Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Tecate Crossing
We crossed the border at Tecate Thursday at 4:45 pm. It took 15 minutes and the were polite and kind!!! Go figure, there is always a first. Took our
eggs, but they were old anyway. Just checked for fresh fruit and meet and on our way!! Well worth the drive.
Iflyfish
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wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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Mood: No Bad Days
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I crossed there Wednesday and that crossing too was only 15 minutes. Sunday I crossed at the Old Border Crossing in Mexicali and it took and hour and
forty five minutes. From now on it is Tecate for me and I will use that crossing when we go from San Felipe to San Diego from now on.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
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Mood: muy cool
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15 minute wait
when we crossed at Tecate 10 days ago
and it was a Friday about 5:00 PM
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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Smoke
Nomad
Posts: 116
Registered: 4-3-2007
Location: Los Barriles/Exeter,Ca
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As far as meat and fruit, any problem taking it to Baja?
Jim
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3720
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Only if they catch you...
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3720
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Sorry for the wise-a** answer
But, who knows.
Last year we stopped to get our tourist cards at the border and a customs guy wandered by my pickup, reached under a tarp and came up with a box of
fruit which he grabbed.
Same trip, they stopped one of our guys on the toll road near Rosarito and grabbed another box of fruit.
Last month we had no inquiries about fruit, or meat, all the way to Loreto and back.
So, who knows..... it all depends on the moods, the specific checkpoints, and what you tell them.
(my advice, don't tell 'em anything, just smile and let them poke around and you will soon be on your way)
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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We are currently in Guererero Negro and expect to cross at tecate on the 1st of May., towing a 28 ft travel trailer. We have never used the Tecate
crossing. Does anyone have any information about the crossing?
Art & Alice
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64946
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Art, if you are coming in from Ensenada... do you know where to go?
Go under the toll highway overpass and come downhill into downtown Tecate... Be careful of stop signs.
You will take the four lane blvd. that forks to the right, near the railroad track crossing and just before the big McDonalds... that goes out to the
traffic circle, go right (full stop to avoid cop issues) and you head EAST towards Mexicali (you are now on the free Teacte-Mexicali road (Mex. 2).
The road to the U.S. border (garita) soon turns left off of Mex. 2, east of the traffic circle.
IF the line is down to Mex. 2, you will need to drive out a ways to make a U turn to come back to the end of the line. There is only 2 lanes all the
way to the border... I believe they want RVs with trailers in the right lane because of the tight squeeze and curves crossing the border... I hope
someone will correct me if it is the left lane.
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Art, if you are coming in from Ensenada... do you know where to go?
Go under the toll highway overpass and come downhill into downtown Tecate... Be careful of stop signs.
You will take the four lane blvd. that forks to the right, near the railroad track crossing and just before the big McDonalds... that goes out to the
traffic circle, go right (full stop to avoid cop issues) and you head EAST towards Mexicali (you are now on the free Teacte-Mexicali road (Mex. 2).
The road to the U.S. border (garita) soon turns left off of Mex. 2, east of the traffic circle.
IF the line is down to Mex. 2, you will need to drive out a ways to make a U turn to come back to the end of the line. There is only 2 lanes all the
way to the border... I believe they want RVs with trailers in the right lane because of the tight squeeze and curves crossing the border... I hope
someone will correct me if it is the left lane. |
Thanks David, I will let you know how it works. I was concerned about the tight squeeze.
Art
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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Art, my brother and I crossed at Tecate a couple of months ago driving a longbed crewcab towing a 20' flatbed and all was good, until we got to the
gate that for some insane reason there is a 45 degree turn between gate post as you enter the booth area. It was tight, we were in the right lane but
had to "borrow" some room to swing wide from the left lane to clear the post. Even the guard told us "this is a passenger vehicle crossing". Of course
there were no signs prior to the border warning of crossing with a long combination vehicle!
It would not be my choice to cross there again with a trailer. Instead, I would cross at Otay or Tijauna when the traffic was light, like mid-day.
Avoid all crossings on a Sunday afternoon whenever possible!
We usually cross at New Mexicali as I have a home below San Felipe, we just took that route for scenic purposes. BTW, our wait on a Sunday afternoon
was over 2 hours...
BajaWarrior
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 11-15-2004
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I have crossed at Tecate many times in both directions with an F350 and 24' camp trailer. It's a bit tight going to secondary inspection but easily
do-able. Use the right lane but start cheating left as you come to the curve to get a bit more room. That curve is not bad at all. Hug the booth and
swing wide for your turn into secondary and it's easy from there.
Follow the signs for BORDER and MEX 2 Mexicali. You will find yourself heading east then north with a few curves to the border line-up. Get there
before 2 pm most days and the line will be shorter.
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
I have crossed at Tecate many times in both directions with an F350 and 24' camp trailer. It's a bit tight going to secondary inspection but easily
do-able. Use the right lane but start cheating left as you come to the curve to get a bit more room. That curve is not bad at all. Hug the booth and
swing wide for your turn into secondary and it's easy from there.
Follow the signs for BORDER and MEX 2 Mexicali. You will find yourself heading east then north with a few curves to the border line-up. Get there
before 2 pm most days and the line
will be shorter.
Following David Ks' directions we made the crossing with no real problem other than the stupid set up at the gate. Why would the govt allow an idiot
to design the border crossing? I guess that questions answers itself, "Government Work" Anyway, thank you David again for the directions. Nomads are
great, even including Government Employees.
Art
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
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Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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Thank you Baja Warrior and Diver for your input. Everyone is so helpful
Art
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dr650
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 4-17-2007
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Art, Alice et al,
First time I crossed back into Los Estados at Tecate, I was riding my bike. Got in line with a mile of cars on a popular weekend, until a woman
asked why I didn't just do what all the bikers do and go through the backroads in town to the crossing. There, I was able to get into the front of
the line and cross in seconds.
Maybe you should let a bike pull you across next time !!
Since I don't drive a rig, I don't know. But, it seems to me that the Tecate crossing must be easier than Tijuana, tight turn or not. And, Hwy
94 is hard to beat on a late afternoon. A nice transition.
Good luck,
Murphy
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