Hi dear Thorn Tree travellers!
Does anyone live in Chihuahua - or been there lately? We are planning to go there in a week... if its safe enough. We got kids with us and been there many times before (last time 3 years ago!). Just worried about all the shootings and killings - year ago a friends husband was shot while driving.
Its hard to find accurate info googling about it or even mexican friends dont much follow news.
Will stay in Chihuahua City, not going copper canyon etc.
Thanks!!
My wife is from Chihuahua, her family lives there, and we go there every year - Last trip was Christmas and next trip in July for a quinceanera. We normally take the bus from Juarez to Chihuahua and have never had a problem, although we are flying into Chihuahua in July.
Chihuahua has had its share of narco-violence, but we haven't seen it although one of our nephews was car-jacked in front of his house last year. Still, we take our teenage nieces and nephews around for shopping and dining out and go to parties without concern.
We still have our elotes at Don Alex, dinner at La Doña, hear live music at El Paseo without concern. Have you seen the ex-hacienda Las Carolinas on the northeastern edge of town (now being slowly restored)? The downtown plaza is under construction as they are making it into a pedestrian plaza with the main street, Constitucion, passing underneath in a new tunnel. It's going to be nice, but downtown may be a mess right now. Also, the Plaza del Sol closed down a couple years ago - unfortunate as it had the best breakfast buffet in town.
hi thanks Bob! Good to hear your comments.
Plaza del Sol is closed? Do you mean the big shopping mall with cinemas etc? I cant believe they closed that one as its so new! I loved Rickys Tacos nearby...
I just read about some further killings. But then its a big city and crime is everywhere... I guess tourists are pretty safe unless you are in wrong place the wrong time. Mostly worried about kids though...
I will chck about the Carolinas place. Sounds interesting!
Plaza del Sol is a big hotel in downtown. Whole place is closed now. Don't know if you'll find much on the haciaenda Las Carolinas - it's pretty under the radar.
For a really good upscale dinner try La Casona downtown - spendy but really nice in one of the old mansions downtown. Another very good restaurant is on Avenida Bolivar a short walk from downtown called La Doña specializing in regional favorites (rajas, chiles colrado, frijoles charros) - very good.
Hola! I have a job offer in Chihuahua, Mexico for 6 months that I really want to take to help with my spanish and also for the money. I have traveled quite a bit in my life but this city sounds so dangerous everywhere I look except for a couple places. I assume most that I have read is 2nd-3rd hand information from non travelers and also mixed up with juarez.
I'm a 27 year old blonde/shaved head blue eyed male. Mexico is 1 place I am yet to visit. What sort of prices can I expect to pay for things in the city? Can I safely go out for a walk or should I be in a car if not at home or in a business. From what has been said in this thread it seems to be reasonably safe with a little common sense.
I travel to Chihuahua frequently (see response #1). Chihuahua, located as it is at the base of the Sierra Madre and just 3 1/2 hours south of Juarez, is on the drug trafficking route and there are plenty of narco-traficantes in the city. It isn't the most dangerous city in Mexico, but certainly not the safest either. You can walk around downtown without fear and the north side of town where the univeresity is located is pretty safe, but like any large city you have to be careful of your wallet and be sure you know where you are as there are definitely some pretty sketchy neighborhoods.
But it is a medium size industrial city with much more going on economically than drug trafficking. There are also a number of universities in the city which culturally balances out the heavy industry located there. The downtown is pretty nice with good restaurants and a freshly remodelled pedestrian plaza. There's a couple of lively, and safe, night spots up on Avenida Bolivar and Chihuahua's Festival Internacional in September attracts some world-class acts.
Cost-wise, Chihuahua is somewhat expensive by Mexican standards, but you should be able to find a house or apartment to rent in a decent neighborhood for $500 usd/month, more or less. The north side of the city has been developing with gated communities and new apartments going in and the older neighborhood off of 20 de Noviembre around the Pancho Villa museum is pretty decent (where my sister-in-law lives).
Chihuahua isn't everyone's cup of tea - it's loud and dirty, hot in the summer, cold in the winter, with no major tourist attractions (althought he governor's palace and adjacent cathedral are pretty cool). You don't see many tourists or gringos around, but you do see some (the eastern terminus of the Copper Canyon railway is there). English is pretty widely spoken in Chihuahua, but not by everyone and you'll meet plenty of people that don't speak English.
Over the years I've come to like the place - but I don't think I'd retire there.
I posted a reply, but I guess the censors are still working on it. If it doesn't clear by tomorrow, I'll try to re-create it.
Here are my two cents if it's worth something to you.
I'm a 6'4" blonde-haired, blue-eyed Australian and am just finishing up after 5 months in Chihuahua. I've honestly had a fantastic time here, but like Bob said it's certainly not been from Chihuahua's inherent beauty or wide range of attractions.
I've stayed in the western part of the city near the Fashion Mall (the old Plaza del Sol shopping mall) and feel completely safe in this part of town. Downtown is certainly not somewhere for roaming around the streets by yourself at night, but taxis are ok as long as you know where you're going. The narco violence shouldn't affect you. You're way more likely to be hit by a bus than to come into any problem with those guys.
If I can give one bit of advice it would be to engage with the local Couchsurfing community. Even if you don't need a place to stay there are literally dozens of people who will take you out for a beer and show you all the great little bars in town, and that has made my stay richly rewarding.
In general the Chihuahuan people have a reputation for being exceedingly friendly, and I can whole-heartedly vouch for that.
Avoid the summer. That's the real killer in these parts.
Edited by: timbonus
Thanks a ton for the help guys. I think I will push forward with this.
My accommodations will be provided for me in a gated community as well as all expenses paid except food. What would be normal to spend a month when living modestly? 500? 1k$? I guess all i need to know is what an avg meal costs or a beer at a bar.