If you’re planning a visit to JTH Tucson and want to experience a really unique day trip, then don’t forget to pack your passport! The vibrant border town of Nogales, Mexico is just a short, scenic drive away from us.
From JTH Tucson, it’ll take you about an hour and a half to reach the American side of Nogales (Nogales, Arizona, USA and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico are sister cities).
We recommend parking on the American side and walking across the border. Most of the shops and restaurants are easily walkable from the border crossing. Parking is easy, as there many lots on the US side of Nogales where you can pay to park for the day (it usually costs about $5 to park). Then you stroll to the pedestrian crossing area, pass through the turnstile, and enter a whole new world!
Read on for our favorite ways to pass the afternoon exploring Nogales:
What to Do in Nogales, Mexico:
Eat
No trip to Nogales is complete without a meal at the iconic restaurant La Roca. The location of La Roca is an experience unto itself, because the historic building (originally built as a guesthouse in 1800) is set in a natural cliff.
Classic Sonoran cuisine is on the menu. It’s a great place to sample this cuisine since everything is fresh and delicious. They cook with fresh caught seafood and meat and veggies sourced from local farms.
Shopping
Downstairs from La Roca, there are two beautiful shops filled with artisanal Mexican art. Our favorite, El Changarro, features homewares. We especially love their handblown glass pieces- in fact you may recognize their wine glasses from our pantry. The other shop, La Granada, also features handmade Mexican art, but is focused on wearables; clothing, shoes and accessories.
If you’d like to continue shopping, wander over to Obregon Street, which is the most popular street in town for browsing. Here you can find little stalls and shops selling everything from cute little trinkets to custom cowboy boots. Prices are negotiable, and bartering is expected. Vendors are happy to take US dollars, so there’s no need to exchange currency.
Make a Day of It
Be sure to take some time on the way to or from Nogales to stop by the ‘White Dove of the Desert’, San Xavier Del Bac Mission. Located on Tohono O’odham land, this Mission is designated as a historic landmark and considered one of the best examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the United States. It was founded as a Catholic mission in 1692, and is still in use today. You can choose to book a tour or just enjoy wandering the grounds, as there’s no admission charge to visit.
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If you’re looking for another fun day trip from Tucson, then check out our field guide to Mount Lemmon here.
Looking to explore a little closer to JTH Tucson? Check out our trail guides for hikes in the west side of Tucson, AZ: Hugh Norris Trail, & Valley View Trail.
