How to Cross the Big Bend – Boquillas del Carmen Border to Go to Mexico for Lunch
Planning out how you can cross into Mexico from Big Bend via the Boquillas del Carmen border crossing?
Big Bend National Park is the best thing to do in western Texas, mainly because it is one of West Texas’s only things to do. Aside from the artsy Marfa, a random street festival in Alpine, and the near-daily gas station fill-ups, the drive through this stretch of road went primarily uninterrupted.
But one of Big Bend National Park’s most exciting things to do may be surprising. It’s not the beautiful Santa Elena Canyon or the sunset layers that form over the mountains but leave the country to Mexico…very briefly.
This is how you can walk across the Boquillas del Carmen border crossing and the Rio Grande to have lunch in Mexico! Plus, find out how else to best spend your time at Big Bend National Park.
Overview of Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park sits right along the edge of 118 miles of the Rio Grande, the river separating the borders of Mexico and the United States in southwestern Texas. It is also host to one of the smallest border crossings between the two countries: Boquillas del Carmen Border Crossing.
How Long Should You Spend in Big Bend National Park?
This insanely massive 800,000 acre National Park is one of the biggest in the country, and its size adds even more to its already remote location. Big Bend is also one of the least visited National Parks, only having seen ~500,000 visitors compared to, say, 4.5 million at Grand Canyon National Park.
This is not the type of national park that can be visited on a day trip from anywhere, being 4 hours from the nearest airport, 5 hours from El Paso, and 7 hours away from San Antonio. So I would spend at least two days in the park, and even three if you don’t get camping within park boundaries.
Related Post: New to camping? Check out this post on what to and not to bring camping
Tip: Fill up on gas. Between Highway 90 and Terlingua/Big Bend, there is ~90 miles with no service stops.
| 🏘️ WHERE TO STAY IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK (if you’re not into camping) |
| Super Cool Glamping Dome: Space Cowboys Mirror Pod (⭐New) Desert View with Outdoor Pool: Terlingua Ranch Lodge (⭐7.9) Resort with All Bells & Whistles: Lajitas Golf Resort (⭐8.2) |
Boquillas del Carmen Border Crossing: Day Trip to Mexico
Ready to tell your friends that you went to Mexico for the day? The Boquillas Port of Entry is one of the most unique things to do in any National Park. How often can you say you casually went to Mexico just for lunch?
This complete guide will detail what you need to know to get through Boquillas Crossing and what to do when you’re there.
What to Expect When Crossing the Big Bend Border Crossing
Do you Need a Passport For Boquillas Mexico?
Yes! A valid passport is required to cross the Boquillas Border Crossing. If you pass without proper documentation, you may have difficulty getting back in!
If you plan on staying overnight, you may need a temporary visa and an additional permit to park your car within Big Bend National Park boundaries.
Boquillas del Carmen Border Cross Opening Hours
Make sure to check the official National Park Service site here for schedule changes or any closures that may be occurring.
Winter Schedule(November 2 – April 30)
Open Wednesday through Sunday | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Summer Schedule(May 1 – November 1)
Open Friday through Monday | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
How long does it take to cross the Big Bend Border Crossing?
Getting in: Crossing the border into Mexico takes no time at all, and it might be one of the most chill land borders in the world.
Getting out: Plan accordingly. Crossing back into the United States can take very little time or a few hours. It depends on how many people are in line in front of you. Every person needs to call in to an immigration officer to have their documentation validated.
Bring Cash
No need to exchange currencies. US Currency is accepted, although bringing smaller bills is recommended. There is not much else to buy aside from souvenirs, ~$10 meals, and the optional boat and donkey ride for ~$10.
is boquillas mexico safe?
Yes, both crossing the border to Boquillas del Carmen and the town itself is very safe. Boquillas Mexico is very remote and cut off from the rest of Mexico, so it doesn’t really see the same troubles as some other places in Mexico.
Do I Need to Be Able to Speak Spanish?
No, you don’t need to speak Spanish. You will be able to get around very easily. The villagers of Boquillas Mexico solely depend on tourism and are very used to tourists from the USA coming in every day.
How to Get to the Town of Boquillas Del Carmen
Due to the Boquilla border crossing being one of the furthest points from a Big Bend National Park entrance, I saved this experience for my last day.
Stop 1: Where to Park
Park at the Boquillas Crossing parking lot near Boquillas Canyon. At the small US Customs building, park officials will ask if you have travel documents with you and tell you not to bring anything “natural” back, i.e., souvenirs made of animal, stone, certain wood.
