Ciudad Juárez

Introducing Ciudad Juárez

Travel Alert: There has been significant drug-related violence throughout Mexico with Chihuahua State and Ciudad Juárez among the worst affected parts of the country. Tourists are not specifically targeted, but any travellers visiting these areas should exercise extreme caution. Check Safe Travel for current government warnings, or the BBC for news on the situation.

No doubt about it, Ciudad Juárez is an in-your-face kind of place. But, despite what you may have heard, it’s really not all that bad. On the other hand, its modest roster of attractions isn’t all that good, and it lacks the charm of many other northern cities. In fact, it lacks any real charm at all. What it does have, however, is energy.

Juárez, the second busiest port of entry on the US–Mexico border, relies heavily on the constant ebb and flow of goods and people from its cross-river mate El Paso, Texas. Trucks full of raw materials and finished goods roll in and out of the city’s maquiladoras (foreign-owned assembly plants) and Texas day-trippers stream over for bargain shopping and medical care, or under-age drinking at the bustling cantinas and clubs.

Considering all the wonderful places waiting further south, the conventional wisdom –get out of town as quickly as possible – is not without merit, but odds are you’ll enjoy a short stay here.

Last updated: Jan 26, 2010