely couple from Tucson, we noticed people still shoving their way up front. We also noticed tourists bypassing our line to go stand in a line with a big sign overhead that stated “Sentri Only.” I wonder why no one else was in that line? SENTRI is the pre-approved clearance, expedited border crossing process. No one was staffing that line. The tourists standing there were looking angrier by the minute that no one was helping. It was amusing to watch the spectacle from a distance.

Still Waiting

After ten minutes or so of the line-shoving, our conversation partner asked what was going on. “Oh we’re over the age of 62,” was the scornful reply to us rabble still waiting in line. Evidently our conversation partners were over the age of 62 because by the time we turned around, they had pushed their way up front as well. We were left in a line talking to what was probably a soldier not supposed to be there. We continued to watch the minutes tick by. The line looked really long and it wasn’t moving very often. Since I still have a few more decades before I turn 62, we stayed put and watched the line inch forward. There was lots of complaining and angry looks. I thought to myself that no one in this line has ever snaked their way through three hours of customs at London-Heathrow.

It’s Our Turn

A half hour after we queued up we were finally standing in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. He looked at my passport and didn’t so much as speak to me before waving me through. Could he see that I was ex-military or where I’ve traveled before? Who knows. Joey was only asked, “where’s home,” before being waved through. The total time from queuing up to setting foot on American soil: 32 minutes. Not bad. Although it was 3pm on a Tuesday. We both agreed to never cross the border on a weekend.

A Privilege Check

We’ve been to Mexico before. After living for almost two months in the Yucatan, we thought, “ok it’s just  touristy Mexico again.” Quintana Roo and Sonora are nothing alike. Nogales isn’t a tourist town. It’s a town filled with ordinary people just trying to get by. Would we go there again? Probably not, but there are other border towns to explore in Arizona. I am certainly grateful to return to a clean, safe home, hot shower, and pleasant smells. We chose a small apartment when we moved to Arizona so we could still enjoy the privilege of travel when we want. Visiting Nogales made us realize just how rich we really are on the other side of the border.

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Last summer I went to Nogales early in the morning (Pharmacy) so I could get back early. I was only in Nogales for 15 minutes. It took me four and a half hours to get back out. There was some kind of protest going on in front of the border on the USA side. Then the computers went down! It was so hot out and I had no water because I planned on coming right back out. You just never know. What a nightmare.

That is a risk to consider when crossing the border. We just went again yesterday, to the dentist, it wasn’t all roses. I’ll have a new post about it soon.

Could you tell me if the Dentist Expensive for implants? What dentist do you recommend?

It’s frustrating to read great articles like this and have no idea how old they are. Why no date?

I’m not sure, maybe the WP formatting changed. I went to Nogales in 2018 and again last month if that helps.

I know… On the link to get to this I thought I saw the date of May 2022? But I see comments on here from 2018, Confusing. I used to go down to the border there all the time and usually stay in Nogales AZ. (stayed in Nogales Mexico 1 time, No Problems. Except having to deal with crossing the line. (left car in Arizona) If I can get a Good deal for a hotel in Arizona. Stay there. If not, find a good deal in Mexico. Lots to do down there exploring around Nogales/Southern Arizona! and I go across the border for movies, shopping events and DINING, EATING AND DRINKING. On the Arizona side there is also eating, 4×4 exploring, Historic sites to check out, “artists/galleries” to check out, Hiking exploring, Lakes/fishing, Tombstone, Bisbee, Tubac, Patagonia, Wineries, etc, etc… Oh and if you are or know birdwatchers… They are going to Love It Down there! I used to go down there “all the time” Have not been since 2019. I have Had no problems in Nogales Mexico, (or AZ.) but I usually do not take my car into Mexico. Because I Need the walking excercise. I also like to see what is going on, the people, the shops, the food and drink places, and sometimes there are events. And Yes you will see beggers. To go further in to mexico, (Movie theater, dining, etc) you can take a taxi. Taxi’s Used to be 50 pesos each direction. Now with world wide inflation it might be 60 pesos? You look at the exchange rate and get an Idea of what that costs in US dollars. (you don’t get the exact exchange rate and the money exchange booths. But if you use a credit card in a hotel or “nicer/bigger restaurant you get the exchange rate for that day on the card.) And sometimes traffic is crazy(especially if road construction is happening. and Maybe you Might, MIGHT have a problem with a cop and questionable traffic violations because he wants some $. I have not had that problem, I rarely drive in Mexico and I am extra careful when I do. I know people that live in Nogales AZ and take taxis in Mexico but are also not that conerned and take their cars there too…) I say definitely GO AND ENJOY! Both sides of the border! but remember. it is cooler there than in the low desert of Phoenix. (the Nogales area in the towns is going to be like 3,85O ft. to a bit over 4,000 feet. There are some peaks around there that are 8,500 ft. or 9,000ft in elevations, so it varries if you go hiking or driving up “mountains.” Oh and one of the worlds best telescope sites is down there that you can tour. Nogaless is further south so even more UV light to burn your skin than in the low desert of Phoenix even thought is is cooler in Nogales. Kind of like “Hawaii” or worse? And It gets cooler at night. Jackets can/will be needed in October sometimes, through March? Hat and SUNSCREEN season from April? maybe March until halfway through November. No doubt it is Hat & Sunscreen season in April through October! GO AND ENJOY! Great landscapes, historical sites, people, and food to check out. But Not any “Disney Land type action” But there is a movie theater in Both Nogales AZ and Nogales Mexico. 😉

Hi,all are dated,looks most are 2018 and up to 2020,so seems nothing since new pandemic,and new passport requirements,,so I bet things are bit different,will probably need PP for sure,not sure if COVID vacc needed,and pretty sure pharmacy meds about same,can get a 3month supply ,best to be SURE and check any updates with USA border patrol regs ! If anyone can update this info for 2022,2023 we all would appreciate that,thanx kindly n happy trails!

