BajaNomad

San Luis border crossing

Sandlefoot - 7-16-2013 at 06:32 AM

We will be heading home to La Paz in a few days from visiting my kids in Austin Texas. We are pondering the San Luis crossing south of Yuma AZ and was wondering if anyone has used this crossing? Some research I have done people use the older roads to go quite a way south of Mexicali and hit Mex 5, and others hit the toll road and join Mex 5 just south of Mexicali. Was wondering if there was a benefit of one over the other? We will also need to get a new FMM, is there an IMN office there?, where is it?. And is there a bank to take my money? Can't wait to get back home!!!!!

Happy Trails

DianaT - 7-16-2013 at 07:38 AM

If he is available, you might U2U rts551. Ralph is very familiar with that area and can tell you about all the different possibilities as he travels to Baja from Tuscon.

Sandlefoot - 7-16-2013 at 08:07 AM

Thanks DianaT. I Can do that!!! thanks for the info.

Mike

Happy Trails

Pescador - 7-16-2013 at 01:11 PM

I have crossed there several times and it is not my favorite place to cross. I don't exactly know why but it seems I caught more attitude there from the US Border Patrol than normal.
When I enter Mexico, I really like crossing south at Algodones because almost no one does that and generally I get waved right through. North is good except when all the shoppers and dentist patients are crossing at the same time and the line can get pretty long.
Going south is usually pretty good and it is really easy to bypass Mexicali on the new 4 lane road and you go from San Luis to the Rumarosa Grade at 75 MPH. I used to use that all the time coming from Colorado.

CortezBlue - 7-16-2013 at 01:37 PM

I live in Phoenix and cross at San Luis always.

Take I8 and take Araby Road SR195 south. There is a Chevron/Jack in the Box to get gas just off of the freeway. The new road is 21 miles from San Luis and is very quick.

Note: It can be busy between 4 to 6 pm with Mexicans and Americans crossing back and fourth.

The immigration office is on the right hand side just as you cross.

Once you cross the border, take your first right and you are on Hwy 2

Once you are on Hwy 2 you will have a toll booth. 12 pesos is required

After the Toll booth you will hit a Military check point. Most times you will be passed through unless you have a camper on a truck

Once you get on Hwy 2 you can go through to Tecate or you can go south to San Felipe

Algadones is an option, but in my opinion it is only good to miss the military check point and the 12 peso toll. The road is very slow and has some very nasty speed bumps. It is probably a few miles shorter drive to Hwy 2, but I think you loose time due to all of the small communities you have to drive through.

Sandlefoot - 7-18-2013 at 08:26 AM

Thanks CortezBlue, that is all the nudge I need!!!! Sounds easy enough, I'll give it a try and thank you again later when I get home.

Mike

Happy trails

BajaRat - 7-18-2013 at 08:45 AM

Dito on what Cortez Blue said, its our route of choice. If you take the Algodones you will be on two lane farm roads for a while before you get to MEX 2 or 5 , its much slower going with narrow poor condition roads. San Luis to Mex 2 to Mex 5 and you will be home in no time....... say hi to Coco :cool:

David K - 7-18-2013 at 06:04 PM

Not the most recent map of the area, but will give you the idea...

Bajafun777 - 7-18-2013 at 10:56 PM

san Luis is fine to cross in either direction and no problems. Have used it without any problems and well signed so you don't get confused crossing in either direction. So, use San Luis and stay off the two lane roads you won't like going through Algodones. Enjoy your trip. Take Care & Travel Safe---- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

David K - 7-19-2013 at 08:31 AM

777 and others have posted to avoid the farm roads as a short cut to San Felipe. Take Hwy 2 and 2-D west to Hwy. 5, and go south to San Felipe. 38 miles remain unpaved to Hwy. 5, but 4WD is not needed.

Sandlefoot - 7-19-2013 at 09:11 AM

Thanks all for all the input!!! DavidK maps are always of great benefit. I have been over Mex5 through to Laguana Chapala several times. Great trip and the roads are typically good, unless there has been a BIG rain.

I'll say "Hi" to CoCo!!!!!

Happy Trails

Mike

dizzyspots - 9-3-2015 at 06:23 PM

Query: almost always get pulled into secondary at San Luis (truck camper AND towing a 19ft boat.)...Im OK with that and getting the FM2...but after I turn into secondary...how/where to park and walk back to Immigration building for the FM2?

woody with a view - 9-3-2015 at 06:45 PM

with the trailer, good luck! let the migra guys tell you where to park. they'll let you walk to the FMM office from there, or they did for me.

rts551 - 9-3-2015 at 07:13 PM

When traveling south through San Felipe I cross south at San Luis or Algadones depending on how I feel. We don't worry about the country roads since we are never in that big a hurry and usually spend the night in San Felipe. Coming back today (about 10 AM) I crossed at Mexicali east and it was about 20 minutes.

