The Best of Nogales Tourism
The Nogales, Mexico Border Tourism Zone
Just because the US Department of State advised you to reconsider travel plans to Sonora does not mean that you should stay away from a safe and enjoyable time visiting the Arizona – Sonora border city of Nogales, Sonora.
The Nogales border tourism district is as interesting – and safe – as ever, with lots of places to see and activities to enjoy.We recommend that you cross the Nogales border through the DeConcini pedestrian border crossing.
After passing through Mexican customs, as you exit the walkway you will hear taxi drivers asking if you need a ride (which you do not, if you are going to stay in the Nogales border tourism zone). At that point you can either take a left and continue on walking south under the covered walkway to your left or continue on past the first building and take a left into the open-air Pesqueira business plaza.
Plaza Pesqueira is known for its pharmacies and dentists, although if you do your homework ahead of time you can find dentists and pharmacies in other parts of the tourism district where you can perhaps find better deals on dentists and prescription medication.
But if you are feeling adventurous, as you should, stop by a casa de cambio money exchange on the southwest end of Plaza Pesqueira to purchase some Mexican mad money – pesos – that you can spend while exploring the Nogales tourism district. Then cross the street, Calle Campillo, and start your Nogales border zone adventure.
Here are some places to visit and things to do while you visit the border tourism area of Nogales, Mexico:
Parroquia la Purísima Concepción – Immaculate Conception Parish
This church is a local landmark of Nogales, Mexico, with its twin towers and exterior walls crafted from locally quarried tufa stone. Founded in 1891, it was the religious center for the city’s Catholics and one of the first buildings in the border area. Church doors are usually open during the day if you would like to see the inside sanctuary. See more photos of this lovely church.
The Nogales Art Museum is the modern-looking building directly across the street from the Parroquia la Purísima Concepción. The building was originally built as a discotheque but now features free exhibitions of local Nogales visual artists. Tourist tip: the Nogales Museo de Arte also has the cleanest restrooms in the border area, should you be in need of a pit stop. See photos of the Nogales Museo de Arte.
Plaza de Los Niños Héroes
This plaza is located south of the Parroquia la Purísima Concepción church. Its north end has a small bandstand, food vendors and lots of park benches where you can sit and relax. On the south end of the plaza is a replica of the famous Monumento a Los Niños Héroes (Monument to the Boy Heroes) in Mexico City, which commemorates six young cadets who died while defending Chapultepec Hill from advancing U.S. troops on September 13, 1857.
The curb at Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos, on the east side of Plaza de Los Niños Héroes, is also a bus stop for local urban buses (retired and re-painted school buses) who drive routes to various parts of Nogales. The other downtown urban bus stop is located next to the border wall on Calle Internacional, near the intersection with Avenida Juarez. Also, Banco Bancomer on the other side of Lopez Mateos has an ATM where you can withdraw pesos.
Cross Calle Pierson on the south end of the Plaza de los Ninos Heroes and you will see Farmacias Similares, a pharmacy that perhaps has the lowest prices of all Nogales border pharmacies on generic medication.
Restaurant Las Marias
Just a few doors south of Farmacias Similares is a charming little restaurant with interesting art, pottery, metalwork, furniture and other beautiful and interesting things to see as you enjoy its relaxed ambiance and delicious Mexican Food – Las Marias Mexican Restaurant. Even if you are not hungry, it is a nice place to sit, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. Visit their Facebook page.
After leaving Las Marias Mexican restaurant, take a right turn and continue south on Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos. At the end of the block you will see the red-brick J.E. Pestalozzi elementary school, which opened in 1912, the same year that Arizona became a state. The school is on the south side of Plaza Pestalozzi
Plaza Pestalozzi
This is another place to sit on a park bench and relax during your exploration of Nogales, Mexico. There is a monument to Mothers on the east end of the plaza, and a large, green conical piece of art and the Idolo Curios store on the west side, which is Avenida Obregon.