Impressive writeup. I would like to do a big border town trip, 1-3 days per border town. I’d get a hotel on the US side and do daily visits. My list so far Tijuana: maybe, cause ive been there already Nogales: downtown, yep Juarez: historic downtown, yep Nuevo Laredo: downtown, yep

Anywhere else I should try?

check the conditions on Jaurez before it was really bad you know “12 years ago.” Then got all right again. Not sure about now with the ‘world economic situation” I love Nogales ! I’ll be heading back down there soon. I like to head down there for several nights. Lots to do and check out in southern AZ. 4×4 Exploring, Hiking, fishing , historic sites, art galeries, wineries, Tombstone, LOTS OF EATING TO DO! Bisbee, are fairs (Tubac and Patagonia come to mind) Etc. Oh and if you have birdwatching friends, they definitely want the head down there!

Eds border lot now charges $5 a day, but it is safe and secure. No there is no “Senior Line” anymore coming back into the US. Open containers are strictly prohibited and enforced as is carrying a pocket knife. Yes the police will shake you down for money if you do anything illegal or perceived to be illegal. Mexican nationals asking Americans for money is a way of life, don’t take it personal, hold up your hand or a simple “no. will do. or “no tengo monedas”, I don’t have any coins is good, I disagree with the person who said the locals ask for dollars, they would be extremely happy with a quarter which is about 5 pesos. I share a rented house in Nogales with a guy, my girlfriend works 3, 12’s one week and 4, 12’s the next at night for 1032 pesos a week, about $60, so yes you are the rich American. but don’t be afraid to go at night, seriously, the cops are a bigger threat than the cartel.

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

If I were to go to the pharmacy down in Nogales and purchase prescription drugs, would it be allowed back into the US?

I’m not sure about that. I haven’t done it myself.

It depends on what you want. Some things you can take across with no issue. Some medications, such as Oxycodone, you will need a prescription and you will need to go a bit further into Nogales for the meds. Anything like that right at the border will be expensive and not always legit. Living here, I’ve learned which pharmacies I can trust.

Oh awesome! Yeah I wouldn’t be going for any of the “hard” drugs. Maybe 800 MG Ibuprofen and stuff like that.

Much of It is! Antibiotics etc. some Strong “narcotic type” PAIN Killer MIGHT be a Problem. “Oxycotin/Oxycodin” Valium, stuff like that …

Me and my partner visiting a friend in Phoenix, we are from Melbourne, Australia, heading to Nogales, Mexico on the 8th of May, your info has helped us greatly, thankyou!! We going to check it out.

I’m glad it helped!

We went to Nogales, Mexico yesterday with a group of friends. After dinner, one of our party was arrested on the street, with a drink in a styrofoam cup, that had a lid and a straw. Totally singled out. Another person in our party went with him because he spoke Spanish. They were both handcuffed and whisked away to a police station 5 miles south of the border, where they had a trial in front of a judge (no representation), and shaken down for all the money they had on them. 2 hours later they were released 6 blocks south of the border and told to walk. I WILL NEVER GO TO NOGALES AGAIN. THERE IS NO REASON TO EVER GO TO NOGALES.

I’m sorry that happened to you.

Dental Laser – the best! We’ve been going there for several years from Green Valley, Arizona. Better than the U.S. in our opinion. Lunch or dinner? A few blocks from Dental Row — head to Leo’s Cafe. Returning to the U.S.? Get a Global Entry pass/card in the Sentry Program from Homeland Security. No pass/card? 1-2+ hours waiting in the pedestrian line. Global Entry access through Sentry? 5-6 minutes entry back into the U.S. It’s a no-brainer. Plus Global Entry includes TSA Pre-check if you like to fly. That’s a bonus (value: $50).

This was a great write up! We are visiting Queens Creek next month, and I was trying to decide if it would be worth the drive to cross the border . I’m leaning towards no after weighing all of your information. Thank you!!

Thanks for your comments, glad you found it useful.

Really enjoyed this read. Having lived in Tombstone AZ when I was in 8th and 9th grade, we made a trip to Nogales whenever family would come to visit us (1990-92). It was a terribly putrid town then – and I’ve since gone back once (10 years post-NAFTA), and was equally unimpressed. Amazing how different a border town is from a tourist-funded Mexican town. Keep up the good writing!

Hi Gregg, I’m glad you found the post useful.

Jen (or anyone else in the know), what’s this about a senior line for re-entry into the U.S? Does it still exist, and how does one find it? I’m 71.

I plan on walking into Nogales on my own on February 26 for the first time, having lived in Tucson for 2 years. Thanks, Bob

Hi Robert, when I was there seniors went to the front of the reentry line.

It should still exist. But I have been there before and some “wrong” border agents didn’t feel like walking to the “handicapped gate” to open it. (It is “right next to the regular enterance”) I don’t think they are allowed to ignore “Handicapped rules/laws” I have not been down there in several years though… The border was getting ‘sloppy” at least from 2016 to 2018 . I’m hoping it is being run better now. I think it might be. (from looking at the posted border crossing times) Oh dang I am replying to and Old post! :-))

My dentist expe.rance in Nogales was far better than what I had in the US, and a lot more affordable . I highly recommend it

Great blog of your trip. Really enjoyed reading it !

