BajaNomad

N/B Otay Mesa SENTRI

John M - 8-21-2017 at 09:32 AM

I would like to return from Ensenada N/B through Otay Mesa via the SENTRI lane except I don't know the way.

The issue is that my passenger doesn't have SENTRI so I'd have to drop her off before entering SENTRI and pick her up after she walks across.

Anyone done this at Otay before? Pretty simple? OR.....suggestions.

Looking at Google Earth I cannot determine which lane, approach, or where I'd even drop off a passenger.

Thanks

John M

willardguy - 8-21-2017 at 09:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John M  
I would like to return from Ensenada N/B through Otay Mesa via the SENTRI lane except I don't know the way.

The issue is that my passenger doesn't have SENTRI so I'd have to drop her off before entering SENTRI and pick her up after she walks across.

Anyone done this at Otay before? Pretty simple? OR.....suggestions.

Looking at Google Earth I cannot determine which lane, approach, or where I'd even drop off a passenger.

Thanks

John M


there's a long covered walkway along the side of the sentri lane, drop your passenger off at the beginning of this. you drive to the first offramp and back track to pick em up. quite easy

Otay

bajaguy - 8-21-2017 at 10:03 AM

Otay is simple for vehicles and really easy for passengers

From Ensenada access Corridor 2000 (may be signed as BC Mex 201 or Blvd 2000) at Popotla, just south of Rosarito on the toll road. The toll to exit is about 26 pesos

Proceed approximately 26 miles on Corridor 2000 (Blvd 2000 or BC Mex 201) Follow the signs for Garita Otay/Tijuana/San Diego/Tecate/Mexicali You will pass from a rural area to an urban area. Be aware of cross traffic and pedestrians. You will also pass a Commercial Mexicana on your right and a Home Depot on your left…….when you pass the Calimax on your right, move into the right lane.

At about the 26 mile mark, there will be a sign indicating a ramp to your right for Tijuana/San Diego. Take this ramp which will put you on Industrial Blvd………if you go straight, you will end up on the toll road to Tecate!!!!!!!

SENTRI Directions

As you proceed west on Industrial Blvd, you will pass under a “Panasonic” footbridge. Just after you pass the footbridge, on your left there is a fire station. Just past the fire station there will be a PEMEX station (also on your left) at a stoplight controlled intersection.

This intersection is Avinda Alfonso Vidal Planas. On your immediate right there is a grey iron picket fence, this is the SANYO company. At your 1:00 position there is a school with a red metal picket fence, marked CBTIS #116.

Turn right at this intersection (onto Planas) and proceed about 4 blocks to a major 4-way stoplight intersection. This intersection will be Bella Artes.

Turn left onto Bella Artes and proceed about 4 blocks, get into the right lane. You will come to a stoplight intersection (Josefa Rendon Ibarra). .....

OK the tricky part….there is a car wash at your 1:00 position…Proceed about 5 feet past Josefa Rendon Ibarra, turn right onto the street the car wash is on as if you were going into the car wash …….but don’t!!!!!....continue your right turn, center up and you will be on a direct course for the Otay SENTRI lanes……..written on the street in front of you.

(The built in GPS system in one of our cars lists the road you are driving on after you make the turn at the car wash as Josefa Rendon Ibarra……but it is not!!!!)

Once you are on the street to SENTRI and before you get to the CBP gates you will see a covered pedestrian walkway on your right. Let your passenger off to walk through...

After you pass through the Otay SENTRI , take the first exit to your right which will be Siempre Viva, make another right at the first street which is Roll drive, drive one block to Viva de la Amistad and your passenger will meet you there

Question for Bajaguy

John M - 8-21-2017 at 10:49 AM

Perfect directions and I'll make a gps track. My question, looking on Google Earth, as you approach the border there are what appears to be a long row of white canopies along the right side of the road. Is that where the passenger hops out? I'd post a photo but with the demise of Photobucket I'm not quite ready to move to another program.

Thanks, John






[Edited on 8-21-2017 by John M]

bajaguy - 8-21-2017 at 11:24 AM

The linear white structure just to the right of the roadway, you can see some vehicles parked along the curb

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5495562,-116.9375737,144m/da...
Quote: Originally posted by John M  
Perfect directions and I'll make a gps track. My question, looking on Google Earth, as you approach the border there are what appears to be a long row of white canopies along the right side of the road. Is that where the passenger hops out? I'd post a photo but with the demise of Photobucket I'm not quite ready to move to another program.

Thanks, John

Got it

John M - 8-21-2017 at 11:35 AM

We'll give it a go next trip northbound.

bajadock - 8-21-2017 at 01:20 PM

https://bajadock.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/otay-sentri-pedestrian-map/

Paco Facullo - 8-21-2017 at 02:05 PM

I've used the WAZE app for Tijuana and it worked very well.

Wow bajadock - that is cool!

John M - 8-21-2017 at 04:26 PM

I'd almost have to try to mess up - I'm printing those photos and maps out now!

Many thanks.....

John M

Pescador - 8-22-2017 at 10:14 AM

You can also google Baja Bound Insurance and they posted pictures and route.

David K - 8-22-2017 at 10:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John M  
Perfect directions and I'll make a gps track. My question, looking on Google Earth, as you approach the border there are what appears to be a long row of white canopies along the right side of the road. Is that where the passenger hops out? I'd post a photo but with the demise of Photobucket I'm not quite ready to move to another program.

Thanks, John

[Edited on 8-21-2017 by John M]


For those who lost the free Photobucket use, here is a photo imaging and no hassle sizing for Nomad site: https://postimages.org/

movinguy - 8-22-2017 at 01:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by John M  
We'll give it a go next trip northbound.


Just remember they (SENTRI) close at midnight . . .

BajaMama - 9-13-2017 at 05:33 AM

http://www.discoverbaja.com/go/driving-directions/otay-mesa-...

I printed these directions and keep them in my "Baja folio" - pretty accurate. I use each time I cross.

My two cents: there are two options for turning right just before the bridge - you need to turn into the furthest (left side right turn). It doesn't seem correct but keep going then you will see the SENTRI gates.


[Edited on 9-13-2017 by BajaMama]

Udo - 9-13-2017 at 09:11 AM

We have dropped off some non-SENTRI pedestrians at the walkway several times. At times, we have had to wait for them 1/2 hour, and others just a few minutes.
Bajadoc's map is quite nice!

What we are currently doing to get to SENTRI, is to make a right from Blvd. Industrial at the CAT dealership. That road takes you directly to Bellas Artes. There you make a left until you get to the car wash (which is just under the bridge overhead). Follow that [road] to the SENTRI entry gate and the pedestrian drop off.