BajaNomad

Border crossing?

Johnny7 - 11-10-2014 at 06:49 PM

Hi,
my wife and I are crossing into Baja soon, any comments in which is the best border crossing to take?

David K - 11-10-2014 at 06:50 PM

Where are you coming from and where are you going in Baja ??

MMc - 11-10-2014 at 07:33 PM

If you are going on the pacific side use, SY easy, fast, direct. The permits are there too.

Gulliver - 11-10-2014 at 07:58 PM

I find Tecate easy and quick. Especially Southbound. I came through mid morning on a weekday a couple weeks ago. One car ahead of me. The drug dog guy had his hound sniff around for thirty seconds. Friendly pooch. The customs lady wanted to have a look in my cargo trailer and asked to see the registration of my dual sport bike. Also had a peek in the box I built for the top of the trailer. What can I say. Every year we haul more crap down!

Then around the block to the right to park and do the immigration/bank/immigration shuffle. All within feet each other and lots of hangers on to point the right way. Tip the old parking guy a couple of bucks and then VERY carefully on South out of town so as not to attract the attention of that motorcycle cop.

This trip he was on the South end of town where you start up the hill directing traffic for someone unloading firewood. But do stop for all lights. Let the little peasant lady get all the way to the other sidewalk. Some of the green lights flash green for about a second and then go red. Don't freak but, again, don't be in a hurry.

The highway up the hill is being repaved (finally) and, as of last week, the Southbound traffic is using the shoulder. Then that fine new road to Ensenada. Wide enough to ease over to the shoulder and let the trucks do their gravity thing down the hills.

Oh, yeah. The cambios were giving the same rate in Tecate and Ensenada. 13.2 or so.

Drive slowly. Let those young studs in the new pickups have their inevitable crunch far from you. Every year the roads get wider but I think that driving over 80 km/hr is foolish. Twenty-five years of driving through the boojums without even a flat tire. I have come upon so serious accidents but EVERY one of them was directly caused by going too damned fast.

Now to get the last of the muddy insulation out of the walls. Ugh!

Gregor Samsa lives! (Read Metamophosis by Kafka)

Hook - 11-10-2014 at 08:04 PM

Mexico has dogs sniffing cars ENTERING Mexico? I havent ever seen that.

Why would anyone smuggle drugs into Mexico? Are they trained to sniff currency, maybe?

Gulliver - 11-10-2014 at 08:17 PM

Danged of I know. New to me also. Just a young german shepherd looking like he'd like a pet. He sniffed my hand and went on check out my tires for evidence of other dogs, I suppose.

The handler wasn't all up tight like the ones going North. Just doin' his job.

In case you couldn't tell, I like Baja and the people. Now sometimes I lose it when I see some of the work that has been done on this house. But maybe the previous owners might have had a hand in it. So I just start singing the Mickey Mouse Club song and tear it all apart and start over.

"Forever let us hold our banner high!'

redhilltown - 11-11-2014 at 01:30 AM

Have never seen a line going IN at Tecate...you just have to finesse around the big rigs sometimes.

bajalearner - 11-11-2014 at 07:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Mexico has dogs sniffing cars ENTERING Mexico? I havent ever seen that.

Why would anyone smuggle drugs into Mexico? Are they trained to sniff currency, maybe?


I believe some high quality weed goes south into MX for sale. Also, a dog could smell the residual of a previous load of drugs in a car which is now hauling cash the opposite direction. They would take action on even a personal use amount of drugs coming in.

I guess you could say the cops are fishing...

David K - 11-11-2014 at 07:54 AM

Still waiting to hear back from Johnny7 on the most important question of 'where he is coming from and where he is going in Baja' to provide the best options for which of the 6 border crossings to use going into Baja.

If he is going to San Felipe, I wouldn't suggest San Ysidro as the first choice, for example.

All borders going south are fine, but late Friday afternoons can be long at San Ysidro and Calexico.

bajalearner - 11-11-2014 at 08:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Still waiting to hear back from Johnny7 on the most important question of 'where he is coming from and where he is going in Baja' to provide the best options for which of the 6 border crossings to use going into Baja.

If he is going to San Felipe, I wouldn't suggest San Ysidro as the first choice, for example.

All borders going south are fine, but late Friday afternoons can be long at San Ysidro and Calexico.


Yes sir, Friday afternoons at SY, from noon to about 9pm are slow. When I cannot avoid that time, I find it takes about 30 mins, worst case, (4 to 8pm) which isn't all that bad. Traffic moves but it's a crawl. I-5 and I-805 come together and there's a gigga-ton of cars.

I cross with a near empty car so I don't know how the secondary is at those times. I see allot of officers working and don't see any backup at the secondary spots.

elgatoloco - 11-11-2014 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Mexico has dogs sniffing cars ENTERING Mexico? I havent ever seen that.

Why would anyone smuggle drugs into Mexico? Are they trained to sniff currency, maybe?


Have seen the occasional pooch at SY.

nbacc - 11-11-2014 at 10:13 AM

If going to San Felipe the East crossing is pretty easy, we usually go in the am

Alm - 11-11-2014 at 06:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
If going to San Felipe the East crossing is pretty easy, we usually go in the am

If you mean Otay, - yes.
Difficult to suggest anything indeed, when they don't tell where from and where in Baja they are going.

