BajaNomad

GOING THRU TECATE

fishingmako - 3-2-2009 at 03:25 PM

Hi all, I will be leaving Ensenada on Friday March 6 heading to the States, I normaly go thru Tecate, wanted to know what kind of road conditions I will be up against, I haven't been back for awhile since I have been South To Cabo, If the road conditions are bad, could someone tell me how to get to Tecate from Ensenada going north on the toll road, where do I get off? as well as getting to the toll road to Tecate.
I just don't want to go thru San Ysidro or Otay, I would prefer Tecate from Ensenada, but don't want to fight the road.
Thanks Much

bajabound2005 - 3-2-2009 at 03:30 PM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36944#pid3915...

David K - 3-2-2009 at 03:31 PM

The search feature on Nomad is really good...

However, I am happy to help:

Exit the toll road at PUERTO NUEVO (after Calafia and Descanso exits)

Continue northbound on the free road for about 6 miles... just when the Foxploration studios come into view (Popotla) there will be a signal and signs for Tecate... this is the Blvd. 2000, or BC #201 to Mex. 2 and 2-D.

Free, 4 lane highway to the free Tecate road, or continue ahead to where it ends on the toll Tecate highway. At that point (Bighorn sheep monument) you can go to the Otay crossing, 5 miles west or all they way east to Tecate.




[Edited on 3-2-2009 by David K]

fishingmako - 3-2-2009 at 03:42 PM

I appreciate the information bajabound, I'm taking it that the road is still bad? the link you gave me, was a month old, I guess in Mexico a month really makes no difference? nothing has really been done on the road, still the same correct.

DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 03:42 PM

I've done the toll road/2000/tecate Toll road twice in the last few weeks and I highly recommend it. There's a lot of road work happening on HWY 3.
Anyway, look through the link that BB2000 gave you. If you have more questions, feel free.

DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 03:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishingmako
I'm taking it that the road is still bad?


Still bad and given the length and size of the project, it'll bad for some time to come. You really have to love wine to go out there.

Correction

Dave - 3-2-2009 at 03:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You really have to love wine to go out there.


You really have to love overrated and overpriced wine to go out there.

[Edited on 3-2-2009 by Dave]

fishingmako - 3-2-2009 at 03:57 PM

Thanks, Dennis, thanks David, and BB. I will find it now hopefuly?

dianaji - 3-2-2009 at 04:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
The search feature on Nomad is really good...

However, I am happy to help:

Exit the toll road at PUERTO NUEVO (after Calafia and Descanso exits)

Continue northbound on the free road for about 6 miles... just when the Foxploration studios come into view (Popotla) there will be a signal and signs for Tecate... this is the Blvd. 2000, or BC #201 to Mex. 2 and 2-D.

Free, 4 lane highway to the free Tecate road, or continue ahead to where it ends on the toll Tecate highway. At that point (Bighorn sheep monument) you can go to the Otay crossing, 5 miles west or all they way east to Tecate.



[Edited on 3-2-2009 by David K]


Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Thanks David....Your directions are way more clear than mine would have been.


My pleasure Dennis,

Here is the 2007 AAA map showing the Blvd. 2000 (18.4 + 7.1 miles long... 5.9 miles from the Puerto Nuevo exit):


LOVE that map...and those directions! it will help so much in my adventures, being a newbie!

DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 04:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave

You really have to love overrated and overpriced wine to go out there.



I stand corrected.

dtbushpilot - 3-2-2009 at 05:05 PM

Hey DK, on the map it looks like you could expect an exit from hy1 to blvd 2000. Is that not the case?

I usually go hy3 from Ensenada to Tecate and would really like to try this next time.....thanks....dt

DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Hey DK, on the map it looks like you could expect an exit from hy1 to blvd 2000. Is that not the case?

I usually go hy3 from Ensenada to Tecate and would really like to try this next time.....thanks....dt


Let me help you since DK is busy.

Not the case. Going north, exit at Puerto Nuevo off ramp. Go north on free road for six miles to Blvd. 2000. 26 miles up 2000 to the Tecate Cuota. Pay 80 Pesos and it's fifteen miles back to Tecate. I didn't clock it but, I've been told it adds eight miles to the trip over the HWY 3 route.

There will be another Tecate turnoff from 2000 prior to the Cuota turnoff. Do yourself a favor and don't take it. That's the free road with all the truck traffic etc.. So, if it doesn't say Cuota, don't turn off.

David K - 3-2-2009 at 06:30 PM

Thanks Dennis!

Yes DT, there is a complete on ramp/ off ramp interchange for thr Blvd. 2000 and the Ensenada toll highway... STILL NOT FINISHED... 3 years later!

Really, really stupid to dump all that traffic onto the free road for 6 miles!

David K - 3-2-2009 at 07:07 PM

Here's the Tecate map I just made for Phil on the other Tecate thread, FYI:

ibannie - 3-2-2009 at 08:00 PM

Hi Fishinmako

We left through Tecate just three days ago with 29ft rv - no biggie re the road at all. We were expecting much worse. A bit bumpy for a mile or so literally, but just absolootle fine after that. Traffic moved through just great.

Enjoy the drive - its beautiful.... and the border crossing was quick and easy with great friendly people.

Have fun.

fishingmako - 3-2-2009 at 08:56 PM

Hi, ibannie, thanks for the info, but you have got to be kidding? after everyone said how bad this is, and you just experienced this without any great difficulity, amazing.

David K - 3-2-2009 at 09:52 PM

It is just a detour along a section being widened... near the El Sauzal end (Hwy. 1 end)... a couple miles... Perhaps it was raining and muddy when the awful report was made?

BornFisher - 3-2-2009 at 10:21 PM

Quote:
There will be another Tecate turnoff from 2000 prior to the Cuota turnoff. Do yourself a favor and don't take it. That's the free road with all the truck traffic etc.. So, if it doesn't say Cuota, don't turn off.


Dennis-- Have you ever taken the libre road at the turnoff you describe? It`s wonderful, a 4 lane road, so zooming around slow trucks is not an issue. Stick to the libre and once you hit Tecade, it`s 10 minutes thru town to the border. Piece of cake!!
Example, from my pad @ K-38, it takes me 35 minutes to the TJ border. To the Tecate border it takes another 18 minutes, so 53 minutes will get me there. That`s taking the free road into Tecate and the border. And you save some dinero tambien!!!
I really can`t see how going north, then east, is better than just going northeast

ibannie - 3-2-2009 at 10:42 PM

no, not kidding at all - we did take the glass plate out of the microwave to reduce the noise, but really, no big deal at all. The road to Ojo de Liebre was much worse than this stretch... Seriously - I struggle with small narrow bad roads as you can read in many places in my blog about the trip, but this part was no problem at all.
Enjoy whatever route you take - its all lovely.

DENNIS - 3-3-2009 at 08:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BornFisher


Dennis-- Have you ever taken the libre road at the turnoff you describe?


I have to admit it's been a really long time since I took that road. My memory is of precarious high cliff-like road sides and lots of truck traffic.
I'm going back up next week so I'll give it a try.

KurtG - 3-3-2009 at 08:37 AM

We drove Hwy 3 from Ensenada to Tecate yesterday and the construction slowed us down for the first few miles but after tht no problem. Took about 35 minutes to get across the border at Tecate.