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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Los Algodones
Vicente Guerrero
A half-day or full-day trip from Yuma for dental or medical care, not a base: walk across the border, see the town in a few hours, return by evening.
Los Algodones, the northernmost town in Mexico, is a border medical and dental tourism hub with about 600 dentists serving 7,000 residents. Almost all clinics are bilingual and have US phone numbers. The walkable town centre is four blocks wide; most visitors cross from Andrade, California, park on the US side and walk in. One night is enough only if you have a multi-day procedure.
- Country
- Mexico
- Local name
- Vicente Guerrero
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MXN 500–1,000 excl. treatment · Mid MXN 1,000–2,000 excl. treatment · High MXN 2,000+ excl. treatment (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- Emergency 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dental cleaning | MXN 500–1,500 |
| Prescription glasses (frames + lenses) | MXN 1,000–3,000 |
| Street taco | MXN 15–30 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | MXN 15–25 |
| Taxi within town | MXN 50–100 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YUM · Yuma International Airport
- About 16 km (10 mi) east; taxi or rideshare to the Andrade border crossing, then walk across.About 10 mi (16 km) east; taxi or rideshare to the Andrade border crossing, then walk across.
Typical fares
- Yuma airport → Andrade border
- about MXN 300–800 taxi (check)
- Parking Andrade, per day
- about MXN 100–200 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The entire town is walkable: all clinics, pharmacies and shops are within a four-block radius. No public transport needed.
See and do
Known for
- Dental and medical tourism
- Optical shops and pharmacies
- Bilingual clinics with US phone numbers
- Walkable border town
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yuma, Arizona | Walk across the Andrade border crossing, then taxi or bus (Blue Route 5) about 16 km (9.9 mi)Walk across the Andrade border crossing, then taxi or bus (Blue Route 5) about 9.9 mi (16 km) | About 30 min |
| Mexicali | Car via Federal Highway 2, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| San Felipe | Car via Federal Highway 5, about 2 h 30 min | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few small hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of the border; most visitors stay in Yuma.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kweh-stah |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés?ah-blah een-glehs |
| Where is the dentist? | ¿Dónde está el dentista?don-deh es-tah el den-tees-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- US port of entry hours: 6AM–10PM PST daily; plan your return before closing.
- Park on the US side (Andrade, CA) and walk across; driving into Mexico requires Mexican car insurance.
- Carry a passport or passport card to re-enter the US.
- Summer temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F); bring water and sun protection.
Very safe for tourists during the day; the main risk is heat exhaustion in summer. Keep your passport with you and respect US port-of-entry hours.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Los Algodones yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Dental and medical tourism
- Optical shops and pharmacies
- Bilingual clinics with US phone numbers
- Walkable border town
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Los Algodones, revision 4616170 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4616170
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Los AlgodonesVicente Guerrero
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
US Consulate General in Tijuana (check address); Canadian consulate in Tijuana; most other countries have embassies in Mexico City.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/los-algodones). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.