Why Should You Visit Los Algodones?

As one of the top medical tourist destinations in the world, Los Algodones is a truly unique border town experience. With over 400 dentists packed into a four square block area, it has earned its nickname, Molar City. With dental procedures costing about 10-20% what the do in the United States, both Americans and Canadians flock to Los Algodones year round. While it’s most famous for its dentists, Los Algodones also has one of the highest concentrations of eye doctors and optometrists in the world.

If you’re not into the medical tourism, there’s still plenty of things to do in Los Algodones. You can buy handcrafted goods from the street vendors, eat some delicious Mexican food, and take home the obligatory bottle of tequila. While it’s certainly not as picturesque as places like Puerto Peñasco or the coastal destinations of Baja California and Sonora, rest assured that you’ll have a safe, fun, and memorable time in Los Algodones.

Getting to Los Algodones from California, Arizona, and Nevada

Los Algodones sits in the far northeast corner of the State of Baja California, just west of Yuma, Arizona. You can easily get there from the east or west via Interstate 8, or from the north via US-95.

To get to the border crossing into Los Algodones, take Exit 166 in California off of I-8. Turn south onto CA-186. After about a mile (1.6 km), you’ll reach the border. I recommend parking in the Quechan lot on the US side of the border. The Quechan parking lot has remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and still costs $6 for the day to park there. You can drive into Mexico if you wish, but the streets of Los Algodones are small and busy, and parking can be very limited there.

Are There COVID-19 Protocols Crossing the Border into Los Algodones, Mexico?

Mexico has had some of the loosest border restrictions in the world since the pandemic began. As a result, crossing into Los Algodones felt eerily like pre-COVID times. You walk from the parking lot through the turnstile gate, and just walk right into Mexico. There were a few members of the Mexican military stationed near the border watching people enter, but they were not stopping anyone.

I did not have to pass through any checkpoints, temperature checks, or anything else related to COVID-19 entering Los Algodones, Mexico on foot. You do not need to show proof of vaccination or negative test. However, both the U.S. Federal Government and the Government of Canada strongly recommend that their citizens be fully vaccinated before traveling to Mexico. You may be subject to additional COVID-19 related screenings if you cross into Mexico in your vehicle.

Stay Safe from COVID-19 While Enjoying Los Algodones

Because nearly all of the Los Algodones experience is outdoors in the open air, you can stay safe from COVID-19 with nothing more than a little common sense. I visited Los Algodones during the explosion of the omicron variant at the end of 2021. Not once did I feel unsafe from COVID-19 during my visit.

Wear a Mask

Unlike much of the United States, the State of Baja California requires that you wear a face mask while inside any building that’s open to the public. Masks are not required outdoors. However, you may find the streets of Algodones to be small, cramped, and crowded. As a result, I recommend that you wear a mask if you’re in a crowded area, even if you’re outside. This is especially true if you’re visiting during the ongoing omicron spike.

So just how strictly are the mask mandates enforced? It depends on exactly where you are. Many of the liquor stores, pharmacies, and indoor restaurants will not let you in without one. On the other hand, the street vendors did not really seem to care whether or not people were masked. But then again, masks are not required outdoors, which is where most of the street vendors operate. I did not go into any of the dental facilities, but my understanding is that they are the strictest at enforcing mask requirements.

Keep Your Distance

While the government mandated social distancing restrictions in Los Algodones have been lifted, you should still use common sense when out in public. If you see somewhere that’s really crowded, circle around to something else and see if the crowds clear out. People are pretty constantly on the move in Algodones, so it usually doesn’t take long for a busy area to thin out a bit.

If you do find yourself in an area that enforces social distancing, Mexico uses the same 6 feet or 2 meters that the United States and Canada use. During my visit to Los Algodones, I saw a couple signs for social distancing. Not surprisingly, they appeared to be leftover from earlier in the pandemic that were never taken down. Nobody was enforcing them.

Sanitize Your Hands

During my visit to Los Algodones during COVID-19, everywhere felt very, very clean. In fact, the town felt cleaner that it did during any of my previous visits prior to the pandemic. Hand sanitizing stations are widely available throughout town, and you can carry your own sanitizer back and forth across the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not put any restrictions on hand sanitizer the way the TSA does.

Support Los Algodones’ Local Economy

As a small business owner, I’m a big proponent of supporting small businesses and your local economy. I’d much rather spend my money at a local store and keep the money locally than have it wind up lining the pockets of a rich CEO on the other side of the country. And that local economy is exactly what makes Los Algodones so special and so unique. Best of all, you can still enjoy all of the same experiences that you would prior to the pandemic. All while keeping your risk level to a minimum. As I mentioned earlier, I did not feel at significant risk of COVID-19 while I was there.

• Eat at restaurants. Nearly all of them are outdoors and open air.
• Shop from the street vendors, liquor stores, and pharmacies. None of them appear to have taken any serious economic hits from the pandemic. In fact, there were more street vendors in December, 2021 than I ever remember.
• Visit the dentist and get your teeth cleaned. Just make sure to do your homework before hand to ensure you’re choosing a reputable practice.

Returning to the United States

While not much has changed entering Mexico, you will notice some changes to the process for re-entering the United States because of the pandemic. You still line up in the same place you always do, but the line no longer snakes around the fence into the customs hall. Instead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stops the front of the line right where you step from Mexico into the United States. When you reach the front of the line, a CBP agent will verify you have the proper documents to enter. They will then send you to the customs hall in small groups. There is plenty of shade available while you’re waiting in line. However, you may want to bring a water bottle if it’s a hot day.

Once you reach the customs hall, you must wait outside until it’s your turn to go through. Once inside, the process to clear customs goes quick. I was in and out in less than two minutes.

Federal Mask Requirements in the United States

Because the customs hall is a federal facility, you are required to wear a mask while inside it. Ironically, the U.S. Government has started taking pictures of everyone entering the country to verify their identity. As a result, the first thing the CBP agent will ask you to do is take off your mask. If you’re a U.S. citizen, they will delete your photo as soon as they verify your identity. You can always request an alternative method to verify your identity if you’re uncomfortable having your picture taken.

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test

As far as COVID-19 related documentation goes, you do not need much to cross the land border. In fact, U.S. citizens do not need any documentation. You do not need to present proof of a negative test to enter the United States at a land border, as the testing requirement only applies if you’re arriving by air.

However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to show proof of full vaccination. The U.S. currently accepts any vaccine that either the CDC or the World Health Organization has approved. At the time I’m writing this, the U.S. does not include booster shots in their definition of fully vaccinated, but that will likely change at some point in the next several months.

Don’t Forget to Declare Everything You’re Bringing Back from Mexico

Finally, you still need to declare everything you’re bringing back from Mexico. Failing to declare an item can lead to hefty fines, penalties, and even jail time. Don’t even think about doing it.

Conclusion

Despite the explosion in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, you can still have a fun, safe, and enjoyable time in Los Algodones. We know so much more about the virus now that we did even just a year ago. With medical tourism rendering a lot of its services essential, Los Algodones seems to be thriving better now than ever before. Be smart, know the limits for your comfort and risk levels for being around others in a pandemic, and you’re bound to have a great time.

I’ll be producing a video of this guide soon, and it will be posted here once it’s done. Have you visited Los Algodones since the pandemic began? Leave your story in the comments below. Don’t let the pandemic be an excuse not to go experience one of the most unique border destinations in the world.

The post How To Have A Safe And Successful Visit To Los Algodones, Mexico During The COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.

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.

The post A Shrimp and Tequila Expedition to Los Algodones, Mexico appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.