Tijuana Travel Answers

As someone who has lived in Mexico and visited Tijuana, I think the LAST thing you want to do is spend New Years in the border town. It's a community that even scares actual Mexicans. I do not exaggerate. The beaches further south of the city are reported to be okay, but San Diego has some nice beaches too. I just don't want to see you start off the year on the wrong foot, Robert

i would definitly avoid tj. #1 it will be a mad house and #2, coming back across the border that morning will likely be hell. i would stay in san diego and hang out in the pacific beach/mission beach area. if you really want to be in mexico, go further south to rosarita beach. it will be a mad house to but it's much nicer then tj.

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anywhere but there. Further down. Mission Beach and old town in Sandiego but Tiujana is a border town and nothing good happens in a border town. I am a well traveled Mexico person and believe me there is not good fun there. Get away from the border....at least Rosarita or Encinada....Take care and have fun but not on the border towns!

Thanx for all the replies. I did put a post up on Esenada's forum asking the same thing... so it looks like we will not be spending New Years in Tijuana. I have been reading mixed reviews regarding even bothering to stop there. It seems like it would be nice to stop there for an hour or two on our drive down to Esenada... is it worth it? Do you recommend we leave the car on the US side, walk it, then walk back and drive into Mexico? Thanx for all the help.

I just wrote a long response to your car question but it disappeared before I could post it. In a nutshell, I REALLY think you need to do MUCH MORE research before you even contemplate going into Mexico, with or without a car. As things stand now, I think you and your group are asking for a lot of trouble. Sorry, but that's what your clearly communicating to me, Robert P.S. And please know that I've lived in Mexico for a year, have MANY Mexican friends, and generally love the country. But Tijuana is not "Mexico". It is a hornet's nest of crime & corruption.

Oh, I doubt the crime, corruption and hornets in Tijuana will bother you much. But you might find driving a pain in the butt. Driving to Tijuana is nuts. If your main interest is cruising to Ensenada and back, though, it's worth it. First, you need Mexican insurance. These are good people and sell online ( igib.com ) but there are many providers at the border. You don't really need any paperwork, just drive across. I would just skip TJ, if I were you, frankly. It's no fun to drive around in. Just take the coast road through Playas down to Rosarito, where you can get on the free road...which allows you to stop at various halfway houses, beaches, etc on the way. It's a nice coastal drive to Ensenada, and on down to La Bufadora. When you return, take the turnoff at El Sauzal and drive up through Valle de Guadalupe (wineries....) to Tecate (brewery...) and another pretty drive through some unusual "Old California" type country. Cross to US at Tecate and back to San Diego via I-8. A nice little tour.

Rather than walk over to TJ, then go back to drive in, I would suggest driving across and parking at Zona Rio shopping center. There will be a charge when you leave. Park near the street and grab a cab to Revolucion. Check it out, then cab or bus back to Zona Rio. The cultural center is across the street (no big deal unless your timing is really perfect) and the public market is nearby. When you leave you can shoot through town and to Rosarito via the free road. The important thing is to get good maps and figure this whole thing out ahead of time. Once you get your plan down and your route down, ask people about it. An alternative would be to take the "Last US Exit", then the first left and into the parking lot where the Mexicoach bus leaves. Park there, take the bus to Revu, walk up and back, then take the bus back to your car and drive across. I would consider taking your TJ break on the way BACK, not in. That way you won't cramp your drive...you shouldn't drive highways after dark in Mexico. And you can do your shopping in Tijuana without having to lug the stuff around your whole trip. See my Tijuana page for some shopping and transportation tips.

Thanx Mono - You've been a great help. I am starting on my research for the trip.... it is still almost 3 months away... so I want to be well prepared. I have been getting very mixed reviews about Tijuana... you mentioned shopping there.... is it a lot cheaper there than Ensenada? What sort of things will I be able to purchase in Tijuana? How do I view your shopping link? I believe we'll probably go down to Ensenada, stop at Rosarito... and turn back around and hit Tijuana on the way home (if it's not too late).

