I usually cross in Tijuana/San Ysidro, which just happens to be the busiest land border crossing in the world , and it’s not uncommon to see wait times of up to four hours — if you’re in a car, that is. Crossing the Tijuana Mexico border using CBX into San Diego is safe, easy and affordable. The Cross Border Express buildings on the US side are architecturally gorgeous, spacious and squeaky clean. a year, we live in Rosarito Beach (30 minutes south of the border) and love it, I would recommend Rosarito Beach rather than Tijuana, but you will be safe in Tijuana.. On Christmas Day, lots of businesses will be closed, and the 26th, crossing back into the U.S. will be hectic: lots of people taking stuff back and crossing for the huge sales on the 26th. It's one of the 25 busiest airports in Latin America, It's one of the 25 busiest airports in Latin America, Travel Insurance - Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Tijuana, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables. In the parking lot, we passed perhaps two dozen people, all Hispanic, all of whom were speaking Spanish. I may do a 2 day/1 night trip to Las Vegas, 1 or 2 night trip to San Francisco, the rest of the days in LA/OC area for sightseeing. The incident you are speaking of was across the border of El Paso TX, and drug cartel related. We felt we needed one, final, all American act before crossing into Mexico, so what better place to do this than at the Wal-Mart about a mile or so from the border on the US side. followers. What to do: On Revolucion Avenue, you'll find ample opportunities to get your photograph taken with a cart hooked up to a Tijuana zebra (a donkey with black stripes painted on it), a tradition for more than 100 years. Safe to pass through Tijuana from SD to Ensenada. And, with airlines like Volaris, there’s a whole world of destinations available with super low airfares, many of which are reachable with a non-stop flight. Crossing the Border into Mexico. And don’t wander away to check out that seller of souvenirs and nice-looking jewelry in an alley. Share. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer joined Uber representatives to tout the company's new cross-border service. My girlfriend and her friend want to pass through Tijuana to stay in Ensenada but everyone is saying how unsafe it is to cross the border from CA. Safe is a relative terminology. The clinics handle transportation and any relevant paperwork. So, it’s understandable that crossing back from Mexico into the US, coupled with America’s painful security checks and general paranoia about Mexico, promises a long wait. Tijuana! Purchase travel insurance. Joanna Franco. -- The same FMM may now be used to enter and exit multiple times through any land border crossing in the state of Baja California. You would be safe. I have a 13 year old coming with me, but she doesn't have a passport. Even more compelling, a new cross-border pedestrian bridge was recently completed that connects directly into the Tijuana Airport. I may do a 2 day/1 night trip to Las Vegas, 1 or 2 night trip to San Francisco, the rest of the days in LA/OC area for sightseeing.I proposed to go on a daytrip for few hours driving down to San Diego and then cross the border to Mexico into Tijuana just for few hours to say we have been in Mexico. But south of NM, the dental clinics run by North Americans provide shuttle service back and forth across the border. I can’t speak to every border crossing because I haven’t used them. 6. You’ll still have to pay the 500 peso FMM visitors permit fee if you are staying in Mexico for more than 7 days. Visit the city in broad daylight with a commercial or other reliable tour group. In order to cross back into the USA from Tijuana, we had to wait in a terribly long and disorganized line for at least one hour. The Cross Border Xpress building in Otay Mesa offers a bridge to the Tijuana, Mexico airport. Beer found in a traveler’s vehicle that is in excess of the standard “allowance” (about 2 six packs) will be confiscated by the authorities. If you want to save the $30 on the ticket, you can simply cross into Tijuana for free at the regular crossing then travel to the airport. Border Patrol hiring troubles 02:00. But some drivers tell KPBS they won't take riders into Tijuana. So you can get an FMM for the maximum 180 day period and then use it to cross back and forth for an unlimited number of times during that period. Crossing the border in Tijuana, Mexico? Mexico Travel Guides. The FMM is a simple form, you can acquire one at all land border crossings. Posted by 1 year ago. In fact, you never leave the airport. Aired 3/18/16 on KPBS News. Does any one know if she can cross if she only has a school ID and her birth certificate? Safe to pass through Tijuana from SD to Ensenada. Once inside, I asked the cashier where they kept the caffeine gum. SAN DIEGO - The busiest border crossing in the U.S. will close this weekend to the more than 40,000 cars that pass through it daily to Mexico. Archived. I would not consider the reason you go there safe but you are OK with it. I'm going some time soon and I'm bringing my family with me. Where to Park Your Car in San Diego and Cross into Tijuana Tijuana, once a mecca for under age college students, is now just a shadow of its former glory. Traffic jams have extended miles to the north of Calexico at times, with waits to cross the border into Mexico taking up to 7 hours. Last updated: December 11, 2020 COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions across the U.S. 5 min read. 4 859 . It is located in the city's Otay Centenario borough, just south of the U.S border. I am visiting Los Angeles to stay at a close family's house for 2 weeks