Tijuana Travel Forum

I will be flying in to TIJ from PVR and I will have a large suitcase and carryon. What is the best way to get across the border and into san diego? What can I expect the lines to be like on a Friday afternoon? What is the best way to get from the airport to the border? I am a single woman and will be traveling alone. I am a little nervous. Are there any limousine services that go directly to the TIJ airport that can take me across the border?

Thanks! I am still waiting for my passport, so I have to cross the border by land or sea. I am a US citizen, but I have been living in Mexico for the last 5 months.

The Tijuana Airport is very near the Otay Mesa border crossing and I would guess that there are taxi's that you could take at least to the border, if not all the way into San Diego. The problem is that this border crossing is not as convenient as at San Ysidro, with the SD Trolley stopping outside the doors. You might find out the difference in cost between taking you to the Otay Mesa border crossing/into SD--some taxis can cross the border and may be less expensive than a US taxi--and the cost of taking you to the SY border crossing. The time it takes to drive or walk across will be much longer at San Ysidro.

If you are a US citizen and can prove it, than you will not need a passport to cross into the USA, if it is by land.

There are Taxis at the airport that can take you to the border crossing. My suggestion is to go to the Otay Mesa border, because the San Ysidro border line will be about 6 hours long.
The Border crossings back into the States have gotten so outrageously ridiculous that they now have a radio station that tells you how long the wait is. From my experiences there, the wait is always shorter at Otay. I once took a shuttle van across which dropped me off at the border (Otay), I waited 45min. in line to cross over then once I was past customs the shuttle van picked me up again and took me to the trolley station. I paid $10, well worth it since yeah I did have to stand for 45min, but not 8 hrs like they were announcing for the San Ysidro crossing.
I have been going to TJ for the last year approx. every month and it seems that it doesn't matter what day of the week it is there is always a very long line. I am able to avoid the long lines most of the times as long as I'm with my Brother who is a Border Patrol Agent.:)
As long as you have your I.D. you will have no problem crossing back.
Good Luck....

>>>San Ysidro border line will be about 6 hours long.

This is quite an exaggeration.

The only time I've know of this type of time frame has been when the border was closed down for that long due to a very rare shooting incident between a criminal and Border Patrol or when the USA is under a high terrorist alert, and the border is indicated in the threat, which isn't that often.

However, the car lane, wait time can be an average of about two hours and the "walking across" line can be a bit longer. Usually, but not always, the Otay Mesa crossing is shorter.

That shuttle van sounds pretty convenient. I haven't heard of it before. Thanks for the info!

You know I wish it were an exageration. Like I said before I have experienced this first hand and if it wasn't for my brother I think I would have gone bonkers. What is happening is that many people live in San Diego and either work go to school or go shopping in TJ and they all seem to want to go home at the same time. The only time I didn't see a long line was on a Friday night at around 8pm. The line was on the other side trying to get into TJ.
My dentist is in TJ that is why I have been going every month.
Unless something has changed in the past 3 weeks that's just the way it is.
Good Luck

Thanks bankalolos for the info.

I haven't gone across within the past three weeks and though the "walking" lines were long, it didn't take more than an hour or so to get through. I have heard, on the radio, the waiting times to drive through and usually it's not longer than and hour and a half.

Take a look at this website:

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp

It shows the amount of time to expect at both the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro border crossing. It only shows driving times. Walking across can sometimes take much longer and at other times not as long.

Great Info lmkluque

I will check it out bfore I go next time.

I agree whit lmkluque 6 hours crossing the border is a exageration, only be wary of taxis you must secure they are using their taximeter a cost using the taxi libre from airport to the San Ysidro border will cost no more 5 USD or 50 pesos, of course is better pay in pesos. Limousine Why????? If you live Mexico City, Tijuana is more safer than Mexico City. Only say to the taxi are going to voy a la linea de San Ysidro. If you worry about price ask price before sitting in.

Okay now, I'm really shocked that you (mikarov99) would say that Tijuana is safer than Mexico City! If that is truly the case then maybe it's not a good idea to go to Mexico City. Tijuana is a great tourist spot but let's be honest, the crime levels are completely over the top.

Oh, and by the way it's no exageration about the time it takes to cross over. Been there!

Yes true about the cirme, even in my city i was victim of cirme i was assaulted one time, another was iteneted to assault to me again but he was fail. But yes everyone who was lived in Mexico City feel more safe live in Tijuana than Mexico City. For example in Tijuana is very rare any assault of public transport like buses or shared taxis (taxis de ruta), in Mexico City is very commoon, the taxis are a lot more safer in Tijuana than Mexico City.

Don't show your valuables, don't weat any jewelry or watach, don't show the celular phone at street and act very secure you will be fine, and stay alert very alert, ignore the people who tray to say what is your time? who ask for money? or if they say i know you?

Great advice. But it seems scary. I never felt afraid when I was there, but I think I better heed your advice.