How To Arrive/Visa For Mexico
To reach Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, from various parts of the world, you typically fly to a nearby city in the US or Mexico, and then take a bus or drive to Ensenada. Here’s a general guide:
Step 1
Fly to the Nearest International Airports.
Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)
1.5 hours by road to Ensenada.
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
2.5 hours by road to Ensenada (including crossing from the U.S. into Mexico)
Los Angeles International Airport (Lax)
4 hours by road to Ensenada (including crossing from the U.S. into Mexico)
Step 2
Travel from the Airport to Ensenada.
From Tijuana to Ensenada
1. Bus Option
Duration: 1.5 hours Cost: $10-15 USD
There is a bus station outside the airport within walking distance (10-15 min) from the airport. You may want to ask somebody at the airport how to find it.
Board a bus to Ensenada. Companies like ABC offer frequent and comfortable services. There is usually no need to reserve the bus in advance because they are rarely full, but you can do it at this website in Spanish: abc.com.mx.
2. Driving Option
Rent a car and drive to Ensenada via the “Carretera Escénica Tijuana-Ensenada (Highway 1D)”.
The toll road offers scenic views and is recommended. Tolls are paid with cash in pesos or USD. Cost: ~$10 USD including all 3 tolls.
Share a taxi or an uber from the border to Ensenada.
If flying to Mexico City (MEX, CDMX) or another major Mexican airport, connect via a domestic flight to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ), then follow the steps above.
From San Diego to Ensenada
1. Take the trolley
or a taxi to the border
or a taxi to the border
Take the trolley (https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/popular-destinations) or a taxi to the San Ysidro Port of Entry at the US-Mexico border.
2. Cross the border
You can cross at San Ysidro Port of Entry by car or by foot.
Do not be surprised if no agent verifies or stamps your passport when entering Mexico. This will be the case for most people crossing by car or foot, especially if you are staying in Mexico for no more than a week.
Are you visiting Mexico for over a week? you need to apply for a “Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM)” and pay the corresponding fee. You would do this in the building, at the border, on the Mexican side, by talking to an immigration officer. If you don’t do this step, you won’t have a way to demonstrate that you are in Mexico legally. Situations where you may have to show evidence that you are in Mexico legally include:
- checking in at a Mexican airport after entering Mexico by land
- If the police or national guard (militars that help the police) requests your FMM in case of an accident/hospitalization. For more information, vistit: inm.gob.mx/…/solicitud.html.
3. Transportation
Bus Option:
– Once in Tijuana, take a taxi to ‘Central de Autobuses’ (Bus Station) in Tijuana and follow the bus option mentioned in “Bus Option” section.
– There are usually taxis available right after crossing the border into Mexico.
Direct Shuttle Option
– Some private companies offer direct transport from San Diego to Ensenada and back. Duration: 2.5 hours.
From Los Angeles to Ensenada
If flying to Los Angeles (LAX), please note that this airport is 4-5 hr from the border in addition to the 2.5 hr from the border to Ensenada.
Some travelers from the U.S. might opt for direct bus routes or road trips from California to Ensenada.
Step 3
For Other Travel Needs
Carpooling
Please consider carpooling or sharing a ride if possible. We will try to organize this closer to the date of the conference.
Cash or credit
- Taxis usually only take cash (pesos or USD) in Tijuana and Ensenada.
- You can usually use cash in pesos or USD in Tijuana and Ensenada.
