BajaNomad

Ensenada to Tecate crossing advice

vetra - 3-14-2008 at 11:13 PM

My wife and I will be in San Diego for, unfortunately, just three short days at the end of this month (see post below) and hope to take a day trip to Rosarito/Ensenada. Going down we'll be crossing at San Ysidro and taking the toll road. Unfortunately the only day that will work for this little day trip will be Sunday which from what I understand is one of the worst times to cross back into the US, as people are returning home. I've never driven in Mexico (though I understand that once you're on the tollroad it is a piece of cake) and I have never been to this part of Mexico except for a very brief walk over shortly after 9/11 while I was in San Diego for a business trip. Although it was during the week, and even walking back took a while (I chalked it up to being about a week after 9/11) I clearly remember seeing the traffic backed up and not moving. Like anybody, I kind of dread that thought--maybe even moreso because I do a long commute in Chicago traffic on a daily basis.

Anyways I am wondering if crossing over to Tecate would make any sense. I realize that it would take longer to get there and that might cancel out any time savings at the border that might or might not be realized, but all in all I'd rather be moving than sitting for 2 hours. I don't mind driving if I am moving especially if I am in a new area--remember I live in Chicago, outside the city itself one of the bleakest, blandest landscapes probably anywhere on earth--so give me coast, give me mountains--even small ones and I'm happy.

You all have been so helpful with my last questions, I need to pose a few more:

1. Does crossing at Tecate pose any benefit as opposed to San Ysidro on an early Sunday evening--avoiding nighttime travel as advised.

2. How do you get from Ensenada to Tecate---I think I read somewhere it's Route 3.

3. What's the condition of the road? Any particular safety issues I should really be concerned about? Of course you read a lot of things about this particular part of Mexico, but in my travels I have found that sometimes reports of crime are either exaggerated and/or the vast vast majority of people aren't touch be the crime that does occur--all kinds of violent crime occurs in Chicago every day, but after forty years living both within the city and in the suburbs, sometimes not in the nicest areas I've never been affected. But then again, except when I was younger I try not to intentially put my self in danger.

4. One of our ideas was to first head down to Ensenada, poke around a bit--probably all we'll have time for--and then head up to Rosarito for a little bit--I know this brief drive by is probably not doing either of these places justice, but it is all we have time for during this trip. If we do go to Rosarito what would be the best route to head to Tecate assuming for the reasons I stated that Tecate makes some kind of sense.

5. I also understand that Otay Mesa is closer, but on the other side of Tijuana from San Ysidro--would crossing here be predictably any better and are Otay or Tecate difficult to find?

6. Do radio traffic reports report wait times at the border?

7. On a real practical note, if San Ysidro is the best option where is the last rest area before the border going north--if I am going to sit in stopped traffic for what appears to be 1 1/2 to maybe 2+ hours, I wanna make sure I have an empty bladder!

Thanks again to everybody for theie suggestions and advice...this is a tremendous resource.

Diver - 3-14-2008 at 11:28 PM

I've been holding back my 2 cents;
You originally said that you wanted to visit Baja to check out potential future retirement options.
You also said that you haven't spent much time in San Diego.

With the short amount of time that you will have, you will not be able to get much of a "feel" for Baja or anywhere close to potential retirement.
I say spend you time in San Diego seeing the sites and plan a future trip with more time to Baja.

That said;

1. Sunday afternoon and early evening is busy at both locations. Average wait may be a bit less at Tecate but your ONLY best bet is to hit Tecate after 7 pm to avoid any long lines.

2. Just north of Ensenada you take a right at El Suazal onto Mex 3. When you get into Tecate follow the signs to the border crossing.

3. The road from Ensenada to Tecate is a bit narrow in spots and has some stretches of potholed road (or repaired potholes). No worse a road than any of Baja south of San Quintin.

4. With the short amount of time that you have it seems a bit counterproductive to head to Tecate'. Your thoughts would amount to a whirlwind trip.