Thanks so much for the info. Traveling to Phoenix to visit a friend. I wanted to go to Mexico since we were so close to the border. We will have a rental car so I am not going to worry much about leaving my car there for a few hours.

Thanks for the comments!

they may not want you taking your car in to mexico. You will be fine walking (and crossing the line is faster walking than in a car!) You can get a taxi for 50 Pesos, inflation$2.50 to $350 each way. Oh but with globale inflation Maybe now $3.00 -$3.50 -$4.00? And a lot of the parking around the tourist area by the border was taken out. (street parking) Oh wait this is an old post, you have probably already figured that out. :-))

I cross the border regularly. There’s plenty of parking and it’s $5 now.

Jen, Thanks for the write-up and your articles! I am moving to Scottsdale this week (original east coast / 1 year in San Diego) and was considering spending time in Tucson / going to Nogales before I start my job. Was hoping Nogales would be somewhat as great as Tijuana is but doesn’t sound like it. I look forward to checking out some of the spots from your blog.

Thanks for the comment!

How were the dental services? Were they professional or substandard?

Hey was the dentist professional?

It was great and I will definitely return!

Thanks for your blog and great photos. My sister is a retired Spanish teacher and we make the trip to nogales at least once a month so she can keep up with her Spanish. We live in green valley so the trip isnt far. We enjoy eating at Leos, a Mexican cafe just across the border with great food, prices, and warm people. I also buy some of my medicine at the pharmacy. I have never had to use a passport, only my drivers license and once in a while they will ask for birth certificate. There is a separate line for those without passports though and it is usually slower.

Glad you found it useful. We just started using the dentist in Nogales and have nothing but good things to say about it.

Which dentist would you recommend?

We went to Dental Laser. It was awesome. I don’t have any experience with the others.

Can i get back into the U.S.with just a drivers license..Since Im a felon and cant get a passport

Yes and no. Technically they “have” to let a US person back in the US. BUT you have to have a chipped license or a birth certificate with a regular license. You have a very good chance of being pulled into secondary if you don’t have proof or passport. If I were you, I would not risk it without asking appropriate channels. Many things need to be considered depending on your felony. Plus, on the chance you get stopped in Mexico, you could find it difficult to leave.

I wouldn’t recommending leaving the U.S. without a valid passport.

Hey, Jen, thanks for the narrative. Friends and I go to Puerto Penasco a couple of times a year to fish (but it’s not about the fish). We go through Sonorito (south of Ajo, Az) without and time or hassle, in a van. This time, however, we are heading to San Carlos, about 8 hrs from PHX. And passing through Nogales so I wanted some heads up. Thank you.

I would be interested to hear about your trip to San Carlos. Since my last post in July, I have moved to Nogales, Mexico. Within days I knew all of my neighbors. I’m on my own, unless you count my 4 pugs. As a female, I can say that I feel safe. I’d really like to travel further into Mexico and visit San Carlos, Kino bay, among many other places.

How is Rocky Point? We’ve really been wanting to visit.

To me rock point has been Over Devoloped and Over Priced now! The main beach (sandy beach) that everyone went to is Not Block Off by an “endless” wall of “high rise Hotel/Condos. You went there because it was the closest beach to Arizona, Inexpensive Hotels and Liquor, and easy days wandering at the beach. NOW, Only one of this things is still the case/true. And the land for miles before getting to rocky point is “receded ocean” it is pretty much hot and sterile. No Shade in rocky point.

I have to agree with Nikki Spaulding and also sorry your experience to Nogales was not that good for you. I just finished my first trip there after living in Arizona for 11 years and had a really wonderful time in Nogales. The culture, the food, the people were wonderful. Not once was I hounded to buy anything or stared at for looking different. I had done my research, read all the “travel alerts” from the US State Department and read other reviews on the city. Most of what I read was not very favorable for Nogales which I thought was pretty unfair considering I had a great time during the day and at night. I never had any issues whatsoever- all I came across was very nice and helpful people. Crossing the border was as simple as could be. I think all the “cartel rhetoric” has stopped many from visiting, but I have seen more violence on our side of the border in Tucson and Phoenix. I would say to everyone, no matter where you visit, always be aware of your surroundings, do your research. To those that recommend Tubac, AZ– that’s nice but it’s not Mexico. If you want a real Mexican experience-go to Mexico! I would recommend visiting Nogales and doing just that- at least getting a taste of real Mexican culture.

Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your perspective. We’ve lived near the border for over two years now and it’s definitely not as bad as the media claims. I’ve been busy lately but we plan many more trips to border towns. There’s a very rich and diverse culture just over the border. I agree with your comments about Tubac, it’s nice, but it’s not Mexico.

