Attractions in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: What to do and where to go

Paquime

The city of Paquime is home to majestic ruins constructed by an almost unknown merchant civilization, who after having a boom period, between 1200 and 1400 A.D, later abandoned their site in the late 15th century. The ruins are located in the middle of the desert and consist of a long chain of interconnected rooms, built with thick adobe walls and curious mushroom-shaped doors. The structures are ancient and tower 6 or 7 stories high, with walls and towers for protection and defense.

Salamayuca Desert

The desert has impressive, white sand dunes that ebb and flow with the will of the wind. When blowing, it creates magical crystal curtains that cause a unique optical effect, only when a full moon is on the horizon. Hundreds of visitors come from the surrounding areas, hypnotized by the grandeur of the desert and by the beauty of the landscape. The Salamayuca desert, located just 29 miles from Juarez, is the perfect getaway for lovers of extreme sports, such as sand-boarding and sand-biking.

Chamizal Park

This beautiful natural park was created for the amusement of locals and visitors. It has paths for skaters and large open spaces to play soccer or ball games. There is a swimming pool, as well as monuments and an archeology museum. The land, on which the park stands, was fought over for more than 100 years between the U.S and Mexico.

Hermanos Escobar Central Park

Archeology Museum

The Archeology Museum is located in Chamizal Park and displays several pre-Hispanic items. Exhibited in the gardens are gorgeous reproductions of original masterpieces, such as Tula warriors, Aztec jaguars, Maya sculptures and Olmec heads. Displayed in the exhibition halls you will find wonderful paintings and sculptures.

Guadalupe Mission   

Erected along the U.S - Mexico border and named "The Queen of the Missions" by the historian Cleofas Calleros, Guadalupe Mission is a stunning building with strong adobe walls and superb wooden beams. It is decorated with Indian details and home to the beautiful wooden statues of "La Inmaculada Concepcion" (The Immaculate Conception) and "La Dolorosa " (The Pain). They were both sculpted in Europe even before the construction of this Franciscan mission. When visiting Ciudad Juarez, a day trip here is well worth your while.

When the Sumas and Mansos natives realized the great potential of cattle farming and agriculture and because of the high regard they had for the missionaries, they asked Friar Garcia de San Francisco to establish a church in their territory. Guadalupe Mission was inaugurated in 1668 with a ceremony of around 100 believers, who all got married and baptized.

The Cathedral

The beautiful Cathedral of Ciudad Juarez illuminates the downtown with its gorgeous neoclassical towers and its high roof, made of regional and imported materials. At the beginning of the 20th century the growth of the parish was so rapid, that the priest Baudelio Pelayo proposed to build an extension on the Guadalupe Mission. The construction started in 1935 and was finally finished in 1957.

Benito Juarez Monument

This architectural jewel is 8.33ft high and was cast in Florence, Italy. It was inaugurated by the governor Enrique Creel and the president Porfirio Diaz in 1909, one year before the centenary celebration of Mexican Independence. White Carrara marble, black marble from Durango and quarry stone from Chihuahua were all used in the construction of the monument, to the memory of Benito Juarez Garcia.

History Museum

One of the main attractions in Ciudad Juarez is the Museum of History, also known as the Ex Customs House. This beautiful building, from the 19th century, was opened on September 10th, 1889 as the border checkpoint between Mexico and the United States. This gorgeous construction has a distinctly French style with red-brick walls and decorative features, such as pilasters, chandeliers and elegant drapery. There is an exhibition on display depicting various stages of history in the region, such as the Conquest, the Viceroyalty, the Independence, the Paquime culture, the Reform, the Porfirio Diaz times and the Mexican Revolution.