jeremias - 12-26-2009 at 07:19 PM
Looks like I'm headed south through the Tecate border entrance on to Ensenada on Sunday around noon. Could anybody tell me how the traffic going in
and through the border might be like? Thanks 
woody with a view - 12-26-2009 at 07:30 PM
probably a car in front and maybe one or two behind!!!
noproblemo2 - 12-26-2009 at 07:44 PM
Shouldn't be too bad at all on a Sunday heading south....
Mexicorn - 12-26-2009 at 07:46 PM
My crystal Ball says there will be no wait.
jeremias - 12-26-2009 at 09:39 PM
Sweet! thanks for the replies. Also, Im going to be around San Quintin, and although i never knew i needed one, I want to get the tourist card. Can I
get that at Tecate on a Sunday? Isn't there a free one for 7 days? thanks.
[Edited on 12-27-2009 by jeremias]
Diver - 12-26-2009 at 10:14 PM
Going to San Quintin, you will need an FMT.
They are available at the Tecate' crossing (1/2 block over the border on the right).
I am not sure if the bank will be open then.
David K - 12-26-2009 at 10:34 PM
Yes, request the FREE one for 7 days or less... No open bank at the Tecate border on a Sunday (for the 180 day tourist cards)... and it is several
blocks away on normal bank days/ hours, from what I have read here. (I get mine at Tijuana which has a 24/7 bank teller just for the FM-Ts)
In Mexico, the 180 day FM-Ts have to be paid at a bank, then returned to the INM office for the activating stamp.
jeremias - 12-27-2009 at 12:11 AM
If i were to get the FM-t at Tecate, could i get it paid for at a bank in Ensenda when they are open, and then have it stamped at an INM office there?
thanks for the alll the help.
Pacifico - 12-27-2009 at 08:23 AM
Jeremias,
If you can get the free 7 day tourist card (if on a short trip) I would just do that. The Ensenada immigration office can be a nightmare. I would
avoid it if possible - many nomads have had poor experiences there. If you do go, please report your experience. Good luck and have a great trip!
jeremias - 1-1-2010 at 08:06 PM
I took the Tecate entrance point on the way in and it was completely free of traffic, and very quiet overall. I was the only person around in the
Migracion office. However, coming from Orange County the total trip time was almost double if i had just used the TJ entrance. There was about an
hour+ at least portion of dirt road driving from the road construction going on, so unless i plan on smuggling in either direction, I will be back to
using the San Ysidro point regardless of the occasional bullet flying by. Amazingly today on New Years day I got through the border return trip in
about 20 minutes! Was weird though, after being waved to pass by the B.P they were taking every car to the side to be exited and then scanned by this
mobile xray machine. I'm pretty sure they were checking each and every vehicle.
woody with a view - 1-1-2010 at 08:16 PM
at least they let you get out of the car. how did the FMT thing go?
BornFisher - 1-1-2010 at 08:26 PM
Tecate is just plain overrated. Way too much time and driving.
Going north on a week day, hit SY about 5 PM, 30 minutes avg..
This time of year though, it gets tricky with the shoppers. Might be better in the AM with no students crossing. Jan. 1st is a piece of cake all day,
in fact @ 7am today, SY had a 15 minute wait with only 5 lanes open.
jeremias - 1-1-2010 at 10:50 PM
fmt was a breeze. The guy gave me the 7 day fmt without saying a word while he yakked on the phone. Took about 3 minutes total. Drove to surf past the
Erendira area and none of the checkpoints ever asked to see it. Trip was completely calm and uneventful. Cops were behind me multiple times and just
passed me or went on their way. The border was super easy today. Im guessing people are all hungover i guess. 
lizard lips - 1-1-2010 at 11:30 PM
Jeremias,
I would continue to use the Tecate border entrance if I were you. I use the SY crossing at least 4 times a month and those bullets are a real b-tch
to dodge but I don't want to spend the extra time to get to Ensenada.
jeremias - 1-2-2010 at 11:33 AM
Tj was looking more sketchy then ever, that's for sure.
jeremias - 1-2-2010 at 11:35 AM
[Edited on 1-2-2010 by jeremias]
woody with a view - 1-2-2010 at 03:59 PM
J
there used to be an old iron wagon wheel out on the reef at low tides there. it's been almost 20 years now so i assune its part of the sand by now! we
used to trade doobies with the pangueros for lobster!!! someday i'll dig up those old pics.....
jeremias - 1-2-2010 at 04:11 PM
that would be cool to see those Woody. This my first time in this area while looking for some surf. We went right past Cabras without realizing it.
I would've liked to camp out on that cliff though. There was only guy in sight camping with his wife in a truck slide-in, and he was pretty to see us.
woody with a view - 1-2-2010 at 04:16 PM
not much to see really. there ain't much surf in that zone. when we were just getting into it like you are now, we would go in there and get bored and
head to cuatro casas with our lobster when it was time to re-up our beer supply.