This exciting city is also the most dynamic border crossing in the country. Being the operational center of many national and foreign companies, Tijuana receives thousands of tourists annually for business purposes. Tijuana also boasts a strong assembly plant Industry that attracts more and more companies and people to come. Its border crossing is consider the largest of the world; it counts for 60% of foreign travelers going into United States. Tijuana is not just about business, but has many interesting and fun attractions.
There are plentiful hotels, nightclubs, bars and some of the best restaurants in Mexico, which offer traditional Mexican dishes as well as an endless selection of international cuisine. Many also offer a variety of music, including Nortena bands from the northern regions of Mexico, romantic trios, mariachis, rock and roll and even rap. Several smaller clubs are becoming known for showcasing some of the hottest emerging bands.
Tijuana boasts one of the most shopped streets in the world, Avenida Revolucion. Everyday this area is bustling with activity. If you want it, you’ll find it here. Everything from leather goods, jewelry, and crafts to alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and clothing, and all at bargain prices. And don’t forget a photo with the local Zonkeys (donkeys painted to look like zebras). You’ll also find modern shopping malls and boutiques in the Zona Rio section of the city. Tijuana is considered a “free trade zone”. Shoppers are permitted to bring back up to $400 worth of goods if they are legal in the U.S. including one liter of alcohol for each person over 21. Please be aware that you cannot bring live or dead animals, Cuban cigars, and some meats, plus most vegetables back across the border. Please see “Crossing the Border” in our General Information section.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Tijuana is in the Pacific Time Zone. There is nothing laid back about Tijuana. This town is buzzing with activity and business. Local businesses don’t take siesta breaks, but work a more American-style 9 to 5 day, if not many more hours. Since the tourist come at all times of day and night, you’ll usually find businesses open early and closing late at night.
You can call (direct dialing) and fax to anywhere in the world from Tijuana, using the facilities at your hotel or even the phone booths on the street. Use a Ladatel pre-paid phone card for the booths. They can be purchased in most stores. Major US long distance companies have also established Mexican 800 numbers for making calls charged to “calling cards”. Beware of phone boxes which may charge ‘out of this world’ prices for a 10 minute call to the States.
Internet access is available in Tijuana, and some hotels may have access availability for their customers. There is are “Internet cafes” which assist both tourists & locals alike. The main post office is located on Calle 11 & Ave. Negrete. It is open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. You can also buy stamps at at the offices of CANACO on Revolucion & First. You will also find mailboxes throughout the city.
Tijuana has a modern international airport; Aeropuerto International Abelardo Rodriguez (66-83-2102) with over 50 commercial flights arriving daily. The airport is located on Carretera Internacional along the border east of downtown Tijuana in the Otay Mesa area. The airport is equipped with car rental agencies, restaurants, and shops. You’ll also find a bank and ATM on the premises. Buses leave from the airport to downtown or the Central Bus Station near the airport.
Culture
CECUT a world class cultural center with OMNIMAX theater. The cultural center has a palate of exhibitions that are worth to see like the painting by Diego Rivera a collecion of Zunigas works or if you like the dance and Drama they have presentations of the Russian Ballet or French play.
Mexitlan Park Cultural attaraction for tourist with 200 scale models of Mexico’s most famous sites of Mexico.
Other cultural attractions:
The Museum of Baja california
The Cathedral of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe build in 1902
The Teniente Guerrero Park
Museo Cera
One of Latin America’s only wax museums.
Open M-F 10am to 7pm, Sat. 10am to 8pm. Admission $1 U.S.
Calle 1 between Revolucion & Madero * Tel: (66) 88-2478
July 11 – Foundation of Tijuana
Festivities will occur throughout the month.
Late August / Early September – Tijuana Fair
A traditional Mexican fair held at the Agua Caliente racetrack.
TIJUANA History
In 1829 Sr. Santiago Arguello received the title of property to the twenty five thousand acre “Rancho Tia Juana” from Jose Maria Encendida, the Governor of both Californias, then under Mexican rule. In 1848 the Tijuana Valley became part of the International Border when Mexico lost Alta California (Northern California) in the war with the United States. This became a key factor driving it’s socioeconomic structure. Tijuana changed from a cattle pasturing area, to a customs site, to a thriving metropolis.
