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.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The municipality of Mexicali has a population of around 1.1 million people (2020), of whom about 800,000 people live in the city proper. Mexicali has grown from a small border town to a modern city with a sizable middle class and an even bigger upper class. The standard of living is among the highest in Mexico. It is recognized in Mexico for its sizable investment in education and low unemployment. It is a progressive city with main industry that has gone from agricultural to industrial.
Taxis are abundant in the city. You may either call for a site taxi (taxi de sitio) which are called beforehand and they can take you where you ask, or route taxis (taxi de ruta), which, like buses, have specific routes which they take. There are also multiple public buses, which can range from old school refurbished school buses with no air circulation to brand new metrobuses with air conditioning and television screens, which are more expensive.
The Asociación China de Mexicali (中華會館), located on Avenida Benito Juárez near the intersection with Altamirano, is one of Mexicali's primary and oldest Chinese associations. Upstairs, there are portraits of dozens of Chinese immigrants who have lived in Mexicali. There are also murals celebrating Mexicali's Chinese heritage, dragon costumes for use during festivals, and numerous classrooms. It is often locked and closed during weekdays, but usually open on weekend mornings. 1 Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catedral de Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe), José María Morelos 192. Mexicali's oldest cathedral. (updated Apr 2015) 2 Museo Interactivo Sol del Niño.
Aguilas de Mexicali – Go and see Mexicali's own baseball team in the 1 Estadio Casas Geo. Soles de Mexicali – Come and see Mexicali's renowned basketball team. Golf – 2 Club de Golf Campestre has an 18-hole course that features huge fairways, adorned by water hazards and sand traps that lead to excellent, quick greens, themselves often surrounded by more water and sand traps.
The selection of cuisine in Mexicali is very diverse. The Chinese contributed greatly to Mexicali cuisine with a very ample variety of dishes. Their food is as traditional to Mexicali as carne asada and its Chinese food is labeled as the best on the country, on par with that of San Francisco, and many tourists come to taste it. Mexicali Chinese food is its own style, different than Chinese food in China, or even across the border in the US. Good beer is another Mexicali tradition. World class beers have been produced in Mexicali since the early history.
The following venues are located around the intersection of México & Reforma, near the main cathedral. 1 La Conga. Live norteño bands playing mostly narcocorridos. (updated May 2023) 2 Miau Miau. Table dancing. (updated May 2023)
While Mexicali has saved itself from the severity and degree of violence along the US-Mexico border and the insecurity is not as big as that of Tijuana, there is still potential for it to become dangerous, along with the violence that a regular metro city has such as petty theft, violence, and gang-related incidents. Avoid giving out money to beggars and homeless people standing in the street or along sidewalks and avoid buying things off the street to avoid trouble later. To avoid becoming part of the ongoing violence, do not buy illegal drugs. Overstocking yourself with prescription drugs will also warrant getting checked.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Mexicali typically sees ~44°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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