BajaNomad

Greyhound into/out of TJ?

neilm81301 - 12-21-2013 at 07:21 PM

Has anyone used the bus to cross border, either direction? How does it work with Customs, etc?

Thinking of Amtrak to San Diego, GH to cross, then Mexican bus on south - and then the reverse to return.

Neil

BajaBlanca - 12-21-2013 at 09:13 PM

No need to do the greyhound to cross, you can take the trolley to the tj border, walk across, walk across the pedestrian overpass, follow the road past the taxis and continue walking past the drugstores and bakery. You will see a sign and usually an aguila or ABC bus on a corner. That is the terminal. Buy yr ticket paying in dollars or pesos.

Have a good trip!

[Edited on 12-22-2013 by BajaBlanca]

Mulegena - 12-21-2013 at 09:59 PM

Bus out of TJ and across the border

From within Baja you can get a ride directly into the terminal in Tijuana. Get off the bus, go into the terminal and buy a ticket to your destination of choice in the US.

Get on your new bus. The bus will carry you to the short-line at the border. Get off, go through US Customs and meet the bus on the other, US, side. You'll then head to your chosen US destination. So easy.

bc4me - 12-22-2013 at 12:38 AM

I would follow bajablanca's advice. You can take a greyhound bus from SD to the central bus station in Eastern Tijuana, but that would be a waste of time since the ABC buses come right back to the smaller bus station near San Ysidro border crossing on their way to points South.

Thanks, folks.

neilm81301 - 12-23-2013 at 10:57 PM

I was playing around on the Greyhound page (someday, I've got to get a life, I know) and saw I could book a bus from US into TJ, and back. Since I really don't like the border crossing, by foot or car, I wondered how this would work.

Decades ago, I took a bus (Tres Estrellas, I think) from TJ to Ensenada and back for a little day trip. It was a blast - met interesting people, explored, had a good time. Not having a car, not sweating insurance, inspection, kamakazi drivers, parking, all the BS was kinda cool.

Watching El Maneador (?) double clutch the old, stick shift, former US bus while screaming around the cliffside corners on the toll road - whoo! E-ticket ride for sure!

Maybe I'll try that again - maybe a combination of bus & taxi to La Fonda on a Sunday - hit the buffet, chill out watching the ocean, ck out papagayo (I'm sure he's still there) - try not to get too plowed or stuffed to make it back. sleep it off on the train.

If it's TOO much fun, maybe they'd have a vacancy on Sunday nite!

That sorta like having a life, I guess.

Neil

DavidE - 12-29-2013 at 01:47 PM

This is to answer the Op's question, specifically.

The Greyhound terminal downtown San Diego is where you board the Greyhound. It runs seven or eight times a day. They give a discount to seniors over 60

The Greyhound takes you to a transfer area near the San Diego trolley stop in San Ysidro. A Mexico bus will be waiting there. No wait. No fare.

The Mexico bus stops at Aduana at the border. People get off for a moment. The baggage compartment is inspected to make sure no one is smuggling a BMW. An aduanero boards the bus for a quick look see (no bales of drug cash), folks reboard and the Mexican bus continues on to the big terminal of Tijuana. The bus does not go anywhere near INM immigration on this route.

I find this service extremely convenient when I am toting luggage.

In the terminal at TJ look for the ABC counter. The "PLUS" service between TJ and Ensenada is the most comfortable if the timing schedule works for you.

BajaNomad - 12-29-2013 at 01:53 PM

There's also Mexicoach for crossing the border in either direction by bus:

http://www.mexicoach.com

rts551 - 12-29-2013 at 02:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
This is to answer the Op's question, specifically.

The Greyhound terminal downtown San Diego is where you board the Greyhound. It runs seven or eight times a day. They give a discount to seniors over 60

The Greyhound takes you to a transfer area near the San Diego trolley stop in San Ysidro. A Mexico bus will be waiting there. No wait. No fare.

The Mexico bus stops at Aduana at the border. People get off for a moment. The baggage compartment is inspected to make sure no one is smuggling a BMW. An aduanero boards the bus for a quick look see (no bales of drug cash), folks reboard and the Mexican bus continues on to the big terminal of Tijuana. The bus does not go anywhere near INM immigration on this route.

I find this service extremely convenient when I am toting luggage.

In the terminal at TJ look for the ABC counter. The "PLUS" service between TJ and Ensenada is the most comfortable if the timing schedule works for you.


to be specific, how do you do it EITHER direction?

DavidE - 12-29-2013 at 02:37 PM

From the ABC station, a bus takes you to US Customs. You walk through with your luggage. On the other end a Greyhound waits to take a person to the downtown SD station. The cost is about twice that of heading southbound.

DavidE - 12-29-2013 at 02:41 PM

Why is this a problem for me heading north tomorrow? The walking through US Customs part. The wait. I was hoping for some personal experiences so I can make a decision. I am trying to avoid using an ambulance. Sometimes the pain of the kidneys doubles me over, and with a 103F fever pulling luggage is a pretty big task.

daskew24 - 12-29-2013 at 04:39 PM

Is it possible to get the FMM tourist visa crossing on the Greyhound from SD to TJ ? If not, is it possible to get it at the ABC Central station in TJ? Thanks.