Let me know if You find another Good border town along Arizona besides nogales. 🙂

Who thinks that Tubac is a “substitue for going to mexico”? :-)) Yep the State Department are not only usually “out of date” they are Over hyped drama queen B. S. Maybe so lame, lawsuit crazy American can’t take their dumb drunk A’s down there , get in trouble and try to sue the State Department for not telling them. of course there are different types of towns/atmosphere, and “culture” And Nogales is a border town. Lower/Lowest? down on the the list. But it is still has some great attributes and is definitely worth going down there to check out and to check out the Southern AZ area! 🙂

Hi,thanx,I think alot of Americans go for medical/pharmacy reasons most,,my plan if I go,also to jus check it out,..I got about 12hr drive from Colorado,but am planning it out,will want to see a Dr for pain n brain problems..any help there ? Thanx kindly !..happy trails,

I am sorry you did not have a good experience in Nogales. I travel there frequently, at least once every month or two. I have made some great friends there. I have stayed on both sides of the border with no issues. I have crossed back to the US at 10 or 11 pm after going out with my Mexican friends for dinner and drinks. The only thing I agree with is the border line. However, CBP has discontinued the “senior” line although some still try it with the help of coyotes. I’ve seen CBP make them wait or send them back.

Hi Nikki. Do you usually stay with friends or in town? We definitely want to explore Nogales a little bit more.

I have my own apartment now, about 10 minutes from the border. Prior to that, I typically stayed at Fray Marcos de Niza which is right on Campillo. It’s on the “pricey” size at approximately $50-60 per night for a double room, has coffee in the room, is pet friendly and includes breakfast. Plus, I love their restaurant and the general atmosphere. I’ve also stayed at Hotel San Carlos. It’s a decent hotel and costs about $25-30 for a double room. Very basic hotel. San Carlos is off of Campillo on Benito Juárez. The police station is close by which is nice. But there is no restaurant in the hotel, but a cafe attached that I haven’t tried. It’s also right next door to Regis, a popular local bar, which is great! And I was quite surprised how quiet my room was being that close. Both have free WiFi, parking, cable TV, private bathrooms, clean and safe. I prefer Fray Marcos but you will need to call yo make a reservation. Next time you come down, let me know. After the Thanksgiving holiday. I won’t be heading to the states for awhile (except to go to PetSmart).

I found this info to be very helpful, as I will be in Southern AZ a week from now. I don’t like the idea of walking into Mexico, and would prefer to drive. But I wonder if parking is a problem, and my car is very nice and I am worried a bit about that too. Years ago I heard horror stories of pilots with small planes landing in different areas of Mexico, who had their planes confiscated from them for no reason at all. Not in a mood to have my Benz taken from me…

I appreciate the good writing, exceptional English, and great info. Fun to read. SUPERB !

Glad you found this useful. My next post will be about visiting the dentist in Nogales.

It is funny that you say it is not a tourist area. You were clearly in the middle of the tourist area. Since I was a little kid Nogales was always a day trip tourist town for Arizonians. Just after the Political agenda of lame politicians talking trash that “only they could save you from) did tourism go down. but yes it is a “real town” and A Border Town that has now gotten huge and making visible Air pollution in Arizona. coming from American compaines Assembly/Production lines, set up in Nogales so that they don’t have to Pay Americans to work or paying Mexicans much of anything. They also like to not worry about health benefits or “safety” , environment pollution concerns taken even more advantage of the workers there than they would in the U.S.A. I wonder if Nogales is where all the new John Deer Tractors and equipment will be made… I used to be down there “All The Time” I never noticed raw sewage bubbling up in the streets. I wonder if a drug cartel backed up the international sewer line again. :-)) Nah probably not. don’t think they would bother doing that again. but who knows. Then again, Nogales is an old town so ..”infrastructure” … sewer lines break all around the world. I used to consider 30 minutes to get across the line in a car a nightmare. Then in 2016 the border operation started going to S&!T it got to where it would take hours to get across on foot at times and of course worse if you were in a car. (2017, 2018?) Yep as the world economy tanks, and also more people from around the world trying to run for the border, yep more begging. DID MEXICO GET RID OF THEIR “NEW” X RAY MACHINE, (not new now :-)) ) after you cross the border? YES THERE IS more Littering in Mexico. But you make it sound Nightmarish but you can look at your pictures and No… not a nightmare of garbage. but “littering” is a big problem everywhere in Mexico” that I have been. The more limited the services, the more littering. Good to know that restaurant you ate at was good, I stayed at that hotel once but never at the “attached restaurant/Restaurant Sinaloa” Yep, the sidewalks and streets are crazy. In Mexico You Are Responsible for Keeping Your Eyes open and watching/looking where you are going! and what is coming at you. :-)) I Don’t know what you are talking about there was nothing good to buy and take home. There is tons of Nice stuff to buy and take home. From silly decorations, Nice decorations, Food and DRINK house goods. clothing etc. As Far as I can think of Nogales is the Best Border town to check out in Arizona. And Plenty of stuff to do and check out on The Arizona side of the border also. I HAVE WALKED AROUND AT NIGHT AROUND NOGALES SONORA Or Take a Taxi or drive to Dinner & Movie.. Drinks, Crepes and coffee, maybe an Event. (particularly in the Downtown tourist area” or “along the border”. No problems. It is “just Like Anywhere Else.” You probably don’t want to go “waking down a dark alley late at night”. I usually spend my time going to or walking around between the border and the Nogales Mall. Because the movie theater is in the mall and there is plenty of eating, drinking and shopping between there and the border. Yes I will walk into Mexico further than you did. But definitely take a taxi or drive to Nogales Mall. Even if you are in an area where you “don’t have to worry” about your car… The Traffic and parking can sometimes be crazy, especially if there is construction going on! And then you don’t have to worry about the Possibility of a cop trying to make up some questionable “traffic violation” trying to get some money out of you. ( I have never had that problem. But I drive extra careful in Mexico) I HAVE NOT been down there since November 2018 but people that are in Nogales “regularly” tell me that it is “basically the same”. THIS POST IS CONFUSING ME A LITTLE BIT. when I clicked on the link it said “May 2022”? but the comments on here are dated 2018??? I love heading down to the “Nogales Border Area”! I will be there as soon as I can to check things out. maybe do a little hiking, and check out some new restaurants in Nogales Az/ Nogales Mexico and hit at least one of my favorite eats in Nogales Mexico. And I definitely need to do some shopping in “downtown Nogales AZ.” if the good shops have opened back up. Many businesses were wiped out in and after 2016 when the border got messed up and then most of the rest were pushed over the edge with Covid-19 . I heard that some of the shops started coming back at the start of this year. (2022)