Johnny7 - 11-11-2014 at 07:02 PM

We are going from California so it's either Tecate or Tijuana?

nbacc - 11-11-2014 at 07:28 PM

To where??

willardguy - 11-11-2014 at 07:56 PM

it don't matter, they're all easy! I'd hug the coast.:coolup:

Alm - 11-11-2014 at 09:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Johnny7
We are going from California so it's either Tecate or Tijuana?

Not really. There are 2 crossings in Tijuana: San Ysidro and Otay. So it's either Tecate, or SY, or Otay.

And, like many people already asked - TO WHERE?
If you go to San Felipe corridor, then Otay or Tecate would be better than SY.

Also, if you need Tourist Cards and/or crossing in odd hours, then SY could be better, good parking and 24/7 INM y Banco.

[Edited on 11-12-2014 by Alm]

jack - 11-12-2014 at 04:40 PM

Gulliver, to get to the parking you mentioned, do you turn onto the first road to your right as soon as you enter Mexico, and is there room enough to park a truck and 25 foot trailer? Tecate is the crossing I like the best and have always squeezed into one of the parking lots on the US side, but that is a major hassle. A better spot to park, especially on the Mexican side of the border would be far better.

Johnny7 - 11-12-2014 at 06:11 PM

We are heading to Ensenada, but I have heard that Tijuana us very busy? Tecate would be a better option?

apple - 11-12-2014 at 07:04 PM

Unless you are coming from El Centro or somewhere close to Tecate there is no reason to go out of your way to get there. San Ysidro and Otay Mesa are busy, but they hardly stop anyone going IN to Mexico and there is rarely a wait. Either crossing will be fine, but I prefer San Ysidro as it is easy to get right on the coastal road from there.
Crossing back north is quicker at Otay Mesa, but it is a little tricky to get there.

Maron - 11-12-2014 at 10:00 PM

Agree with the majority, going to Ensenada, crossing at SY is much easier and quicker. Enjoy

redhilltown - 11-13-2014 at 01:01 AM

...and depends on how much time you have. I prefer Tecate for many reasons. Not the least of which being you can enjoy the wine country on the way down to Ensenada.

Alm - 11-13-2014 at 12:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Johnny7
We are heading to Ensenada, but I have heard that Tijuana us very busy? Tecate would be a better option?

1) No. Not busy when going South. And, as it's been said, there is no "Tijuana". There is SY and Otay, the latter being slightly less busy when it's busy, ex. Friday night. On other days both are good.

2) No. There is no reason deviating that far to Tecate.

Keep in mind that (unless you are heading ONLY as far as Ensenada), or plan to stay under 3 days, you will need a Tourist Cards. SY is good for this. Otay - not so good.

dasubergeek - 11-16-2014 at 09:48 AM

If you take the 5 freeway south, you will cross at San Ysidro. Occasionally there is a small wait, maybe 20 minutes, to cross into Mexico. Once you get through the checkpoint, you'll keep right for the Ensenada toll road, which costs about $8. You can pay in dollars or in pesos, but not a mixture of both.

Be aware that topes--Mexican speed bumps--are SERIOUS BIDNESS, and you'll get your first taste of them as you cross the border. Don't drive a lowered car. (Regular cars, like Honda Accords and whatnot, are fine. You don't need a lifted pickup truck. But don't drive a deliberately-lowered car.)

If you take the 905 east from the 5 or 805 freeways, you will go through Otay Mesa. You'll want to find directions to Ensenada from there, because the route to Boulevard 2000 (the ring road around Tijuana) changes with construction.

If you want to cross at Tecate, which will take you on a straight shot through wine country and then to the coast road that goes to Ensenada, you'll need to take Highway 94. You can get there from the 8 or the 52 off the 5, 805 or 15 freeways. It's winding and not a freeway. Tecate is very easy and you can find your way onto Hwy 3 very easily but do not speed and do not change lanes without signalling in the town of Tecate, because the police are very vigilant.

briantroy - 11-17-2014 at 05:46 AM

$8 for the toll? I was down there a few months ago and I thought it was like $3 and change. Am I mistaken?

Bob and Susan - 11-17-2014 at 06:18 AM

31 pesos a toll for cars and right now you pay for 2 tolls

total 62 pesos for a car to Ensenada 13x1 $4.77usa

Alm - 11-18-2014 at 02:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by briantroy
$8 for the toll? I was down there a few months ago and I thought it was like $3 and change.

About $3 per toll, yes. And this with car only, nothing in tow. The OP asked about Ensenada, this is 3 or 4 booths total, I don't remember how many was there before repairs. When I towed my trailer before road repairs, total cost was a lot more than $8. Makes sense taking Otay and Blvd 2000 for some people.

[Edited on 11-18-2014 by Alm]

David K - 11-18-2014 at 02:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
Quote:
Originally posted by briantroy
$8 for the toll? I was down there a few months ago and I thought it was like $3 and change.

About $3 per toll, yes. And this is with car only, nothing in tow. The OP asked about Ensenada, this is 3 or 4 booths total, I don't remember how many was there before repairs. When I towed my trailer before road repairs, total cost was a lot more than $8.

[Edited on 11-18-2014 by Alm]


There have only been 3 toll booths on Hwy 1-D (Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito Sur, and San Miguel Village). Since the land slide the San Miguel Village toll gate is bypassed... So only two for the entire Ensenada toll road now.

[Edited on 11-18-2014 by David K]