| DRIVING ACROSS THE BORDER Each day
thousands of cars head south on California's Interstate 5 and cross the border into Baja,
Mexico. As the freeway nears the Mexican border the expands from 4 lanes to 8, all
vehicles must stop at the Custom's check point. If the alternating Custom's signal light
turns GREEN after you stop, you may proceed (Passe). Welcome to Baja! If the alternating
light turns RED (Alto), you will be directed to the covered secondary inspection area one
hundred feet to your right. Assuming you are not carrying guns, drugs, or fruit, your stay
at the secondary inspection station should be short. Then you will merge back into the
busy traffic heading to Baja!
If you are heading for the coast towards Rosarito Beach or Ensenada, follow the GREEN
and WHITE signs with the white arrows towards "Scenic Road - Rosarito".
WALKING ACROSS THE BORDER
After parking your vehicle in one of the 4 large parking lots listed below (cost: $5-$6
per day), just follow the crowds. After walking through the metal revolving gates, you
have entered Baja! Most tourists walking into Baja are headed for Avenida Revolucion,
where all of the shops, restaurants, and bars offer a very exciting environment! (it's
about a 20 minute walk). Head straight ahead through the small shops and the plaza, over
the 100 yard bridge that crosses the river, and then 2 more blocks and you are there! Turn
left for 10 blocks of fun! If you don't feel up to the 20 minute walk from the border to
Avenida Revolucion, there are about 100 yellow taxi cabs ready to wisk you there for $5
(one way) as soon as you get past the metal gates and enter Baja. These taxis will also
take you to Rosarito Beach for about $25 US, and to Ensenada for about $70 US.
SHUTTLE ACROSS THE BORDER
This is an easy way to get from the U.S. side of the border to Avenida Revolucion, as
well as to other parts of Baja further south. There are several different bus companies
lined up in front of the parking lots on the U.S. side of the border. These buses will
take you directly to Avenida Revolucion for $1 US each way, or $2 US round trip. They
depart on a regular basis, and your maximum wait time is 20 minutes! |
| Okay, you've had your fun in Baja. It's time to head back
across the border to the U.S. One problem...all of the other Gringos who have been playing
in Baja, along with a whole bunch of Mexicans who are legally headed for a brief visit to
the States, are joining you for the border crossing. On any given day, tens of thousands
of cars and individuals line up to cross this boundry line. Is there any way to minimize
the stay in line? As a matter of fact, there is! Award winning writer and Baja aficianado
PAULA MC DONALD has done the homework, and put pen to paper, in an effort to help you get
through the border as quickly as possible. Take a peak at her BORDER ESCAPE PLAN before
you get in line! Better yet, buy her great book CROSSING THE BORDER FAST AND EASY! It is
stuffed full of great information on all aspects of "Borderland"! |