Traveling to Tijuana, Mexico

Here’s a map of places I recommend: Baja California Recommendations Map

Did you know about a 1 hour and 30 mins south of the Border you can find the Napa Valley of Mexico? That’s right. About more than 80% of Mexico’s wine production is done in this region. There are plenty of wineries and experiences, so make sure to plan ahead a trip to wineries.

I did not include any tacos. In my opinion, finding tacos is a part of the adventure, the local food truck is going to be more tasty than the Tacos del Gordo (which I think are just overpriced yet the typical go-to taco place) 

I also did not include any illicit activities. Tijuana is well known for their illegal activities. I do not condone such activities. However, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter for a future post regarding the Underground world of Tijuana.

Due to its proximity to the United States, it is a tactical location with an abundance amount of foreign investment and with attractive price points. Remember, as the United States diversifies away from Chinese Investment, trade with Mexico will continue to rise. If you are outpriced by American real estate prices, think about investing in Mexico.

Tips for Your Trip:

1. Currency:

   • You can get by with dollars, but it's best to have some pesos. Exchange your money on the American side of the border. Drive around San Ysidro to find the best exchange rate.

   • DO NOT exchange money at the airport. It's the worst place for currency exchange. Instead, use an ATM for better rates.

Pro Tip: The Charles Schwab Debit Card allows you to use ATMs worldwide and rebates any foreign ATM fees.

2. Crossing the Border:

   • Crossing back to the US from Mexico can take up to 4-6 hours if you don’t have a passport card or a SENTRI expedited entry card. Plan accordingly.

   
   

   Walking will usually be quicker than driving across, you can expect about 1 hour to cross the border.

   • Check wait times (not always accurate) here:

     • Border Wait Times

     • Border Cameras

   • If you’re a frequent traveler, consider applying for SENTRI. Processing times can take about a year, so plan ahead. The biggest benefit from SENTRI is that crossing will take about 15 minutes.

3. Traveling to Tijuana:

   • Last-minute international travel to Mexico can be expensive. For those dealing with flights with multiple stops, it might make sense to fly to San Diego and then from Tijuana to your destination in Mexico. Often, you can find direct flights.

   • The best part is that you don’t have to cross into Mexico to use the Tijuana airport. For $45, you can buy a ticket to cross a bridge from San Diego to the Tijuana airport. Cross Border Xpress

   • Note: This option is only available if you have an airplane ticket.

4. Transportation

   • Preferably, you should always get a rental from the airport. Don’t deal with outside agencies that might end up scamming you. Check rates online in sites like Expedia because odds are the price will be much cheaper.

   • Use Uber VS a taxi. Less chances of being scammed by inflated transportation costs.

I did not spend too much time emphasizing the dangers of Mexico. The world is a dangerous place, and there are consequences for wandering around and behaving irresponsibly. As a general rule, stay close to others, especially if you don’t know the language.

Just recently, an American and Australian were found dead in Ensenada. So precaution is not a joke.

You should always have someone as an emergency contact in case something happens. If necessary, don’t hesitate to contact me and I will make sure I can help as best as I can.

Rene Perez Jr, Broker

+1 (415) 690-5667

DRE:02115618