Stop 2: How to Cross the Rio Grande
Then you have two options for the river crossings:
- Free: If the Rio Grande water levels are low, take off your socks and walk across! This is what we did. It was so funny to be walking in the middle of the Rio Grande at the same pace as the other option…
- The Boquillas International Ferry: This grand name really just represents a small rowboat for a $5 round-trip fee. It is maybe a 30-second rowboat ferry experience.
Stop 3: How to Get into Boquillas del Carmen
Welcome to the village of Boquillas del Carmen! Once across the river into the Mexican side, you again have two options:
- Free: walk the 1/2 mile dirt road to get to town. This path is very sandy, especially when it’s windy and trucks are riling up the dust.
- Ride a burro (donkey), horse, or truck: a Small fee ($3-$5) to town
Stop 4: Mexican Immigration Process
Before you get into Boquillas, you must stop at the Mexican border station, a white trailer situated before the small village begins. Get your passport stamped and pay a $3 Mexican protected area fee before you’re free to roam around. If they’re not open, then you can just walk into town.
What to Do in Boquillas Del Carmen?
Boquillas del Carmen is a tiny town of ~200 people. During COVID and the border closure, I heard that number dwindled to almost none before rebounding once the border opened again in November 2021. There is not much to do but eat, drink, walk around, and maybe find souvenirs.
Where to Eat in Boquillas del Carmen
There are only two restaurants to choose from, Jose Falcon’s Restaurant and Boquillas Restaurant Bar. Jose Falcon, where we went, has a beautiful patio view in the back.
Boquillas Del Carmen Village
Walking around after lunch, the villagers were all so friendly and trying to strike up conversations. The colorful buildings really pop against the tan backdrop of the desert.
How to Get Back into the USA from Boquillas Del Carmen?
Return the way you came. Road: by foot or donkey. River: by foot or boat. If you got a stamp on your way in, make sure to get a stamp on your way out.
There may be a line to get back to the American side. We waited for well over an hour before reaching the front of the line. National park rangers will ask to look at any souvenirs you may have bought. They will confiscate anything deemed illegal, i.e., souvenirs made of animal, stone, certain wood.
US Immigration Process
At this very official “US Immigration Office”, there is no official immigration officer in person, only a phone booth. One by one, people walk up to the phone and call a virtual officer using posted instructions.
The officer asks, “what were you doing in Mexico today?” I would never think I would respond with “I had lunch.”
Other Big Bend Things to Do
As promised, although the bulk of this post is dedicated to the Boquillas Crossing, there were a few other unique Big Bend places to visit. (I won’t go into specifics, so here is a more detailed guide: here)
Things to Do Within Big Bend National Park
There are three main areas to explore with a few lookouts and stops in between:
- Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive Region
- Santa Elena Canyon – A popular highlight
- Kayaking or Floating the Rio Grande – Watch for water levels. If too low: you get stuck every 10 feet. If too high: watch for the one class 4 rapid.
- Chisos Basin Area
- Lost Mine Trail – Panoramic views
- Window View Trail – Great for the sunset
- Rio Grande Village
- Rio Grande Hot Springs – Come early or late as this is very popular. I had some great hot spring conversations and even found a travel buddy to go to Mexico with!
- Boquillas del Carmen Border Crossing – Details above; you all know I loved it.
👉 Spend a day in the great outdoors experiencing the Chihuahua Desert during this canyon float tour
Things to Do Near Big Bend National Park
- Lajitas River Access: I tried kayaking, but the water levels were too low. I was scared of high water levels and the class VI rapid in Santa Elena Canyon.
- Terlingua Ghost Town: The liveliest ghost town around. Most people opt to stay here for the night.
Bucket List Worthy? Boquillas Del Carmen Border Crossing
Absolutely. You’re not going for the food or to learn about Mexican culture, but the whole experience of the Boquillas del Carmen Border Crossing was a blast. This was definitely the highlight of my time at Big Bend National Park.
Looking Where Else to Explore in Texas?
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Catherine Xu is the founder and author of Nomadicated, an adventure travel blog that helps travelers cross off their bucket list. Since discovering traveling in 2015, she has lived and journeyed to 65 countries across 5 continents and vanlifed the west coast USA for 2+ years. These days, she splits her time in Southeast Asia and California while sharing her travel stories and resources based on first-hand experiences. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.