Nogales Arizona – Mexico

Nogales is in Southern Arizona . It is in Santa Cruz County. The town is located on Interstate 19, right on the Mexican border. You can get to Nogales from Phoenix by taking Interstate 10 south out of town and into Tucson. Once you are in Tucson, you will take Interstate 19 south to the Mexican border and the town of Nogales.

Nogales is a wonderful place to experience the Mexican culture and traditions. Nogales is the county seat for Santa Cruz County. It is a very popular port of entry for U.S. travelers. More than a billion dollars of produce pass through Nogales up into the United States and Canada. Nogales is an important retail and wholesale trading point.

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Today Nogales has a population of 20,328. The town sits at an elevation of 3,865 feet. The climate in Nogales is delightful all year round. The lows in the winter are near 63 degrees and the highs in the summer are around 92 degrees. The average rainfall is 15.5 inches a year. Nogales has low humidity and endless sunny days. Nogales has a special old-world charm and a friendliness that is hard to match.

There are some attractions you will want to see during your trip to Nogales. The Pimeria Alta Historical Society Museum is located in the old city hall building. This museum shows visitors the rich history of the area through artifacts and displays. Tumacacori National Historic Park is north of Nogales and is steeped in history. The park tells the tales of the early Spanish and Indian people.

Today you will see the adobe chapel and graveyard. It is a must see on your visit. Nogales, Mexico is the sister city of Nogales, Arizona . Many visitors include a day trip across the border to Mexico to see the town of Nogales. Visitors will enjoy shopping and Sonoran food.

Nogales has so many outdoor spots. Pena Blanca Lake is just a few miles northwest of town and is an ideal fishing place. It is a great lake to spend some time taking in the beautiful surroundings. Patagonia Lake State Park is another popular outdoor spot. At Patagonia Lake State Park visitors can choose to picnic, fish, hike or camp. This state park is located in a gorgeous section of Arizona . Sycamore Canyon Trail is just past Pena Blanca Lake. The trail is a rough path with wonderful plant life and rock spires.

Nogales has a special flavor all its own and it is worth investigating.

Native Indians first used the land in and around Nogales, almost 2,000 years ago. The area was a common pass for migration and trade. The Hohokam Indians would come through on their way to the Gulf of California. The search for shells was their desire to make the journey to the gulf. Later the Pima Indians, believed to be descendants from the Hohokam Indians, inhabited the area.

Then in the 1690’s the Spanish arrived to establish missions. During this time soldiers, ranchers, prospectors and missionaries traveled the land around Nogales.

In 1821, Mexico declared its independence from Spain and the area including Nogales became part of Mexico. The Gadsden Purchase took place in 1854, which made Nogales part of the United States. Surveyors marked the current international boundary in 1855.

Jacob and Issac Issacson founded Nogales in 1880. These men began a trading post just north of the border. It was in that same year, that Juan Jose Vasquez built a roadhouse south of the border. Then in 1882, the railroad came through which placed the town on the map, making it a trading center.
The name Nogales comes from the Spanish word “walnut trees”. Walnut trees grew abundantly in the mountain pass between the city of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico.

Today Nogales is the county seat for Santa Cruz County. It has strong commercial, religious and cultural ties with its sister city Nogales, Mexico. Nogales is one of the major gateways between the U.S. and Mexico. The future looks bright for Nogales; with the North American Free Trade Agreement in place growth should continue.

The town of Nogales, Mexico is a very popular attraction. Nogales, Mexico is just across the border from Nogales, Arizona . These two cities share the same name yet they have different cultures. You will find your trip over to Mexico to be full of tradition, shopping and great food.

There are many terrific restaurants to choose from, along with a selection of shops selling cheap knickknacks to high quality handicrafts. Most of the shops and markets cater to the tourists. If you like to go bargain shopping, you need to visit Ortega Street. This street is one of the main streets in Nogales, Mexico. Here you will find pottery, glassware, furniture, baskets, rugs, leather, jewelry and much more. Prices at the shops are not fixed. As a matter of fact, bargaining and negotiating a price is welcome. Visitors should not worry because business is done in English.

American currency is preferred, so you won’t have to figure out how to exchange currency. You should check the quality of the product, before you begin bargaining. The rule of thumb is you can bring back $400 worth of duty free goods per person, plus one quart of liquor per adult. You may go past the $400 limit and still be okay, if the item is on the list in the U.S. Customs office. Please check with the office for current regulations before crossing the border.

You will find that most of the shopping and eating spots are close to the border and within easy walking distance. Since walking is so popular, Nogales, Arizona has parking lots that are guarded and available for you to park and walk. You can get to the parking lots by taking Interstate 19 south into town. The Interstate practically dead-ends into the border. Here you will see many parking lots to choose from. The cost for parking ranges from $3.00 to $4.00 a day.

After you park head to Garita A, a main 24 hour walking entrance. Once you pass through, you will see an island called the Flag Island of the Americas. It has banners for all of the Mexican states. Turn right at Campillo Street and walk down three blocks to Obregon Street. At this point you are ready to browse and explore the area.

If you are planning on visiting Nogales, Mexico you will need to come prepared with identification. U.S. citizens should bring a valid passport. The passport is the most convenient and it serves two purposes. Visitors can use the passport for photo identification and helps it in using cashiers checks. A birth certificate is also acceptable, as long as it is a certified copy. You may use a voter registration certificate or military identification. A driver’s license or baptismal certificate is not proof of citizenship. If you decide to spend more than 72 hours across the border, you will need to obtain a tarjeta de turista (Mexican government tourist card).

If you are planning on driving across the border, you will need to bring proof of ownership (registration slip) and get a temporary vehicle importation permit and insurance. There can be difficulties when driving across the border, which you need to be aware of before you cross. First of all, most U.S. auto insurance companies do not insure policyholders when driving into Mexico.

You will need to get supplemental insurance from a company specializing in it. You can find companies in Nogales that provide this insurance. Also, major U.S. auto rental companies do not allow their cars to cross the border, although you may find some that do. Another difficulty is gasoline. The unleaded gasoline supply is somewhat undependable. However changes are being made to remedy this situation.

Whatever your plans from making a day visit, spending more time or driving, it is important you are knowledgeable about the requirements. The Mexican and U.S. Customs offices are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions. You may also call 520-885-0694 for more information.

Pena Blanca means “white rock” in Spanish. The lake was named this because of its light-colored bluffs overlooking the water. It is surrounded by Pena Blanca Canyon in the Pajarito Mountain foothills and offers year round water recreation. The lake is a beautiful 49 acre lake and is at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Pena Blanca Lake was built in 1957, by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Fishing is an obviously the most popular activity at the lake. Fishermen will find bass, catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill and crappie.  There are other activities that are popular at Pena Blanca Lake. Bird watching, photography and hiking are some of the best ways to enjoy the lake. The Pena Blanca Trail is a fairly level path that follows the shoreline most of the two mile route around the lake.

Visitors need to be prepared for cool weather in the winter months. The lake is at a high elevation, even though it is in Southern Arizona it can be quite cool. In the summer months, visitors should be prepared for crowds. On weekends and on holidays the lake can become extremely crowded.

You can get the Pena Blanca Lake by taking Interstate 19 north out of Nogales for 8 miles up to the Ruby Road exit. Then take the Pena Blanca/Ruby Road exit12 left and head west to the lake. The drive over to the lake is approximately 10 miles on a paved road.