Rmdw - my trip is nearly 3 months away... I am doing lots of research - hence the posting on this forum and countless hours of research online. As for the car situation. We will pay the Mexico insurance... and probably won't spend the night. If we need to go back to Tijuana because we weren't able to hit it during the day time - we can go back for a half day trip. I don't believe we're asking for trouble... if that was the case, we would just go into Tijuana and take our chances w/o asking for any type of advice, and we wouldn't consider purchasing extra insurance on our vehicle nor would we consider dropping the car on the US side and walking in. I appreciate you looking out for us!

Obviously just by being here you are not asking for trouble, but asking to avoid trouble :-) You hear a lot of hysteria about Tijuana. Actually there are documented reports of people going there and coming out alive. It's not so much a question of "cheaper than Ensenada" as the sheer mass of stuff available along a single street. Bargaining is the rule, so cheaper depends a lot on your own wiles. Walk off a few times and see what happens. Click on my "name" above my picture by this post. It will show a lovely picture of me, suitable for framing if not downright adoration. To the right is a list of pages, click on Tijuana. There are some bits on restaurants, etc, but the payoff are the "travelogues" low on the page. I created and placed these specifically to have comprehensive guides for people like yourself. One is a shopping guide, one is a "walking tour" that would take half a day...more depending on how much shopping or dining you do and effortlessly show you not only the shop circus but a little bit of clue that Tijuana is actually in Mexico. Some people find ordinary objects in the market to be cooler souvenirs and gifts than some of the stuff in the shops. There are lots of pages on lots of destinations, it's what this site is primarily composed of. Let me also suggest you take a peek at this igougo.com/planning/journal.... about Ensenada. Not much there, but don't miss the seafood stands. You understand some of this info will be dated, but it should help you some. My advice is always the same: if you want to do TJ, walk over. If you want to drive, go through to Ensenada. I think your idea of two separate trips shows that you think sensibly about these things. By the way, in San Diego I heartily recommend Ocean Beach...a bohemian surf town with interesting shops (The Black headshop and two art hair salons are practically museums of American wacko culture). You can eat in a nice cafe out on an ocean pier (lobster tacos, mango pancakes...) and the cliffs and tide polls south of the pier are gorgeous. Another recommended walk is from Windansea (or at least from the Art Museum) in La Jolla along the rock by the Children's Pool to the La Jolla cove. Then perhaps up a block to the gallery/shops area of La Jolla. But that ocean stroll is world class beautiful, worth at least half a day because you're going to want to splash in the water and goof around on the rocks and go molest the sea lions and all.

Lin, I've been to Tijuana myself. Had a good time. But since then I've heard countless stories that were far from positive, including from my many Mexican friends. So I'm not one of these "gringos" (or Gringo Nortes!) who is shouting off at the mouth about factless fears. I do think it's prudent to be very careful before going there and I would never advise a fellow traveller to take their car there. For the record, I'd have similar advice about certain areas of Vancouver, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. You might think I'm being overly cautious mais c'est la vie! Robert

Oh, one more thing. Downtown Tijuana (Revu Av.) is a day thing. It undergoes an amazing, if not totally apalling, change at nightfall. Day is street shops with Ma and Pa Tourist from all over the world wandering around goggling the stuff. As soon as it gets dark the shops close, the second floor discos and full-contact naked dancing places turn it up even louder and it becomes crowded with punks. American kids come down to drink underage and dressed to encourage getting raped or the crap slapped out of them on general principles. It's like a bad, low budget Fellini film about inadequate vampire wannabes. So your shopping trips to the area should be done in the daytime. After dark it's showtime for the other two major bargains in Tijuana: intoxication and sleazy sex.

