Mexico Travel from San Diego: Baja, Cabo & Beyond

Mexico rarely checks documents when you drive south, but you need it if you fly or walk across the border. You also need one to get back into the United States. U.S. citizens returning by land can use a passport book, a passport card, a SENTRI or Global Entry card, or an enhanced driver’s license. A regular California driver’s license on its own is not enough. If you are flying anywhere from the US or Tijuana, bring your passport book.

Technically, yes. Mexico requires an FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) for all foreign visitors, whatever the length of the stay. The 72-hour “free zone” you may have heard about was abolished years ago. For stays of seven days or less, the permit is free. Longer stays cost 983 pesos (about $54) as of January 2026. At San Ysidro, you get it at the INM immigration office at El Chaparral as you enter. If you drive, pull into the immigration area before you continue into Tijuana.

It depends on the day, the hour, and the lane. It can be a few minutes or several hours. Sunday afternoons and holiday weekends are the worst. Check CBP’s Border Wait Times site or app before you head back, and plan your return for a weekday or early in the day if you can.

If you cross more than a few times a year, yes. SENTRI costs $122.25 for five years and also includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. SENTRI lanes are usually much shorter than the general lanes, whether driving or walking. A cheaper middle option is the Ready Lane, which you can use with a passport card or enhanced driver’s license. Also, if you have Global Entry, you can register your car for SENTRI for free.

Yes, but since 2012, Baja California has required Mexican liability insurance for every driver, and your U.S. policy does not count. Buy a Mexican policy online before you go. You can buy it just for the days you’re there. Baja does not require a temporary vehicle import permit, but mainland Mexico does.

Declare everything you bought. Adults 21 and over crossing on foot or by car can bring back one liter of alcohol duty-free every 31 days. That’s a little more than one bottle of Valle de Guadalupe wine, so budget for duty on the rest. Many fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are not allowed across. When in doubt, declare it and let CBP decide.

Yes. Uber works throughout Tijuana and is the easiest way to get from the pedestrian crossings to Avenida Revolución, the restaurants in Zona Río, or the airport. Walk a few minutes away from the crush right at the crossing exit before you request a pickup.

Most people drive. Cross at San Ysidro, take the toll road (Highway 1D) south past Rosarito toward Ensenada, and turn inland onto Highway 3 at El Sauzal. Plan on about two hours of driving from the border, plus the crossing itself. Keep pesos or small dollar bills for the toll booths. Don’t drink and drive in Mexico (or anywhere).

Only if someone in your group is not tasting. Wineries are spread out, many access roads are unpaved, and a day of tastings adds up quickly. Hiring a driver or booking a wine tour from Ensenada or San Diego is the relaxed option, and it lets everyone enjoy the day.

Rosarito is the quick one: about 30 minutes south of the border, with beaches, seafood, and lobster in nearby Puerto Nuevo. Ensenada is roughly an hour and a half from the border. It is a port town with the fish-taco stands, La Bufadora, and the shortest drive into Valle de Guadalupe. For a single night, pick Rosarito. For two nights, Ensenada lets you add wine country.

In Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada, dollars are widely accepted, but you will usually get change in pesos at a less favorable rate. Credit cards work at most restaurants, hotels, and wineries, but not all, and definitely not small taco shops, souvenir stalls, etc. Always check before you order if they take cards. Carry pesos for taco stands, markets, tips, and small purchases.

Many U.S. plans include Mexico at no extra charge, but not all of them. Check your plan before you cross, especially if you depend on maps or ride-hailing apps.

Stick to bottled or purified water. Restaurants and hotels geared toward visitors generally use purified water and ice, but it is not something to take for granted at every stand.

In restaurants, 10 to 15 percent is standard, and 15 percent or more for great service. Tip in pesos when you can. Tip tour guides and drivers separately.

Yes. Plenty of San Diegans cross for dental work, and for vet visits too. The savings can be significant. Do the same homework you would at home: check credentials and reviews, and get a written estimate before any work starts.

They are two separate Mexican states. Baja California is the northern half of the peninsula: Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe. Baja California Sur is the southern half: La Paz, Todos Santos, and Los Cabos. Cabo is about 1,000 miles from the border, so most people fly there.

Spring and fall are the sweet spot along the coast, with mild weather and fewer crowds. Valle de Guadalupe gets hot in summer, but that is also harvest season. Winter is quieter and cooler, and it is gray whale season off the coast of Ensenada.

The grape harvest runs roughly from August into September. The Fiestas de la Vendimia, the region’s harvest festival with events at wineries across the valley, takes place every summer. Hotels in Valle book up early for festival weekends, so reserve well ahead.

Millions of visitors cross every year without problems, but conditions vary by state and change over time. Read the section above, check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for the specific state you’re visiting, drive during daylight, and stay on the toll roads.