It was a terribly putrid town then and Ive since gone back once (10 years post-NAFTA), and was equally unimpressed. This time, however, we are heading to San Carlos, about 8 hrs from PHX. The requests for money began immediately. It's open warfare between them.". Does it still exist, and how does one find it? Thanks for your blog and great photos. The agency's advisories add up to a no-go warning for more than half of Mexicos 31 states. The Caborca Cartel has sought reinforcements in its battle with the Guzmans, aligning with the Lnea, a group formed from the armed wing of the old Jurez Cartel. We saw it bubbling up out of the street and being hosed away at one point. Traveling to those states is as dangerous, according to the State Department's safety ratings, as traveling to Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. If you return to the United States from Mexico with these substances, you will not be given a prescription by a reputable doctor. We werent asked for a passport, or to declare anything. So far, the turf battles have not spilled over into residential areas in Santa Cruz County, Estrada says. Driving To Tijuana Mexico: What To Know Before Taking The Journey. Many high-quality goods are on display, as well as a variety of hand-made items. Nogales has an upbeat and festive vibe, and people are friendly and welcoming to one another. Once you are out of the United States, you have no rights. "You just don't know where the chase is going to go. The crime rate in the Guaymas San Carlos Area is very high. Nogales is a city in Sonora, Mexicos northernmost state, and it is situated in the countrys northwest. I am moving to Scottsdale this week (original east coast / 1 year in San Diego) and was considering spending time in Tucson / going to Nogales before I start my job. I found this info to be very helpful, as I will be in Southern AZ a week from now. More than 31 million Americans visited Mexico in 2016, the National Travel & Tourism Office says, and State Department data shows there were reports of 75 American homicide victims there. I was amazed with the scenery and was happy when I saw the wall. Once you leave the three or four tourist blocks, a whole different Nogales emerges. The goal of the operation is to increase the law-enforcement presence in the city and create deterrence, Ramrez says. I would also sometimes stay at a hotel on the Mexican side of the border, again alone, with no issues. ", The Australian government says there have been reports of sexual assault, extortion and robbery "being committed by individuals presenting themselves as police officers, sometimes driving automobiles resembling police vehicles. The residents are used to them, we arent. Id really like to travel further into Mexico and visit San Carlos, Kino bay, among many other places. To be safe, bring only what you need: U.S Customs and Border Protection has strict guidelines for bringing medicine across the border. Health care is cited by between 150,000 and 320,000 Americans as a reason for traveling abroad. My dentist expe.rance in Nogales was far better than what I had in the US, and a lot more affordable . State Officials Targeted as CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel Clash in Zacatecas, Mexico. Travelers come here to see the Ecological center of Sonora with a great variety of flora and fauna of the different ecosystems and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Each of the Texas communities with the lowest rates of officer fatalities and assaults is within reach of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is against the rules to bring any personal items. It shook residents who say the bus stop was a safe place frequented by women, children and families. We felt like we had done something wrong. You should have a great time at "La Roca",just south of the border and to your left. AndAmericans with plans to go to 11 other Mexican states should reconsider, the agency says. Friends and I go to Puerto Penasco a couple of times a year to fish (but its not about the fish). "There is too much violence in the city.". There is a separate line for those without passports though and it is usually slower. Even driving across, I have only been asked once for proof of car insurance and it was with a rental car. But due to poor border controls and a bad criminal situation in the city, you must always be on the alert. I havr stayed in several hotels there and many are so beautiful! ! I look nothing like her, but I assumed shes the only famous black woman hes familiar with. Uber in Mexico tends to be cheaper than in the U.S. Prices will vary, but plan to pay about $75-100 pesos ($3.50-5USD) for 20 minute rides. Nogales: downtown, yep Maybe the perwom whom assumed they were watch, could have a different look or outfit. The only shady people you have to watch for is some drug users near the border or crooked police. In the house, HSI special agents discovered a subterranean tunnel down to the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI). Because there are so many fakes on the market, you should only buy if you think you have negotiated a good price. There is no comparison!!! Be careful and pay attention to the sidewalks in Nogales. At the end of September 2021, the US Treasury Department sanctioned several individuals close to El Mayo, accusing them of trafficking "tons of fentanyl" from the Mexico border city of Nogales.. Sonora isnt the only home to violent crime in Mexico. Why are Criminal Dynamics Constantly Changing in Tamaulipas, Mexico? Re: Safety in Nogales, Mexico. The corridor is valuable because it remains one of the best ways to get drugs into the United States, with a combination of cities and roads on both sides of the border and the vast expanses in a harsh desert climate that makes it difficult for law enforcement to stop the smugglers. State Department officials declined to comment about the situation, saying only that they are closely monitoring the drug- related violence in Sonora. The group is a major smuggler of fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid flooding the US-Mexico border. Table 7: Teen Birth Rates Crime: There is a lower crime index in Nogales compared to the national average. Other cities.