Monobichi, You’ve been a great help. I think perhaps once I return safely from my trip, I may have to actually print off a copy of your pic, frame it and bow to it several times a day in thanx for providing me with all this useful information!!! I am quite looking forwards to spending a day/half a day in Tijuana (depends on how myself and my fellow travelers are enjoying ourselves). I look forward to bargaining with the locals, and getting a fair deal for my purchases... we also look forward to checking out your dining guide, as sampling Mexican cuisine is on our list of things to do. Most of us are experienced bargainers, as we have had the experience in the past. As for New Years, I think I may have mentioned that we will be bringing in the new year in San Diego area... We’ve read nothing but amazing things about La Jolla, and will probably head out there one of our days. One thing we’ve heard is that around the time we’re going - the weather isn’t going to be quit beach weather. We are still bringing our beach gear, and perhaps being from the Cold cold north - Canada, we can tuff it out and enjoy some time in the water. Where in La Jolla can we find these sea lions?

You will probably be able to enjoy the beaches, but swimming will be VERY nippy. The Cove is a great place to swim. The Sea Lions lie around on the beach at Children's Pool. It's between Windansea and the Cove, you can't miss it. It's a brick breakwater built out from shore in the form of a C or J or something. The idea was to make a sheltered place for children to swim. But the seals took it over. The fun thing is to walk out the jetty. If the sea is rough you WILL get wet...it's a very fun place.

