Laura Killingbeck's Agua Prieta Experience

Recently I spent a great day in Agua Prieta, Mexico, with Dave and Liz from the Douglas, Arizona tourism department, and our guide Keoki Skinner. 

Liz with chile mangos (Photo by Laura K.)

Murals on the Mexican side of the wall (Photo by Laura K.)
Agua Prieta is a border town on the other side of the wall from Douglas. Keoki is a former reporter who’s been living in Agua Prieta for decades, covering its people and politics. 
We spent most of the day driving around the city while Keoki introduced us to new people and places. Some highlights were:
✨Cafe Justo—a coffee co-op on a mission to create reliable jobs for farmers in Chiapas, so they don’t have to risk migrating to the US in search of work.

Making brooms from local grasses.

Cafe Justo and Daniel showed us how they roast the coffee beans (Photos by Laura K).
✨Seeing how natural brooms are made out of local grasses. 
✨Peering inside El Chapo’s famous drug tunnel. This is a giant tunnel between Agua Prieta and Douglas that was formerly used as a secret passageway to smuggle drugs. We saw it the week before it was scheduled to be filled with cement. 
✨Eating fresh chile mango, nopal chips, and tacos.
✨Seeing the vibrant murals painted on the Mexican side of the wall.
The towns of Agua Prieta and Douglas are hidden gems—totally off the tourism radar, but full of character, fascinating people, and beautiful landscapes. 
Dave, Liz, and Keoki are working hard to bring more people to the area in positive ways, and I really think they’re on to something! 

Cafe Justo has some cyclists on their team! Liz looks at cycling photos on the wall in the cafe (Photo by Laura K.)

Dave, Keoki, Daniel, and Liz at Cafe Justo (by Laura K.) 

For more, check out Laura's website.