Explore The north
Two downtown toll bridges serve one-way traffic in and out of Ciudad Juárez from neighbouring El Paso, Texas. Northbound vehicles cross the Paseo del Norte Bridge from Juárez, while southbound vehicles use the Stanton St/Lerdo Bridge (tolls: cars US$2.50; pedestrians US$0.50). If you’re on foot you can enter on either bridge (Paseo del Norte is best); coming back you must use the Paseo del Norte crossing (cars M$20, by foot M$3). If you’re planning to venture deeper into Mexico, be sure to visit one of the immigration offices ( for border formalities). Additionally, there are two bridges that serve two-way traffic. The Bridge of the Americas (free) lies 4km east of the city centre on the edge of the Zona Pronaf, an area of sheltered tourist development a world away from the sleazy machinations of downtown Juárez. East of here lies the Yselta (Zaragoza) Bridge (same tolls), well connected to the main highways and good for a speedy escape. All are open 24 hours.
Once across either of the two downtown bridges, taxis to the main bus terminal should be around M$100, or M$250 to the airport; alternatively, you can catch a local bus from the corner of Guerrero and Villa near the market for M$5. The city’s Terminal de Autobuses (t 656/613-6037) lies 5km from the centre at Flores and Borunda, and has services to both US and Mexican cities. You can take a direct bus to the terminal from the El Paso Greyhound station with Autobuses Americanos for US$6, or a taxi from El Paso airport for US$48 (it’s US$42 to downtown Juárez). To get to the border from the bus terminal, take a taxi (M$100) or any local bus marked “Centro”.
Arriving at the Aeropuerto Internacional Abraham González, 14km south of the border, you’ll find ATMs and all the major car rental firms, including Budget (t 656/633-0954). Taxis into town or to the border should be around M$250. Taxis to and from El Paso airport are a hefty US$60/M$600. Aeroméxico runs a free shuttle bus to the Camino Real Hotel in El Paso (6 times daily) for its passengers; Viva Aerobus charges its passengers US$10 for rides to El Paso (to Civic Center Plaza).
The Ciudad Juárez tourist office is inconveniently located in the Pronaf zone at Av de las Américas 2551, just across the Bridge of the Americas (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat & Sun 10am–2pm; t 656/611-3174, w www.visitajuarez.com).
Read More
