Tucson in 1 Day

Tucson has two historical neigbourhoods, the El Presidio Historic District and the Barrio Historic District. Both are worth a visit and cannot be missed when spending some time in Tucson.

The Mission San Xavier Del Bac is the oldest and best-preserved church of the Southwest. It's baroque interior is a prime example of the Spanish colonial style. Just outside the city lies Saguaro National Park, home of the Saguaro cactus.

Quick Tips:

If you don't have time to visit the Saguaro National Park, a visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert is a must. In about 2 hours, you can see and learn about everything that grows and lives in the desert. Children will love it.

Best Way To Get Around:

The city centre is walkable. If you want to visit the museum and parks near the city, public transportation from the centre is an easy way of getting around.

This restaurant was highly recommended by some locals we met. And boy, we can't thank them enough for giving us this tip, and since we enjoyed it so much, we ate their at both our days in Tucson. We even consider going back to Tucson, just for this restaurant.

The first night we visited this friendly place, we had no reservation, and the place was booked full. But the main waiter saw the disapointment in our eyes and told us to wait in the cosy bar, after ordering us two complimentary drinks. Just after 15 minutes, he presented us a table near the fountain in the middle of the patio.

The rest of the staff was just as friendly. The food was a dream! If you like spicy food and like seafood, then this is the place for you!

A little quote from their own leaflet, with not one letter untrue: "Established in 1922, El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona, is the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family, featuring traditional Sonoran-style and innovative Tucson-style Mexican food. El Charro is truly as Gourmet magazine wrote: A Taste Explosion".

Next to the restaurant is a little store where you can get signature line of retail products, including salsas, tamales, calendars, and gift cards.

This fascinating nature park is more than 8.5 acres big and hosts a botanical garden, a zoo, and a museum.

In the museum, you can find exhibits about the geology, history, and fauna of the Sonoran.

In the park, you can wander over a 3km-long hiking path through a unique habitat with more than 1,200 sorts of plants. Wildlife, like colibrie, desert cats, wild pigs, and Mexican wolves, can be spotted year-round.

A visit takes a minimum of about 2 hours.

Be sure to also visit the nearby Old Tucson film studios, where movies like Rio Bravo, Three Amigo, Wild Wild West, and Tombstone were made.

The most famous symbol of the southwest is most likely the Saguaro cactus. It is the biggest cactus in the USA. They may live up to 200 years, and a full-grown specimen can reach 50 feet in height and weighs several tons.

The town of Huston divides the park. Most people visit the west part of the park. Here you can drive the 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive. Be sure to stop at one of the short hiking trails like the Cactus Garden Trail. On one of the hills, ancient pytroglyphs of the Hohocan can be found.

The east part of the park is more secluded. The 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive winds through an old Saguaro forest. Be sure to visit one of the visitor centers for maps and tips.

San Xavier del Bac is the oldest mission church in the southwest of the U.S. The church is build from adobe bricks and is one of the best examples of the Spanish-Colonial architecture in America.

Exterior
The mission was build by Franciscan monks in 1797.
The baroq facade of the church is decorated with sculptured images of saints. It can be best photographed in the late afternoon.
East of the mission is a hill with a big cross, from wich you'll have a great aerial view of the mission complex.
To the west, an old graveyard can be found. Please have respect for the local population and stay on the paths.

Interior
The interior of the church is of an unexpected beauty.
The "Retablo Mayor" (main altar) is decorated in a Mexican baroque style. It contains more than 50 statues and sculptures that were produced in Mexico and brought to the Mission, where they were painted and covered in gold folio.
The dome and high transepts are richly decorated with wood carvings and wall paintings showing scenes from the Bible.
Next to the church is a small museum and a store.