Mexico
Mexico City has the size, the colour and the Day of the Dead parades that suited a spectacular opening scene. The country has also stood in for the Latin American hideouts of Bond’s more dangerous villains.
Fly into the capital and spend a few days in the historic centre.
Where Bond filmed
Baja California
1Baja Studios (Titanic tank)
Rosarito, Baja California
The scenes of the sea landing used the vast water tank built for Titanic at Rosarito in Baja California, Mexico. Wikipedia and Movie-Locations record that the tank was used for the film’s maritime sequences.
- Scenes
- Sea landing and open-water sequences
- Today
- The tank complex was built for Titanic (1997) and is now part of the Baja Studios facility.
- Visiting
- The studio is a working production facility. Contact the studio or the Rosarito tourism office before planning a visit.
Mexico City
2Casino Espanol de Mexico
Centro Historico, Mexico City
The interior of Sanchez’s Casino de Isthmus was filmed at the Casino Espanol, a private social club on Calle Isabel la Catolica. Wikipedia lists it as the casino interior, while the theatre across the old centre supplied the exterior.
- Scenes
- Interior of the Casino de Isthmus
- Today
- It is still a social club and restaurant in a historic building.
- Visiting
- It is a members’ club, so entry is likely restricted. The building can be seen from the street.
3Estudios Churubusco
Coyoacan, Mexico City
Estudios Churubusco was the production base for the film. Shooting began here, and it mostly doubled for the Republic of Isthmus. Interiors were built on its soundstages, and its backlot was also used. Pinewood Studios handled only post-production and sound re-recording, which made this the first Bond film with no UK filming.
- Scenes
- Interior sets for Isthmus, Sanchez’s offices and base, and backlot street scenes
- Today
- Estudios Churubusco is still an active film and television studio complex in Mexico City.
- Visiting
- This is a working studio, so access is normally restricted to productions. The street entrance can be seen from outside.
4Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico and Biblioteca del Banco de Mexico
Centro Historico, Mexico City
The exterior of Sanchez’s El Presidente Hotel was shot at the Biblioteca del Banco de Mexico, according to Wikipedia and IMDb. Location guides place its lobby at the Art Nouveau Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico, with its Tiffany glass ceiling. Reports differ on exactly which spaces appeared on screen, so treat the pairing of exterior and interior as the commonly cited one.
The Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, on Avenida 16 de Septiembre, is used for the opening sequence, and its Art Nouveau stained-glass lobby is recognisable on screen. The Banco de México library is listed alongside it for related sequences, though the exact scenes are fan-sourced.
- Scenes
- El Presidente Hotel, where Bond and Pam Bouvier stay in Isthmus City
- Scenes
- Bond and his companion in the opening sequence.
- Today
- The Gran Hotel is a working hotel on Calle 16 de Septiembre, and its Tiffany stained-glass canopy is still its best-known feature.
- Visiting
- The lobby and the Tiffany glass ceiling can usually be seen by walking in. The library exterior is a separate address in the same downtown area, so check its location before you go.
5Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris
Centro Historico, Mexico City
The theatre’s facade stood in for the exterior of Sanchez’s Casino de Isthmus, which is also his headquarters. One location guide says the street is so narrow and busy that the facade was rebuilt in the studio for the close-ups of Bond climbing the building to plant an explosive.
- Scenes
- Exterior of the Casino de Isthmus and Sanchez’s headquarters
- Today
- It is a working municipal theatre on Calle Donceles, with concerts, dance and opera.
- Visiting
- The exterior can be viewed freely from the street. Interiors are generally open to ticket holders for performances.
6Zócalo and Centro Histórico
Mexico City
The film’s long opening take during a staged Day of the Dead parade was shot in and around the Zócalo and the Centro Histórico in March 2015. The square was closed for a helicopter fight sequence that required around 1,500 extras.
- Scenes
- The pre-title Day of the Dead parade and helicopter fight.
- Today
- A huge public square surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace. Mexico City now holds a real Day of the Dead parade, inspired in part by the film.
- Visiting
- Open all day, free. Visit around late October to early November for Day of the Dead events; expect crowds.
Estado de México
7Centro Ceremonial Otomi
Temoaya, State of Mexico
The Otomi Ceremonial Center, designed as a gathering place for the Otomi people, stood in for Sanchez’s Olimpatec Meditation Institute, the cult front for his drug laboratory. Its stone plaza and cone-shaped buildings appear in the scenes with Professor Joe Butcher and the cocaine-processing plant.
- Scenes
- Olimpatec Meditation Institute, the base and cocaine laboratory
- Today
- It is a public park and cultural site in the mountains above Temoaya, used for ceremonies and by athletes for high-altitude training.
- Visiting
- It is usually reached by road from Toluca or Mexico City. Opening hours and entry fees are not confirmed here, so check locally before you set out.
Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo
8Isla Mujeres
Near Cancun, Quintana Roo
Wikipedia says some of the underwater sequences were shot off Isla Mujeres, near Cancun, on the Caribbean coast. No specific reef or dive site is named, so treat this as a general location.
- Scenes
- Underwater sequences
- Today
- Isla Mujeres is a small island resort popular for snorkelling and diving.
- Visiting
- Ferries run from Cancun. Diving and snorkelling tours are widely offered, but no tour is known to focus on the film.
Tecate, Baja California
9La Rumorosa
Tecate, Baja California
The tanker chase in the finale was shot on a section of Mexican Federal Highway 2D at La Rumorosa, a mountain pass in the desert. The producers closed that stretch for safety. Sixteen modified Kenworth tankers were used, with stunts arranged by Remy Julienne. The coordinates given are approximate for the pass.
- Scenes
- The climactic tanker chase and the final fight on the last tanker
- Today
- The pass is still a public highway through the mountains between Mexicali and Tecate.
- Visiting
- It can be driven on the Tijuana to Mexicali road. Drive carefully on the mountain curves.
San Felipe, Baja California
10San Felipe
Baja California
The aerial battle between Bond’s DC-3 and the pursuing fighter was shot in early 2008 in Baja California. Movie-locations.com says the work was based at the airstrip at San Felipe. The vintage propeller plane is one of several homages to Hitchcock in the film.
- Scenes
- DC-3 aerial dogfight
- Today
- San Felipe is a small fishing and holiday town on the Gulf of California.
- Visiting
- Open to visitors. The airstrip use is from a fan source, so verify before planning a trip around it.
Acapulco, Guerrero
11Villa Arabesque
Las Brisas, Acapulco
Sanchez’s lavish villa in Isthmus was Villa Arabesque, a clifftop house on the beach near Las Brisas in Acapulco. The film’s bedroom, pool, bar and rooftop helicopter scenes were filmed here, and it appears again in the closing party. The coordinates given are approximate for the Las Brisas area.
- Scenes
- Sanchez’s villa, Bond’s bedroom, the pool and bar, the rooftop helicopter pad and the final party
- Today
- It is a private luxury property. Its current status is uncertain.
- Visiting
- It is private, so public access is unlikely. Look for Las Brisas viewpoints and boat tours of the bay.
Positions marked approximate are matched from stills and published location guides. Opening arrangements, fees and access change often. Confirm locally before you travel.