BajaNomad

Tecate Crossing

Iflyfish - 3-9-2007 at 03:21 PM

We crossed the border at Tecate Thursday at 4:45 pm. It took 15 minutes and the were polite and kind!!! Go figure, there is always a first. Took our eggs, but they were old anyway. Just checked for fresh fruit and meet and on our way!! Well worth the drive.

Iflyfish

wornout - 3-9-2007 at 04:06 PM

I crossed there Wednesday and that crossing too was only 15 minutes. Sunday I crossed at the Old Border Crossing in Mexicali and it took and hour and forty five minutes. From now on it is Tecate for me and I will use that crossing when we go from San Felipe to San Diego from now on.

15 minute wait

BajaVida - 4-8-2007 at 08:08 PM

when we crossed at Tecate 10 days ago

and it was a Friday about 5:00 PM

Smoke - 4-10-2007 at 09:02 PM

As far as meat and fruit, any problem taking it to Baja?
Jim

thebajarunner - 4-10-2007 at 09:46 PM

Only if they catch you...

Sorry for the wise-a** answer

thebajarunner - 4-10-2007 at 09:55 PM

But, who knows.
Last year we stopped to get our tourist cards at the border and a customs guy wandered by my pickup, reached under a tarp and came up with a box of fruit which he grabbed.

Same trip, they stopped one of our guys on the toll road near Rosarito and grabbed another box of fruit.

Last month we had no inquiries about fruit, or meat, all the way to Loreto and back.

So, who knows..... it all depends on the moods, the specific checkpoints, and what you tell them.
(my advice, don't tell 'em anything, just smile and let them poke around and you will soon be on your way)

awfulart - 4-29-2007 at 04:15 PM

We are currently in Guererero Negro and expect to cross at tecate on the 1st of May., towing a 28 ft travel trailer. We have never used the Tecate crossing. Does anyone have any information about the crossing?


Art & Alice

David K - 4-29-2007 at 10:53 PM

Art, if you are coming in from Ensenada... do you know where to go?

Go under the toll highway overpass and come downhill into downtown Tecate... Be careful of stop signs.

You will take the four lane blvd. that forks to the right, near the railroad track crossing and just before the big McDonalds... that goes out to the traffic circle, go right (full stop to avoid cop issues) and you head EAST towards Mexicali (you are now on the free Teacte-Mexicali road (Mex. 2).

The road to the U.S. border (garita) soon turns left off of Mex. 2, east of the traffic circle.

IF the line is down to Mex. 2, you will need to drive out a ways to make a U turn to come back to the end of the line. There is only 2 lanes all the way to the border... I believe they want RVs with trailers in the right lane because of the tight squeeze and curves crossing the border... I hope someone will correct me if it is the left lane.

awfulart - 4-30-2007 at 06:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Art, if you are coming in from Ensenada... do you know where to go?

Go under the toll highway overpass and come downhill into downtown Tecate... Be careful of stop signs.

You will take the four lane blvd. that forks to the right, near the railroad track crossing and just before the big McDonalds... that goes out to the traffic circle, go right (full stop to avoid cop issues) and you head EAST towards Mexicali (you are now on the free Teacte-Mexicali road (Mex. 2).

The road to the U.S. border (garita) soon turns left off of Mex. 2, east of the traffic circle.

IF the line is down to Mex. 2, you will need to drive out a ways to make a U turn to come back to the end of the line. There is only 2 lanes all the way to the border... I believe they want RVs with trailers in the right lane because of the tight squeeze and curves crossing the border... I hope someone will correct me if it is the left lane.


Thanks David, I will let you know how it works. I was concerned about the tight squeeze.

Art

BajaWarrior - 4-30-2007 at 08:58 AM

Art, my brother and I crossed at Tecate a couple of months ago driving a longbed crewcab towing a 20' flatbed and all was good, until we got to the gate that for some insane reason there is a 45 degree turn between gate post as you enter the booth area. It was tight, we were in the right lane but had to "borrow" some room to swing wide from the left lane to clear the post. Even the guard told us "this is a passenger vehicle crossing". Of course there were no signs prior to the border warning of crossing with a long combination vehicle!

It would not be my choice to cross there again with a trailer. Instead, I would cross at Otay or Tijauna when the traffic was light, like mid-day. Avoid all crossings on a Sunday afternoon whenever possible!

We usually cross at New Mexicali as I have a home below San Felipe, we just took that route for scenic purposes. BTW, our wait on a Sunday afternoon was over 2 hours...

BajaWarrior

Diver - 4-30-2007 at 09:13 AM

I have crossed at Tecate many times in both directions with an F350 and 24' camp trailer. It's a bit tight going to secondary inspection but easily do-able. Use the right lane but start cheating left as you come to the curve to get a bit more room. That curve is not bad at all. Hug the booth and swing wide for your turn into secondary and it's easy from there.

Follow the signs for BORDER and MEX 2 Mexicali. You will find yourself heading east then north with a few curves to the border line-up. Get there before 2 pm most days and the line will be shorter.

.

awfulart - 5-1-2007 at 04:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
I have crossed at Tecate many times in both directions with an F350 and 24' camp trailer. It's a bit tight going to secondary inspection but easily do-able. Use the right lane but start cheating left as you come to the curve to get a bit more room. That curve is not bad at all. Hug the booth and swing wide for your turn into secondary and it's easy from there.

Follow the signs for BORDER and MEX 2 Mexicali. You will find yourself heading east then north with a few curves to the border line-up. Get there before 2 pm most days and the line
will be shorter.

Following David Ks' directions we made the crossing with no real problem other than the stupid set up at the gate. Why would the govt allow an idiot to design the border crossing? I guess that questions answers itself, "Government Work" Anyway, thank you David again for the directions. Nomads are great, even including Government Employees.

Art

.

awfulart - 5-1-2007 at 04:51 PM

Thank you Baja Warrior and Diver for your input. Everyone is so helpful

Art

dr650 - 5-1-2007 at 05:22 PM

Art, Alice et al,

First time I crossed back into Los Estados at Tecate, I was riding my bike. Got in line with a mile of cars on a popular weekend, until a woman asked why I didn't just do what all the bikers do and go through the backroads in town to the crossing. There, I was able to get into the front of the line and cross in seconds.

Maybe you should let a bike pull you across next time !!

Since I don't drive a rig, I don't know. But, it seems to me that the Tecate crossing must be easier than Tijuana, tight turn or not. And, Hwy 94 is hard to beat on a late afternoon. A nice transition.

Good luck,

Murphy