Algadones Mexico Border Crossing | The Wait Is Often Long

Crossing back into the U.S. through the Algadones Mexico border is often torturous.

Walking back through the Algadones border gate can often last over an hour. Several years ago... Mexico took pity on the Gringos and put in a shaded walk way with nice benches. As you do the sit and stand routine, many vendors will pass buy... hoping to catch you in a generous mood and add some of their wares to your last minute shopping.

Planning to stay longer than a few hours in Mexico? We do the Sunday afternoon crossing in our truck about eight times a year. Our travels to El Golfo de Santa Clara are usually over a long holiday weekend which leaves us little choice but to cross at the worst time of the week.

We have made the pilgrimage to the border as early in the day as possible (which generally means we hit the crossing line about 1 p.m.) This usually works out okay in the early fall and late spring months.
But... November through March are brutal for crossing.

We crossed after a long Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday. The wait time??? About 3 Hours!

Positives: Bathrooms are available at a few places for a fee. Shopping is always easy from your car window as the vendors are walking up and down the line... for miles.

I often hop out and cruise up to the main drag... to get supplies. This can include liquor, medicine and if you smoke... very good prices on cigarettes. We try to make the best of a bad situation.

Of course... I carry my trusty mp3 player to keep me entertained. Their is usually a large group of us in several vehicles, so 3 way radios became a must.

The heartbreak of this long, dusty... boring traffic jam? You can touch the U.S. border just a bit outside the car window. :(

Travel to Los Algodones, Baja, Mexico

Just 15 miles outside of Yuma is the border crossing into Mexico at Los Algodones. The weather is hot and most tourists don't bother with this little out of the way town, but you will find bargain shopping even better in the summer weather.

The winter months are the tourist season in this area, so summer income is very lean. We joke with the locals... we not only want Walmart prices, (local joke) but we want our summer price discount as well. The shop keepers are all very cheerful and want to make a sale. It just isn't polite not to bargain.

If you are headed to the Southwest U.S for Summer Vacation and are traveling anywhere near Yuma, Arizona... which is a wet spot on the road from Phoenix to San Diego... and, if you ever dreamed of shopping in Mexico, here is your chance.

My Father-In-Law found dentures in Algodones 1/2 the price he would have paid in the states... I mean one-half of what the insurance covered price would have been. And he really liked the dentist! Which is hard to believe... he is very particular.

Hubby and I stroll around the shops with coffee from the local Cafe' House, which is very much like a Starbucks... only very cheep in cost...not quality.

I am headed to get my glasses next week. I had my optometrist write up a very detailed prescription and the optical stores in Aladones have all the latest styles.

Hubby and I don't have health insurance, so we have almost all our pharmacy prescriptions filled in Algodones. It's not a far drive, and the prices are so much lower. I know you have probably heard that prescription medication may not be of the highest quality. Gee... I don't know of anyone who ever had a problem. And my doctor in the states agrees that prescription prices are way too high for the uninsured. So if I can save a little cash, and have a nice day trip once a month... Well, you get the picture!