Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road
Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 29 Oct 2010
ajaxer's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 33
Mexico border Tijuana to USA description

Whilst the experience is fresh in my mind I thought I'd post a description of the border crossing in Tijuana, going from Mexico to the USA.

This will be old hat to many HU readers but then again there are likely to be relative newbies like me who might like to read how it can be done.
I have a couple of tips that might help.

I had driven up the Baja peninsula and decided to cross back into the USA at Tijuana as I was heading to San Diego. I knew that this is an extremely busy crossing point but decided to do it nonetheless, schooling myself in patience beforehand.
Drove up MX1 from Ensenada which goes along the coast, a pretty drive along the cliff edges before it turned inland and headed into Tijuana city itself. The road surface almost immediately deteriorated into potholes and rough undulating terrain as it parallels the tin fence that is the actual border. At least you know where you are.

The road signs start saying San Diego so if you go straight ahead and follow them you are likely to end up in the right place.

Now when I got there around midday on a Sunday the queue for the border started at the beginning of the motorway junction point at what I thought of as the bottom of town. There is a complicated junction where the road to the border does a 270 loop and goes over itself.
I was not sure where to go and but didnt want to get into the queue as I needed to find the Aduane office to cancel my TVIP. By sheer chance I ended up in the right area. Here is where to go.

As you drive into Tijuana and start seeing the San Diego signs the road becomes 5 lines wide.
Stay in the third lane from the left, this is the middle.
There will be a divider forcing three lanes on the left, two on the right - stay just to the left of the barrier, the overhead sign says Col Federal.
Then there will be another divider to split the traffic.
The leftmost lane 1 goes straight through to Tecate and La Mesa - dont go there.
What was Lane 2 begins to split into 2 for San Diego and are likely to be already full - these are the lanes that are the border queue.
The rightmost lane is a single lane with concrete barriers separating it from the border queue - it is probably free and tempting.

Now to get to the Aduane take the tempting empty righthand lane, you will speed satisfyingly past all the queue of cars.
First you go under the roadway, curve round to the right and then go over where you were.
Take careful note as you go over the bridge section, there is a small slip road off to the left with a small white booth and barriers. There is a sign saying something about Medicos.

For the moment stick to the actual road and keep going following signs saying Col Federal, bearing left till you end up going down a ramp to a roundabout.
Take the right hand exit of the roundabout going towards a Macdonalds, with shops on the right.
You should see some blue official signs in the first block indicating towards the Temporary Vehicle Permit office.
Go past the MacDonalds and take the first left.
Drive down towards the end and the office is on the right - there is a big wall with a gateway through which you can see cars parked.
Drive through the gateway and straight ahead and slightly right there is a small hut. You need to go round the righthand side and drive up to it.
Cancelling the permit is done here, you need to drive up to the booth and present your papers with the vehicle.

Having done that job now you need to get back to your starting point.

Drive back to the roundabout and follow the signs to San Diego and then Centro to return to the border road where the first set of dividers split the traffic.
If the queue length has increased the police may have blocked off the turnings from the southern side so you may need to go round
and move further west to get into the Via Intl road. Depends on how daring you are about pushing into queues.

When you get back now join in on Lane 2 for San Diego, staying to the left of the barriers this time and begin the job of working your way up the queue.
It gets tricky with a loaded bike as the street vendors are using the gap between the cars to walk up and down, as well as beggars in wheelchairs. Be patient and the queue will move however.

I waited until I was sure that there was space between the right hand lane and the barriers and then moved into that to gain some distance. Keep doing this, changing sides where you can to move up, the cars were very obliging for me and moved over when they could.

There is however another way which I was lucky enough to stumble upon. Remember the white booth and the Medico sign? The barriers at the booth are temporary and will stop a car but not a bike.
So take the temptingly empty Lane 4 again, sail round the loop and over the bridge, now slip through the barrier at the white booth to the slip road and proceed down the slight slope.

Now you have a choice - go through the concrete crash barriers on the left (there are lots of bike sized gaps) and rejoin the lefthand queue, to work your way forward as before.
OR continue straight ahead and go behind the row of shops to where the queue reappears on the right. This is what I did.

At this point I slipped through the barriers again and rejoined the queue. The border gateway was visible just ahead and I didn't want to push my luck anymore. The cars were obliging and moved for me and I managed to wiggle through the queue some more before getting to the front.
It is possible that I could have stayed on the left of the barriers and gone on to the front sooner but I couldn't see ahead that far to be sure about it.

I was successful in crossing in about an hour despite the enormous lines of traffic.
Follow these directions at your own risk however, your experience may vary.
__________________
Ajaxer(Back in the fold)
BMW R1200RT
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 25 Jul 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca.
Posts: 3
Many Thanks

I'm crossing tomorrow with a TVIP. I'm sure your information will be extremely helpful.

Thanks again,
Gary
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Missed immigration & customs in Tijuana - can it be done it La Paz? Smudger North America 3 4 Oct 2010 23:45
need urgent advice on crossing tijuana!HELP, paperwork, because of broken radiator... lunapix Central America and Mexico 3 8 Jul 2009 22:00
Buy Bike San Diego or Tijuana Davypo Central America and Mexico 2 24 Aug 2007 08:07
Chita to Khabarovsk route description Chris Scott Northern and Central Asia 3 23 Feb 2005 18:13
Description of 'pinking' required Lois Other Bikes Tech 8 27 Sep 2003 08:51

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:40.