Boquillas, Mexico: The Perfect Half-Day Trip from Big Bend

One of the most unique things we did when visiting Big Bend National Park was crossing into Boquillas del Carmen—a small Mexican village with a population of around 200. We visited Boquillas on our last day in the afternoon and had time for lunch and some sightseeing. In this Travel Guide to Boquillas Mexico, we’ll cover everything you need to know, from crossing tips to what to do once you arrive!

💡Fun Fact: Although the Rio Grande’s course can naturally shift over time, the official U.S.–Mexico border generally follows the deepest part of the river, known as the thalweg.

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Table of Contents

🛂 What Do You Need to Cross into Boquillas?

To visit Boquillas, the most important thing you need is a valid passport—photocopies are not allowed. You’ll check out of the U.S. at the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry, and check back in when you return. Make sure to carry your passport with you the entire time—you’ll need to present it for both border crossings.

⏰ When Can You Cross Boquillas del Carmen?

The Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM, during the winter season (November – April). During the summer (May – October), the schedule changes to Fridays through Mondays same time. As this schedule can change, always double-check a few days before you visit on the NPS page.

We recommend getting back to the port by 3:30 PM at the latest, since the office closes sharply at 4 PM. If you miss it, you’ll have to find lodging in Boquillas with the locals until the port reopens the next day!

🗺️ How Do You Get to Boquillas?

To start your journey to Boquillas from Big Bend, head to the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry (pictured above), located on Boquillas Crossing Road, just off Boquillas Canyon Road inside Big Bend National Park. After checking out with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and showing your valid passport, you’ll exit through the doors and walk down to the Rio Grande.

Once at the Rio Grande, you’ll hop on the Boquillas Ferry—a $5 round-trip small rowboat ride across the river. When we visited, the water was so low that the ferryman just walked the boat across the shallow river! When it’s very low, you have the option to just walk across for free, but supporting the locals and getting a boat ride felt like a good deal to us.

Once you reach the Mexico side, you’ll see the Bienvenidos Boquillas del Carmen sign. From there, you can ride a donkey ($5), hire a truck ($10), or walk the short three-quarter-mile trip into Boquillas, Mexico. The path is straightforward—just one sandy road leading right into Boquillas—so it’s nearly impossible to get lost. We chose to walk, and it was a relatively easy 15-20 minute stroll.

✅ Checking In at Mexico Customs

Once you arrive in the town of Boquillas, your first stop should be the Mexican Customs office (also called the Port of Entry), located in a small trailer on the right-hand (west) side of the main street before you reach the restaurants. During our visit, we checked in, showed our passports, and paid a $7 (USD) fee per person, which supports local conservation efforts.

After paying, we were given a brown wristband to show that we had officially entered and paid the fee. In practice, no one actually checked for the wristbands, and we noticed plenty of visitors walking around without them—but it’s the right thing to do to, please check in properly and support the community.

⌛ How Long to Expect to Stay in Boquillas

We spent about 2.5 hours total from the time we left U.S. Customs to when we returned. That gave us plenty of time to have lunch, explore the town, and shop for souvenirs. You can spend more time chatting with locals or relaxing at the bar, but make sure you return to the U.S. Customs office before it closes at 4 PM. If you arrive late, you’ll have to spend the night in Boquillas.

🌮 5 Things to Do in Boquillas, Mexico

While Boquillas del Carmen is a small village, there’s just enough to fill a fun half-day—and maybe a full day if you add a tour. Here’s everything we discovered that you can do while visiting Boquillas.

💲 Currency: You can pay in USD throughout all of Boquillas, from the souvenir shops to the restaurants, but in our experience, everything was cash only, so make sure to have cash on you!

1. Ride a Donkey into Town

If you want a more “classic” Boquillas experience, you can ride a donkey ($5) or hire a pickup truck ($10) to take you from the river to town (and back). Otherwise, it’s a 0.5–0.75 mile walk on a sandy road, which is what we did.

2. Eat Local Mexican Food

Eat lunch at one of the two restaurants, Jose Falcon’s and Boquillas Restaurant, or grab a drink at Park Bar. The park rangers told us the same family owns both restaurants—one has better views, while the other offers a more authentic, local feel. We chose Boquillas Restaurant, the more authentic spot, and loved it!

Both restaurants serve similar menus, and at Boquillas Restaurant we had four options: goat tacos, chicken tamales, cheese enchiladas, or a combo plate (we recommend the combo to try a little of everything!). Make sure to eat all your food, as leftovers are not allowed back over the border!

Jen excited to dig into her combo dish at Boquillas Restaurant.

We ordered a combo plate to sample everything!

3. Go on a Guided Tour

At the time of our visit in March, we didn’t see any guided tours being offered, though that may vary depending on the day or season. You can ask the park rangers about official local tour guides to keep an eye out for before crossing if you’re interested in exploring outside of Boquillas itself.

4. Shop for Souvenirs

Shop for souvenirs from local vendors. Women line the streets selling handmade goods, and kids often come right up to your restaurant table. We bought a cute drink koozie from one of the kids while practicing a bit of Spanish with them—it was a sweet interaction that made our visit feel even more personal.

💡Shopping Tip: Avoid buying food products or products made from bones, feathers, or rocks, as they will be confiscated in customs on your way back to the US.

5. Practice Your Spanish

Remember, you are in Mexico! Even a few simple phrases like hola (hello), gracias (thank you), or por favor (please) go a long way. The locals appreciate the effort, and it makes the experience even more fun and meaningful!

❓Is Visiting Boquillas Worth It?

Absolutely! Visiting Boquillas, Mexico is a unique, safe experience—you get to cross into another country for just a few hours, practice your Spanish, connect with locals who live there year-round, and enjoy some delicious Mexican food. It’s a short, half-day adventure that is sure to add an extra layer of charm to your Big Bend trip.

💡Is Boquillas del Carmin Safe to Visit?

Located right next to the National Park, Boquillas is extremely safe to visit. Most of the residents of Boquillas’ residents’ livelihood comes from tourism, so you should not have any challenges as long as you’re respectful and practice common sense.

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