Hi,from what he says here,driving any even poor car is not good,nice one n they’ll think ur prez or very wealthy n majorly beg or steal/confiscate it,so,dress waaaay down,take little valuebles>max I c card,jus enough cash,no jewelry,etc,mex style cloths best too,and,always watch ur back and go in a group,never alone ! Thinking of going soon for the PHARMACY ,,ASits horrible here to get any decent cheap ones in today’s hyperparanoid DEA drug monitored police state..omg..thanx,good article n info,think it’s bit diff now tho w COVID stuff n new passport requirements,will need to get pp,then I’m set to go,,thanx !

Thank you for taking the time to document your experiences… enjoyed!

You’re welcome, glad you liked it.

How much can you incorporate your travels into lesson plans?

Hi Steven, I incorporate my personal experiences into my lesson plans whenever possible.

I’m from the East Coast & have been to Nogales 4 times & felt perfectly safe as well. Definitely park on the US side & leave before dark. True story, the last 3 times I went, one of the men standing on the corner when you walk over the bridge has yelled “Hola, Vanessa Williams!!!” I look nothing like her, but I assumed she’s the only famous black woman he’s familiar with. My BFF & I go to shop, lots of cheap & unique stuff. Tip: take a small magnet to check if jewelry is real. The shop owners laugh & tell me how smart I am. A fun casual time.

Thanks for adding your thoughts.

They may be laughing because a magnet will not tell you if you’re jewlery is “real” or “pure silver” or gold. The “fake” rings are Probably not made out of steel or Iron. It will be cut with “Brass, Bronze, copper, if from china MAYBE lead? Non of which is magnetic. I was always down there in the dark. Dinner and a Movie, a drink, coffee and crepes, and “event” (festivals in the street) but Have not been down there since November 2018

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Warnings and Advisories

Sonora, Mexico Travel Warnings and Advisories

Is It Safe to Travel in Sonora in 2024?

The most recent two years have been marked with widespread violence and crime in Sonora. The most recent U.S. State Department advisory continues the “Reconsider Travel to Sonora” admonition but provides more details regarding the potential dangers of traveling in Sonora. As always, the State Department identifies the most dangerous areas as those where federal employees are not allowed to visit. The text of the travel advisory is provided below.

August 22, 2023

Sonora state – Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.

Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. Violent crime is widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Travelers should maintain a heightened level of awareness of their surroundings in all their travels in Sonora.  Security incidents may occur in any area of Sonora.

U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:

• Travel between Hermosillo and Nogales:  U.S. government employees may travel between the U.S. Ports of Entry in Nogales and Hermosillo during daylight hours via Federal Highway 15 only. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures. Travelers should exercise caution and avoid unnecessary stops as security incidents, including sporadic, armed carjackings, and shootings have been reported along this highway during daylight hours. Travelers should have a full tank of gas and inform friends or family members of their planned travel.
• Nogales:  U.S. government employees may not travel in the triangular area north of Avenida Tecnologico, west of Bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio (Periferico), nor east of Federal Highway 15D (Corredor Fiscal). U.S. government employees also may not travel in the residential and business areas to east of the railroad tracks along Plutarco Elias Calle (HWY 15) and Calle Ruiz Cortino, including the business area around the Morley pedestrian gate port-of-entry. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Nogales due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.  
• Puerto Peñasco:  U.S. government employees may travel between Puerto Peñasco and the Lukeville-Sonoyta U.S. Port of Entry during daylight hours via Federal Highway 8 only. They may not travel on any other route to Puerto Peñasco. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Puerto Peñasco. due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
• Triangular region near Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry:  U.S. government employees may not travel into or through the triangular region west of the Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar municipality.
• San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta : U.S. government employees may travel directly from the nearest U.S. Port of Entry to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea (via Douglas Port of Entry), and Agua Prieta, but may not go beyond the city limits. Travel is limited to daylight hours only. Travel between Nogales and Cananea via Imuris is not permitted. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these cities due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
• Eastern and southern Sonora (including San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos):  U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora east of Federal Highway 17, the road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa, and State Highway 20 between Sahuaripa and the intersection with Federal Highway 16. U.S. government employees may travel to San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos; travel to Alamos is only permitted by air and within city limits.  U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Federal Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as all points south of Guaymas, including Empalme, Guaymas, Obregon, and Navojoa.  U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these areas due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

U.S. government employees may travel to other parts of Sonora state in compliance with the above restrictions, including tourist areas in:   Hermosillo ,   Bahia de Kino , and   Puerto Penasco .

Previous travel advisories

June 21, 2020

The U.S. State Department has advised anyone living in Mexico to return to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic , and advises Americans to not travel internationally during this time.

