Mexicali

Baja California - Other Cities and Attractions

Mexicali is bordered to the north with the United States formally Imperial County in California, to the east with the states of Arizona and Sonora in Mexico, to the west with the municipality of Tecate, and to the south with the municipality of Ensenada.

The name Mexicali comes from the anagram MEXI-co and CALI-fornia, which in an inverse way also generated the name of Calexico, access door to the state of California and frontier with Mexicali. It is the capital of the state of 'Baja California' and a modern city called 'The city that captured the sun', since during the summer, temperatures range between 35ºC and 45ºC.

The residents of Mexicali are from diverse backgrounds. For example, many of the residents of Mexicali are of Asian descent, especially Chinese. In fact, Mexicali is home to the largest number of overseas Chinese in Mexico. Consequently, Mexicali has a large Chinatown, called 'La Chinesca'. The city is noted for having one of the finest Chinese food cuisines on the entire North American continent, rivaling cities such as San Francisco, California (where there's also a big Chinese population). These restaurants can be found all over the city, not just in Chinatown, but also in the main boulevards, such as Justo Sierra and Lazaro Cardenas Blvds. One can also explore the Chinese Pagoda in Plaza de la Amistad, along the border crossing, as well as the modern Civic Center, which is the administrative heart of the municipality.

Although not as popular among tourists as Tijuana, located a couple hours from the city, Mexicali has many sites where people from all over the country visit, as well as visitors from United States and Canada, such as the bullfighting arena, Plaza Calafia, where many bullfights ('corridas') are organized along the year.

Mexicali has also a professional 18 hole Golf Course 'Club Campestre' where both national and international championships take place regularly.

As well as the urban development has been benefited by the border localization of Mexicali, so has commerce and other activities. Despite its rural beginnings, the city has evolved progressively into a big urban and manufacture center.

The strong cultural ties with the United States is well visible, as Mexicali got its urban planning from American other than traditional Mexican architecture and a high proportion of Mexicalense are fluent in the English language. The Mexican American majority of Imperial County, California make regular travels to the border town, sometimes to visit family and friends, and virtually Americans of all nationalities goes to Mexicali to conduct business errands.

All the national banks operate in the city with more than 60 branches. There are several first class hotels with facilities for conventions. Mexicali also has excellent malls and a wide variety of restaurants being particularly famous the Cantonese cuisine, important part of the heritage that the city has from China. The city also has the State theater, art galleries and a regional museum which helps to preserve the history of the city.

The citizens could say that one of main characteristics of this place, perhaps the most prominent, is its weather. Since the city was founded in the middle of the desert, mainly to avoid the dangers of the Colorado river spills, the area has very extreme weather, reaching very low temperatures in winter, but specially in the summertime. If you visit Mexicali during summer, in a normal day at noon, you could witness the thermometer easily reaching levels of 43ºC (approximately 112 in Fahrenheit scale) if the device is placed in the shade, and 120+ on the hottest days. However, the citizens are used to this, some people take a very special pride to live in such weather conditions, and it's even material of recurring jokes between the population.

City Park

Park with a museum, zoo, lake and raft rentals, kiddy pool, water slide, barbeque pits, camping grounds, grocery store, basketball, soccer and volleyball courts, children's playground. Sport fishing tournaments. Bathrooms with showers. Lifeguard, paramedic, security. Capacity for 5,000 persons.

San Felipe

San Felipe is the closet beach to Mexicali with access to other beaches like Puertecitos and sites of extraordinary beauty like the absolutely unique Valley of the Giants, where huge and imposing Sahuaro cactus greet all visitors.

Vallecitos

Here the past meets the present in an extensive display of prehistoric rock carvings and cave paintings, such as the famous 'Diablito' (Winter Solstice). This place is also excellent for hiking, a photography expedition, and spotting a variety of flora and fauna.

Rio Hardy

Everything necessary for freshwater fishing and small game hunting, as well as being the ideal site for kayaking in tranquil waters, hiking, panoramic photography, and bird watching. Ideal for families, groups or individuals who enjoy the scenic outdoors.

Sol del Niño Interactive Center Museum

More than one hundred exhibits on science, technology, art and the environment. Summer courses and workshops. Children's playground and palapas. Space for events. Bathrooms. Capacity for 2,500 persons. Located at Lopez Mateos Blvd. and Alfonso Esquer Sandez St.

Zoo, swimming pool, kiddy pool, soccer, basketball and volleyball courts, children's playground, barbeque pits, bathrooms, showers, spaces for events, bicycle rentals. Lifeguard, paramedic, security. Capacity for 3,000 persons. Open all year round. Located at Prolongacion Anahuac Boulevard.

Vicente Guerrero Park

Children's playground, outdoor theater, roller-skating ring, barbeque pits, camping grounds. Bathrooms, security. Capacity for 23,000 persons. Open all year.

Morelos Dam