Marigold season south of Tijuana: Mictlán’s cempasúchil fields are open daily through Nov. 8

The cempasúchil is in bloom south of Tijuana. Mictlán Tijuana, a seasonal Día de Muertos park off Bulevar 2000, the Tijuana–Rosarito corridor, opened its marigold trails in the last week of September and keeps them open until Sunday, Nov. 8, days after Día de Muertos, Zeta reported on Monday. The weekly reported that the marigold fields south of Tijuana draw more than 500 visitors a day, and Óscar Cardozo, one of Mictlán’s organizers, said visitors come from Mexicali, Sonora, Sinaloa and the United States, some staying six to eight hours.

This year’s theme is a tribute to the printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, Cardozo told Zeta. The Tijuana Eventos listing describes a show with Catrinas, Catrines and dancing skeletons as part of the visit.

What’s there

Admission covers the marigold field, a Día de Muertos altar, a giant pumpkin patch for photos, the Posada show, music and folk dance, a farm area and a giant slide, according to Tijuana Eventos; food, fair games, crafts and the shop cost extra. Zeta adds that visitors can buy snacks and take bouquets home for their own altars, and the park’s website promises live norteño music on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hours and prices

• Open every day, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., per the official website. One events listing shows earlier closing times, so check the park’s social media before a late visit.
• Admission: MX$180 Monday to Friday and MX$200 on Saturday and Sunday. Children under 3 and pets get in free, and the park takes cash and cards.
• Last day: Sunday, Nov. 8.

Getting there

Zeta’s directions: take Bulevar 2000 south and turn back at Rancho Casián. The website places the park on the Tijuana–Rosarito 2000 corridor and links to a Google Maps pin for “El Mictlán de Tijuana.” It’s a drive from the city, not a walk, and most of the visit is outdoors. Showers are forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday (our forecast story), so the weekend looks like the better bet.

Make a day of it

La Ruta del Maíz, a farm listed at kilometer 22 of Bulevar 2000 in the Rancho Casián area, runs its own autumn season through Saturday, Oct. 31, and is closed on Tuesdays, according to Tijuana Eventos; its prices and rules are in our Halloween planner. For altars, the downtown parade and free nights in the city, see our Día de Muertos planner and the calendar.