BajaNomad

Buying pesos in Calexico?

Alm - 2-6-2024 at 09:35 PM

I've grown to dislike Mexican cambios lately, and my local exchange place up north dried up, no pesos. Is there anything in Calexico with cash rates comparable to cambios?

towntaco - 2-6-2024 at 10:18 PM

Last trip I used Casa De Cambio Dolar at 843 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231. It made cutting over to Cesar Chavez via Grant St easy. I'll use them again next trip.

[Edited on 2-7-2024 by towntaco]

pacificobob - 2-7-2024 at 08:41 AM

I haven't been to a cambio business in years. Is the general consensus that the rate is better than ATMs?

AKgringo - 2-7-2024 at 09:00 AM

Check with your local bank to see if they can do an exchange for you before you leave town.

A Wells Fargo bank here in Grass Valley CA used to keep pesos on hand, but now I need to give them a few days notice to make an exchange. I don't remember what the exchange rate is, but is great not having to add that step to a border crossing.

I like road tripping, so I look for roads and places north of the border to check out on the way down. Where, and when I cross is usually a surprise to me, so already having pesos helps a lot.

I don't travel with a lot of cash and use ATMs when I get to Baja Sur. I also bring any unused pesos home with me for the next trip, rather than doing another exchange. If I choose to, the same local Wells Fargo at home will do the deal for me.

More Calexico Cambio trivia (edit; I was not in Mexicali)

AKgringo - 2-7-2024 at 09:33 AM

A couple of years ago I arrived there without a lot pesos on hand. Probably due to a fluxation in the exchange rate, the first three cambios I went to were not willing or able to trade pesos for my greenbacks.

I even tried the Wells Fargo there, but they had a line out the door from people waiting to make an exchange. I don't know if they were trying to get dollars or pesos, and perhaps I should have asked if anyone wanted to trade!

Leaving W.F., I did run across a Cambio near there a few blocks off the North south corridors that was open for business.


[Edited on 2-7-2024 by AKgringo]

WestyWanderer - 2-7-2024 at 10:23 AM

We went down last Thursday and exchanged in Calexico at one of the many Cambios. Rate was 16.80-16.90/1 depending on the place, which was better than in Mexicali. Came back on Monday and rate was the same.

We cross at the west border and take Imperial all the way to Second street, have used the Cambio in the Autozone parking lot for years and the rate has always been competitive and it’s super easy in and out.

Alm - 2-7-2024 at 10:27 AM

Forgot to ask, is there an exchange in the customs building in Mexicali? There used to be one at Chapparal crossing but last time it was closed, likely for good.

Alm - 2-7-2024 at 10:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by towntaco  
Last trip I used Casa De Cambio Dolar at 843 Imperial Ave, Calexico, CA 92231. It made cutting over to Cesar Chavez via Grant St easy. I'll use them again next trip.

[Edited on 2-7-2024 by towntaco]

This one? https://maps.app.goo.gl/SbMywZdKPi5H2RNt5.
Thanks. I look at the map, there is half a dozen of cambios on this street, if this one won't have pesos some others should.



[Edited on 2-7-2024 by Alm]

another Calexico possibility

AKgringo - 2-7-2024 at 10:50 AM

If you have some last minute shopping to do before you cross the border, try Walmart. I did not use the service, but I saw people at the customer service desk doing exchanges.

WestyWanderer - 2-7-2024 at 12:09 PM

The exchange place I was talking about is at 337 s. Imperial ave.

Has never never been out of pesos, I stop there probably 3-5 times per year.

JDCanuck - 2-7-2024 at 12:29 PM

Forex exchange rate MXN/USD for comparison right now is 17.075.

AKgringo - 2-7-2024 at 01:14 PM

The dollar has lost almost two pesos value since mid October!

Since I basically just need to pay for gas and food for a month or two, the difference in exchange fees is chump change compared to even one fill up at the wrong station.

Convenience and flexibility is worth something to me.

liknbaja127 - 2-8-2024 at 06:35 PM

We do ours at US Bank, and there is no charge, but they do
need a few days notice.

