BajaNomad

Interesting day trip to Tecate?

wilderone - 1-14-2024 at 08:59 AM

A friend is coming to visit San Diego and wants to go to "Baja". She's only here for a week, so I'm guessing she just wants to cross the border for a day. I'm not willing to cross at San Ysidro (pedestrian or vehicle) due to the problems crossing back into US, but I'd be willing to walk across at Tecate. What is there to do in Tecate that would be interesting for 4 ladies - one a teenager (Tecate brewery still operating?). We could take a short taxi ride some place interesting too.

Lee - 1-14-2024 at 10:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
A friend is coming to visit San Diego and wants to go to "Baja". She's only here for a week, so I'm guessing she just wants to cross the border for a day. I'm not willing to cross at San Ysidro (pedestrian or vehicle) due to the problems crossing back into US, but I'd be willing to walk across at Tecate. What is there to do in Tecate that would be interesting for 4 ladies - one a teenager (Tecate brewery still operating?). We could take a short taxi ride some place interesting too.


Can't say I know Tecate. I've driven through a lot but haven't explored the town. I recommend Ensenada. Cross and return Tecate. Is it a tourist town?

mtgoat666 - 1-14-2024 at 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
A friend is coming to visit San Diego and wants to go to "Baja". She's only here for a week, so I'm guessing she just wants to cross the border for a day. I'm not willing to cross at San Ysidro (pedestrian or vehicle) due to the problems crossing back into US, but I'd be willing to walk across at Tecate. What is there to do in Tecate that would be interesting for 4 ladies - one a teenager (Tecate brewery still operating?). We could take a short taxi ride some place interesting too.


The main square in downtown tecate is nice. For an hour. Not much to do in tecate.
Tijuana has lots to do, you can walk across border, then walk or taxi to museums, restaurants, shops, sports venues, etc.

surfhat - 1-14-2024 at 12:17 PM

The pedestrian crossing at the end of the trolley line in San Isidro could not be easier or faster.

Lines of taxi's are a short walk just out the door after checking through the immigration desk. $10 or so will get you delivered wherever, within reason, in TJ.


There is often a line of what? ten, twenty minutes or so when returning but it moves quickly.

Parking at a paid secure lot next to the end of the trolley line could not be easier or more secure. That is $10 wisely spent.

I have had a couple of TJ dentist appointments where this has worked flawlessly.

I would not hesitate to go this way again if I was not driving across the border.


Decades ago, I would regularly do day trips across the border for relatively uncrowded and better surf. We waited for a while to get back north on those day trips, but I doubt it was ever more than an hour.

Those were the days, my friends. We thought they would never end.

Peace, love, and fish tacos to all Baja lovers.

AKgringo - 1-14-2024 at 01:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat  


Those were the days, my friends. We thought they would never end.

Peace, love, and fish tacos to all Baja lovers.




Some folks had better days than others;

www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kingston%20trio%20tijuana%20jai...



[Edited on 1-17-2024 by AKgringo]

bajaric - 1-14-2024 at 02:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat  



There is often a line of what? ten, twenty minutes or so when returning but it moves quickly.




Really? I have not walked across for decades, but I thought that the wait at the tj pedestrian line was measured in hours these days, not minutes. The border patrol is too busy processing asylum seekers to adequately staff the border for legal crossings.

Tecate has a famous bakery, some restaurants, but for a tourist experience tj iwould be more interesting.

BeachSeeker - 1-14-2024 at 03:06 PM

Yes, the pedestrians lines in both San Ysidro and Otay can easily be over an hour. Our last trip to Valle de Guadalupe we had 2 friends that didn't have Sentri. It was significantly faster to drive to Tecate and wait in the regular car line than it was to drop them off in Otay and have them walk.

wilderone - 1-14-2024 at 05:23 PM

As I suspected - not really worth the drive. Thanks though. I might take the trolley down to SY and see if there is that Rosarito RT bus still operating from Las Americas Plaza.

mtgoat666 - 1-14-2024 at 05:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
As I suspected - not really worth the drive. Thanks though. I might take the trolley down to SY and see if there is that Rosarito RT bus still operating from Las Americas Plaza.


do a day trip to TJ. Go to CECUT, and maybe some other artsy-fartsy thing (or visit Museo de la Lucha Libre). Take a walk on the beach and/or avenida revolucion. Get your picture with the zonkey cart. Have a nice meal. Quite a few good restaurants in TJ.

wilderone - 1-15-2024 at 07:47 AM

goat, true - I've enjoyed many a day trip to TJ. I even went once in the 70's on my lunch hour to get some tile that the installer needed cuz I was short 4 of them. But now the two hour wait to cross into US is a deterrent for that kind of trip. A few months ago last time I went, there was a bus that took you to the border bus line. Cost $10. At least you can sit in relative comfort. Still had to wait until the side door opened - they inspect all parts of the bus first. Inside, there is a line especially for the bus loads - so everyone on the bus - 40? - all line up to go through CBP. Took 1.5 hrs. all the waiting for this and that. The time before that - I waited over 2 hours in the sun with blood dripping from my mouth after a dental visit. I don't think in the last 15 years either driving or walking the wait has been less than 2 hours.

SFandH - 1-15-2024 at 08:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
The time before that - I waited over 2 hours in the sun with blood dripping from my mouth after a dental visit. I don't think in the last 15 years either driving or walking the wait has been less than 2 hours.


The data on this website is now more accurate than before. Pay attention to the time associated with the data. It's usually updated every hour, but not always.

https://bwt.cbp.gov/ViewAllPorts.html?com=1&pas=1&pe...

Tijuana Jail Zombies?

AKgringo - 1-16-2024 at 08:09 PM

Edit;

Surfhat's recollection of crossing the border years ago prompted my recollection of a teenage drinking song by the Kinston Trio. That was in the early 60s, so I was astonished today when I heard that they will be performing locally this month!

They were recording stars in the late 50s, so how in the H can they still be touring? I did a search and found out that in 2017 a group of musicians bought the rights to the name and are a "tribute" band.

It was just odd that I post a link to the Kinston Trio here, and days later they are going to show up in my hometown!