Hi Angelz25, I'm a Los Angeleno who has traveled frequently to Tijuana, B.C. in the past 5 years, and my wife and I (and now our baby girl of 7 mths old) always find something new, interesting, and exciting to do! Being of Mexican heritage but born in the U.S., I use these trips to "reconnect" with my Mexican heritage... and the results have been educational and fun. I don't like to frequent the "party" atmosphere along Avenida Revolucion. I will be 40 years old in January, and way past the college, tequila-shooting, party animal age... not that there is anything wrong with that! If there are members in your group that like to party hearty, then I would advise to look into it! Most importantly, don't let people scare you off from experiencing the atmosphere of a "border town." Tijuana-San Ysidro is one of the busiest (if not THE BUSIEST border crossings) in the world. I figure this is due to the relatively inexpensive prices for entertainment, dining, and shopping bargains, and the allure of spending a few days in a foreign country. THINGS TO SEE: Did you know there is a bull ring in Tijuana, and another in Playas del Rosarito? Worth checking out if you want to see a bullfight... I know this is rather brutal for Americans and Canadians... but it is par for the course for Mexicans. A very safe place to visit is AVENIDA PASEO DE LOS HEROES in the PLAZA RIO district... As soon as you cross the border into Tijuana from San Ysidro on the freeway 5 SOUTH, stay on your right-hand lane, and you will automatically connect to AVE PASEO DE LOS HEROES... half a mile and you are there! There are many things to do here, and foremost is PLAZA RIO... Just go to the statue of CUAUTEHMOC (Last great emperor of the Aztec Empire) and hang a U-TURN. Entrance to the plaza is on the left side. Inside this Plaza are 2 great movie theater complexes. One is a regular CINEPOLIS and the other is CINEPOLIS V.I.P. (which has reclining, leather seats, a bar that serves beer and mixed drinks, and a SUSHI bar. Also, regular movie food is served like popcorn, hotdogs, softdrinks, etc. Admission is about4.00 to5.00 U.S. The other CINEPOLIS is very nice, a cineplex that shows about 15 movies. Take the escalator up to the movie complex. Inside there is a lounge where you can order CREPAS (or crepes) with such Mexican toppings as CAJETA (a carmel/ peanut spread) or QUESO (acutally Philadephia cream cheese), etc. and a cup of java or a slice of different type of cake. There is a1 only store with a lot of knick-knacks and they accept credit cards. There is also SANBORNS DEPARTMENT STORE/ RESTAURANT/ CANTINA (BAR). This is a Mexican department store chain dating back to the 1900s! They sell books, magazines, electronics, (have clean bathrooms, as does the COMMERICAL MEXICANA supermarket, just ask "¿DONDE ESTÁN LOS BAÑOS?" They also have a separate room with a bar where there are drink specials during the week and live entertainment on the weekends). Next to the bar is a bakery (cakes, cookies) and a large restaurant where you can be seated and order typical Mexican fare or JUGOS (juice drinks), ice cream shakes, banana splits, etc. Also, there is a super-cool supermarket here called COMMERCIAL MEXICANA... Here you can purchase Mexican books, magazines, CDs, DVDs; Mexican sweet bread; Mexican beer and delicious tequila. On the note of tequila, don't be afraid to buy a liter to take home! (Only one liter per person is allowed to cross the U.S. border). Please check out this website created by a fellow Canadian from which I have learned a lot about what a great distilled liquor TEQUILA is! ianchadwick.com/tequila/tequ... This website has taught me, a Mexican, to appreciate a drink that is a national treaure... as a matter of fact, last Saturday my family and I went to Tijuana to buy Tequila at Commercial Mexicana.... it was so cool! Being Saturday, there were supermarket employees standing in different sections in the supermarket giving away product samples! For example, "free" Mexican ham, a taste of Mexican-style cheese, like Oaxaca (pronounced wha-HA-ka)(stringy, like mozarella) or cotija (sprinkles with a salty taste used to top off TOSTADAS or SOPES). Also, free samples of YOGUHR (or YOGURT) and crackers, cereals, juice, etc. Towards the back of the supermarket, next to the SWEET BREAD section, they make FRESH TORTILLAS using a tortilla machine in which they feed dough into one side and hot, fresh tortillas come out of the other side. The last time I was there, a couple walked up and just asked for a couple of hot tortillas to taste! They added salsa from a bowl on the counter. JUST ASK: UNAS TORTILLAS, POR FAVOR, PARA PROBAR? (Some tortillas to taste, please?) I am certain they will not deny you such a basic request; besides, as you are tourists, Mexicans will go out of their way to please you and gain your business.) The best place is the liquor section. When I went on Saturday, there were about 4 or 5 female attendants giving out FREE SAMPLES of different tequilas! So you could walk up to them, smile, and ask what kind of tequila do they have... They will offer you a sample on the spot... MAKE SURE TO READ THE TEQUILA WEBSITE SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO DRINK TEQUILA! It's not just about taking a SHOT, drinking the whole thing at once!!!! Take your time to sip and savor! Anyhoo, there are many more places I could describe from restaurants that have PIANO BARS, MARIACHIS, or TRIOS or SEAFOOD restaurants, etc. I tend to go for QUALITY in my choices for entertainment, so if you like what I have described, I will only be TOO HAPPY to give you more info... I am indebted to the Canadian creator of the tequila website for all I have learned, so if I can guide you to enjoy Tijuana, Rosarito, or Ensenada in any way I can, it will be my pleasure. In the meantime, here are some websites to check out with info about Tijuana, and B.C. (Baja (lower) California... by the way, did you know that before the U.S. war with Mexico in 1846 that present day California was known as ALTA (UPPER) CALIFORNIA? http://hungryhiker-tj.com/ http://www.tijuanaonline.org/ P.S. Dennis Rodman is now playing for the basketball team in Tijuana!!!! Check this out here: http://www.dragonestijuana.com/ If you need to translate any of the Spanish pages into English, use the altavista translator at: babelfish.altavista.com/tran... I'll be more than happy to help with any translations or questions you might have, as well. Tijuana is an exciting, vibrant city... it may not be what we are used to in the U.S. or Canada, but give it a chance. If you know where to look, you will find great food, wonderful music, super bargains, and most importantly, you'll feel as if you've experienced a part of México. All the best, Sal MiztuhX

Nice guide. The problem might be that most people who go there as tourists are looking for something different from the US. Plaza Rio is deliberately as much like a suburban US shopping mall as it's possible to make it. That whole Zona Rio thing would be viewed as a sterile sidewalkless track of glass buildings with nothing to do by most tourists.

