Translating as “River Zone”, Zona Rio lies on the banks of the Tijuana River east of Downtown Tijuana. It’s home to the headquarters of numerous commercial and financial businesses, as well as stylish restaurants, craft breweries and the city’s first American-style shopping mall.
Things to do in Zona Rio
One of Zona Rio’s most important thoroughfares is Paseo de los Heroes, which is dotted with monuments and sculptures. Take note of the Monumento a la Raza and the statue dedicated to Ignacio Zaragoza, who led the Mexican Army in their 1862 defeat against the French. Also on the avenue are statues depicting the Aztec ruler Cuauhtémoc and the former president Lázaro Cárdenas.
Big-name international brands can be found at Plaza Rio, an open-air shopping mall that first opened in 1981. It is anchored by Sears and the Mexican department store Soriana and home to a multi-screen Cinépolis. When it’s time to eat, you can grab a healthy bowl at Miso Poke, relax at Cafe de la Flor or feast at Meraki Hamburguesas.
Adjacent to Plaza Rio is the Tijuana Cultural Center, which hosts a diverse range of concerts, exhibitions and conferences throughout the year. At its heart is the architecturally impressive OMNIMAX cinema designed by Pedro Ramirez Vazques and Manuel Rossen Morrison, which is known locally as “La Bola” (“The Ball”). In the Museo de las Californias, you can learn about the history of the region from prehistoric times to the modern day.
Getting around Zona Rio
Zona Rio is around 10 minutes’ drive from Downtown Tijuana and 15 minutes from Tijuana International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Mexico. Taxis are available from the United States-Mexico border to Zona Rio, which is compact enough to explore on foot.