So what about Juarez?

I met a group of people for business in El Paso and expected we would go over the border for a dinner and a short drive around to see a little of the Mexican border town of Juarez. We have done this on business trips to Del Rio as we would have dinner over the border in Ciudad Acuna. To my surprise, the locals in our group discouraged us from venturing over the border, even for a group dinner and short visit. They suggested that it is not very safe and that reentry can take 2 hours or more. I do not know the locals very well who advised us of this. Would you agree with their assessment? Thanks. (We will be returning several times).

So what about Juarez?

Yes, there has been a lot of violence in the border towns lately. I would not put myself at risk, just to experience another culture. With the new immigration protests, who knows what you%26#39;ll experience now.

So what about Juarez?

The slowness of crossing the border is a real problem. It would be an all day trip if you drove.

Well, I%26#39;ve never driven over the border from El Paso. But there is a trolley that takes you from downtown El Paso into Juarez and back, with NO problems with violence or with re-entering the United States. I%26#39;ve taken the trolley as a day trip with friends, and even when it was just two of us girls, we never felt scared or threatened in Juarez. Now, going at night or driving your own vehicle might be different, but we had a great time there during the day.

Juarez is no Disneyland, keeping your path on the beaten path is my suggestion always for those not accustomed to adventure. I could of course say when in Paris,Tolouse or Barcelona you will be profiled much faster by professional thieves or thugs as compared to Juarez. Juarez is no where near the danger level of any major metropolitan city that I%26#39;ve been to world wide. Los angeles is much more dangerous than Juarez so long as you don%26#39;t drive into a block that caters to recreational drug users. All of Mexico is a great place, just use the same common sense as you would in Manhattan. Don%26#39;t listen to your friends, family, or business associates, enjoy Juarez, and if your single you might very well meet a nice lady! My childhood buddy by chance met a wonder local babe and ended up marrying her. sounds like your business buddies are afraid of life. Good luck in your travels, the danger in mexico is the hearts of the women you meet.

ramon

Planning trip to Chihuahua and the Chepa to Copper Canyon.

Does anyone have any suggesitons at to how best to cross the border into Mexico? Any tips on how best to cross back to the US with out all the long wait?

Some one said they heard of a location just West of the city that is open for crossings.

In addition I have read that you need to go to the Greyhound Bus station in El Paso and then take the $5 bus to Juarez , cross over, get your tourist card then take a taxi to the main Bus Terminal in Juarez for trip to Chihuahua.

Thank you.

you%26#39;ve probably heard about the santa teresa port of entry. that%26#39;s just west of el paso, in new mexico.

i don%26#39;t go to juarez anymore----it%26#39;s too easy to get caught in crossfire! el paso is one of the safest cities in the country. anything you could get in juarez, you can get in el paso (almost! ;))

many of the restaurants in juarez now have locations in el paso.

Juarez is as unsafe as every other city on the world, you should be just fine, the lines at the bridges are right now aprox 35-50 min in the late afternoon. As far as food Juarez is much better than El Paso 90% of the time in taste, even though there are the same places. I live in Juarez and work-study in El Paso so I know what I am talking about, most of the bad things you see on tv are magnified, just as in every other city avoid the conflictive neighbors and don%26#39;t trust too much in people and thats it.

Being a El Paso native I have walked , driven and ridden the trolley into Juarez.

I enjoyed the trolley most as well as felt the safest. The trolley cost is about $5 and you can shop, eat, whatever, getting off and on at designated stops and times.

Driving is another story, it can be chaotic, but if you can keep your eyes on the road it%26#39;s not any different than driving in rush hour in any large city (there are wacky drivers anywhere you go). As far as commute time, naturally the busiest and longest waits at the bridge are going to be at rush hours.

I wouldn%26#39;t go over at night unless I was with someone that is familiar with the current night life and the reputation of the intended destination.