Juarez for the day.... (El Paso, West: work, home, business)

[Muhnay]

Nice tag.. it comes with a disclaimer. So I guess its ok then.

[borderboy86]

I think I am going to have to agree with Muhnay! STAY OUT OF JUAREZ! It is too dangerous to be in unless you absolutely need to.

[mikus]

I often went to juarez as a teenager when i lived in el paso then las cruces(nmsu), drink and drown for 5 bucks,,YIKES, OUCH!! i had some bad experiences there the past couple of times ... i dont care if i ever set foot in mexico again,,,especially Jtown.............. I hear the chihuahuan drug cartel is the most dangerous in mexico!!

[paleo99]

Personally, I would only go to Juarez with somebody that is either from there, or somebody that knows spanish. I've spent a day with a friend driving through the wealthy areas of Juarez doing that, and it was definitely worth the expereince.

Another idea worth considering that's very safe is the annual Juarez mountain hike. It's one of the trips they have on the Celebration of our Mountains festival in September. All you do is register, meet up at UTEP, and cross the border with a group of people. You drive through the slummy areas--very interesting experience--and you get just outside of town and hike through the mountains for a few hours. I even got to talk to the guy who owns half of the mountains over there, and his family had a little BBQ at his house at the end.

[borderboy86]

Personally I dont think you are missing out if you dont see the mountains in Juarez. They dont have as nice of a form as the Franklins and they are covered in retarded things like words make of rocks, and a lighting fixture at night that resembles Homer Simpson better than Benito Juarez.

[EnjoyEP]

I terribly respect the opinions of everyone who has chimed in here on visiting Juarez, as most of the folks who have voiced in live in El Paso and know quite a bit about going "over the line".

However...here is my respectful take on it...

I have noticed alot of the folks who have had problems or have witnessed problems in Juarez have many of their experiences from a) when they were teenages or young adults and were looking to go to Juarez to party, and b) were in Juarez largely to drink and party.

My general, gut feeling is that yes, if you are an American going into Juarez bars, etc., or just doing crazy youthful things that most young American males like to do (myself included when I was in my teens and young 20s), I could see how there might be some troubles in Juarez.

However, I am a gringo, speak very little Spanish, and I have gone to Juarez numerous times for several hours at a time. I have never encountered any trouble, other than aggressive (annoying?) panhandling. However, I have never gotten drunk there, I have never gone into a bar there or shot tequila, etc., and have never gone after dark.

My thoughts are this - and maybe I am just naive - I think you are absolutely fine in Juarez as an American visitor if -

a) You go during the day

b) Keep your money / valuables in your front pocket and do not "flash" them around

c) Maintain a respectful / low profile (eg: do not be boisterous, looking for trouble, etc.)...just be a tourist

d) Try to stay on the main, busy, well-traveled "touristy" areas

e) Don't drive. Walk, or if you are really concerned, take a border-jumper trolley.

f) Don't get drunk.

g) Don't go to the bars. (Stick the restaurants...there are tons of little great ones...mercado, shops, etc.)

h) Go during the day (did I mention this already)

**Don't get me wrong...I have consumed some cold Tecates over in Juarez, and generally indulge in a cerveza or two every time I go to Juarez. However, I do this in restaurants, not in bars where the atmosphere is quite a bit different.

Now when I am in El Paso, my desire to go to Juarez generally isn't huge. It is what it is...like Tijuana, it is a huge city that operates like a border town. Along with it, you have your expected Mexican border-town chaos, crime, dirtiness, etc. However, I love that I have been able to go there and see some of a "real" aspect of a foreign nation...not just the dressed-up resort areas.

Just know what it is when you are going into it...make smart decisions (like outlined above) and I think in general you'd be safe. I would feel comfortable - with me - taking my wife as I have in the past (would not of course have her go without me); I would likely take a 12-year-old, however, would never let him/her go anywhere without holding my hand. I would not take my under-2 year old kids though...probably not until they are at least ~12 years.

Anyway, just my 2-cents.

[eplifestyle]

Excellent advice, EnjoyEP!

-eplifestyle

[Chuco]

I agree that was excellent advice by EnjoyEP. Keep up the good work!

[malamute]

I would be extremely careful if going to Juarez. Do not get lost over there. Do not wander about or leave the tourist strip -- because it truly is a dangerous city.

Mexican police have told me that there are "no-man's lands" on the outskirts where they will not go -- no police or fire protection and the police will be shot on sight.

They have had shoot-outs in the busy parts of town in broad daylight (yesterday I think there was another shootout) -- and anything you would have wanted over there is easily found in El Paso -- Mexican food, Mexican culture, Mexican everything.

I get visitors and of course they want to go over so I usually park on the El Paso side and walk over -- you never want to be in an accident over there. You can visit the shops -- but stay off the side streets. You can have an enjoyable time or find it interesting. The shops are hurting for tourism dollars and they'll go out of their way to accomodate you.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I terribly respect the opinions of everyone who has chimed in here on visiting Juarez, as most of the folks who have voiced in live in El Paso and know quite a bit about going "over the line".

However...here is my respectful take on it...

I have noticed alot of the folks who have had problems or have witnessed problems in Juarez have many of their experiences from a) when they were teenages or young adults and were looking to go to Juarez to party, and b) were in Juarez largely to drink and party.

My general, gut feeling is that yes, if you are an American going into Juarez bars, etc., or just doing crazy youthful things that most young American males like to do (myself included when I was in my teens and young 20s), I could see how there might be some troubles in Juarez.

However, I am a gringo, speak very little Spanish, and I have gone to Juarez numerous times for several hours at a time. I have never encountered any trouble, other than aggressive (annoying?) panhandling. However, I have never gotten drunk there, I have never gone into a bar there or shot tequila, etc., and have never gone after dark.

My thoughts are this - and maybe I am just naive - I think you are absolutely fine in Juarez as an American visitor if -

a) You go during the day

b) Keep your money / valuables in your front pocket and do not "flash" them around

c) Maintain a respectful / low profile (eg: do not be boisterous, looking for trouble, etc.)...just be a tourist

d) Try to stay on the main, busy, well-traveled "touristy" areas

e) Don't drive. Walk, or if you are really concerned, take a border-jumper trolley.

f) Don't get drunk.

g) Don't go to the bars. (Stick the restaurants...there are tons of little great ones...mercado, shops, etc.)

h) Go during the day (did I mention this already)

**Don't get me wrong...I have consumed some cold Tecates over in Juarez, and generally indulge in a cerveza or two every time I go to Juarez. However, I do this in restaurants, not in bars where the atmosphere is quite a bit different.

Now when I am in El Paso, my desire to go to Juarez generally isn't huge. It is what it is...like Tijuana, it is a huge city that operates like a border town. Along with it, you have your expected Mexican border-town chaos, crime, dirtiness, etc. However, I love that I have been able to go there and see some of a "real" aspect of a foreign nation...not just the dressed-up resort areas.

Just know what it is when you are going into it...make smart decisions (like outlined above) and I think in general you'd be safe. I would feel comfortable - with me - taking my wife as I have in the past (would not of course have her go without me); I would likely take a 12-year-old, however, would never let him/her go anywhere without holding my hand. I would not take my under-2 year old kids though...probably not until they are at least ~12 years.

Anyway, just my 2-cents.

I think the best advice is Just dont go.. you can get what ever you need in DownTown El paso.. and heck its just like Juarez.. so you wont be missing anything. Just a lot safer... because your technically in America still.