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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Home
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San Luis border crossing
We will be heading home to La Paz in a few days from visiting my kids in Austin Texas. We are pondering the San Luis crossing south of Yuma AZ and
was wondering if anyone has used this crossing? Some research I have done people use the older roads to go quite a way south of Mexicali and hit Mex
5, and others hit the toll road and join Mex 5 just south of Mexicali. Was wondering if there was a benefit of one over the other? We will also need
to get a new FMM, is there an IMN office there?, where is it?. And is there a bank to take my money? Can't wait to get back home!!!!!
Happy Trails
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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If he is available, you might U2U rts551. Ralph is very familiar with that area and can tell you about all the different possibilities as he
travels to Baja from Tuscon.
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Home
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Thanks DianaT. I Can do that!!! thanks for the info.
Mike
Happy Trails
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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I have crossed there several times and it is not my favorite place to cross. I don't exactly know why but it seems I caught more attitude there from
the US Border Patrol than normal.
When I enter Mexico, I really like crossing south at Algodones because almost no one does that and generally I get waved right through. North is
good except when all the shoppers and dentist patients are crossing at the same time and the line can get pretty long.
Going south is usually pretty good and it is really easy to bypass Mexicali on the new 4 lane road and you go from San Luis to the Rumarosa Grade at
75 MPH. I used to use that all the time coming from Colorado.
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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I live in Phoenix and cross at San Luis always.
Take I8 and take Araby Road SR195 south. There is a Chevron/Jack in the Box to get gas just off of the freeway. The new road is 21 miles from San
Luis and is very quick.
Note: It can be busy between 4 to 6 pm with Mexicans and Americans crossing back and fourth.
The immigration office is on the right hand side just as you cross.
Once you cross the border, take your first right and you are on Hwy 2
Once you are on Hwy 2 you will have a toll booth. 12 pesos is required
After the Toll booth you will hit a Military check point. Most times you will be passed through unless you have a camper on a truck
Once you get on Hwy 2 you can go through to Tecate or you can go south to San Felipe
Algadones is an option, but in my opinion it is only good to miss the military check point and the 12 peso toll. The road is very slow and has some
very nasty speed bumps. It is probably a few miles shorter drive to Hwy 2, but I think you loose time due to all of the small communities you have to
drive through.
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
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Mood: Home
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Thanks CortezBlue, that is all the nudge I need!!!! Sounds easy enough, I'll give it a try and thank you again later when I get home.
Mike
Happy trails
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Dito on what Cortez Blue said, its our route of choice. If you take the Algodones you will be on two lane farm roads for a while before you get to MEX
2 or 5 , its much slower going with narrow poor condition roads. San Luis to Mex 2 to Mex 5 and you will be home in no time....... say hi to Coco 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Not the most recent map of the area, but will give you the idea...
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
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Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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san Luis is fine to cross in either direction and no problems. Have used it without any problems and well signed so you don't get confused crossing
in either direction. So, use San Luis and stay off the two lane roads you won't like going through Algodones. Enjoy your trip. Take Care &
Travel Safe---- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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777 and others have posted to avoid the farm roads as a short cut to San Felipe. Take Hwy 2 and 2-D west to Hwy. 5, and go south to San Felipe. 38
miles remain unpaved to Hwy. 5, but 4WD is not needed.
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Home
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Thanks all for all the input!!! DavidK maps are always of great benefit. I have been over Mex5 through to Laguana Chapala several times. Great trip
and the roads are typically good, unless there has been a BIG rain.
I'll say "Hi" to CoCo!!!!!
Happy Trails
Mike
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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dizzyspots
Senior Nomad
Posts: 603
Registered: 9-22-2008
Location: Mescal AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: rather be on the beach at Gonzaga
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Query: almost always get pulled into secondary at San Luis (truck camper AND towing a 19ft boat.)...Im OK with that and getting the FM2...but after I
turn into secondary...how/where to park and walk back to Immigration building for the FM2?
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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with the trailer, good luck! let the migra guys tell you where to park. they'll let you walk to the FMM office from there, or they did for me.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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When traveling south through San Felipe I cross south at San Luis or Algadones depending on how I feel. We don't worry about the country roads since
we are never in that big a hurry and usually spend the night in San Felipe. Coming back today (about 10 AM) I crossed at Mexicali east and it was
about 20 minutes.
If traveling south through Ensenada we usually cross at Tecate without ever a problem.
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dizzyspots
Senior Nomad
Posts: 603
Registered: 9-22-2008
Location: Mescal AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: rather be on the beach at Gonzaga
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Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office
folder with the passports!!
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by dizzyspots  | | Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office
folder with the passports!! |
FM2 o FMM?
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Ahhh o F2M
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: Originally posted by Pescador | I have crossed there several times and it is not my favorite place to cross. I don't exactly know why but it seems I caught more attitude there from
the US Border Patrol than normal.
When I enter Mexico, I really like crossing south at Algodones because almost no one does that and generally I get waved right through. North is
good except when all the shoppers and dentist patients are crossing at the same time and the line can get pretty long.
Going south is usually pretty good and it is really easy to bypass Mexicali on the new 4 lane road and you go from San Luis to the Rumarosa Grade at
75 MPH. I used to use that all the time coming from Colorado. |
Lot of tolls on that route but worth it.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: Originally posted by dizzyspots | | Just did the FM2 deal on line...took 15 minutes to get mine and Sharon's ...printed on the computer...BONUS found my missing TIP decal in the office
folder with the passports!! |
When purchased on line you still need to stop and get it stamped when entering Mexico at any POE
Bob Durrell
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MrNoodly
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 1-25-2016
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I'm in the Yuma area, headed to Baja (down highway 5) soon, and I've tried to figure out whether San Luis or Los Algodones is the better choice.
I've been to Los Algodones several times, crossing on foot to get meds, so it's familiar. I've never seen a line for southbound vehicles, just the
occasional one stopped outside the immigration station. So that's my first inclination. However, I don't know how well the route to highway 2 is
marked. And if I really wanted to wander around and get lost, I could take other roads to highway 5 and not need to schlep most of the way to
Mexicali.
San Luis is just as handy, but since it's in Sonora, I wonder if they'd want me to do the temporary vehicle importation thing.
Any thoughts?
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