Baja Travel Tips

Three crossings from San Diego: San Ysidro (busiest land border crossing in the world, best for Tijuana), Otay Mesa (commercial crossing with less traffic, best for Rosarito and Ensenada), and Tecate (small-town crossing, best for driving directly to Valle de Guadalupe).

Going south is easy — drive straight through with minimal stops. Have your passport ready. There is no inspection unless you are flagged for random secondary screening. The whole process takes under five minutes on a normal day.

Coming north is where the wait happens. Regular lanes run 30 to 90+ minutes on weekends. Ready Lane (requires an RFID-enabled passport card or enhanced driver's license) cuts that to 15-30 minutes. SENTRI (pre-approved trusted traveler program, $122.25 for 5 years) gets you through in 5-10 minutes.

Best times to cross northbound: before 9 AM or after 9 PM on weekdays. Avoid Sunday afternoons — that is consistently the worst wait of the entire week. Download the CBP Border Wait Times app for real-time data before you leave.

FMM tourist permit: technically required for stays beyond the border zone (more than 25 km south) or stays over 7 days. However, it is not enforced for typical Baja day trips or weekend trips to the Tijuana-Ensenada corridor.

Your US or Canadian auto insurance does NOT cover you in Mexico. Period. Mexican law requires Mexican liability insurance. If you are in an accident without it, your car can be impounded and you can be detained until the claim is resolved.

Buy online before you cross. Top providers: Baja Bound ($8-15/day depending on vehicle value), Lewis & Lewis, and CHUBB (formerly ABA Seguros). Full coverage for a standard sedan runs $15-25/day. Liability-only coverage runs $8-12/day.

Annual policies make financial sense if you cross even once a month — expect $200-400/year for liability coverage. Make sure your policy covers the entire Baja Peninsula, not just the border zone. Some cheaper policies limit coverage to the first 50 km.

Two routes from Tijuana to Ensenada: the Toll Road (Highway 1D, $3-4 USD in tolls, 90 minutes, scenic coastal highway, well-maintained) versus the Free Road (Highway 1, no toll, 2+ hours, winding through small towns, more adventurous but slower).

Gas stations: PEMEX is the national brand and the only option. Gas is sold by the liter at roughly $1.10-1.30 USD per liter in 2026. Stations accept pesos or US dollars (at a worse exchange rate). Most stations have attendants who pump for you — tip them 10-20 pesos.

Road conditions: the toll road is excellent, comparable to any US highway. The free road has potholes and no shoulder in many places. Do not drive at night in rural areas — livestock, pedestrians, and unlit vehicles on the road are genuine hazards.

Speed bumps (topes): found at the entrance to every town. They are often unmarked and painted the same color as the asphalt. They will wreck your suspension if hit at speed. Slow down approaching any town — look for the "TOPES" signs or just assume they are there.

US dollars are accepted nearly everywhere in the tourist corridor from Tijuana to Ensenada. However, you will get better prices paying in pesos — the difference is 5-15% on most purchases because vendors set their own exchange rate, and it is never in your favor.

ATMs: Citibanamex, BBVA, and Banorte ATMs are in every major town. Withdraw pesos, not dollars. Your US bank's foreign ATM fee ($2-5) is still significantly cheaper than exchange booth markups. Withdraw larger amounts to minimize per-transaction fees.

Credit cards: accepted at sit-down restaurants, hotels, and shops in tourist areas. Not accepted at street food stands, small tiendas, or parking lots. Always carry cash for the best stuff — the taco stand that changes your life will not take Visa.

Tipping: 15-20% at sit-down restaurants (same standard as the US). Tip 10-20 pesos for street food vendors if they are attentive. Budget 50-100 pesos per night for hotel housekeeping. US dollars are accepted for tips everywhere.

The Tijuana-Rosarito-Ensenada corridor is well-traveled by millions of tourists annually. We have crossed over 100 times without incident. Use the same street smarts you would use in any major city — be aware of your surroundings, don't flash expensive items, and trust your instincts.

What is safe: the toll road, tourist areas of Tijuana (Zona Rio, Avenida Revolucion), the Rosarito hotel strip, downtown Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe, and Puerto Nuevo. These areas have police presence and are heavily visited by American tourists.

What to avoid: driving at night on rural roads (this is a livestock hazard, not a crime issue), leaving valuables visible in your parked car, carrying excessive cash, and exploring neighborhoods you do not know without a local guide. The same common sense applies here as in any large city.

Pharmacy scams: pharmacies in Zona Rio and near the border aggressively solicit tourists. Prescription medications are legitimately cheaper in Mexico, but avoid the "free doctor consultation" schemes that exist solely to upsell unnecessary prescriptions.

Most US carriers include Mexico in their standard plans at no extra charge. T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon all offer Mexico coverage. Check your specific plan before crossing — roaming charges are largely a thing of the past for major carriers, but budget plans may not include international coverage.

If your plan does not include Mexico, buy a Telcel SIM card at any OXXO convenience store for $5-10 USD. Add a prepaid data package for $10-15 and you have a week of reliable data coverage throughout Baja.

Wi-Fi is widely available at hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Quality varies significantly — fine for browsing and social media, unreliable for video calls or remote work. Do not plan on hotel Wi-Fi for anything mission-critical.

The non-negotiable items: your passport (required for re-entry to the US — no exceptions), proof of Mexican auto insurance (print or save digitally), and cash in both USD and pesos. Everything else is secondary to these three.

Sun protection is essential year-round. Baja sun is intense even in winter — bring sunscreen (SPF 50+), a hat, and sunglasses. Layers are important for the coast: mornings can be cool, especially December through February, even though afternoons are warm.

Comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets in downtown Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe. A reusable water bottle — tap water is NOT safe to drink in Mexico, but you can refill at purified water stations (garrafones) at any corner store for a few pesos.

Alcohol: 1 liter per person duty-free (you must be 21+). Buy at border duty-free shops on the Mexican side for the best selection and prices. Exceeding the 1-liter limit incurs about $2.50 per bottle in duty — still significantly cheaper than US retail prices.

Food: most cooked food, hard cheeses, and packaged snacks are fine to bring across. No raw meat, fresh fruits or vegetables, or unpasteurized dairy. Mole paste, vanilla extract, and hot sauces are all permitted and make excellent souvenirs.

Cigars: Cuban cigars are legal to bring into the US if purchased in Mexico (not directly from Cuba). The total goods exemption is $800 per person per trip, which covers most casual shopping.

Medication: prescription drugs for personal use are allowed with a valid prescription. The limit is a 90-day supply maximum. Controlled substances require declaration at the border. Over-the-counter medications are generally fine in reasonable quantities.