Crossing the Rio Grande to Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico

When my dad & I decided that our father / daughter trip was going to be to Big Bend National Park, I wanted to figure out how to cross the border. It was the perfect opportunity to make the goal of leaving the country happen! My dad researched and found some information about crossing the border to Boquillas del Carmen. Doing this quickly became the thing my dad was obsessed with doing!

» A Look at Our Experience in Boquillas del Carmen «

Our last full day in Big Bend we drove down to the Boquillas del Carmen crossing, went through border patrol. Here, they give you a bit of information and explain limitations. We walked down from there to the edge of the Rio Grande where a man in a johnboat was rowing a couple across the border into Mexico. Then, the boat turned back toward the U.S. and made its way across the Rio Grande. Upon arriving back on the US side, our boatman, Carlos offered me his hand into the boat and sat us down. Then, rowed us back to Mexico.

We were greeted by a group of children offering us wire scorpions, woven bracelets and walking sticks. Moments later we were on donkeys with our guide, Esteban, leading the way.

Your first stop is the passport office which is a construction trailer. All along the walk to town and through town children will run out to sell you little trinkets. This Mexican town is 150 miles from any other town in Mexico, so American tourists are their source of income. There are two restaurants – one on the right and one of the left. We heard before going that they’re in a bit of a family dispute. The restaurant on the left – the one we chose by recommendation – is newer. The aunt of that owner, owns the one to the right and all the guides try to take you to that one! Not only has it been there longer, but she offers the guides free meals for bringing tourists.

 

Not only was the food supposedly better, but this restaurant offers a much, much prettier view. Margaritas overlooking mountains and the Rio Grande? Yes, please!  The green chili enchiladas were highly recommended. As unappetizing as they look, it was actually incredibly delicious. My dad who is the world’s pickiest eater devoured all of his and half of mine! They were that good!

 

While we were having lunch, Esteban sat with us through part of it. We were talking with Esteban about his life, and about his training to become a tour guide. While we were there Esteban asked if we could bring him a backpack the next time we come to Boquillas del Carmen. Then he showed us the massive holes in the bottom of his pack – he had to keep a box at the bottom to keep the smaller stuff in. My dad made me incredibly proud by emptying the contents of his backpack onto the table and handing Esteban his backpack! I got a little teary-eyed as Esteban grabbed my dad, hugged him, and said that it made him happy in his heart. Esteban proudly emptied out his old backpack and put his stuff in the new one. This is one of the many moments that have made me so proud to be this man’s daughter over the years.

A little ways down the road there’s a bar where my dad took his very first tequila shot ever! I explained how to lick the salt, take the shot, bite the lime and then we went for it! I loved my dad’s response – he coughed like crazy and made the bartender, Esteban and me giggle!

After we took our shots, Esteban walked us to the edge of town, talking about the school, the government and other things to explore near Boquillas del Carmen. The town of Boquillas del Carmen from above

» Tips for Visiting Boquillas del Carmen «

• As silly as this sounds – don’t forget your passport. This seemed like a duh! thing to me. But every single person we talked to about Mexico asked if we had our passport… Apparently people forget it. Don’t miss out on this experience by doing something silly.
• Know the times of the border crossing! It’s closed Monday & Tuesday, so plan your visit accordingly. Also, it’s only open around business hours, but they change depending on the season.
• Don’t stress about getting pesos – they prefer American dollars.
• Learn more about the other sites provided like mine tours, trekking and their version of the hot springs. They sounds really cool!
• They “assign” you a tour guide when you cross the border. While you don’t necessarily need a guide, this is their source of income and they work for tips alone. We could’ve said no to Esteban, had lunch, taken a shot and left. Instead, we learned about other opportunities to explore in that part of Mexico (some of which I’m dying to do with Matt. Like, the fact that they have a hotel there!). Esteban told us loads about Boquillas del Carmen. I felt like we got to know more about their culture and everyday lives than we ever would have just going for lunch. So, take the guide!
• Don’t forget to list Mexico as a destination on your Travel Insurance, just because you never know where you’ll slip and fall or something. We love World Nomads!

» The Greatest Lesson Boquillas del Carmen Taught Me «

While I have been to many third-world countries and crossed multiple borders on foot or by boat, something that really struck me was how something so incredibly insignificant like being born on a certain side of a river can have such a massive impact on your life. Going through Big Bend along the Rio Grande was surreal even before we actually crossed it. Poverty and misfortune in Mexico isn’t something that we’re unaware of as Americans, but it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and it’s all of a sudden out of sight out of mind. When you’re standing in the U.S. looking at this river that is extremely shallow and narrow in places it doesn’t seem possible that a third-world country lies on the other side, but it does.

Esteban and me

By crossing the Rio Grande and into Boquillas del Carmen I felt a dichotomy unlike any that I had experienced before. The U.S. border patrol was a permanent adobe building (see first photo), that took us through metal gates, down a nicely paved path to the Rio Grande. In Mexico it was a dirt road about a mile to their construction trailer for their border patrol. I’ve never lived in a house or apartment without air-conditioning  in the U.S., in fact I can’t imagine it here in the Midwest. However, Esteban has no air-conditioning and sleeps outside in his hammock at night to keep cool.

Every trip to a poorer country is always a learning opportunity and reminder to be grateful and to give what you can to those less-fortunate. This trip, though, truly opened my eyes to our neighbors to the south and I feel I have a better understanding just from an afternoon with Esteban in the tiny town of Boquillas del Carmen.

Did You Enjoy This Post? PIN IT So Others Can Too!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an insurance policy with WorldNomads.com through For the Love of Wanderlust, you will help me stay on the road + keep my site running at no additional cost for you.
Be sure to read the terms + conditions of these sites when booking or purchasing!