Nice guide. >> Thanks! The problem might be that most people who go there as tourists are looking for something different from the US. >> Well, I believe it's an excellent starting because it's a relaxed, familiar atmosphere that has some typical features of the Mexican culture. Of course, there may be tourists who may want to just dive right in and go visit and stay with indigenous natives in Guerrero or Oaxaca the first time out, and eat iguana lizards and turtle eggs, sleep on petates, drink mezcal and swallow the worm, without having to rely on clean water for bathing just to experience "something different from the US." (just joking!) Plaza Rio is deliberately as much like a suburban US shopping mall as it's possible to make it. >> I don't think so... it's really more in the tradition of the Mexican plaza (shopping center), like a much smaller version of Plaza del Sol in Guadalajara, Jal. Have you seen the new (about 2 1/2 years old) Plaza Galerías in Guadalajara? Now, this 2-story monstrosity of plate glass and marble floors with LCD screens and huge department stores and fancy restaurants and beauty salons, food court, brand-spanking new Cinépolis with 20 screens and IMAX theater, huge parking lot, etc. would qualify as the "suburban US shopping mall" that you're talking about. Plaza Río, on the other hand, is just a pleasant stroll where one can view different stores and products in a safe, hassle-free environment. Most of these stores accept credit cards, and they do have some upscale items, too, like perfumes, leather jackets, jewelry, etc. Some merchants you can haggle with, others are just department store chains. I also like GUSHER pharmacy, which is a pharmacy and juice fountain that also serves sandwiches, salads, yogurt, fruit in the same store! I don't see that in U.S. drug stores anymore! Another cool thing is that when you pull into a PEMEX gas station, they still have gas attendants who will fill your tank for you, clean your windows, and check the air in your tires! I believe they will also check the fluids in your car if you ask! And watch out when you enter one of those upscale department stores, store employees will rush up to you and ask you if you need any help, if they can be of any assistance, they are eager to give you prompt and professional service! I haven't really seen this in the U.S. in a long time! That whole Zona Rio thing would be viewed as a sterile sidewalkless track of glass buildings with nothing to do by most tourists. >> I've learned not to judge the interior of a store or restaurant by its outer appearance. I have walked into some restaurants that looked dilapidated on the outside, nothing going on, but once inside, there were bubbling fountains, tiled walls, colorful paintings hanging on the walls, ornate wooden chairs and tables, etc... and so much life and activity! Such a restaurant is LOS ARCOS, a seafood restaurant on Blvd Agua Calientes near the restaurant in the shape of a huge sombrero called EL POTRERO. Going back to Plaza Río, remember, that inside of Plaza Río, there is a pathway with stores on either side, benches, and trees, shrubs, leading to a circular plaza where one can sit down. During the weekends, there is some form of entertainment to watch and enjoy, usually street performers (clowns, and such) who put on a show for the kids! Also, when was the last time you were served a shot of tequila inside of a supermarket in the USA or Canada? It is also interesting to note that school children and senior citizens "work" as grocery baggers in the supermarket, and it is customary to "tip" them a small amount. There is also a new music store in Plaza Ríp called MIXUP. And yes, it looks like your typical Tower or Virgin record store, but inside they have a great selection of Spanish CDs and DVDs spanning all Mexican musical styles and cinema from the 1930s to today! You just cannot find this wide of selection outside of México! In closing, the structures may look the same, but the products, the food, the music, etc. all have a Mexican touch! I believe Plaza Río is a great place to start and from there go on to the Museum a block or so from Plaza Río. Two weeks ago, my wife and I took our 7-month old in her stroller and WALKED from Plaza Río to a restuarant across the busy Paseo de los Héroes Avenue (actually 2 avenues separated by a concrete strip with grass and trees). (Of course, we were very cautious, as we are when we walk in any busy intersections, and we walked only when the light turned green and made sure drivers saw us and that they had stopped. We made sure to walk in a group with the other people who were also waiting for the light to change... Just using our common sense, really, that we would use in any heavy traffic area) Then, we walked and I pushed the stroller across 2 other streets to get to the Central Cultural Tijuana. We saw an exhibit of old lithographs from the late 19th century-early 20th century, depicting booklets handed out to school children showing the revisionist history of Mêxico from the viewpoint of Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz. The booklets had a beautiful, detailed picture on the cover showing, for example, the Conquest of the Aztecs by the Cortez and the Conquistadores and inside the booklet was the re-telling of the sad tale, and so on, about 4 centuries of Mexican history told over the course of 20 or so booklets. Fascinating! Then, since it was the week after Día de los Muertos, we were able to see an altar, or tribute to a dead person, that was also on display in the museum! This exhibit was inside of the OMNIMAX THEATER which is the huge concrete sphere that is seen from Ave Paseo de los Heroes. The main museum to the right has a permanent exhibit (exposición in Spanish) called Museo de las californias (Museum of the Californias) which recounts the history of the Baja California peninsula with miniature reconstructions of missions, indigenous life, etc... http://www.cecut.gob.mx/ Another place to visit which is anything unlike in USA, is LA CANTINA DE LOS REMEDIOS (Restaurante y Botanes, in other words, this place is a restaurant/ bar / and they serve snacks to drink with your beer or tequila or drink of your choice) This traditional bar is also a Mexican institution found in many states of the Republic! lacantinadelosremediostj.com... La Cantina is one block towards the statue of Cuauhtemoc from Río Plaza. Sal MiztuhX

