The park's location, known as 'El Faro' in Tijuana, is marked by a historic lighthouse nearby.
During low tide, visitors can see the metal bollards of the border fence extending approximately 300 feet into the Pacific Ocean.
It is the only place in the world where a major international border meets the sea at a public park.
The site includes a 'Binational Garden' featuring native plants from both California and Baja California.
The park's original 1971 dedication ceremony occurred without a fence, allowing people to walk freely across the border.
In 2023, the U.S. government completed a project to replace older border fencing with 30-foot-tall steel bollards in the immediate vicinity.
Friendship Park is a bi-national space situated directly at the U.S.-Mexico border, spanning the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean where the border fence terminates into the surf. The site features a binational garden and serves as a symbolic meeting point for families separated by immigration policies. On the U.S. side, the park is part of Border Field State Park, while the Mexican side is known as Playas de Tijuana. The area is defined by a primary steel border fence extending into the ocean and a secondary mesh barrier. Security protocols govern visitor access and interaction with the physical border structures. The park was originally inaugurated in 1971 by First Lady Pat Nixon to symbolize peace and friendship between the two nations. Ongoing construction and shifting border policy have frequently restricted public access to the zero-line area in recent years.
The shoreline area where the border fence intersects with the Pacific Ocean surf.
Check official government and park websites for current access status, as the site frequently closes for security or construction.
Bring government-issued identification, as border patrol officers may be present and request it.
Wear sturdy walking shoes suitable for soft, deep sand and potentially uneven terrain.
Attempting to cross the border line or ignore instructions from border patrol agents, which can lead to detention.
Access is highly variable and frequently restricted due to ongoing border security operations; verify status via the International Friendship Park website before traveling.
Avoid touching, leaning on, or attempting to pass items through the border fencing to prevent security interventions.
