Updated: September 7, 2021
The International Food Blogger Conference will take place in El Paso from March 17-20, 2022. But really, how can we go to El Paso without visiting Juárez, Mexico? Juárez is located 5 minutes away across the border. Chefs from El Paso often travel several times back and forth throughout the day to gather ingredients. Travel is completely safe. We have two incredible guided events planned in Juárez!
About Juárez
Juárez, also called Ciudad Juárez, is a Mexican city that lies on the Rio Grande, 5 minutes south of El Paso in the state of Chihuahua. Juárez’s population is estimated to be 1.5 million people. Juárez is safe. In fact, it is safer than many U.S. cities, especially for tourists. Upon research you might hear otherwise however, the city has done a remarkable job at turning this around to make it not just a safe visit but an enjoyable one too. Now, three fun facts! 1) Juan Méndez, a street vendor in Chihuahua, Mexico, invented the burrito. 2) Juárez is home to the Mexican vaquero (cowboy) culture. 3) In 2020, there were 295 days of sunshine.
Thursday Welcome Reception – Viva México
Juarez is the biggest door of Mexico, a country with a mix of pre-Hispanic cultures, filled with good food, kind, fun-loving people. Experience a show like no other in which we showcase the best of our folklore, dances, mariachis, and more! Just 5 minutes away from Crossing Borders. We start IFBC21 with a bang. Our Welcoming Reception will take place at the amazing Viva Mexico restaurant. But calling it a restaurant alone does not do it justice.
Yes, we will be eating dinner at Viva Mexico. The full dinner buffet will feature dishes from throughout Chihuahua and Mexico. We will also be there early to get special presentation on preparation of some of the more famous cultural foods, such as Margaritas and Guacamole.
In addition, after dinner we will be treated to a Fiesta Mexicana, a show featuring dancers, horsemen, and singers highlighting the local culture.
Post-Conference Excursion – Mysticism in Dunes
The Samalayuca Dunes are located in the middle of the desert in northern Chihuahua state, only 30 minutes from Ciudad Juárez. If you have never had the opportunity to stand in a real desert landscape, such as the Sahara, now is your chance.
We will visit the desert for both fun and food. Starting out we’ll enjoy several hours of adventure. You can choose to do a Jeep or ATV ride through the dunes for amazing views and a few thrills. Or you can choose to try the sport of sandboarding, similar to snowboarding but on a totally different material. Or you can choose to take a walk and learn about the dunes from a naturalist’s perspective.
Then it is on to the food portion of the event. We’ll start with a tasting and lesson on Sotol, the distilled beverage native to Chihuahua that is similar to tequila. We’ll then have a “Mysticism at the Desert” lunch, full of food local to this area of Mexico.
We will be chaperoned from our hotel in El Paso to the desert via bus and escorted throughout our time in Mexico. Come see how the locals vacation!
Travel and Passports
Passports are recommended to travel to and from Juárez. Passport cards will also be accepted. If you don’t have a passport or a passport card you will be able to cross over with a birth certificate or just an official ID card. Our hosts are working with our local CBP office to help out the process. Please make sure all your documents are up-to-date.
Safety
Is it safe to visit Juárez? Absolutely! Locals cross the border all the time, often living on one side and commuting to the other. In Mexico, we will be on a bus that takes us straight to the restaurant.
We hope you join us at the IFBC this year and partake in these once-in-a-lifetime events! Register Now!
