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ranpar01
Junior Nomad
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crossing preference?
Heading to Todos Santos from Reno in a few weeks, going to try the newly completed Hwy 5. Looking for opinions on whether to cross at Mexicali or
Tecate? Map times look about the same, but I've heard Tecate might be more likely to result in a mordida pullover. I know everyone has different
experiences and things change - what is the current preferred crossing? I normally fly down so this will be my first road trip. Gracias!
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Feathers
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Location: La Bocana
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Check the 'Trip Reports' section of this forum. I don't think there is a 'preferred crossing'.
I know Tecate was as easy as it gets on 5/26/20, but nothing is set in cement here in Baja.
Good luck!
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John M
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Location: California High Desert
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preference?
Tecate southbound is easy - easy to get an FMM if you need it. Be careful of hard to see stop signs on the short drive through town as you noted. The
toll road E/B is only a few miles away from the border crossing but I'd bet there are a dozen stop signs in that short distance! Going down the La
Rumorosa grade is really scenic and when you get to Highway 5 southbound you are most of the way through the town of Mexicali - I'd recommend that
route.
It's not a 24 hour port of entry.
John M
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JZ
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Mexicali East going North.
Tecate would be a huge waste of time.
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David K
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Mexicali southbound, Tecate northbound (but check Covid 19 reduced border hours, it is 2pm now). Mexicali (West) is extremely easy to get the tourist
cards (FMM). Tecate is hard to find parking or requires a bit of walking for the INM office.
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mtgoat666
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I use Mexicali west southbound and northbound. Tecate is a huge waste of time, it has no SENTRI, unless you want to see tecate.
Never been to Mexicali East, as I don’t go east and I got sentri that works fine at west.
Since you have never driven baja, I suggest you drive south via 1 (TJ xing) and north via 5 (Mexicali xing) so you can see the state...
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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JZ
Elite Nomad
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Goat gives good advice.
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Meany
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I've always liked Tecate; early Sunday mornings. I have been stoped for just a brief time. And most of the times a wave through. This has been over
a 25 year period. Just have your paper work in hand and watch for all the stop signs and it's and easy go. Love driving that way through the valley.
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Don Pisto
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if time is of the essence go thru mexicali, if you want to tourist around a bit i'd go thru tijuana and travel the one. we do everything to avoid
that whole salton sea/mexicali area, feels like a depressing armpit of baja to us.....but thats just us. have a great trip!
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SFandH
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We always drive through Tijuana, both directions. I like driving highway 1 except for two areas, through Ensenada and between Colonet and San Quintin.
Both have heavy traffic. Between Ensenada and Colonet has changed, much for the better, over the years. The road is rebuilt and there are many
vineyards along the way. The area around Vicente Guerrero is especially nice. And further south, Catavina, is a special area. And the toll road
between TJ and Ensenada is something to see if you never have. You miss all this if you take the east coast route through Bahia San Luis Gonzaga.
Going south through TJ and then north through Bahia San Luis Gonzaga
and Mexicali is a good idea for first-time travelers.
[Edited on 6-1-2020 by SFandH]
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Maderita
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In any other season, I would recommend highway 5 via Mexicali.
From San Diego, you can cross at Otay Mesa or Tecate, and take Highway 2D ("cuota" a toll road) Then bypass most of the Mexicali city traffic to reach
Highway 5. However, your trip is mid-summer. Temperatures in the desert are likely to reach 110 F. or higher. There are long stretches of highway with
no services.
High temperatures increase the probability of mechanical breakdowns and tire failure. Besides being uncomfortable, the risk increases.
Should you elect to take Highway 5 in summer, make sure that your vehicle is in good mechanical condition, with newer belts and hoses, optimal ratio
of coolant, good tires, and carry no less than 5 gallons of water.
Highway 1 will have mild temperatures and more services. My choice for summer months.
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SFandH
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You're right Maderita. Hot temperatures on the east coast route in the summer are something to consider, especially if the vehicle is loaded up.
Transmissions tend to run hot, sometimes too hot.
[Edited on 6-1-2020 by SFandH]
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
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Do they issue tourist FMM now?
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SFandH
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I don't think they ever stopped issuing FMMs. I read this and 2 facebook groups about baja, never read a post about an FMM being denied. Could have
missed them though. I've read several about folks getting FMMs.
Has anybody heard of FMMs being denied because of covid?
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JZ
Elite Nomad
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Never been a fan of driving through TJ. Want to get out of that city as fast as possible.
Mexicali is much easier to navigate and you are in it for a much shorter time.
There is plenty of traffic on the 5 to help if there is a breakdown. So even in the summer months Mex 1 is more dangerous. Plus hours of stop and
go traffic. And then a curvy drive through the mountains where you see accidents all the time. And let's not forget how hot the stretch from El
Rosario, South is. You aren't avoiding the heat that much by going on Mex 1.
You have to drive Mex 1, once. But over all the 5 is faster and much less stressful. And you get to what Baja really is faster.
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billklaser
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We're planning on driving to Loreto in a couple weeks. Have always taken 1 south thru Tj & Ensenada. Because we live in Chula Vista only 7 mi to
cross at border. However this trip will be driving to Calexico and go down 5. Because of the Virus issue we want to avoid extra delays on 1.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Quote: Originally posted by billklaser  | | We're planning on driving to Loreto in a couple weeks. Have always taken 1 south thru Tj & Ensenada. Because we live in Chula Vista only 7 mi to
cross at border. However this trip will be driving to Calexico and go down 5. Because of the Virus issue we want to avoid extra delays on 1.
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You will enjoy avoiding the cross-Ensenada city traffic and all the farm towns missed using Hwy. 5. The only part I miss is not going through El
Rosario and a chance to visit with Antonio or stay at his motel, Baja Cactus... a true gem along Hwy. 1!
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AKgringo
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| Quote: Originally posted by billklaser | | However this trip will be driving to Calexico and go down 5. Because of the Virus issue we want to avoid extra delays on 1.
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Starting from where you are, I would consider crossing at Tecate (or Otay Mesa) and take the toll road over to Mex 5. That avoids almost all of the
Mexicalli traffic and congestion.
[Edited on 6-2-2020 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | | Quote: Originally posted by billklaser | | However this trip will be driving to Calexico and go down 5. Because of the Virus issue we want to avoid extra delays on 1.
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Starting from where you are, I would consider crossing at Tecate (or Otay Mesa) and take the toll road over to Mex 5. That avoids almost all of the
Mexicalli traffic and congestion.
[Edited on 6-2-2020 by AKgringo] |
Exactly! Good call. The only problem with Tecate is getting an FMM, as it requires finding a parking spot by circling the one way streets and walking
back through the turnstiles to get to the INM desk at the border. Mexicali is super easy to get the FMMs, but you do have 5 miles of city driving.
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billklaser
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Good advice on Tecate. We have Residente Permante visas, so not a problem.
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