By the way, no one else seemed to warn you of another possibility: if you are renting a car, be sure to go to an agency that allows you to drive the car into Mexico! The last time I rented a car in San Diego it was equipped with GPS or something similar so they could track the car and know whether it crossed the border. Most rental places do NOT allow cars into Mexico, or sometimes you have to pay extra. Just be sure to ask about this.

I LIVE IN TIJUANA, ITS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITY, YOU WANT TROUBLE YOU FIND TROUBLE, LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME! I RECOMEND YOU CROSS THE BORDER WALKING, SPEND THE DAY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IF YOU LIKE TO PARTY WELL THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES THAT YOU CAN PARTY AFTER MIDNIGHT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARDS THE BORDER AND CROSS WALKING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS A HUGE CLOCK ON CALLE PRIMERA WHICH LOOKS LIKE AN ARC THIS IS WHERE AVE. REVOLUCION BEGINS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING PLANNED FOR BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR.

Thank you to everyone who has responded to my question. It has been a very informative experience, and I can't wait to test it all out in a couple of days. I will be back in the New Year and let everyone know how my experience was, and I can't wait to experience Tijuana. I have been to Cozumel while on a cruise, and didn't get much of an oppertunity to experience Mexico... so this will be a neat experience. Thanx again, and Happy New Year to everyone!!1

One thing I want to add here. A previous post might lead you to beleive that walking toward the border from the "McClock" at midnight would be perfectly safe. Not true. The mile between Revu and the crossing is one of the most likely places to find trouble, especially on a drunky night like New Years. If you're in a party of 5 or more, OK, but a single tourist walking through there, and up the dark stairwells of the pedestrian bridge is asking for it. It's only like5 for a cab.

THE TOURIST POLICE ARE POSTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PUENTE MEXICO AND CALLE PRIMERA FROM THE PUENTE MEXICO TO AVE REVOLUCION HAS BEEN REMODELED AND IS NOW FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ONLY AND IS WELL LIGHTED, IT IS SAFE. TAXI LIBRES HAVE BEEN ADDED RECENTLY AND INSTEAD OF PAYING 5 DOLLARS TO THOSE YELLOW CABS FOR A LESS THAN 5 MINUTE RIDE TO THE BORDER YOU CAN PAY LETS SAY LESS THAN 20 PESOS LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE SAME RIDE.