The Zona Rio is a fashionable middle class Tijuana neighborhood known for its shopping, night clubs, and restaurants.

It is dominated by Paseo de los Heroes, a wide, divided and usually very busy street. The major intersections of Paseo de los Heroes are circuses, each with a large statue of a hero. Lesser heroes appear as busts along the grassy center of the avenue.

As circular intersections are almost unheard of in the US, the Zona Rio has a distinctly foreign look to the American eye, despite the fact that it is only a mile or so from the border. That you seldom see tourists in this zone adds to the sense of being truly abroad.

A visit to the Zona Rio presents a sharp, mostly favorable, contrast to the touristy Zona Centro. Knowing Spanish will be very helpful here, but non-Spanish speakers need not be deterred.

Destinations include the Mercado Hidalgo, a large open farmer's market, the Plaza Rio, a popular shopping mall, and countless restaurants, many of them with excellent reputations.

Get in

One can walk to the Zona Rio from the border in about 30 minutes, without passing through any bad neighborhoods. However, it is not obvious how to do this without experience or a good map. A cab ride should not cost more than $5.

See

Do

Buy

  • Plaza Rio: One of the largest malls in Baja California. It has a variety of department stores, shops, restaurants and movie theaters.
  • Mercado Hidalgo: A farmers market selling a variety of produce and crafts.
  • Eat

    I like Sanborns at Plaza Rio. They have a nice weekend buffet.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Contact