Hook - 2-8-2024 at 07:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by liknbaja127  
We do ours at US Bank, and there is no charge, but they do
need a few days notice.


Yeah, many brick and mortar banks say "no charge" but they get you on the exchange rate. I remember my MIL coming down to visit one year and she got pesos through Chase. It was about 15% lower than what we were getting from an ATM, at the time.

Alm - 2-10-2024 at 08:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
the difference in exchange fees is chump change compared to even one fill up at the wrong station.

What would you say are really bad stations in Mexicali San Felipe stretch? (I realize that their rating may change with the change of ownership)

[Edited on 2-11-2024 by Alm]

AKgringo - 2-10-2024 at 08:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
the difference in exchange fees is chump change compared to even one fill up at the wrong station.

What would you say are really bad stations in Mexicali San Felipe stretch? (I realize that their rating may change with the change of ownership)

[Edited on 2-11-2024 by Alm]


Actually I was thinking of the gas stations north of the border that are convenient pull off places along the freeway system. They seem to have extra special gasoline that can add 10 or 15 dollars more to a fill up than the ones that are in more commercial areas.

Running low on fuel on a remote stretch of road can also put you in a "high value" station fill up.

I have about 700 miles to cover before I even get to the border, and my Trooper is not a great economy rig.

The only truly blatant Mexican rip-off station that I have used was in La Paz near the turnoff to the airport, and that was a few years ago.

[Edited on 2-11-2024 by AKgringo]

Marc - 2-15-2024 at 05:15 PM

I buy coin of the realm and travel with cash. I figurer out a budget and then double it. Also carry about $500 USD in $10 & $20. Amazing what you can grease with USD. This has been my rule since running out of money in New Guinea years ago. Now that is a story! Maybe later.

David K - 2-15-2024 at 05:35 PM

Used the exchange in Calexico, across from Pep Boys and across the street southbound on 111.
Very happy with them.
This was in 2017 for my Baja Bound research trips.

BoenBaja - 2-15-2024 at 07:49 PM

What towntaco said, Casa de Cambio Dolar gave me a good rate when I last used them and it was easy to get from there to the East POE crossing. If you open a Charles Schwab checking account with a debit card, they pick up the ATM fees. Saved new bunch this trip down as I’m having to withdraw a lot of cash to pay for the project in Bahía Asunción.

mtgoat666 - 2-15-2024 at 08:58 PM

I used to use filco at 3rd and imperial in calexico. Last month they would only allow 1400 usd to be exchanged — any amount over 1400 would get a worse exchange rate. Something is flocked up in calexico.
Better off to do exchange at your home bank or costco or BajaMex in SY.

Also, be aware that the exchange at CBX offers really crappy exchange rates… do not change money at CBX or in airport, it’s a rip off.

mtgoat666 - 2-15-2024 at 09:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Used the exchange in Calexico, across from Pep Boys and across the street southbound on 111.
Very happy with them.
This was in 2017 for my Baja Bound research trips.


Dude, that was like 7 years ago. Things have changed.
Even the bills have changed, mexico has mostly new bill designs in past few years.

David K - 2-15-2024 at 10:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Used the exchange in Calexico, across from Pep Boys and across the street southbound on 111.
Very happy with them.
This was in 2017 for my Baja Bound research trips.


Dude, that was like 7 years ago. Things have changed.
Even the bills have changed, mexico has mostly new bill designs in past few years.


Wow, you're a math wizard, too!

towntaco - 2-15-2024 at 11:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BoenBaja  
What towntaco said, Casa de Cambio Dolar gave me a good rate when I last used them and it was easy to get from there to the East POE crossing. If you open a Charles Schwab checking account with a debit card, they pick up the ATM fees. Saved new bunch this trip down as I’m having to withdraw a lot of cash to pay for the project in Bahía Asunción.

Given all the cambios are within a cent on the dollar in exchange, I'm going to keep using Casa de Cambio Dolar since it's got the easiest access to East POE. They also had no problem exchanging over $1400 USD without a rate hit.