Juarez Walking Tour

Wright is a vivacious, friendly, and amazingly fact-filled guy--literally a walking encyclopedia.His particular strength is history: who did what to whom when, and how the buildings and roads of Juarez became what they are today. He feeds you all this through a mixture of photos in a binder, museum exhibits, and the actual sites.He has been walking through downtown Juarez for decades and has accumulated many acquaintances there, who greet him and bestow occasional favors on his tours.When we saw a squad of masked Federal police holding rifles gather around the building we were at, without Wright we might have wondered whether we were about to be caught in a firefight. Wright knew it was a routine gathering and made small talk with the officers.If you want in-depth social tourism, such as a visit to a working maquiladora or watching refugees requesting U.S. asylum or journalists protecting themselves from assassination, you won't get that, but this tour will provide a general orientation to the city and its society, and some comfort as you prepare to explore on your own or with more specialized experts.

This was an awesome experience. My dad and I drove to El Paso just to take this walking tour into Mexico. We started at 11 and got back into the US a little after 4! We saw historical sites, Rich told us the history, and we ate some good food. I had a lot of fun, and would definitely recommend this place. You should go.

Touring Juárez with Rich was an absolute pleasure. Our tour took place on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023. We met Rich, who was perfectly on time, in the pedestrian plaza adjacent to the bridge entrance on S Santa Fe St in El Paso and walked into Mexico together. While we were not asked to present a passport, we had it ready just in case since a document is 100% required to re-enter the US anyways. Rich took us through some of his favorite bars, to a cafe, and to a delicious burrito restaurant for lunch. He also took us to the museum, the cathedral, the public square, a city park, and the outdoor market for some shopping. Throughout the tour Rich will provide history on the city and show you photos of then/now to provide some context. He is very knowledgeable and many of the locals know him well. For anyone who is afraid of going to Juárez, or Mexico in general, this tour alleviated the scare entirely. I cannot say enough how safe the day trip felt and there were so many hospitable locals to make you feel comfortable too. Almost everyone in El Paso was telling us to not go across the border, and if you are against a day packed with fun, knowledge and culture then please take that advise. If you're in the area, take a tour with Rich!

I took a Sunday late morning/early afternoon walking tour of Juarez with Richard Wright, and it was great! Juarez has a very negative reputation because of the huge spike in cartel related violence from around 2008 - 2012. Don't let that scare you away! Visiting the downtown (especially during the day, and especially with someone who knows what they're doing) is completely safe.Rick M.'s review gives a nice overview of the basics of the tour. Our tour included: lots of cool information about the city, a lovely stroll around a plaza near the cathedral and mission, a walk through a market, some cool murals, a stop for street food, a great and informative (and air conditioned!) visit to a museum about the Mexican Revolution, and a trip to a hidden "speakeasy" type bar, where we tried sotol, a spirit made from an agave type plant.Prices south of the border are a lot lower than they are north of it: I exchanged $10 USD to pesos after we crossed the border (which Rich can help with), and had about $3 of pesos leftover after buying a huge agua fresca, some mango with chamoy, a beer and a shot of sotol, a plate of tacos, and a big hunk of cheese to eat.All tours are private, and scheduled personally with Rich over phone or email. As of April 2019, he charges $25/person (or $50 as a flat rate for a tour with a single person.) But you should tip him, cause the tour is worth much more than that! We spent around 4 hours on the tour, and could have spent longer had I not needed to head back to catch a flight out of El Paso.A word for those (like me) who are really into advance planning: last minute scheduling is okay for this tour. I first inquired about booking a couple of months in advance, when I learned I'd be in El Paso for a work trip. Rich said he couldn't schedule something so far in advance (which I found a bit frustrating at the time, since I was deciding whether to schedule my return flight for the morning or evening of the day after my work business was done), but that he expected he'd be available, and I should contact him again a couple of weeks before the date I wanted. I did so, and we set up the tour by email. Rich was also flexible with the number of people - I said it would be anywhere from just me to a small group, and he was fine with me showing up with a group of 3.Finally: be sure to bring your passport: you don't need it crossing into Mexico, but you need it to return. Wear comfortable shoes, and I recommend a wide-brimmed hat, as it was very hot when I visited in late April. Bring water, or plan to buy some (it's safe to drink in Juarez).What are you waiting for? Check it out!

So, we had read an article that there had been organized walking tours between El Paso and Juarez in early 2019, to promote the idea that Juarez was once again safe to visit. Upon contacting the tourism agencies that had organized and promoted it, I received hit and miss communication about whether they would do tours on demand. Frustrated, I searched once more to see if there was another outfit that provided a tour to Juarez.Enter Richard. I found his website and the Yelp reviews for his tour, and admittedly ... was a bit reserved. This is not a formal operation or business venture, and the website, for all we knew, could have been entirely made up out of thin air. But, we decided to put our trust in fellow Yelpers and reached out. Rich was very communicative, the only slight quibble being that he wouldn't book for certain more than a week out. But he responded to messages quickly, and before we knew it, we had an agreement to meet at the pedestrian bridge across the border for a few hours in Juarez.Happy to say, he showed us a great time. He knows his stuff about the people and history that make up the fabric of the city ... as well as great spots to grab food, a drink (or three ... ), both of the hole-in-the-wall variety as well as up and coming and hip. Plus, he's a total character, with personality to spare. Given the more casual nature of this tour, expect a little give and take as you hit spots for food and beverage. After he bought a round of beers for us at the first spot, I thought it was appropriate to pay at the next, and that sort of back and forth played out for the rest of the tour ... you know, just like it would with a good friend. Beyond that, his suggested fee is on his website, and I found it more than worth the price to have someone who knows the place inside and out, the language, and, clearly, the locals, who also greeted him like an old friend. If you're in El Paso and considering going to Juarez, but have any qualms, don't - contact Rich, and get over to what is a beautiful, fascinating, and tasty city.

As a French tourist visiting El Paso, I really wanted to cross the border and experience Mexican border culture. However, I was a bit uneasy going to Juarez alone for the first time: I really look like the gringo who's killed first in the old western movies, my Spanish isn't quite good, as is my knowledge of the city. Then, some people recommended me the tour organized by the well-famous Rich Wright, and I decided to have a go for it. My god, that was fun! We toured downtown, visited some nice little shops, had great chats with locals and really digged into Mexican border culture. I'd done it again in a heartbeat, thanks Rich! I love the sense of freedom you have when visiting Juarez (especially if your girlfriend if staying home hehe)

Rich is an excellent guide who really knows the history and culture of Juarez. I have taken his tour twice and each time he tailored it to the interests of the specific group. I'd highly recommend anyone visiting the area take a tour with Rich.

If you have an extra day in the El Paso area you should spend it with Rich. My daughter and I spent a day in October with him and It has been one of the highlights of our trip to the Southwest. He has a complete itinerary that includes, museums, cultural sites, restaurants, bars, and more. We learned a ton about Mexico and Juarez. The history is very interesting. We had one of the best burritos I've ever had ... and folks in the Bay Area think they know burritos. We went to some cool bars and drank a new drink (to me) called Sotol. We also had some Margheritas. What we didn't have was anything to fear. Some people advised me not to go to Juarez. I'm sure glad I didn't listen. Rich provided us with a safe, fun, interesting day. At the end of the tour, I was sad to stagger across the bridge back to El Paso.

While recently in El Paso the family wanted to spend a day exploring Juarez through a guided tour. We found Rich on Yelp and didn't know what to expect beyond his good reviews. The trip across the bridge into Mexico was easy and we had a great 5+ hours there with Rich as our guide. His knowledge of the local area and history was invaluable and we always felt safe. Along with seeing a lot of local sights and meeting some interesting people, we got to see a couple of museums devoted to Mexican history and toured an old nightclub from the prohibition era that was closed that Rich was able to get us into though his connections. If we're back in El Paso, we'll do this again. Thanks Rich!

Rich was great. It was like touring a new place with and old friend. Worth the price of admission and then some. Would recommend to a friend. Thanks for a great day!