BajaNomad - No Wait at Tecate border yesterday!

No Wait at Tecate border yesterday!

MexicoTed - 3-16-2012 at 12:45 PM

Had a friend in town and decided to show him Baja for a night. Came back through the wine country and the Tecate border crossing at 6:30pm (Thursday March 15th). Drove right up to the booth without a car in front of us. Incredible! In fact we got there so fast we had to look for our passports. When the agent saw us looking for our PP's, he quipped "what's wrong didn't you know you were crossing an international border today". Then we all laughed as he he commented he couldn't believe there was no one there.

Ted

DENNIS - 3-16-2012 at 12:46 PM

Shhhhhh...don't tell anybody. :saint:

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2012 at 04:24 PM

Geez. As I started a thread here yesterday, on Saturday, we waited one hour to get through in Tecate. It appears to me to be a crap shoot, especially since Russ noted that he recently waited 1 1/2 hours at San Ysidro. From my perspective, given the extra driving, if I had to wait for 1 1/2 hours at SY, or who knows, maybe less at Otay, I wasted my time going to Tecate.

DianaT - 3-16-2012 at 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Geez. As I started a thread here yesterday, on Saturday, we waited one hour to get through in Tecate. It appears to me to be a crap shoot, especially since Russ noted that he recently waited 1 1/2 hours at San Ysidro. From my perspective, given the extra driving, if I had to wait for 1 1/2 hours at SY, or who knows, maybe less at Otay, I wasted my time going to Tecate.

MexicoTed's experience was very, very unusual!

It is not worth the extra time for anyone to cross at Tecate. Everyone really should reconsider and only cross at San Ysidro. It is an ugly, terrible and dangerous drive through those mountains, the police in Tecate will "get" you, there are hundreds of really pushy vendors, the army will harass you, the border agents are really grumpy and you will ALWAYS end up in secondary! It is just not worth it! Viva San Ysidro!
:saint:

[Edited on 3-16-2012 by DianaT]

BornFisher - 3-16-2012 at 04:44 PM

Crossing at 6:30 on a weekday, has its advantages wherever you cross. A friend crossed in 2 minutes Thursday at Otay (Ready Lane), at 3PM. You never know!
Just checked--- at 4PM--- Tecate=20 minutes. Otay Ready Lane=5 minutes.
BTW the new concrete barriers are up (Otay) and a good thing--- no line cutting!!

[Edited on 3-16-2012 by BornFisher]

rts551 - 3-16-2012 at 04:58 PM

Go for OTAY. All the "experts" will tell you there is no advantage to Tecate Only two gates and a single line to those.. And there is no protection against line cutters. (You have to go through the historical posts to get the info on line cutters)

DianaT - 3-16-2012 at 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Go for OTAY. All the "experts" will tell you there is no advantage to Tecate Only two gates and a single line to those.. And there is no protection against line cutters. (You have to go through the historical posts to get the info on line cutters)

GREAT information--- :saint:

[Edited on 3-17-2012 by DianaT]

willardguy - 3-16-2012 at 05:22 PM

man I wish they'd move the tecate crossing to tijuana! :biggrin:

MexicoTed - 3-16-2012 at 08:42 PM

Funny thing is my brother was in another car and didn't want to drive to Tecate so went to Otay to cross. He said they got there about 6pm and waited an hour... I guess you never know as I have waited 45 minutes at Tecate too.

goldhuntress - 3-16-2012 at 09:01 PM

Mexico Ted, buy a lottery ticket, your on a lucky streak, lol.

DENNIS - 3-16-2012 at 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goldhuntress
Mexico Ted, buy a lottery ticket, your on a lucky streak, lol.

Really. It's like believing in only one Gawd. :lol:

David K - 3-16-2012 at 10:24 PM

Some great reverse psychology going on here! :rolleyes:

redhilltown - 3-16-2012 at 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Quote:

[Edited on 3-16-2012 by DianaT]

Diana failed to mention that Tecate is the only border crossing where you do not receive fresh doughnuts and warm moist towelettes from the customs agents!!!!!

David K - 3-17-2012 at 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown

Diana failed to mention that Tecate is the only border crossing where you do not receive fresh doughnuts and warm moist towelettes from the customs agents!!!!!

rts551 - 3-17-2012 at 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Some great reverse psychology going on here! :rolleyes:

Ahhh come on. really?

Marc - 3-17-2012 at 07:37 AM

Tecate is the way to go. Although it's a good chance you will be directed to secondary if you're in a pickup. The guys there a are good natured as*****s. They took our breakfast chorizo.

unbob - 3-17-2012 at 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaTIt is not worth the extra time for anyone to cross at Tecate. Everyone really should reconsider and only cross at San Ysidro. It is an ugly, terrible and dangerous drive through those mountains, the police in Tecate will "get" you, there are hundreds of really pushy vendors, the army will harass you, the border agents are really grumpy and you will ALWAYS end up in secondary! It is just not worth it!

And don't foget all the snow and ice in the mountains! Banditos and nightmare topes, etc etc. Whatever you do, avoid Tecate at all cost!

fourninerpapa - 3-17-2012 at 08:52 AM

We crossed at Tecate at 3:30pm on the 15th with about a 20 minute wait.
I ran into a big problem trying to go into secondary with a (new to me) 38 foot class A motorhome. I could not make the turn into secondary. I had to back up so they could open another gate and let me into the area where they run vehicles through xray.
The inspectors were very helpful and polite. One suggested I go through the truck gate next year but I am sure I can do that.
Since I end up in Yuma I think I will go through the east exit of Mexicalli.

Norm

Bajahowodd - 3-17-2012 at 04:12 PM

Two gates, and the Mexican Army to direct you. Who could ask for anything more?

Seriously, outside of certain holiday periods, it seems to me that if Tecate wait time is upwards of an hour, anyone looking to head North on I-5 would be better served going across at Otay.

TecateRay - 3-18-2012 at 10:12 PM

Friends waited 3hours on Saturday. They got in line around 6. Weekdays seem to be good, but weekends at Tecate have become a lengthy process. What was Wait at Otay on Saturday at 6 pm?