Visitors

San Luis, Arizona, is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona, it is located at the Southwest corner of the State of Arizona and right at the border with San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico and California. Visitors cross the border between both cities on a daily basis, creating a sense of fluidity that impacts all aspects of life, culture, language, heritage, environment and most importantly economy. Shopping in San Luis provides a range of diverse retails stores that are located in the downtown adjacent to the border. Shopping in the Mexican border town is always a favorite, and the open air markets in these town offers Mexican souvenirs, dentist, doctors, and pharmacies within walking distance from the border. San Luis rich heritage and cultural appeal makes this city a unique community. San Luis border celebrations include the 4th of July event promises to be filled with patriotic fun, including live music and one of the best fireworks display in the Desert Southwest! The off-road expo show is held in May and provides a range of live music, beer garden, food court, and the best toys around.

Our sister City of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico welcomes all visitors to their safe and beautiful city. San Luis R.C. has a variety of cultural activities, events, and night clubs. In addition, commercial and medical facilities are located close to the border for visitor's convenience.

San Luis is the gateway to the Sea of Cortez where, "Golfo de Santa Clara" is merely seventy miles south of the border that offers abundant recreational opportunities such as recreational driving, sailing, swimming and great seafood restaurants. The new coastal highway "La Costera" an 83 mile toll road connects Puerto Peṅasco "Rocky Point" to El Golfo de Santa Clara making a safe passage for visitors wanting to experience beautiful beaches, quality resorts, cruises, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and the famous Harley Davison bike rally among the few activities to experience.

Travel Times:

  • El Golfo: 1 hour
  • Puerto Peñasco: 2 ½ hours

Border Cross Information:

Passport

Citizens of Canada and other countries should bring passports from their country of origin - plus a visa if one was required for your original entry into the United States.

U.S. citizens should bring one of the following:

  • U.S. passport - This is the internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person's identity and nationality, accepted for travel by air, land and sea.
  • U.S. passport card - This new, limited-use travel document fits into your wallet and costs less than a passport, but is only valid for travel by land and sea.
  • Enhanced driver's license - Several states and Canadian provinces are issuing special drivers licenses that denote both identity and citizenship specifically for cross-border travel by land or sea. Check Web site below for issuing states.
  • Trusted traveler program cards - Enrollment cards from the NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST programs are issued to approved, low-risk travelers for travel by land or sea or to airports with a NEXUS kiosk.
  • U.S. and Canadian citizen children under the age of 16 may also present an original or copy of a birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
  • U.S. lawful permanent residents document requirements have not changed - present a permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.
  • Other requirements may apply for groups such as Native Americans, military traveling on official orders or merchant mariners - check with authorities in advance.

Items allowed back to the United States:

  • U.S. residents must declare purchases when re-entering the country, even from a day trip to Mexico.
  • If you have not used your duty-free exemption in the past 30 days, you may bring back $800 worth of items for your personal or household use, including - if you're 21 -- not more than one carton of cigarettes and 100 non-Cuban cigars and one liter of alcohol.
  • If you have used any part of your duty-free exemption within 30 days, different rules apply. If in doubt, ask U.S. border officials before you cross and buy more.
  • Prescription drugs:
  • As a matter of law, U.S. law prohibits "importation" of prescription drugs from outside the United States. But as a matter of enforcement, an exception is generally made for declared purchases of FDA-approved drugs in amounts reasonable for "personal use" (usually a 60 to 90-day supply).
  • If your prescription contains a narcotic or other controlled substance, you may need a prescription from a Mexican doctor to purchase it - and one from a U.S. doctor to bring it back across the border. For details, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website and the U.S. Customs and Border Control website.
  • There are risks associated with buying drugs in Mexico. Before you do, talk to your doctor and do some homework to find out how to minimize those risks.

For more information about traveling to Mexico, please visit the following: