You must see Nogales, Mexico on your trip through beautiful and exciting Santa Cruz County. As you enter the main gate in downtown Nogales, Arizona, you are walking in the footsteps of man's history in North America. Origins of the highway through Nogales are traced directly to an ancient foot trail that ran to the ocean near Guaymas-San Carlos at the Gulf of California.
Just across the border from Nogales, Arizona, the two cities share the same name but the cultures have evolved separately. Fill your trip to Mexico with its traditions, wonderful shopping and great food. Take the time to enjoy the restaurants-La Roca and El Greco are a couple of local haunts but there are many terrific restaurants to choose from.
Walking is a popular way to cross the border and Nogales, AZ has many guarded parking lots close to the port-of-entry. Just follow Interstate 19 to the end in Nogales and the lot attendants will help you park. The cost to park your vehicle all day is very reasonable, generally under $5.00, and most of the shopping and eating attractions are close to the border and within easy walking distance.
As you enter Mexico, you will see the Flag Island of the Americas, which has banners for all of the Mexican states-Nogales is in the state of Sonora. Turn right at Campillo Street and walk down three blocks to Obregon Street-now you can shop, browse, explore and enjoy the people, places, sights, and sounds of Mexico.
If your love is pottery, glassware, furniture, baskets, rugs, leather, or jewelry you will, if you look, find unique and beautiful pieces at reasonable cost. Prices at the shops are not fixed so prepare to enjoy bargaining-negotiate a price. Business is done in English and American currency is preferred. Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware: check the quality of the product, before you begin bargaining.
Before crossing the border give the U.S. Customs office a call to check for current regulations. The Mexican and U.S. Customs offices are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions (520) 287-1410. You may also call (520) 885-0694 for more information.
For general information on traveling in Mexico, visit our Visiting Mexico page.
For more information on visiting Nogales, Sonora:
Sonoran Emergency (like 911): 066
Operator: 091
Bilingual Operator: 070
US Consulate (Nogales): 631-313-4820
US Customs: 520-287-9706
Border Patrol: 520-377-6000
CANACO (Chamber of Commerce Nogales, Sonora)
011-52-631-31-2-02-03
011-52-631-31-2-48-55
Office of Tourism (Nogales, Sonora)
011-52-631-31-2-06-66
http://www.canaconogales.com.mx/
http://www.gotosonora.com/
IMPORTANT CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Beginning on January 23, 2007, all persons - including U.S. citizens - traveling by air from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to have a passport (unless traveling with a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, asylee or refugee document, Merchant Mariner's Document or NEXUS Air card) to enter the United States.
CHANGE FROM PRIOR TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
All persons, including U.S. Citizens, entering the United States from the Americas, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will soon be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and citizenship.
The change will be implemented in two phases. The timeline is as follows:
JANUARY 23, 2007: Requirement applied to all air travel to or from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
As early as January 1, 2008: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or other documents for land/sea entries.
For more information, please visit http://www.travel.state.gov/ or www.dhs.gov.
For more information about applying for a passport, U.S. citizens may visit http://www.travel.state.gov/ or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-4USA-PPT or TDD/TYY: 1-888-874-7793. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.