- Some other cities noted for their low crime rate are Uruapan, municipal head of Michoacn, La Paz, Nogales and others. I travel there frequently, at least once every month or two. Jen, A few kind words in Spanish wouldnt hurt to learn, either. The restriction means that no one else can take the medications you buy for them. However, CBP has discontinued the senior line although some still try it with the help of coyotes. The current travel alert expires in October, at which time officials must decide whether to reissue it and whether to revise any of the warnings. Cochise County officials are highly concerned about spill-over, even though nothing has happened, Cochise Sheriff Larry Dever says. Why no date? In addition, the rate of property crime was one-third that of the overall rate of crime in the state. This represented the lowest crime incidence . The violence perpetrated by the Chapitos and associates appears to be the source of tension within the Sinaloa Cartel, according to organized crime expert and journalist Anabel Hernndez, who spoke to InSight Crime at the beginning of 2021. U.S. government employees are not permitted to drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to "the interior parts of Mexico with the exception of daytime travel on Highway 15 between Nogales and Hermosillo," the State Department says. Its a town filled with ordinary people just trying to get by. Don't flash with valuables and cash, keep an eye on your belongings and you'll be safe. In 2010, the municipality had a population of 264,782 people spread out over 714.2 km2. Strolling through Tucson and Sedonas perfectly maintained sidewalks can spoil a person. Taxi drivers polite and fast. Locals reported hearing a burst of high-powered weapons. We go through Sonorito (south of Ajo, Az) without and time or hassle, in a van. Groups aligned with the Chapitos such as the Salazar and Gente Nueva as well as smaller cells like the Cazadores and the Rumas have a presence throughout almost the entire state and have been involved in acts of public violence, threats against locals and brutal murders. The city was founded in 1880 by a San Francisco merchant, Jacob Isaacson and called Isaactown. The staff was friendly and the food was good. And so far, no gunbattles or chases have spilled over the border into the United States. Juarez: historic downtown, yep Shopping good, pharmacy prices much cheaper than US (and same name brand meds). Theres a very rich and diverse culture just over the border. Each day, city, state and federal officers mobilize on patrols, set up road checkpoints and stop and search suspicious- looking vehicles. None of the threats have been real, and there is no curfew, says Ramrez, the police chief. Only brought one credit card, passport, and $40. There are numerous bars, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and curio stores in and around the downtown area. According to the Mexican Statistical Agency (INEGI) in Mexico there were a total of 36,773 homicides in 2020, according to the SESNSP there were a total of 34,555 murders that same year. Kidnapping is common in Nogales, people can be detained for a long time and forced to withdraw money from an ATM. Due to its location, Nogales is one of the most important ports of entry for U.S. tourists. will do. We ate twice in Nogales. the National Travel & Tourism Office says, and State Department data shows. It was great and I will definitely return! Bring pesos with you as there are a few points where they have protesters where a 20 peso bill would be very much appreciated. The annual rainfall for the municipality is 539.8 millimeters. I would say to everyone, no matter where you visit, always be aware of your surroundings, do your research. Staying in hotels. More help could come soon to Mexican law enforcement. Evidently our conversation partners were over the age of 62 because by the time we turned around, they had pushed their way up front as well. Its frustrating to read great articles like this and have no idea how old they are. Additionally, the Cartel fights and Cartel and they try to avoid getting innocents, especially the tourists, involved. . So this is how its done. The municipal capital, which is located in the municipalitys central business district, is located on the banks of the Nogales River. The municipality has a hot desert climate (Kppen climate classification BWh), with average temperatures of 27C in the day and 10C at night. Act accordingly. Our biggest issue traveling from Nogales to San Carlos, Mexico was that plumbing isnt the best. The culture, the food, the people were wonderful. I highly recommend it. Family of four estimated monthly costs: Mex$ 36,993. The Caborca Cartel currently maintains a presence in the northwestern part of Sonora, particularly in the municipalities of Caborca and Magdalena de Kino. Health care is cited by between 150,000 and 320,000 Americans as a for... Away at one point, CBP has discontinued the senior line although still. 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