Urban settlement started in Tijuana (note the proper name is Tijuana, not Tiajuana as many visitors repeat) around 1889 when the heirs of Sr. Arguello and Sra. Augustin Olvera entered into an agreement to establish a basis for the development of the present city. The signing of their agreement on July 11, 1889 is considered the actual founding date of the city of Tijuana.
The future of the town as a tourism center was clear at the outset. During the last portion of the 19th century, visitors from California came to watch horse races and boxing matches, buy souvenirs, and enjoy the thermal waters.
Tijuana was also a small stage for the Mexican Revolution when revolutionaries loyal to Ricardo Magon took over the town in 1911. Shortly, thereafter, federal troops arrived and routed the rebels. San Diegans watched the battle from the safety of the international border.
The twenties changed Tijuana forever, actually it was the enactment of Prohibition in the U.S. which sent droves of Americans across the border to partake in legal drinking and gambling. Large and impressive casinos opened, like Agua Caliente in Tijuana.
International events in the 1940’s had a profound effect on Tijuana. Many American tourists were attracted to Tijuana’s nightlife, and the migration of Mexicans from other parts of the country increased considerably. Tijuana’s population tripled in that decade, from 22,000 to 65,000 in 1950. The 50’s saw a shift from the nightclub scene toward family-oriented tourism.
Currently Tijuana is again experiencing a dramatic demographic change. The present population is estimated to be between 1.8 and 2 million inhabitants, making the city the fourth largest in the country behind Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Tijuana is now the most crossed border in the world. Although tourism is a big part of this, Tijuana and it’s surrounding area has become a major player in NAFTA with new maquiladoras and industrial plants springing up every month.
TIJUANA Tourist Info
Shopping, restaurants, and nightlife! These seem to be the main attractions for most visitors to Tijuana.
Ave. Revolucion is the world’s busiest shopping street and once you get here you’ll see why. Merchants are set up at every available space to tempt your shopping will with blankets, leather, jewelry, traditional crafts, clothing, liquor, cigars, pharmaceuticals, almost anything you can think to purchase. You’ll find shops not only here, but spread out in all directions; anywhere a potential shopper might wander. Other area such as Zona Rio offer modern shopping malls.
Revolucion and Zona Rio both offer fine restaurants and sidewalk eateries. After dark beware of the crowds of young people crossing the border to partake in drinking and dancing at Tijuana’s inexhaustible amount of discos and bars. The drinking age in Mexico is only 18 year of age.
Tijuana’s activities aren’t only for the partiers and shoppers, sporting enthusiasts will find their share of excitement. Tijuana has a number of hotels with tennis courts and two golf courses for sporting fans. The Potros de Tijuana (Colts) also play Mexican League baseball here.
The city offers two bullfighting rings (plaza de toros). One you’ll find downtown off of Blvd. Agua Caliente and the other in Playas Tijuana on the way to Rosarito to the south called Plaza Monumental or the “bullring-by-the-sea”. It is a beautiful structure right on the U.S. border with an ocean view. Please call (66) 86-1510 for more information.
Greyhound racing is also a big hit in Tijuana. The Agua Caliente racetrack offers races daily (66-81-7811). The track was originally built for horse racing, but the ponies were discontinued a couple of years back. You’ll also find sports betting here and a restaurant.
If you are interested in wagering on these sports or any of the major U.S. sports, you’ll also find Caliente SportsBook wagering locations in Pueblo Amigo (Zona Rosa), and as you cross the border near the taxi stands. There are actually over 15 locations around the city, but these seem to have the easiest access.
Tijuana has much to offer to its visitors because of it fascinating atmosphere full of colorful thrills and cultural events. Jai Alai Palace where fronton was practiced since 1925 and in now a days is use as a theater and it counts with the Bazar of Mexico where many different mexican crafts and accesories are sold.
Tijuana cultural center CECUT The bullring El Toreo de Tijuana and The Bullring by the Sea in Playas de Tijuana. Where the bull fights are done during the summer every sunday. The tradicional fair of Tijuana from august to September that includes industrial, commercial and artistic expositions as well as many fun attractions and events such as the typical cock fights “palenque” with famouse mexican singers performing.
Avenida Revolucion is the tijuana’s downtown and it is the most visited street you can find everything you want there. All of its discotheques, gourment dinings and shopping stores are always busy and full of life. It seem like the socializing point for tourtist where they can enjoy listening to jazz, blues, salsa and more at the dance halls or at the many bars and night clubs the famous Avenida Revolucion offers.
Accommodations
Activities