Last updated: November 26, 2021
Thing to Do
Visit Boquillas, Mexico
NPS / A. Gilliland
Visiting the tiny village of Boquillas, Mexico through the park's Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry is an option for visitors possessing a valid passport.
Park at the Boquillas Crossing parking lot near Boquillas Canyon. After passing through the port of entry visitors are ferried across the Rio Grande on a small rowboat for a modest fee ($5 round-trip). Walking across the river is permitted only at the Boquillas Crossing, but is not recommended if the river level is high.
Once across the river visitors have the option of walking to the village (1/2 mile) or paying an additional fee to ride on a burro, horse, or in a vehicle. Local guides are available. Visitors are required to check in with Mexican immigration officials upon arrival in Boquillas, and pay a small entrance fee ($3) to the Mexican Protected Area that Boquillas is situated in. A small wrist bracelet is your receipt for the entrance fee. Visitors planning to stay overnight in Mexico will need to apply for a temporary visa. Secure overnight parking at the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry may be available.
The Boquillas Port of Entry is operated cooperatively by the National Park Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The facility is staffed by National Park Rangers who can assist travelers with information about visiting the area. Proper documentation is required to cross. U.S. and Canadian citizens can present a valid Passport or Passport Card to cross at this Class B Port of Entry. To cross at the Port of Entry, travelers will interact with a customs officer through a virtual kiosk and document scanner.
- Learn more about visiting a border area.
- For more information about restaurants; camping; lodging; local handicrafts; activities, and history visit Boquillas.org.
Details
Activity
Arts and Culture
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Day
Normal Operating Hours of the Boquillas Crossing are as follows:
Winter Schedule
(November 2 - April 30)
Wednesdays through Sundays
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Summer Schedule
(May 1 - November 1)
Friday through Monday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Accessibility Information
A trip to the village of Boquillas, Mexico is not fully accessible, and could prove challenging for some visitors with mobility concerns.
After passing through the NPS Port of Entry office, visitors must walk down a sandy path to the edge of the Rio Grande. A rowboat must be boarded for the short trip across the Rio Grande. Once across the river visitors have the option of walking to the village (1/2 mile along a sandy route) or paying an additional fee to ride on a burro, horse, or in a vehicle. Local guides are available.
In the village, visitors can visit two small restaurants, shop for local crafts. The walking surface is a combination of bare ground, and flagstone areas.
After passing through the NPS Port of Entry office, visitors must walk down a sandy path to the edge of the Rio Grande. A rowboat must be boarded for the short trip across the Rio Grande. Once across the river visitors have the option of walking to the village (1/2 mile along a sandy route) or paying an additional fee to ride on a burro, horse, or in a vehicle. Local guides are available.
In the village, visitors can visit two small restaurants, shop for local crafts. The walking surface is a combination of bare ground, and flagstone areas.