5, 6, 7 ..... punt to someone who knows better.
.

Diver

Baja Bernie - 3-15-2008 at 06:48 AM

I didn't say anything about this on his other post because I felt that it would just be too confusing............However, now that you mentioned it that circle drive is one of my favorites...it will add a bunch of miles to his trip and Hwy 94 back into San Diego could leave a bad taste to a wonderful day.

For his short trip I would suggest staying on the coast both ways. And drive slow!

Bob and Susan - 3-15-2008 at 07:13 AM

just do not cross on easter sunday!!!:light:

you're looking at 4-5 hours wait...
the border guys slow everyone down that day as they do their "do digilance":lol:

you probably won't even be allowed to get in line at san ysidro...
you'll be divirted to otay by the tj police...

what a mess;)

just relax...take your time and have a good vacation

oh yea take a map of tj and study it a little BEFORE you go:light:

DENNIS - 3-15-2008 at 07:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver

5, 6, 7 ..... punt to someone who knows better.
.


You pretty much covered it all, Diver. I just went through there two days ago and the road has some potholes from the rains but, they're working on them. Keep a close eye on the surface of the road. The advantage of going this way on Sunday is no work trucks but, the road has a lot of Sunday drunks so extreme caution is advised.
Sunday evening at the border is as bad as it gets so be patient.
One point that hasn't been mentioned is that there are portable restrooms on the side of the road approaching the border gates in Tecate. A nice touch when you need one. It must be the Mexicans who put them there. The US crew would prefer that you pee in your pants.
Have a safe trip.

mtgoat666 - 3-15-2008 at 07:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vetra
Anyways I am wondering if crossing over to Tecate would make any sense. I realize that it would take longer to get there and that might cancel out any time savings at the border that might or might not be realized, but all in all I'd rather be moving than sitting for 2 hours.


Makes no sense to return via tecate for a day trip, unless you like to spend all day in the car.
A first trip to Ensenada is best done via toll road. You will see pretty scenery, and find the driving easy, and will be shortest route.
The border wait may be moaned about by cranky retirees and frequent crossers on this board, but the border crossing experience is usually enjoyed by first timers, as it is really quite an experience to jocky your car with all the other crossers while checking out the vendors and catching up on your people watching.

susanna - 3-15-2008 at 08:23 AM

Have you contacted the guide ? I think you would save yourselves from getting lost and the drivers in Mexico do not give you the right of way, they will run you over that is the worst place to drive. and he can show the places of interest .You don't want to see the good the bad and the ugly on your first trip. You also need to think about your safety on the road. Good Luck!

larry - 3-15-2008 at 09:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by susanna
Have you contacted the guide ? I think you would save yourselves from getting lost and the drivers in Mexico do not give you the right of way, they will run you over that is the worst place to drive. and he can show the places of interest .You don't want to see the good the bad and the ugly on your first trip. You also need to think about your safety on the road. Good Luck!


So, you are suggesting hiring a guide to drive to Ensenada? That is ridiculous.

And the rest of your comments are even further from reality. No other drivers in Mexico give you the right of way? Never heard of anything like this. I have driven the roads around Ensenada including Highway 3 to Tecate numerous times. Yes, there can be a lot of traffic in Ensenada, but there are traffic lights and drivers obey them. Highway 3 is a very lightly traveled highway and easy to drive. No different than a rural road in any country. As for other places in Mexico, I have driven in Guadalajara, Nayarit and all over Jalisco. There are no extraordinary driving issues in Mexico except maybe nighttime driving, which is not the issue in this post.

My mother used to warn me not to go to Mexico (although she had never been there) because she was afraid I would get stung by a scorpion. What is your view of the scorpion situation?

susanna - 3-15-2008 at 09:41 AM

The reason for the guide is to see the places of interest, not the get to Ensenada.

bajaguy - 3-15-2008 at 09:47 AM

Stop at an AM-PM PEMEX gas station and pick up a map of Ensenada.