This is especially applicable for Sonora, where new cases of the novel coronavirus continue to grow in the state, along with the rate of violent crimes.

Currently, there is no part of Sonora that is advised as safe for extended travel. If you plan to spend more than a day visiting Sonora, we advise that make plans for evacuation in case you are infected with the coronavirus (you do not want to be hospitalized in Sonora), including the appropriate travel evacuation insurance.

The border is still open for visitors, although at least two major border crossing areas have COVID-19 outbreaks – in the San Luis Rio Colorado / Yuma region and Ambos Nogales.

Reconsider Travel to Sonora because of Crime 

This State Department advisory was initially issued in August, 2018 and continues to be in effect.

Despite coronavirus travel restrictions, violent crimes have continued to grow in 2020, especially in the municipalities of  Guaymas (including San Carlos), Empalme, Cajeme (Ciudad Obregon) and Hermosillo.

As the police and federal government armed forces response has evolved, more police officers and other city officials were murdered.  Read more .

Map of Sonora Safety and Risk Zones for Visitors

Due to the deteriorating security situation in many areas of Sonora, we have created a map to provide a general overview of the relative safety and risk in visiting various areas of Sonora, Mexico. Read more.

U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Sonora, Mexico

The State Department advises that Americans do not travel internationally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional travel advisories (posted prior to the pandemic) follow.

Sonora state – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime.

Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks.

U.S. government employees traveling to and from Hermosillo may travel between the border crossing points of DeConcini and Mariposa in Nogales only during daylight hours and only on Highway 15, including stops at restaurant/restroom facilities along Highway 15.

U.S. government employees may travel to Puerto Peñasco via the Lukeville/Sonoyta crossing during daylight hours on Federal Highway 8, or by using Federal Highway 15 south from Nogales and east via Federal Highway 2 and State Highway 37 through Caborca during daylight hours. U.S. government employees may also travel directly from the nearest U.S. Ports of Entry to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta but may not go beyond the city limits without official Consulate Nogales clearance.

U.S. government employees may not travel to:

• The triangular region west of the Mariposa Port of Entry, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar
• The district within Nogales that lies to the north of Avenida Instituto Tecnologico and between Periferico (Bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio) and Corredor Fiscal (Federal Highway 15D), and the residential areas to the east of Plutarco Elias Calles.
• The eastern edge of the state of Sonora, which borders the state of Chihuahua: all points along that border east of Federal Highway 17, the road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa, and State Highway 20 between Sahuaripa and the intersection with Federal Highway 16.
• All points south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as Empalme, Guaymas, and all points south, including Obregon and Navojoa. U.S. government employees may travel to Alamos by air only and may not go beyond the city limits.

In addition, U.S. government employees may not use taxi services in Nogales.

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Jurors to decide fate of Nogales rancher accused of killing migrant on his land

NOGALES — Jury deliberations were underway in the trial of a rancher accused of killing an unarmed Mexican migrant crossing his land near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Illegal immigration continues to be a flashpoint in national politics, and the trial has gained national attention.

Rancher George Alan Kelly, 75, faces one count of second-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Cuen Buitimea and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being accused of putting another man, Daniel Ramirez, in danger as they were crossing his 170-acre spread near the international border.

Kelly looked solemn on Thursday morning as he walked to the defense table before attorneys began their closing arguments.

The courtroom gallery was filled with representatives from the Mexican consulate general in Nogales, Buitimea's family, local residents and out-of-state visitors.

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Prosecutor: 'An AK-47 is a serious weapon'

The prosecutor said Buitimea and Ramirez had been in the U.S. looking for work. Both were in the country illegally and were seeking to escape extreme poverty. They were running south toward Mexico on Jan. 30, 2023, trying to evade U.S. Border Patrol agents. Kelly is accused of shooting at them nine times with an AK-47 semiautomatic assault rifle, without a warning or yelling at them to leave his property.

"Kelly caused Gabriel's death by conduct Kelly knew would cause the death or serious physical injury. An AK-47 is a serious weapon ... you fire it nine times at a human being. It's a serious activity,” said Michael Jette, deputy Santa Cruz County attorney.

Kelly’s defense team told a different story, saying Kelly saw five armed men crossing his property and fired warning shots up in the air.

However, Jette reiterated numerous times that law enforcement officers found no evidence of any rifles, backpacks or signs of a large group of five people having crossed Kelly's property.

An area with high foot traffic and drug smuggling

Witnesses during the trial testified that residents in the area of Kelly’s ranch, in Kino Springs, had been seeing more frequent dangerous activity leading up to the day of the shooting. Small family groups that had previously been seen migrating across the border were replaced with large groups of men carrying weapons.

Defense attorney Brenna Larkin said Kelly often received messages from the Border Patrol of large groups potentially carrying narcotics on his property, adding to his increasing level of fear of living on his land.

“This is what's going on in Mr. Kelly's life during the lead-up to this incident on January 30th,” Larkin said.

Defense: 'Confirmation bias is a big thing'

Jette alleged details of Kelly’s story changed about what occurred on his ranch, including how many people were seen crossing his property, whether they were armed or unarmed, if he was fired on, or if he shot his firearm.

Kelly reportedly first told law enforcement there were five people with packs running south, and he was being shot at and he was shooting back. In another phone call, he told law enforcement he had an altercation with someone and heard a gunshot in his direction.

Larkin contended the investigation into the case was biased, important details were missed, and law enforcement changed Kelly’s testimony. She also said testimony was recorded incorrectly and noted how many of the interviews and phone calls were not recorded.

