Nuevo Laredo

Thousands of trucks roll across the bridges of Nuevo Laredo every day – the city in Tamaulipas is the most important land border crossing for trade between Mexico and the U.S. A trip here is usually for business or a stopover; visitors will find a small historic core and hearty border cuisine, and must take the difficult security situation seriously.

A City Divided by a River

Until 1848 there was only one Laredo, founded in 1755 by Tomás Sánchez on the banks of the Río Bravo. When the river became the border after the Mexican-American War, many residents wanted to remain Mexican and founded Nuevo Laredo on the south bank; some even took the remains of their ancestors with them. Since then, the two cities have grown together as "Los Dos Laredos," sharing families, culture, and economy. With the arrival of the railroad in 1881 and later the NAFTA free trade agreement, now USMCA, Nuevo Laredo became the largest trade hub on the border. Freight forwarders, warehouses, and customs brokerages shape large parts of the city.

Sights in Nuevo Laredo

The downtown area around Plaza Hidalgo, with its kiosk and clock tower, is the historic heart. Here you'll find the parish church of Espíritu Santo and buildings from the early 20th century. Avenida Guerrero leads from the bridge into the center and was once the shopping street for visitors from Texas, with shops selling handicrafts, leather goods, and silver. Estación Palabra, a converted train station, is now a cultural center with a library and exhibitions. Along the riverbank stretches Parque Viveros, with old trees and walking paths. In the evening, families gather on the downtown plazas, where vendors sell elotes, raspados, and sweets, and musicians perform on weekends.

Eating in Nuevo Laredo

The cuisine of the northeast dominates: cabrito roasted on a spit, carne asada, fajitas, and arrachera with flour tortillas. Tex-Mex dishes like nachos and chili con carne are as much at home here as on the other side of the river. Breakfast brings machacado and barbacoa, lunch means tacos and gorditas. Cantinas downtown, some with a long history, serve beer and margaritas with live music. In the panaderías you'll find empanadas and pan de polvo, a cinnamon pastry baked mainly at Christmastime. At the markets and shops along Avenida Guerrero, vendors also sell dulces de leche, glorias, and obleas with cajeta, which visitors like to carry across the border as souvenirs.

Getting Around, Safety, and When to Go

Quetzalcóatl Airport (NLD) has flights to Mexico City; many travelers use Laredo Airport (LRD) on the U.S. side. Several bridges connect the two Laredos; for pedestrians, the main one is Puente Internacional I. Many countries have issued travel advisories for Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Laredo is heavily affected by cartel violence. If you visit, stick to busy areas during the day, don't attempt overland trips on your own, and keep up with current advisories. The best time to visit is between November and March, since summer temperatures often climb above 100°F (40°C). Monterrey lies about a three-hour drive to the south; the toll road there is considered the safer route and should only be driven in daylight.