Returning to the US: Have a small ice chest with cold drinks and snackies for the wait in the returning border crossing line. Save the empty drink bottles, you may need them......

thebajarunner - 3-15-2008 at 09:56 AM

Well, you got some good advice and some really crappy input....
sorry bout that.

The circle drive is really nice, even if the time involved was not a savings (which it almost always is)

XM radio gives regular, and usually accurate time waits at the three crossings,

As to a guide, for just a couple days you will see more than you can absorb with or without, so don't sweat it.

As to the roads and drivers... well in a few minutes I am driving from my home in Oakdale up to Pinecrest in the Sierras. I would feel safer driving up to Tecate than this 60 minute drive today.... lots safer.

Dogs are dogs. Depending on the guy at the gate you will either get a smile or a request for "stinkin' papers" on your pooch, who knows.

Oh and rest stops. If you come up the toll road then each toll station has clean bathrooms. Keep eyes open, I cannot remember on the Northbound exit at Playas de Tijuana whether they are before or after, just keep your eyes open. They are nice to have Southbound as well, use them at the last stop, then you won't have to try and find a saloon in downtown Ensenada as your first stop (well, some in our group like to make that a first stop)

If you are Northbound to Tecate the turnoff is well marked, just before the toll station on the coast road. There are several nice wine tasting rooms in Guadalupe Valley, one at San Antonio de las Minas (which also has my favorite restaurant, Corre Camino) LA Cetto is very commercial, but some good stuff, drive past LACetto to Dona Lupe for a really nice experience.
Well marked.

And the last Mexico price gas is in Guadalupe, Tecate is US price.

Oh yeah, final rest stop in Tecate??? Just aim for the big McDonalds sign, down the hill, very obvious, easy parking, clean restrooms, then a right turn out to the border, very easy, and yeah they have the portacrappers along the border fence if the wait gets too long.

Relax!!

Enjoy!!!

DENNIS - 3-15-2008 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Keep eyes open, I cannot remember on the Northbound exit at Playas de Tijuana whether they are before or after, just keep your eyes open.


The restrooms are in the same place they have always been. They relocated two of the toll booths but not the heads. They're north of the booths at the Playas location, right by the Pemex station.
Jeezo..Who owns that station? What a gold mine.

[Edited on 3-15-2008 by DENNIS]

losfrailes - 3-18-2008 at 11:03 AM

Just did the Ensenada to San Diego crossing via Tecate. Apparent total time from Ensenada to destination in San Diego about 1 hour less than crossing at San Ysidro.

Wait time at Tecate was almost exactly 1 hour at 4:40 P.M. on Monday 17 Mar 2008. Lot more time than the border wait web site describes.

Mileage difference about 30 miles mas o menos.

Beautiful drive, very little traffic, but not if driving tired. Road is picturesque to coin a phrase.

susanna - 3-19-2008 at 02:12 PM

We will be going to Ensenada and would like to enter thru Tecate, so what is the road that you would take from El Cajon off the freeway?

DENNIS - 3-19-2008 at 02:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by susanna
We will be going to Ensenada and would like to enter thru Tecate, so what is the road that you would take from El Cajon off the freeway?


From El Cajon go west on Jamacha to Rancho San Diego, about five miles. Turn south on Hwy 94 for around twenty miles and you'll see the signs. If you come across a small settlement called Portrero, you've gone a few miles too far east on the 94.
Hope you have a map to find Jamacha. Mapquest?

wilderone - 3-19-2008 at 02:29 PM

From El Cajon, go back on Int. 8 to Hwy. 125, then take the exit to 94. Head east on 94, until the Jamacha Rd. turnoff to the right - big 4-way intersection. Stay on that - don't turn right or left - it will become Hwy. 188 I think. You'll see signs for Jamul. Then the border.