Tijuana Travel Answers

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Do you mean you intend to take your bags on a luggage trolley from San Diego airport to the border crossing at TJ? How? By bus or taxi with the trolley?? That's the difficult bit. Once you get to the border crossing there's very little border or luggage control but I think there's quite a tight one-way turnstile from the US side. If you can get through that with your bags you'll have no problems getting a cab from the Mexican side. No idea how much the ride to TJ airport is though - best you get an agreed price before you get into a cab.

I think you assume wrong; as once you walk across the border, there is a Customs and Immigration Control you must pass thru and very possibly, with 2 largish bags, they may possibly be given a cursory check; presumably you are aware that there is a problem with smuggling guns into Mexico? Also, I have no idea of your citizenship, but you will probably be required to prove that with some form of ID. If you haven't ascertained yet, at that point, I would certainly inquire about what immigration papers you would need to fly out, and it may well be the tourist visa, which is available there. But if I were you, I would inquire of my airline ahead of time as to what paperwork is required. Otherwise, if there is no record of when you came in, there could be a delay and/or a fine.

Saludos Nubie. I agree with Viajes del mundo. That being said, I would point out the following. The trolley from downtown SD to the border will take 35 to 40 minutes. When you get off the Trolley you have a hefty walk UP the pedestrian bridge that takes you over the freeway to the west side of Fwy 5 where the "Revolving Door" is that you must pass to enter Tijuana. Its somewhere between 1/4 and half a mile of walking AT LEAST to get to the Revolving door. Then, YES your bags will fit through the door. You will then walk 100 Meters (300 feet) and on your right hand side there will be 2 soldiers and a table and a traffic light with a button. Push it (if green light then go ahead. If red, they will search the bags for contraband. SOmetimes they do this and sometimes they dont. If your stuff looks bulky they will probably give it a once over. NO BIG DEAL. You will then continue straight for another 400 to 500 feet to the yellow taxis. The taxi ride from there to the airport should take 10 to 15 minutes and cost you 10 to 20 dlls. and NO MORE. Ask the cab driver BEFORE you get in the cab how much he will charge you to the airport. Including tip 20 dlls. is more than adequate. Dont get husseled. IF the yello cabs want much more then ditch them. DO get in. Take a right and go through the nic nac and taco stands to the Mcdonalds that is another 300 feet to the west of the yellow cabs. Here you look for ORANGE and WHITE taxis. These are much cheaper. they will do same for 10 to 15 dlls. When you get off the trolley in the US , you can take a CAB from there to within 200 feet of the revolving door. This might cost you another 15 bucks US. If your flight leaves in the morning, I usualy cross back into Tijuana around 8 am daily M to F and can/will give you ride if you like. Let me know your timelime and I may be of help.

Not only is there a possibility of border violations, there is the possibility of getting killed by drug cartel gangs. That city in Mexico is a very dangerous place to be these days. I doubt you can get there from San Diego Airport to the Airport in Mexico that quickly.

Disregard the above. Take Julio's advise and you will be just fine. Drug cartels have no interest in you. The process given by Julio will get you where you want to go without any hassle. Follow his advise, and you will be fine.

It doesn't matter if you ride or walk; there is passport control and your luggage may be checked . . . even checked very thoroughly. We were caught carrying a contraband head of lettuce once! We were camping and it was part of our food supply, actually a California lettuce we had taken into Mexico because we didn't think about it. However, we got caught on the way back because they thought it was Mexican lettuce being smuggled into California. Yes, they are that thorough. Walking is no guarantee you won't have to have papers or follow basic rules. On the other hand, lots of people were just waved through. Luck of the draw . . . how good is your luck? You need your passport to get on the plane anyway unless you have a domestic flight within Mexico.

I think you will be fine man. just make sure to map everything out carefully. As far as luggage goes, i don't think you will have any problems. I used to cross to nogales mexico all the time with back packs and other bags. Though, they can search you on the way into mexico but it's highly unlikely.

This, from the US STate Department, may be helpful: travel.state.gov/travel/cis_... It states: "Since March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens – including children – have been required to present a valid passport or passport card for travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of Mexico. The “border zone” is generally defined as an area within 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. Regardless of the destination in Mexico, however, all U.S. citizens age 16 or older must present a valid U.S. passport or passport card to re-enter the U.S., even by land. " So, it would seem to indicate that there is some sort of document check at the border. I will admit that I haven't done this walk across the border so will defer to the our experienced members here but I do find the above statement to be of interest. It may help to clarify exactly what you are concerned about? Is it time constraints - as in you have a short amount of time between your flight into San Diego and out of Tijuana? Or is it a document concern - as in you have no passport?

Thank you very much everyone for these very prompt response. I appreciate all info. I have my passport and all documents. My major concern is my luggage. It is two huge bags. All my personal belongings, mostly cloth, some books and electronics. I have no problem with border inspection. I can show my passport and present the luggage. However, if the luggage will be checked, I can imagine what kind of mess will be in my bags. After reading all replies, I realize that it is lots of walking. Bags are heavy. Maybe I should just take a taxi from San Diego Airport to Tijuana airport. Is this feasible?

There is no way to get around some of the walking; i.e., thru the gate and down the walk to Customs and Immigration (kind of like those loooong walkways arriving at overseas terminal at any large city airports); and then, like you said in original query, you should take a taxi to the airport as soon as you get to it. Depending upon where you are coming from in San Diego, it may help you by arriving at the border in a private car or taxi as close as possible, so that you are not already tired; possibly re-think one of the bags and use a smaller one??

OK, very good to know that you have all official paperwork and your biggest concern is lugging the luggage!! :)

You mentioned taking acab from SD airport to TJ airport. AEROMEXICO has a shuttle BUS painted with its name all over the outside. CALL them and find out where you can catch it. It crosses the border and takes you to the airport.

HI Julio!! for some reason, I missed several of the responses when I logged on a little earlier, including your detailed one and offer of assistance -- how generous of you!! certainly with all that info, our Poster should have no problems.

Be very careful that when you pick a cab that the picture in the posted license matches the driver. If there is no license or the picture does not match DO NOT GET IN THE CAB! It is a good way to get yourself in life threatening situation if you don't do this.

If you are by chance taking a Volaris flight out of TJ I would recommend taking a cab from San Diego airport to the greyhound bus station (not the train station) in downtown San Diego. Volaris has a shuttle you can/must book through their website that will take you directly from S.D., through the border, and directly to the airport in TJ. I think they have buses that leave 2 hours before the scheduled flight (TJ airport is small). You will have to get off the bus at the border for a few minutes. The border agents in TJ will just look in the bus real quick and then you can get back on. At the airport, depending where you are going, you might need to get a tourist visa. If you are going anywhere other than Baja and and you are flying a Mexican airline you probably will need one. You can ask the immigration officer before security and he can give you one. You then need to go back to the main airport lobby, complete the form, then pay for it directly at the money exchange booth or bank. I think it is the equivlant of25 USD or so. However, I just read that they now only accept pesos at the airport, so you might need to change a little money right there. Once you pay at the bank they will stamp the form. You then take the form and go through security. You need to keep this form the entire time you are on your trip. You may be asked to provide on exiting Mexico. If you lose it or don't get one they may charge you about50 to buy one as you leave back to the States. I travelled from my home in S.D. last year to the TJ airport this way. It was actually a good experience...think of it as a little adventure! I don't speak spanish really, but the locals were all very helpful and nice. The bus can also take you back to the border from the TJ airport. The bus can sometimes get you through the border quicker than walking and waiting in that huge line.