BajaNomad

Blvd 2000?

vetra - 3-20-2008 at 07:36 AM

Thanks for everyone's comments and advice as we are planning a brief day trip down to Ensenada in a little over a week from now.

We were thinking of driving straight to Ensenada early Sunday morning, hanging out for 5-6 hours and driving back to Rosarito for dinner--maybe in Puerto Nuevo.

Is there a road that connects Rosarito with Tecate?

Is this Blvd. 2000? If so, how far is the drive from here to Tecate?

Any comments on the condition/safety concerns of the road?

I know the drive going back to San Diego this way will be longer, but we don't necessarily mind that if our time allows and daylight holds out so we're not driving around at night in Mexico as many commenters have cautioned---also thinking that might give us some different scenery as the approach back to the US and ultimately back to San Diego will be different.

Any adivice/comments always appreciated...

bajaguy - 3-20-2008 at 07:52 AM

We drive Blvd 2000 from Otay to Rosarito all the time. No problems. Just watch out for cows, horses and dogs.

You can pick it up on the free road in Popotla, just south of the old FoxBaja studios. Northbound from Puerto Nuevo, it's marked.

I would cross at Otay, but if you want to cross at Tecate, follow the signs to the Tecate toll road. Blvd 2000 northbound merges into the Tecate toll road about 26 miles from Popotla.

In Puerto Nuevo, I would suggest Casa de langosta for Lobster. While in Ensenada, check out the Baja Counrty Club
www.bajacountryclub.com

bajabound2005 - 3-20-2008 at 07:53 AM

We love Blvd 2000 and yes that's the road that connects Tecate & Rosarito. The condition is very good. It's not excellent because as it usual in this part of the world, they built a brand new road and now are digging it up for some reason or another. Two lanes, both directions. No tolls (yet), and not much traffic. Watch out for the livestock. Do a search on Nomad. I think David K did a turn by turn on Google Earth and posted it.

vetra - 3-20-2008 at 08:08 AM

Great--roughly how long would the drive be from Rosarito to Tecate?

bajaguy - 3-20-2008 at 08:11 AM

its about 25-35 minutes from Popotla to the turnoff...........figure the mileage to Tecate then add about 30-45 minutes to that.

If you are trying to save time, I would cross at Otay, if you want to ses some scenery, try Tecate.

Take caution when driving on any Mexican roads at night.

[Edited on 3-20-2008 by bajaguy]

David K - 3-20-2008 at 08:49 AM

Here you go (it's on the Baja Nomad Road Conditions forum): http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24396

wilderone - 3-20-2008 at 09:23 AM

But Mex. 3 is so much more scenic, and has the wine tasting, vinyards, restaurants, a couple museums, terra cotta shops, Dona Lupe's, and of course, Tecate.

vetra - 3-20-2008 at 09:35 AM

Wow--thanks David this is great--I was searching but apparently didn't go back far enough.

Although it was somewhat answered above I am still a little unclear of the driving time from Rosarito to Tecate using this route--would it be one hour, two hours.

Also we will be staying in Ocean Beach--roughly what would be the driving time or distance from Tecate back to Ocean Beach?

Thanks for everybody's help!

durrelllrobert - 3-20-2008 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vetra
--roughly what would be the driving time or distance from Tecate back to Ocean Beach?

1-crossing time @ Tecate: about 20 min @ 6:00 MX time (7:00 US)
2- border to 94E about 5min
3- 94 E to 125 N about 30 min with 1 Border Patrol stop in-between
3-125N to I8 W about 10 min
5-I8 W to Nimitz Blvd about 15-30 min depending on traffic
Total time about 1 hr 20 min:biggrin:

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 10:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vetra

Although it was somewhat answered above I am still a little unclear of the driving time from Rosarito to Tecate using this route--would it be one hour, two hours.

Also we will be staying in Ocean Beach--roughly what would be the driving time or distance from Tecate back to Ocean Beach?



A solid hour from the start of Blvd 2000 to Tecate. The Tecate toll road part is usually a lonely drive as it's pretty pricey and the locals take the free road.

Border wait? Who knows.

Could be another hour and a half from the border to OB. That's one drive you won't want to rush, especially on a Sunday evening.

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
1-crossing time @ Tecate: about 20 min @ 6:00 MX time (7:00 US)



That would be a gift on a Sunday afternoon.

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 10:23 AM

Vetra....

