INTRODUCTION
Curio shops go on for about six city blocks.
Photo contributed by photo by Mary Reynolds
In spite of the recent warnings by the United States government regarding violence from warring drug cartels in Mexico, the crossing at Los Algodones, Mexico has remained fairly quiet. It is still one of the most popular crossings along the Arizona – Mexico/Sonora state borders for its inexpensive medicine and medical/dental care than for its souvenirs. It is eight miles from Yuma, at the California/Arizona borderline where thousands of winter visitors have continued to travel in search of cheaper medications, cheaper dental work and in spite of tighter security.
Los Algodones has more pharmacies within the first four blocks of crossing from the U.S. Port of Entry than in any town in Arizona. Dozens of dentists, optometrists, and medical doctors as well as licensed pharmacies line the streets. The curio shops are practically incidental to the town that has made its name for being so close to the U.S. Pure economics have led Los Algodones merchants toward healthcare which has fared well for both the visitor and the provider.
ATTRACTIONS
Beyond Los Algodones are numerous small villages and peculiar hillsides, but the real scenic attraction lies along the coastline of the Sea of Cortez. Although off-road experts will argue that it’s the Glamis Dunes that are “the bomb,” the Gulf of Mexico offers some awesome photographic opportunities at sunset. From the running of the grunions (fish that throw themselves on the shore) to the huge shells that can be found in the sand, Mexican beaches are picturesque and relatively quiet.
The Colorado River runs all the way to the Sea of Cortez and if you drive through Los Algodones you can go 70 miles to reach it through small fishing villages like El Golfo, and farther beyond, Rocky Point. These areas offer camping, RVing and fishing in popular recreation areas. The beaches are pristine in a way that is unseen in the U.S. and there are several areas that allow for privacy and enjoyment for walking, driving or just watching the water.
By: Mary Reynolds
Pharmacy in Algodones.
Photo contributed by Mary Reynolds
Land (and sea) travelers between the United States, Mexico and Canada finally have some definitive rules to go by for crossing the border next year. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State announced in March that June 2009 was “D-day” as far as needing specific identification to get back into the U.S. once travelers crossed the border. The final ruling for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires approved secure documentation denoting citizenship and identity, or else entry will be refused (or at least, severely scrutinized).
As of June 1, 2009 WHTI-compliant documents will include the passport book, the passport card, the enhanced driver’s license (available only in certain states) military I.D., NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card (for frequent land border crossers), U.S. Merchant Mariner card or Native American Tribal photo I.D. A simple driver’s license with a birth certificate is no longer going to cut it. This will be especially important for winter visitors on daily excursions to Mexican border towns for shopping, filling prescriptions and sight seeing.
If travelers already have a valid passport, they will have no issues crossing by any method—land, sea or air. However, those who are applying for documentation now have some alternatives to consider.