Tucked away in the far northeast corner of Baja California sits the small, dusty border town of Los Algodones, Mexico. I know, you’re probably thinking what’s the big deal with a tiny hole-in-the-wall Mexican border town. Los Algodones has a very unique distinction that makes it unlike anywhere else in the world. Nicknamed “Molar City”, the town has the highest concentration of dentists and optometrists in the world. It is also one of the world’s top medical tourism destinations, especially among Americans and Canadians.
How to Get to Los Algodones
Los Algodones sits across the border from Winterhaven, California, and is only about 10 miles from downtown Yuma, Arizona. To reach Algodones, exit Interstate 8 a few miles west of the Arizona/California State Line onto CA-186. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp. It’s less than a mile from the freeway down to the border. You can drive into Mexico if you really want to, but it is much less of a hassle to park in the large secure parking lot on the US side of the border. It costs $6 to park for the day.
Crossing the border into Mexico
Entering Mexico is easy. From the parking lot, simply go down the ramp and follow the sidewalk to the border. You’ll walk through a turnstile door, and you’re in Mexico. There are no official checkpoints to enter Mexico on foot. However, Mexican customs can stop you and search you or question you if they wish.
Do not worry too much about the language barrier. English is the language of choice in Los Algodones. The locals do appreciate it if you can speak a little Spanish, though. The US Dollar is used in all transactions. Just make sure you bring plenty of cash, as most places do not accept credit cards.
Medical Tourism in Los Algodones, Mexico
While I come to Los Algodones to buy shrimp and tequila and browse the shops, I have poked my head into a few of the dental offices, and they are absolutely pristine. Some were much nicer than the dental offices I’ve been to in the US. Los Algodones has around 400 dentists within a 5 or 6 square block radius. I wasn’t going to go see every single one.
If you’re coming for the medical tourism, you obviously need to do your homework beforehand. Some dentists are better than others. The majority of dentists that cater to medical tourism were trained and educated in the US and keep their offices in line with the US standards. A standard teeth cleaning will generally run you around $15 to $20. The town is also well-known for its optometry. A new pair of prescription glasses will generally set you back about $30 to $50.
What to Expect Shopping in Mexico
Shopping in Mexico is a much different experience than shopping in the US. Like most border towns, the majority of the shopping in Los Algodones is done via the open-air street vendors. If you’re buying something from a street vendor, they expect you to haggle over prices. On the other hand, if you’re shopping at a traditional retail establishment such as a pharmacy or liquor store, the price on the sticker is the price you’ll pay. Please be respectful when negotiating prices. The street vendors have families to feed too. You are much more likely to get a good deal if you’re polite and don’t completely low-ball them. You’re already getting a really good deal compared to what you would pay for the same item in the US.
Advice for Buying Tequila in Mexico
My first stop when I visit Los Algodones is always Liqui’s liquor store. It’s the giant purple building on the left side of the street right after you cross the border. They have a great selection of tequila at really good prices. When you buy tequila, always buy the tequila that is 100% blue agave. Look for labels that say either “100% Agave Azul” or “100% de Agave”. Mexico also puts stickers on each bottle of liquor showing its age.
The first time I went there, I bought the most expensive bottle of tequila I could find that did not exceed the duty-free limit (1 liter) to bring back into the US and wasn’t locked up in a case. It cost $25, and while it wasn’t super high-end tequila, it was really good tequila. Over my various visits to Liqui’s, I have bought numerous tequilas, a really good mezcal, and some Mexican rum. One of my friends bought a bottle of Crema de Membrillo, a cousin of tequila that is made from the quince fruit.
Head to Lupita’s for Some Incredible Shrimp Tacos
Now that the tequila is in hand, it’s time to find the next item of the mission: shrimp. I will be procuring shrimp for lunch as well as shrimp to bring home and put in my freezer. My favorite place to get lunch is at Lupita’s Fish and Shrimp Tacos. Lupita’s is a street taco stand located on Avienda A between Calle 2 and Calle Tercera (1 block south of the border). It’s a popular spot that is often crowded during the high season, but it’s well worth the wait. My standard order is 3 shrimp tacos and a Coke, but they also have burritos, quesadillas, tamales, and much more.
Buy Fresh Rocky Point Shrimp on the Street
During the peak tourist and snowbird season in the winter and spring, many fisherman will come up from Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) and sell shrimp out of coolers on the streets of Los Algodones. If you’re unfamiliar with Mexican shrimp, Rocky Point is world-famous for its seafood, and especially for its shrimp. I lived in Florida for 6 years and always ate the fresh Gulf shrimp there. The Rocky Point shrimp put the Florida shrimp to shame.
You will get the best prices on the shrimp if you drive to Rocky Point and buy the shrimp there. Depending on the time of year and the market price of the shrimp, I have paid $8 to $12 per pound in Los Algodones during the peak season. Those shrimp would easily cost twice that in the US, so it’s still a pretty good deal. Shrimp is one of the only meat products you can bring across the border into the US. The personal duty-free limit is so high it would be impractical to carry that much shrimp back with you.
What to Expect Re-Entering the US
Well, that just about puts a wrap on another successful adventure south of the border. Coming back into the US is a straight forward process. During the high season, you may have to wait at customs for up to one to two hours. You will need a passport, passport card, or trusted traveler card (Global Entry, Nexus, or Sentri). Be sure to declare everything you bought in Mexico. I have visited Los Algodones at many different times of year. My best advice is to go during the offseason (April to October) or go on the weekends, when the dental offices are closed. On a Saturday in the middle of February this past winter, I went through US Customs around 2:30 PM. I waited in line less than 5 minutes.
If you’re ever in the Yuma area, a visit to Los Algodones is a very unique experience I hope you will take advantage of. Enjoy the shimp and margaritas, and happy adventuring!
Additional Fun Facts About Los Algodones
- Los Algodones is the only place in Mexico where you can go any of the four cardinal directions (due north, due south, due east, or due west) and hit a US border.
- There is a monument just west of the Port of Entry that marks the northernmost point in Mexico, as well as the US-Mexico border.
- Los Algodones actually means “The Cotton Fields” in Spanish. There is a large amount of agriculture south of town, as the Colorado River flows right through there.
- The town’s official name is Vicente Guerrero. It is part of the Mexicali municipality.