Going back over your schedule and the short time you have, I think you've planned way too much for a Sunday drive. Perhaps you should enjoy Puerto Nuevo or Ensenada at another time. What with all you have planned, you won't have time to get out of the car.

By the way...Don't forget your passport or birth certificate for re-entry.

vetra - 3-20-2008 at 11:54 AM

ok--I guess that is what we are trying to figure out and certainly plans could change as we do whatever it is we end up doing. I guess my rationale for the itinerary was based on rough driving times that I've seen quoted, such as:

1 1/2 to 2 hours from San Diego to Ensenada (is that pretty much on target?)
--I guess I really would like to do this as from what I understand the drive is supposed to be very scenic


Spend 4-5 hours in Ensenada--no real agenda, just looking around

Head back toward San Diego stopping in Rosarito or maybe La Fonda for dinner. Drive from Ensenada to Rosarito from what I can tell is maybe an hour. Spend an hour or so for dinner, and then an hour or so getting back to the border.

I know it is somewhat whirlwind and our time is limited, but really do want to see the scenery on the way to Ensenada...

Would it make any more sense just to drive straight to Ensenada and maybe return via Route 3 to Tecate (forego the Rosarito trip on the way back) and still get to see different kinds of scenery coming and going?

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 12:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vetra
Would it make any more sense just to drive straight to Ensenada and maybe return via Route 3 to Tecate (forego the Rosarito trip on the way back) and still get to see different kinds of scenery coming and going?


That would be much better. Lots to see in the valley between Ensenada and Tecate. Vinyards, winerys, all that stuff. By no means drive the Tecate road after dark. The surface has some potholes from the rains and the driver has to pay attention.

vetra - 3-20-2008 at 12:55 PM

ok--then what would be the approximate driving time from Ensenada to Tecate on Route 3...assuming no stops--have to factor that in as we make them....

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 01:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vetra
ok--then what would be the approximate driving time from Ensenada to Tecate on Route 3...assuming no stops--have to factor that in as we make them....


Ninety minutes from where you join Hwy 3.

David K - 3-20-2008 at 07:20 PM

There is a rule when we cross into Baja... NO CLOCKS or WATCHES! Forget about time, how long, when, etc. Mexican's don't run their lives by a clock, so while in Mexico, why should you? You really will have a far better time IF you don't pay any attention to how long it takes to get somewhere or do something... It doesn't get dark until 7-7:30pm now, anyway.

Top off you gas in Ensenada, at a low price... NOT in Tijuana or Tecate, where the price is matched to this side of the border.

DENNIS - 3-20-2008 at 07:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K

Top off you gas in Ensenada, at a low price... NOT in Tijuana or Tecate, where the price is matched to this side of the border.


I didn't know they did that.

David K - 3-21-2008 at 09:14 AM

Yes, back when US gas prices were LOWER than Pemex prices, the Pemex station owners near the border insisted that the government run monopoly have a special price zone for Pemex near the border that matched US prices. PEMEX gave in but only once, and all stations within 20 km. of the border have gas (not diesel) prices linked to the U.S. price...

Now that U.S. prices are higher... much higher than Mexico gas prices, it is a sad thing for those station owners who wanted that price matching... and sad for the Mexican people who are being 'punished' by their own government with the arificial pricing sceme.

Now, it has been awhile since Antonio (BajaCactus) has been posting us updates on the prices... Perhaps that bad deal the border zone stations made has been dropped?

DENNIS - 3-21-2008 at 01:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Yes,


I remember they did it in the past but, I just hadn't heard that they're doing it now.
I just heard this morning from a friend who came through yesterday that the large station by the middle toll booth was lined up to the roads. I guess they have the old price.

David K - 3-21-2008 at 03:31 PM

Dennis, the middle toll booth (Rosarito Sur) is more than 20 km. (12 miles) from the border, and thus has the typical Pemex prices... I have fueled there myself.

DENNIS - 3-21-2008 at 06:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Dennis, the middle toll booth (Rosarito Sur) is more than 20 km. (12 miles) from the border, and thus has the typical Pemex prices... I have fueled there myself.


There's a large scroll painted on the wall that commemorates that occurance.
.
.
Just kidding, David.

ElFaro - 3-21-2008 at 10:25 PM

David K...

