Capital city of Baja California, Mexico
Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mexicali (also known informally as "Chicali") is the capital of the state of Baja California in Mexico, directly across the border from Calexico, California, United States. Its proximity to the United States has made it a very popular tourist destination, especially for day-trippers. Growing violence has curtailed that traffic, although Mexicali remains safer than other large border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Catedral de Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe
Mexicali's oldest cathedral.
Scientific and Interactive Museum fun for children and adults. Interactive Science, Technology, Arts and Environment Center.
Bullring with frequent bullfights with toreros from around Latin America and Spain.
Mexicali's biggest park along with its city zoo.
Mexicali's second biggest park with lake.
State Art Center: see art exhibitions, musical concertos and recitals among other things.
City Art Center: see art exhibitions, musical concertos and recitals among other things.
The states theater with many shows throughout the year.
The University of Baja California's museum with exhibits throughout the year.
Mexicali's Culture House, with interactive art workshops and exhibitions.
Mexicali's Hall of Fame, with notable figures from throughout the city and state.
Where Mexicali's fine arts groups are located.
Mexicali's newest and most modern park.
Museum about the Chinese community in Mexicali and its food.
Home to Baja California's state legislature, governor's palace, and state supreme court, as well as the Mexicali city hall (ayuntamiento). Brief tours of the Baja California legislature's chambers are available upon request (ask for the public/media relations spokesperson to give you a tour).
You can admire the town and its surroundings from this beautiful natural setting. The dam was inaugurated on September 23, 1950 and has a capacity of 230 m³/sec and has a height of 42.10 m and covers .
Cañón Tajo, crowned by the “Trono Blanco”—the highest monolith in Mexico with a height of - provides majestic panoramic views and is visited by premiere mountaineers from around the world. It is ideal for rock-climbing, hiking, rappelling, canoeing, and panoramic photography. There are also the Laguna Hanson and the Cañón de Llanos, sites that offer a place for a variety of activities including kayaking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing, and spelunking.
Here the past meets the present in an extensive display of prehistoric rock carvings and cave paintings, such as the famous “Diablito” (Winter Solstice). This place is also excellent for hiking, a photography expedition, and spotting a variety of flora and fauna.
Everything necessary for freshwater fishing and small game hunting, as well as being the ideal site for kayaking in tranquil waters, hiking, panoramic photography, and birdwatching. Ideal for families, groups or individuals who enjoy the scenic outdoors.
Pool, kiddy pool, sand volleyball court, basketball court, soccer field, children's playground, barbeque pits. Restaurant-bar with billiards, karaoke, space for events; bathrooms with showers. Lifeguard, security. Capacity for 1,500 persons. Open year round.
Beautiful sand dunes that are the ideal place for riding motorcycles, ATVS, and sand buggy's.
The highway coming down into the Mexicali Valley is an impressive drive. It is a steep 900 m (3000 ft) drop on a new and well-designed highway. Two places unique in all the world that offer spectacular panoramas of natural beauty. Besides being ideal places for flying on a delta winged or a hang glider, cycling and off-road racing are also popular here.
21st-century bowling with a club feel.
José Gerardo Zamora.
Victor Cervantes.
龍珠酒家
Open since about 1938, this is everybody's beloved Cantonese hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
This corner place is great if you are craving some crunchy nachos or some rich buttery pancakes, if you're not already having some migas (or maybe to go along with them!).
Pretty sleek and modern Chinese restaurant with all your favorites like the sticky sweet and sour chicken.
Big dining room with tile floors where you can enjoy suckling pig or roast duck or camarones, just maybe apply some smelling salts if visiting the bathroom.
Serves large portions and brings in a lot of people. Watch out for the occasional lion dance.
Yet another of the same establishments for getting your comida China on. Features some set plates and also helado (ice cream) to savor as you take in the TV screens and photograph canvasses on the walls. A full vegetarian menu.
A spinoff of P.F. Chang's (or is it the other way around?), as in classy Chinese dining at a price.
Smaller establishment but otherwise seemingly identical to the other Chinese options. Try some fish and tofu soup.
Choose your favorite platillo with a mountain of rice and then go home a sassy cat.
There are some delectable chilaquiles and huevos rancheros to be had here.
A stone's throw away from Las Campanas, this has a dependable cadre of breakfast and lunch choices, though can be a bit spicy.
One of those old stand-by Mexican restaurants where you can get quality food whether it's a taco plate or carne asada tampiquena and admire traditional decor inside.
Traditional Mexican food and a compelling buffet for the hungrier guest, whether it's breakfast or dinner. Save some room for dessert.
A franchised restaurant with sparkling clean dining room and plates that may be a bit minimalist but are high on presentation.
Try a deluxe shrimp cocktail or ceviche or seafood platter.
Here you can pretend you are Gunter or Hannelore as you savor wurst or kartoffeln in this restaurant with distinctive German architecture.
Get ready for some little cutlets of meat or paella and a glass of wine as you experience this tapas bar and restaurant with garden.
Here you'll find enchantment in Brazilian fare both buffet-style and select presentation of juicy cuts of meat brought to your table. Or, if you want to save a buck or two, there is a Sirloin Stockade buffet next door.
Live norteño bands playing mostly narcocorridos.
Table dancing.
Its earthy ochre tones add a nice touch to the appearance.
This one will probably look pretty good to the driver coming into town.
This one will make you feel like you're staying in an Arabian palace with its Middle Eastern motif, but it's kind of like a love motel in the middle of nowhere so there's that.
Pool and restaurant on-site. Has a lot of wood beam architecture.
Located 70 m (230 feet) from the border crossing.
Nothing too terribly exciting here, but has a restaurant that serves breakfast.
Motor lodge type of place with continental breakfast included.
Practical hotel with inside corridors and a restaurant.
This is a pretty classy choice for Mexicali, as is the case with most Araiza properties typically. It has a restaurant, fusion cafe, and a bar, plus pool/hot tub/gym for the recreation-minded.
Another Araiza property with a big pool and restaurant and gym to keep guests entertained.
With its vibrant colors and height, this hotel will probably catch your gaze when driving along Hwy 5. Has a restaurant, pool, and gym.
This place is inviting enough with its lush pool and garden filled courtyard and generally relaxed ambience.
Cozy place with pool and dining area.
Shops such as boutiques, hair salons, jewelry stores, Chinese-themed stores, food court, Coppel Stores, Ley Stores, Sears Department Stores, etc.
Shops such as clothing, boutiques, cellular phones, furnishings, and food court.
Restaurants, jewelry stores and flagship store Sanborns.
A Chinese store offering Chinese groceries, utensils, and newspapers. Located on Bulevar Mateos near the intersection with Avenida Benito Juárez (look for Chinese-style architecture and green roofs).
By foot
Many people drive to the border, park on the US side, and walk across. There are many lots available for this, which charge US$4-9 a day.
By plane
In addition, Mexicali has access to the Imperial County Airport IPL, north across the border from Mexicali with flights from Los Angeles and Phoenix on Southern Airways.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Mexicali · Regional · MXL
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