BajaNomad

Questions about crossing at Mexicali

cbuzzetti - 9-9-2012 at 05:35 PM

I havent been across this border in a few years and wanted to know what line to be in if I am pulling a boat trailer when going from Cal-Mex? As well as comming home?

Is it well signed once in Mexicali on how to get to San Felipe?

Is it better to take a different route either way?

Our end destination is Gonzaga Bay.

Thanks for your infinite wisdom Nomads!

wornout - 9-9-2012 at 06:00 PM

I love the old border crossing and have used it for years. If pulling a boat, I would use the new border crossing both ways. The road in Mexicali from the old border crossing and south was being worked on and all N/S traffic was using the NB lanes which was divided with cones and barriers. It may be done by now but when I tow my trailer, I use the east crossing and when I am just driving, I use the old crossing. It is marked pretty well and you can always look at it with Google Maps.

You can see from the enclosed map that it is a pretty straight shot south from the east crossing:

Driving directions to Calz Venustiano Carranza

Border Crossing (A)

1. Head south toward Calzada Abelardo L Rodriguez 300 m
2. Turn right onto Calzada Abelardo L Rodriguez 1.7 km
3. Turn left onto Bernardo Reyes 1.7 km
4. Continue onto Ing Ignacio Otero 500 m
5. Continue onto Calz Venustiano Carranza 10.2 km
6. Turn left on Calz Venustiano Carranz (Hwy 5)

[Edited on 9-10-2012 by wornout]

[Edited on 9-10-2012 by wornout]

Capture.gif - 42kB

nbacc - 9-10-2012 at 07:49 AM

East crossing for sure going down. when returning be sure you are in the right hand lane from the get go as it is almost impossible to change lanes once you have turned into the border crossing area. Once you are in the crossing line it will tell you if you are towing something to go right but it does not tell you soon enough (in my opinion). We have gone through the east crossing into Mexico towing a rather large storage trailer and had no problem at all. Just pull to the right and they will probably ask for your reg. papers. Not usually a big deal. Have fun and catch lots of fish!!!!!! Nancy

sancho - 9-10-2012 at 12:04 PM

There has been some RECENT complaints about CURRENT
repaving on the Hwy Mexicali/San Felipe, don't know
the exact up to date conditions, but as of a few days
ago, some 16 mi. of off pavement/detour driving,
haven't read the El Dorado San Felipe site which
often has posts on conditions. I'm going down
in 3 weeks and was considering TJ/Ensenada over
to San Felipe, the Hwy detour appear to change
daily

nbacc - 9-10-2012 at 01:16 PM

You might have a point there!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it changes everyday and last I heard it was quite a bit more than 16 miles. Let us know. Nancy

cbuzzetti - 9-11-2012 at 08:32 AM

Thank you for your replies.

Anybody have that web address that Sancho was talking about above?

I did a search on Google for el Dorado San Felipe but did not get a hit for what looked like he was talking about.

nbacc - 9-11-2012 at 08:37 AM

Sometimes things are not posted on there for quite a long time as there are not many people there until Oct when it cools down. You could try calling El Dorado Ranch but it will really depend on who you get on who you get on the phone.

David K - 9-11-2012 at 08:40 AM

The last week of July, the detour was 20 miles long (between La Ventana and the gold mine, just a bit north of the Hwy. 3 junction) and the detour was in good shape, and being watered down for dust control.

San Felipe Rain Info

wornout - 9-11-2012 at 08:47 AM

The original site in San Felipe for news is: www.sanfelipe.com.mx. However, the news page hasn't been updated since July.

There is a site with daily information and a couple of pictures of town here under the Sept 10th tab: http://katskorner.com.mx/san_felipe/

There is an El Dorado Ranch site at: http://www.eldoradoranch.com/ but it doesn't have much, except sales info, for non owners.

I have a bulletin board at www.blueroadrunner.com/phpbb but the info is member input and the members are not very active.

I am not in town but got most of my information from Faceless book:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanFelipeBCMexico/
https://www.facebook.com/lists/10150440543898998
https://www.facebook.com/groups/198777840499/

[Edited on 9-11-2012 by wornout]

Riom - 9-11-2012 at 12:01 PM

The other place for San Felipe News is my site, San Felipe News: http://www.sanfelipenews.com .

It has automated updates if any of the other local sites post a new article, so you only need to read one place to keep up to date. Plus I add occasional news items that the others don't cover. The weather links show the rain yesterday (0.28" at Los Viajeros North, El Dorado, but nothing recorded south of town).

It is unfortunate though that some news is hidden inside Facebook like the groups mentioned by Warren, means it gets restricted to a small group of people, rather than being published for all to read.

Rob

mcfez - 9-11-2012 at 12:45 PM

I'm with Nancy on this one....it's really a great way to cross. I'll emphasize to use the right lane asap :-) Service station and fast food right outside of the check point ....entering the US
Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
East crossing for sure going down. when returning be sure you are in the right hand lane from the get go as it is almost impossible to change lanes once you have turned into the border crossing area. Once you are in the crossing line it will tell you if you are towing something to go right but it does not tell you soon enough (in my opinion). We have gone through the east crossing into Mexico towing a rather large storage trailer and had no problem at all. Just pull to the right and they will probably ask for your reg. papers. Not usually a big deal. Have fun and catch lots of fish!!!!!! Nancy