Safety Guide
Nuevo Progreso is a popular border town for Americans seeking affordable healthcare. Here is everything you need to know for a safe, smooth visit.
1000s
Americans visit each year
60+
Providers listed
$100s-$1000s
Average savings
4.5+
Avg provider rating
Essential Safety Tips
Check Who You Are Seeing
Use ClearCross to see each provider's name, address and the prices we researched for them. Clinics and licences are not inspected by ClearCross — ask to see the Cedula Profesional at your appointment.
Know the Price Before You Go
Always request a firm quote before your appointment. ClearCross shows the prices each clinic published, but only the clinic can quote your own case.
Ask About Credentials
Mexican dentists and doctors must hold a valid Cedula Profesional (professional license). Ask to see it displayed in the office, and ask how many procedures like yours they do in a month.
Share Your Plans
Tell a friend or family member where you are going, the name of the clinic, and your expected return time. Keep your phone charged.
Park on the US Side
Most visitors park in Progreso, TX and walk across the International Bridge. Parking lots on the US side are safe and well-monitored. The walk into town is short.
Plan Your Timing
Visit during business hours (9 AM - 5 PM). The town is busiest and safest during the day, especially on weekdays. Check the live CBP wait time before you head back rather than assuming it will be short.
Do's and Don'ts
Do
- Carry a valid passport or passport card
- Bring cash (USD is widely accepted) and a backup card
- Get a detailed receipt for all services and purchases
- Take before/after photos of dental or cosmetic work
- Request a written treatment plan with itemized pricing
- Compare the prices each clinic published on ClearCross before you go
- Ask your US doctor/dentist to send records if needed
- Drink bottled water at all times
Don't
- Don't carry large amounts of cash unnecessarily
- Don't agree to procedures without a written quote
- Don't skip asking about sterilization and safety protocols
- Don't walk far from the main tourist streets at night
- Don't buy prescription medication without checking the expiration date
- Don't feel pressured — you can always walk away and compare
- Don't forget to declare purchases over $800 at customs
Getting to Nuevo Progreso
Live border wait
Checking with CBP…
Drive & Park
Drive to Progreso, TX (just north of the border) and leave the car in one of the lots by the bridge. Published day rates have run from about $2 to $4 — each lot sets its own, so read the sign before you park. Most are a short walk to the International Bridge.
Walk Across
The Progreso International Bridge is a short walk, and you pay in each direction. Bring quarters — walking into Mexico is about $1 per person (the turnstile takes four of them) and walking back is about 25-50 cents, or 5 pesos. Driving is $5 per vehicle, up from $4 in August 2025. The bridge sets these rates, not ClearCross, so confirm at the booth. Most clinics and pharmacies are within 2-3 blocks.
Bridge Hours
US Customs and Border Protection lists the Progreso crossing as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — it is the neighboring Donna bridge that closes at night, which is where most of the wrong hours online come from. Return waits move hour to hour, so check the live CBP figure instead of planning around an average.
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