vacation. In our current COVID-19 environment, cross-border traffic is more limited but substantial essential cross-border travel continues. You should do some research, OP. I may do a 2 day/1 night trip to Las Vegas, 1 or 2 night trip to San Francisco, the rest of the days in LA/OC area for sightseeing.I proposed to go on a daytrip for few hours driving down to San Diego and then cross the border to Mexico into Tijuana just for few hours to say we have been in Mexico. February 06, 2016. As recent as the mid 2000’s, Tijuana was a place where southern California college students could easily road trip across the border and drink (and get over-the-counter drugs) legally. Borders with Canada and Mexico The United States will temporarily limit inbound land border crossings from Canada and Mexico to “essential travel”. Millions of travelers cross the heavily guarded Tijuana/US border every year, which makes it an incredibly safe travel experience. Mexico. The CBX facility is about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. They will almost invariably describe the region as just as safe as any US city. Everyone for sure was letting out a sigh of relief, as the border crossing was very simple and very friendly! I am visiting Los Angeles to stay at a close family's house for 2 weeks vacation. SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A local retiree has a warning for Americans headed across the border after says he was shaken down for money during a recent trip to Tijuana, possibly due to COVID-19 restrictions. I don't know how it is in the towns on the border with CA. However, with potentially a couple of million passengers per year crossing into Tijuana to use the airport, there can be unpredictable border wait times and delays. If you are driving across the border (in my case it would be the San Ysidro/Tijuana border), there are certain precautions you can take to ensure a safe trip. I know you can cross if you have a passport or valid ID with birth certificate. However, crossing back into the U.S. is a whole different beast (unless you have Sentri or Global Entry, then it should be quick and easy and you can probably skip reading this section). I'm white with blonde hair and blue eyes and my friends over in Tijuana are all Mexican, they are really good people and i would like to visit them. Penalties for violations may be imposed up to $17,376 MXN or up to 36 hours arrest in event of resistance. Getting into Tijuana: Take a look at the pictorial, step-by-step border-crossing guide that shows you how to reach Avenida de la Revolucion, Tijuana's main tourist street. Yet heading south into Tijuana, it is very easy to cross the border into Mexico. US authorities have closed the major border control point of San Ysidro between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, United States, turning away all vehicles and pedestrians. You must present your passport, boarding pass from the flight you just came out of, and CBX ticket. You have to buy your Cross Border Xpress ticket beforehand for $16 USD. The Cross Border Xpress is convenient but it is also kind of expensive for what it is. Many of those people are Mexican commuters heading into the USA for work. This action does not prevent U.S. citizens from returning home. Follow us. 2 of 2 A pedestrian holds her and her child's passport while waiting to cross into the United States from Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Ysidro, California January 31, 2008. However, I have crossed literally hundreds of times into California from a variety of stations, and I have also heard credible information about other crossings in other states. Is there a large risk to just drive through? Answer 1 of 8: I am visiting Los Angeles to stay at a close family's house for 2 weeks vacation. Follow us. Tijuana and San Diego Border Closure – November 2018. Let’s start with this fact: the Tijuana-San Ysidro border crossing is the busiest in the world with around 50 million people crossing a year. We are an interconnected, interdependent community, and that inevitably interplays with disease spread. You should ask some of the visitors about: Is it safe to travel to Tijuana? 1 280 000. followers. Categories. The difference with COVID-19 is that Tijuana is facing a different kind of crisis. Watch out for the Freddies. @jofranco. Border crossing times vary, but can be found at https://bwt.cbp.gov ... border wait times for reentry into the United States are significantly longer than normal due to Coronavirus prevention measures being taken by the US Customs and Border Patrol. Here are a few reminders to allow for a positive border crossing experience and road trip into Baja. 1. It may sound difficult to cross an international border to catch a flight, but, surprisingly, it is super easy with the Tijuana airport bridge, the Cross Border Xpress, and possibly faster than flying out of the San Diego airport. Written by. The main border crossing is located in San Ysidro, the busiest port of entry into the U.S. You'll pass through the Imperial Beach Station when you return to California from Tijuana. US Dollars are Widely Accepted in tijuana. Or miss the tour bus home. Pedestrians crossing into Tijuana at the San Ysidro crossing need to complete a Mexico Visitor's Permit (FMM ‒ FREE if the trip is 7 days or less and you cross by land) and present a passport. We weren’t 5 minutes into Tijuana, rode around an overpass, merging into the flow of traffic, what a site to see, 7 motorcycles in our mirrors… what … Some cool tips you should know. We walked right up to the CBX entrance, processed our customs paperwork, and sailed through to our gate. Close. 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