Just want to pass on to the forum that the price of diesel on the San Diego side of the border is about $4.10/gal. and the price of diesel on the Baja side of the border is about $2.00/gal. Pemex is not pricing their diesel on parity with their US counterparts along the border. I know this because there are people I know who are crossing over weekly with lg. aux. tanks and buying xtra diesel and pumping it out for their other vehicles. One guy I know is buying about 250 gal. /wk. If our customs catches you doing this I hear you owe them some serious coin in taxes not otherwise paid here.

ElFaro - 3-21-2008 at 10:28 PM

Some additional info. on Blvd 2000...

I posted earlier about 2 months ago some info. on how to get to Blvd. 2000 from the south-north toll road. I also posted earlier about 1 month ago on the condition of blvd. 2000 after the rains and punishment by truckers.

Here is some addl. info. some might not be aware of...

As you head east on Blvd. 2000 you come to a bridge overpass and a big sign that says TECATE with an arrow pointing right. If you take this route you are now leaving Blvd 2000 toll road and heading East on the Tijuana-Tecate free road. You can take this for a few miles where it meets up again with Blvd 2000 coming in from the north. There is a toll booth to get back on Blvd 2000 here where it is now the TECATE-MEXICALI toll road. You go a few more miles and then you can exit at the Tecate off-ramp and drop into Tecate. If you are towing a trailer the charge at the small booth is around 70 pesos.

However if you do not get off Blvd 2000 onto the Tijuana-Tecate free road as I stated above but continue on Blvd 2000 north you will pass under a bridge with a small sign that says "CUOTA" meaning you are still on the toll road. After you pass the final off ramp that goes to the Otay Mesa crossing you will come to the main toll booths that start the TECATE-MEXICALI toll road. If you are towing a trailer the charge at the big toll booths is around 140 pesos. This came somewhat as a price shock to us since we were only going to the Tecate off ramp. The upshot of all this is take the free road for a short distance if you want to save a few $'s.

David K - 3-21-2008 at 10:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ElFaro
David K...

Just want to pass on to the forum that the price of diesel on the San Diego side of the border is about $4.10/gal. and the price of diesel on the Baja side of the border is about $2.00/gal. Pemex is not pricing their diesel on parity with their US counterparts along the border. I know this because there are people I know who are crossing over weekly with lg. aux. tanks and buying xtra diesel and pumping it out for their other vehicles. One guy I know is buying about 250 gal. /wk. If our customs catches you doing this I hear you owe them some serious coin in taxes not otherwise paid here.


Thanks for adding more ... But, about the price, you missed the line where I said that the price matching along the border was only for gas, not diesel: " and all stations within 20 km. of the border have gas (not diesel) prices linked to the U.S. price..."

David K - 3-21-2008 at 10:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ElFaro
Some additional info. on Blvd 2000...

I posted earlier about 2 months ago some info. on how to get to Blvd. 2000 from the south-north toll road. I also posted earlier about 1 month ago on the condition of blvd. 2000 after the rains and punishment by truckers.

Here is some addl. info. some might not be aware of...

As you head east on Blvd. 2000 you come to a bridge overpass and a big sign that says TECATE with an arrow pointing right. If you take this route you are now leaving Blvd 2000 toll road and heading East on the Tijuana-Tecate free road. You can take this for a few miles where it meets up again with Blvd 2000 coming in from the north. There is a toll booth to get back on Blvd 2000 here where it is now the TECATE-MEXICALI toll road. You go a few more miles and then you can exit at the Tecate off-ramp and drop into Tecate. If you are towing a trailer the charge at the small booth is around 70 pesos.

However if you do not get off Blvd 2000 onto the Tijuana-Tecate free road as I stated above but continue on Blvd 2000 north you will pass under a bridge with a small sign that says "CUOTA" meaning you are still on the toll road. After you pass the final off ramp that goes to the Otay Mesa crossing you will come to the main toll booths that start the TECATE-MEXICALI toll road. If you are towing a trailer the charge at the big toll booths is around 140 pesos. This came somewhat as a price shock to us since we were only going to the Tecate off ramp. The upshot of all this is take the free road for a short distance if you want to save a few $'s.


Just so there is no confusion with your terms: Blvd. 2000 is NOT a toll highway... You can get onto the Tecate free road or the toll road from it, but there are no tolls between the U.S. border at Otay and Popotla on Hwy. 1 at the south end.

DENNIS - 3-22-2008 at 08:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Just so there is no confusion with your terms: Blvd. 2000 is NOT a toll highway...


Not yet, anyway. I've heard that it will be, eventually. ???????