If traveling south through Ensenada we usually cross at Tecate without ever a problem.

dizzyspots - 9-3-2015 at 09:43 PM

Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office folder with the passports!!

rts551 - 9-4-2015 at 07:04 AM

Quote: Originally posted by dizzyspots  
Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office folder with the passports!!


FM2 o FMM?


rts551 - 9-4-2015 at 09:02 AM

Ahhh o F2M

durrelllrobert - 9-4-2015 at 10:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Pescador  
I have crossed there several times and it is not my favorite place to cross. I don't exactly know why but it seems I caught more attitude there from the US Border Patrol than normal.
When I enter Mexico, I really like crossing south at Algodones because almost no one does that and generally I get waved right through. North is good except when all the shoppers and dentist patients are crossing at the same time and the line can get pretty long.
Going south is usually pretty good and it is really easy to bypass Mexicali on the new 4 lane road and you go from San Luis to the Rumarosa Grade at 75 MPH. I used to use that all the time coming from Colorado.


Lot of tolls on that route but worth it.

durrelllrobert - 9-4-2015 at 10:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by dizzyspots  
Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office folder with the passports!!


When purchased on line you still need to stop and get it stamped when entering Mexico at any POE

MrNoodly - 1-28-2016 at 07:58 PM

I'm in the Yuma area, headed to Baja (down highway 5) soon, and I've tried to figure out whether San Luis or Los Algodones is the better choice.

I've been to Los Algodones several times, crossing on foot to get meds, so it's familiar. I've never seen a line for southbound vehicles, just the occasional one stopped outside the immigration station. So that's my first inclination. However, I don't know how well the route to highway 2 is marked. And if I really wanted to wander around and get lost, I could take other roads to highway 5 and not need to schlep most of the way to Mexicali.

San Luis is just as handy, but since it's in Sonora, I wonder if they'd want me to do the temporary vehicle importation thing.

Any thoughts?

CortezBlue - 1-28-2016 at 08:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MrNoodly  
I'm in the Yuma area, headed to Baja (down highway 5) soon, and I've tried to figure out whether San Luis or Los Algodones is the better choice.

I've been to Los Algodones several times, crossing on foot to get meds, so it's familiar. I've never seen a line for southbound vehicles, just the occasional one stopped outside the immigration station. So that's my first inclination. However, I don't know how well the route to highway 2 is marked. And if I really wanted to wander around and get lost, I could take other roads to highway 5 and not need to schlep most of the way to Mexicali.



San Luis is just as handy, but since it's in Sonora, I wonder if they'd want me to do the temporary vehicle importation thing.

Any thoughts?



personally, I prefer San Luis. Los Algadones is shorter but, you have to weave through an agricultural area and go through small towns that have some pretty hard speed bumps. The positive side, you miss a military check point if you go through Los Algedones.

If you do go San Luis, just make sure you have your visa in hand and watch your speed before you get to the first toll booth in Sonora, before you cross into Baja

durrelllrobert - 1-30-2016 at 10:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Pescador  
I have crossed there several times and it is not my favorite place to cross. I don't exactly know why but it seems I caught more attitude there from the US Border Patrol than normal.
When I enter Mexico, I really like crossing south at Algodones because almost no one does that and generally I get waved right through. North is good except when all the shoppers and dentist patients are crossing at the same time and the line can get pretty long.
Going south is usually pretty good and it is really easy to bypass Mexicali on the new 4 lane road and you go from San Luis to the Rumarosa Grade at 75 MPH. I used to use that all the time coming from Colorado.


Couldn't agree more. Plus you can pickup a case of cheap booze there and take it anywhere in Mexico as opposed to the 2 bottle limit coming in from the US

durrelllrobert - 1-30-2016 at 10:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajafun777  
san Luis is fine to cross in either direction and no problems. Have used it without any problems and well signed so you don't get confused crossing in either direction. So, use San Luis and stay off the two lane roads you won't like going through Algodones. Enjoy your trip. Take Care & Travel Safe---- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777


Only 10 miles from center of Algadonas to hgw 2 at Cuidad Morales and that only took me 15 minutes last time we did.

JZ - 1-30-2016 at 01:51 PM

We crossed at San Luis three times this year in route from LA to San Carlos. It comes out on Hwy 15 in Santa Ana. Nice drive.