“Confirmation bias is a big thing that runs through this case,” Larkin said.

Many mistakes were made during the investigation, she said, and one involved a call with the Sheriff's Office dispatcher after Kelly found Buitimea’s body.

During this phone call, the dispatcher told Kelly he previously said he shot someone, but Kelly said he never made that statement.

“Imagine how must somebody feel knowing ‘I fired shots earlier; I know I didn't hit this person. Here's a dead body. Oh, I'm afraid to call this in, but I have to call it in,” she said. "And then when dispatch talks to him, dispatch says, 'You said you shot something' ... That is a terrifying mistake that dispatch made."

No bullet found; no time of death determined

Larkin said because no bullet was found, prosecutors couldn't prove which weapon was used to kill Buitimea.

Jette noted the ejection pattern of the AK-47, and the position of the wound and Buitimea's body, showed where the shot came from.

Larkin also said the medical examiner was unable to determine the time of death.

“This is a very significant fact in this case. What was the time of death?” she said. “Because if his body wasn't there when the Sheriff's Department searched this area, then Alan has nothing to do with this.”

Migrant's testimony under scrutiny

Ramirez, the man who was traveling with Buitimea and escaped after being shot at, was the key witness in the prosecutors' case against Kelly.

Larkin contended Ramirez's testimony had inconsistencies, including where the shooting took place and where the pair were in relation to the border.

“It means he wasn't there. It means he is telling a story … you can't be there and get it this wrong. It is not possible,” Larkin said.

However, Jette said many of Ramirez’s statements were consistent with him being at the scene, such as a red horse he had been near when shot, the type of gun that shot him, how many times he was shot and the direction he was heading toward when the shooting took place.

“Daniel’s the only one in this courtroom, on this hill and likely in the city of Nogales who's ever been shot at with an AK-47, nine times, and been next to a friend who just died. So maybe during his testimony, distance and time is a little skewed,” Jette said.

The jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon and was to return for deliberations on Friday.

Who is George Alan Kelly? What we know about the Nogales rancher accused of killing Mexican migrant

Reach the reporter at   [email protected] .

The Republic’s coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America.

Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at   supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

Jury deadlocked in Nogales rancher murder trial. What to know

NOGALES — A jury was unable to reach a verdict on Friday afternoon in the trial of a Nogales-area rancher charged with killing an unarmed migrant crossing his 170-acre property.

After 10 hours of deliberation, the jury sent a note to Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink requesting to be dismissed and to return Monday morning after not being able to reach a unanimous verdict.

When jury members said they had not yet come to a verdict, Fink told them to continue deliberating, noting that they had not worked long enough after four weeks of trial with "complex information." He said he had a responsibility to make sure the jury does its job.

"I do not wish or intend to force a verdict. We are merely trying to be responsive to your apparent need for help. If it is possible that you could reach a verdict as a result of this procedure, you should consider doing so," he said in a note to the jury.

Rancher George Alan Kelly, 75, faces one count of second-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Cuen Buitimea and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being accused of putting another man, Daniel Ramirez, in danger as they were crossing his 170-acre spread near the international border.

Buitimea and Ramirez had been in the U.S. looking for work. Both were in the country illegally and were seeking to escape extreme poverty. They were running south toward Mexico on Jan. 30, 2023, trying to evade U.S. Border Patrol agents when Buitimea was shot and killed.

His body was found 115 yards away from Kelly’s house hours after the shooting incident.  

Kelly’s defense attorney alleged Kelly saw a group of armed migrants and shot up in the air as a warning. Prosecutors said Kelly shot Buitimea with a barrage of bullets. Although shell casings were found near the property, no bullet was ever retrieved.

The prosecution led by the Santa Cruz County Attorney's Office argued Kelly, armed with an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle, opened fire on two unarmed men. Kelly's defense contended that Kelly's testimony was changed by law enforcement and that the investigation into the shooting was biased.

Last year, Ramirez, the prosecution’s key witness, gave dramatic testimony during a preliminary hearing in February, when he reenacted how he reportedly saw Kelly shoot and kill Gabriel Cuen Buitimea on Jan. 30. It was later revealed that he had previously pleaded guilty to smuggling cannabis across the Arizona-Mexico border in 2015.

The defense attorney shed doubt on Ramirez's testimony, pointing out inconsistencies in his story, while prosecutors said he knew details of someone who was at the scene of the crime.

During the trial, the defense attorney argued that Buitimea could have been a victim of another crime such as a robbery, but investigators never found evidence of groups of people crossing Kelly’s land that day.

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CBP Announces Next Phase in Fight Targeting Criminals Funneling Fentanyl into American Communities

NOGALES , AZ – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced that it will lead an expanded, multi-agency effort to target the transnational criminals funneling fentanyl from Mexico into American communities. Operation Plaza Spike targets the cartels that facilitate the flow of deadly fentanyl, as well as its analogs and precursors and tools to make the drugs. It is designed to disrupt operations in the “plazas,” cartel territories located directly south of the United States that are natural logistical chokepoints within the cartels’ operations. This is the next phase in CBP’s Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs , a whole-of-government and international effort to anticipate, identify, mitigate, and disrupt illicit synthetic drug producers, suppliers, and traffickers.

