sancho
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
|
|
Crossing Back at Otay?
Is it ALWAYS the best bet to come back
thru Otay, coming no. from Ensenada?
I understand the turnoff is close to
Puerto Nuevo, and would San Ysidro
be good going down?
thanks for your time
|
|
|
Dave
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
|
|
It's been my experience that unless SY is horribly backed up it's never best to use Otay. Even then, Otay will be just as crowded.
Unless you're on two wheels there's no way to beat the border. Just take your medicine and just use San Ysidro.
Now, if you're heading East there is merit in using Tecate.
|
|
|
bill erhardt
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1376
Registered: 4-2-2005
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Sancho......I towed my boat north a couple of months ago for motor repair in San Diego and crossed at Otay both going and coming. I don't think I
will ever put up with the mess at San Ysidro again.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
We done S/B San Ysidro and N/B Otay for years. Had varying times at Otay. Probably the main reason we go there is just for a change of pace. But Dave
is correct in that there is really no "secret" alternative.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Tecate only adds 20 miles to the trip between Ensenada and San Diego... our choice northbound.
Southbound it is usually San Ysidro-Tijuana/ Toll Hwy. 1-D, or Otay/ Blvd. 2000.
[Edited on 5-26-2010 by David K]
|
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
........that there is really no "secret" alternative. |
Oh, yes there is........the SENTRI lanes at Otay
|
|
|
jeremias
Nomad

Posts: 218
Registered: 12-11-2009
Location: Huntington Beach, El Sauzal, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: Muy Tranquilo
|
|
I tried the Tecate entry last winter and it seemed to take me alot longer to get to Ensenada, but there was a pretty long portion road work and
driving through a dirt road dust cloud that could've been the cause. Is that work on the road stilll ongoing? I'm having difficulty remembering,but i
think it was before the border on the u.s side.
|
|
|
msawin
Nomad

Posts: 373
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Grass Valley,Ca / Tripui
Member Is Offline
|
|
road repares complete
Going south from Tecate to Ensenada , the road work is complete as of April. Great drive with little traffic. I should shut my mouth. I posted the
quick time crossing the boarder north last year and WAM.. hour wait now....
|
|
|
bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 2762
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
|
|
We ALWAYS cross at Otay going north. Granted we have SENTRI passes but yesterday we uhhhh...forgot them at home. Used the regular lanes. Monday at
8:20 a.m. Wait was 20 minutes. 99.9% of the time we use San Ysidro southbound. Yesterday we hit the border about 2:30...no back up. We have had
LONG back ups there in the last few months pretty much anytime after 2:30 but they seem to have that straightened out now...she said with her fingers
crossed.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
|
|
|
Pompano
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
|
|
Why anyone takes the SY crossing is beyond belief to us. I've hauled loads of 75ft and 24,000lbs south & north at Tecate regulary for about 30
years with far less crooked cops, traffic, headless-body speedbumps, gunfire, etc.
The little extra time on Hwy 94 to Spring Valley is meaningless to us. We stop for a burger at the Dulzura Cafe..always a treat.
But wait..! Why am I telling you this? The route will get swamped...
AVOID TECATE AT ALL COSTS. VERY DANGEROUS. TAKES FOREVER. GET SENTRI PASSES. GO THROUGH SAN YSIDRO.
Never...I repeat NEVER..use the Tecate crossing!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
|
|
|