El Sauzal Amigo Blog

The trip down is part of the excitement of visiting the Orphanage!

This is the third part in a series of driving in Mexico.  In the first, we described why and how to get Mexican auto insurance.  In the second, we talked about what to expect as you cross the border into Mexico.  In this post, we’ll talk about toll roads and toll booths in Mexico.

After you cross the border, you will want to get on the toll road toward Ensenada; see our directions.  The toll road is the best and quickest way to travel toward Ensenada and the Orphanage.  These roads are better maintained and safer to travel on.  Mexperience.com describes the difference between free and toll roads, and the signs that you’ll look for:

LIBRE = Free Road. Free roads are less well maintained, single carriageways that will take you longer to travel across. However, to see some of the ‘off the beaten track’ places, you’ll need to avoid Toll Roads, as they often double as “by-passes”. It’s recommended that you don’t take the free roads after dark.

CUOTA = Toll Road. Follow this sign if you want to take the toll road to the destination you are traveling to. Note that the highway numbers are often the same, so you can be on the right highway number, heading in the right direction, but on a free (slower) road than you’d like to be. For toll roads, follow the signs that read “CUOTA”. 

On your trip to Ensenada, you’ll pass through three toll booths: at Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito and before Ensenada.  At the booths, you will see signs that let you know the toll in pesos for your vehicle. The toll prices will be around $3 (each toll booth) for a passenger car.  A van or truck can expect to pay more. 

Frequently you may see Mexican military soldiers near the booths.  They don’t collect the tolls, but they are often onsite.  (I am not sure why.)  Dressed in green khaki and touting large weapons, they are impressive.  Here is a tip that I was once told:  Do not take photos of them.  (I don’t know the reason for this either, but I’ve never questioned it!)

After you’ve crossed through the last toll booth, it is only a short distance before you head east towards the small town of San Antonio de Las Minas, the home of El Sauzal Orphanage.  In the next post in this series, I’ll share some tips on Mexican rules of the road.  Vaya con Dios!

Crossing the border at a busy time.

If you haven’t crossed the border into Mexico before, it can be intimidating.  As a native of the Pacific Northwest, I only cross into Mexico a couple of times a year.  Even with many years of visiting the Orphanage, I still have a sense of excitement as I near the border.  It always surprises me how different everything looks and feels as I enter Tijuana. 

This post is the second in a series about driving in Mexico.  The first article, Driving in Mexico, part I, dealt with the hows and whys of getting Mexico automobile insurance.  In this post we’ll discuss what to expect as you cross the border.  The San Ysidro crossing is about 20 miles south of downtown San Diego.  According to Tijuana.com it is “the world’s busiest port of entry “.  You can get to the crossing by heading south on either I-5 or I-805.  Bajabound.com describes what to expect as you cross the border:

If you don’t need to declare anything, you may cross in any lane that says “Nothing to Declare ~ Nada que Declarar.” But this doesn’t mean that you won’t be questioned or searched by customs officials. When you cross, you will see a traffic light with a red light and a green light. A red means you have been selected for secondary inspection and a green means continue on your way unless an official tells you otherwise. If you are selected for secondary inspection, you must pull over into the customs facility. The main facility is to the right, however sometimes you can get your vehicle checked on the left as well. Here, they will conduct for the most part, a quick search unless they find something that should have been declared. Usually they check the trunk and take a glance inside the vehicle.

Adventure Mexico Insurance also has a great step-by-step description of what to expect when crossing the border. 

Besides the San Ysidro crossing, you can cross at Otay Mesa or Tecate.  Otay Mesa is 5 miles east of San Ysidro, and is primarily for commercial crossings.  Tecate is a town 40 miles east.  (See Border Crossing diagram at Baja California Information Pages.)  These crossings are smaller and more out of the way.  However, they may be handy if you expect heavy traffic at San Ysidro, either crossing into Mexico, or crossing back into the United States.  Please note the hours of the stations and their phone numbers below.

• San Ysidro Station: (619) 639-7100 (open 24 hours)
• Otay Mesa Station: (619) 661-3249 (6AM-10PM)
• Tecate Station: (619) 478-5545 (6AM-Midnight) 

Once you’ve crossed the border, it is only a little over an hour to the Orphanage.  You’re almost there!  In the next part of this series, we’ll talk about toll roads and toll booths and later, some Mexican rules of the road.  Hasta luego!

Are you planning a road trip to Mexico?

If you are like me, driving in Mexico may cause your blood pressure to go up.  For the next few blogs, I’ll be giving you some tips about getting around in Mexico.  In this blog we’ll talk about what to do before you go on your trip - getting Mexican car insurance, and the paperwork you should bring with you.

1. Why is Mexican car insurance necessary?

Once you cross the border into Mexico, your U.S. or Canadian insurance cannot legally help you prove your financial responsibility. Mexican insurance will instantly show authorities that you are able to pay damages to third parties even if you are not at fault.  (Read more about why to buy Mexican insurance at the Bajabound website)

2. How to get Mexican car insurance.  The insurance company will want to know your vehicle’s type, make, year, model and value.  (If you are towing anything, you will need to know the value of your towed items.)  They will ask for the duration of your coverage, how long you will be in Mexico.  They’ll also want to know where you will be driving in Mexico; visiting the Orphanage, you will be driving to Ensenada.  Insurance is typically about $10 per day; it may be more if you are bringing a big passenger van or bus.

• If you are renting a car, many agencies will let you purchase the insurance as you pick up your car.
• You can purchase your Mexican auto insurance online.  Just search on “Mexican auto insurance”.
• You can also stop near the border off of freeway I-5 or I-805, at one of many drive-thru insurance companies.  (This may sound like a joke, but drive-thru insurance companies have been around many years!)

3. Paperwork you should bring with you.  Besides your driver’s license and proof of citizenship (like a passport), you will need proof of ownership for the car and proof of American registration.

You can read more at About.com, an article called “Mexican Car  Insurance, Renting a Car in Mexico and Crossing the Mexico Border“.  In future posts, I’ll write about crossing the border into Mexico, what to expect with toll booths and tips for driving in Mexico.

Planning a trip to Mexico in 2007?

If you are planning on visiting the Orphanage this year, it is imporant to know if you need a passport.  The problem is not getting into Mexico; that is pretty easy.  The real question is do you need a passport to get back into the United States?

I did some research and found lots of incorrect information.  To get to the bottom line, I checked the U.S. State Department, and read about “New Requirements for Travelers.”  If you are traveling to Mexico by air, you need a passport. 

What if you are crossing the border by car, on foot, et cetera?  According to the U.S. State Department’s site:

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.

Please note that this says passports may be required in 2008.  So if you are planning to visit the Orphanage this year, 2007, you are fine without a passport.  (Unless you fly into Mexico, but it is so much easier to fly into San Diego!) 

Will you need a passport next year?  Probably.  My passport expires this year.  Figures!