Across the street from the Lopez Mateos (east) side of the plaza is an Oxxo convenience store, and a Banorte Bank ATM, in case you would like to withdraw some pesos. Be aware that some banks charge fees for international withdrawals, so if you are thinking about making an ATM withdrawal from a Mexican bank, check with your bank before going to Nogales, Sonora.
Oxxo Convenience Stores
These Mexican convenience stores sell a variety of snacks, beverages, food and other items. With the exception of the Oxxo located near the border on Calle Campillo, Oxxos also sell cold beer and liquors. Including competitive prices on some brands of tequila. Be aware that you cannot drink alcoholic beverages in public, and you can only bring on liter of alcohol per person back across the border into the U.S.
After checking out Plaza Pestalozzi, you can stroll west to Avenida Obregon and begin walking back toward the border. Along the way you can don a festive sombrero and have your picture taken with a burro and shop at more curio stores along the way.
Border-area Spas, Beauty and Nail Salons
The LaserTech Medspa is a well-known day spa on Avenida Obregon where you can stop by for a massage, spa treatment or dental work. And if you are in the mood for additional affordable, top-rate beauty treatment you can stop at a border-area beauty salon or nail salon.
Fray Marcos Restaurant and Lounge
The Hotel Fray Marcos de Niza is the tallest building in Ambos Nogales, located on the southeast corner of Avenida Obregon and Calle Campillo. Built in 1950, the hotel is also a Nogales landmark. The first floor of the hotel has a recently renovated restaurant that sells moderately priced Mexican food, and its very comfortable lounge is a great place to relax after exploring Nogales.
Behind the Fray Marcos is an alleyway that is home to a multitude of curio stores and street vendors that sell a variety of Mexican tourist goods, from wallets to pottery. And if you want to take a break from your curio shopping, you can enjoy a cold beverage and meal and the Cafe Restaurant Don Quixote. The south end of Pasaje Morelos is behind the Parroquia la Purísima Concepción church, with access to Avenida Obregon to the west and Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos (the street where the church is located) to the east.
Located just across the street from the Fray Marcos, this restaurant and bar has open-air seating where you can enjoy a cold beverage while watching city life on Avenida Obregon. They also serve meals like gourmet burgers and fries. At night El Garage becomes a nightclub popular with young Americans.
One reason that the Nogales, Mexico border tourism zone has gained popularity in recent years is due to dental offices that offer quality dental services at prices that are much less than what patients would pay at a U.S. dentist office. Learn more about Nogales dentistry services.
Nogales, Mexico Medical Tourism
While we do not recommend having major surgery done in Nogales, there are many trained and competent medical specialists across the border in Nogales, Mexico. Examples of medical professionals you may want to visit to save money and get prescriptions for discounted Nogales medications include podiatrists, internists, gynecologists, radiology and imaging specialists, weight-loss specialists, dermatologists, optometrists and ophthalmologists, rheumatologists and more. Read more about Nogales, Mexico medical specialties and cross-border tourism.
This street runs parallel to the international border, one block south of the border wall. While strolling along Calle Campillo you will find curio shops, restaurants and street vendors that sell a variety of food, from hot dogs to Asian cuisine. It is also home to two of the most imposing buildings in Nogales, Mexico – Campillo 86, the large, three-story gray professional office building located on the northeast corner of Campillo and Avenida Obregon, and the Hotel Fray Marcos, located on the northeast corner of the same intersection.
We would be remiss if we did not mention what is perhaps the most famous restaurant in Nogales, Mexico, La Roca Restaurant Bar. This longtime Nogales restaurant features beautiful artwork, decor and furnishings to complement its good Mexican dishes.
The easiest way to get to La Roca from the main tourism district is to walk across the downtown pedestrian walkway located one block south of the DeConcini Border Crossing. After descending on the other side, look for the street entrance to the right of the walkway, which is Plutarco Elias Calles. La Roca is located on that street. See photos of La Roca el Balcon Restaurant Bar.