Operation Plaza Spike will employ multiple tactics, including seizing illicit proceeds and scrutinizing related cross-border business entities and cross-border trade. Operation Plaza Spike includes releasing the name of the plazas’ senior ranking cartel officials, the “plaza bosses,” to increase public and law enforcement pressure on them. Plaza bosses control and profit from all illicit activity through the plaza – extortion, kidnapping, as well as the smuggling of humans, dangerous drugs, and firearms. CBP will leverage partnerships, authorities, and resources of other government agencies in our efforts to gather intelligence, disrupt and degrade illicit operations, and deliver legal consequences.

“So long as fentanyl and other illicit opioids wreak tragedy across American communities, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security will remain unrelenting in their work stopping these deadly drugs from hitting our streets and taking lives,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Operation Plaza Spike is a critical step in our ongoing whole-of-Department campaign to directly attack the transnational criminal organizations that peddle narcotics, death, and destruction for profit. We are sparing no effort to dismantle cartels and ensure everyone from kingpins to plaza bosses are brought to justice.”

CBP’s first target is the Nogales Plaza, located directly south of the border crossing at Nogales, Arizona. Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, aka Gio, the Nogales Plaza boss, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018 for his role as a Sinaloa Cartel Plaza Boss .

“We are entering the next phase in our fight against fentanyl: one where we are going after the plaza bosses, whose organizations are responsible for virtually everything that is smuggled into the United States. By targeting them for enforcement action, we can directly impact their operations and ability to traffic fentanyl into the United States, which makes its way into communities all across the country,” said Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela is the first plaza boss that we target, but he won’t be the last. Just as the men and women of CBP are steadfast in the fight against fentanyl - will be unrelenting in our pursuit of those people and organizations that threaten the safety and security of our people and our country.”

Valenzuela Valenzuela and his organization allegedly are responsible for moving thousands of pounds of fentanyl to the U.S. border. Nearly every day, CBP officers intercept fentanyl headed from Valenzuela Valenzuela’s plaza northbound through CBP ports of entry onward to cities across the United States.

Operation Plaza Spike is just the latest effort by CBP, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of this Administration’s efforts to stem the flow illicit opioids, including fentanyl, and cracking down on the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) that traffic them. Through a whole-of-government effort, the Department has stopped more illicit fentanyl and arrested more individuals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two fiscal years than in the previous five years combined.

CBP is also in the midst of Operation Apollo, and announced today that it will expand into Arizona to continue gathering and utilizing intelligence, and focusing on state and local partnerships to interdict fentanyl. Operation Apollo was launched by CBP in Southern California in October 2023 as a counter-fentanyl joint operation. CBP has evaluated the successes and lessons learned from Operation Apollo, and Operation Apollo – Arizona is now replicating it within the Arizona corridor, integrating all local law enforcement resources in Arizona to interdict finished fentanyl products, illicit precursor chemicals, adulterants, pill press equipment, illicit proceeds, and weapons.

In addition to CBP’s efforts to target operations that move fentanyl north, as well as guns south, CBP will be leveraging partnerships, authorities, and resources of other government agencies.

In 2023, DEA seized a record 79.5 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Throughout Arizona the DEA Phoenix Field Division seized more than 42 million fentanyl pills last year.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our nation has ever faced. The men and women of DEA are relentlessly focused on saving lives by defeating the two cartels responsible for the majority of fentanyl and methamphetamine poisoning our communities – the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels.” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram . “DEA proactively investigates cartel members and associates, like Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, who allegedly oversee the transportation and distribution of these deadly drugs while interagency partners, like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, interdict shipments at the border before they enter our country. These partnerships ensure those responsible face justice for their crimes.”

As a collaborative partner, HSI will leverage its abilities, ample customs authorities, and investigative capabilities to continue to look at the TCOs supply and distribution chains, while taking dangerous, destructive, and deadly drugs off our streets together with the violence that comes with the illicit activities of these criminal enterprises. HSI Arizona has dedicated groups of special agents assigned to combat drug and human smuggling as well as southbound weapons and bulk cash smuggling.

“HSI stands at the ready to continue dedicating our resources, unique customs authorities and investigative capabilities toward joining our federal partners in not only disrupting the trafficking of lethal drugs into our country but capturing and prosecuting the plaza bosses who profit from poisoning our communities,” said HSI Countering Transnational Organized Crime Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral . “We will leverage the combined strength of our partnered efforts to relentlessly pursue, disrupt and dismantle one of the most prolific and violent cartels in the world.”

With the launch of its updated Fentanyl Strategy CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs Report in fall 2023, CBP has continued to look at innovative ways to stop fentanyl trafficking. The agency continues to utilize its unique authorities and resources as the nation’s border security agency to lead the whole-of-government approach to dismantling the means and methods of the production and distribution of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, in addition to its historic target of interdicting narcotics at the border of the United States.

CBP officials have previously targeted fentanyl interdictions along the southwest border of the United States during Operation Blue Lotus, Four Horsemen, and Rolling Wave as well as precursors and production materials used to make fentanyl during Operation Artemis . With this latest operation, CBP is utilizing another avenue to disrupt the networks that create and distribute these drugs.

CBP and DEA are also calling on the public to provide any relevant information they may have about Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, his movements, his associates, and his operation. Tips can be provided anonymously by calling or texting 619-540-6912 via phone, Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal. Information can also be submitted through Snapchat at narcos_tips or by using the Threema ID: 2VBZFZTY.

For more information about CBP’s efforts to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, visit CBP Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs Report .

Operation Plaza Spike press conference: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/918681/operation-plaza-spike-press-conference

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.