Traveling to Ensenada, Mexico - Baja California Spanish Language College

Students have numerous transportation options for getting to Ensenada.

The majority of students fly into San Diego International Airport and then take a taxi, trolley or Greyhound bus to the border. The second most popular mode of transportation is personal vehicle. Students may drive their vehicles to Ensenada or park them at the border and take public transportation to Ensenada.

Below we outline numerous other travel options. Select the options that interest you for details.

Travel Options

To San Diego:	*
To the border:	*
To Ensenada, Mexico:	*

To San Diego

Airplane

San Diego International Airport

Amtrak

The last stop for Amtrak in Southern California is the historic Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego.

Greyhound Bus

Students who travel by Greyhound to San Diego arrive at the main bus terminal. It is located at 1 ^st and Broadway in downtown San Diego.

Other

You are already in San Diego CA or will be getting there some other way.

To the Border

Taxi

Taxis are the quickest and most expensive method to get to the US/Mexican border crossing between San Ysidro, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. From downtown and area hotels travelers can expect to pay $28.00 to $40.00.
Walk through the steel turnstiles at the border to enter directly into Mexico. Continue walking straight. You will soon enter a sea of taxis. You will be immediately approached by taxi drivers and vendors trying to sell their wares.
You do not need a taxi. Behind the taxi stand to the right and next to a pharmacy you will see a small ABC bus terminal across the street about 250 meters away. Buses leave for Ensenada about every 30 minutes from that terminal.

Trolley

Purchase a one way trolley ticket on the Blue Line to the border at San Ysidro. The trip to the border by trolley is about 45 minutes. (approximately $2.50)
Walk through the steel turnstiles at the border to enter directly into Mexico. Continue walking straight. You will soon enter a sea of taxis. You will be immediately approached by taxi drivers and vendors trying to sell their wares.
You do not need a taxi. Behind the taxi stand to the right and next to a pharmacy you will see a small ABC bus terminal across the street about 250 meters away. Buses leave for Ensenada about every 30 minutes from that terminal.

Trolley

Take a taxi, or city bus, from the San Diego Airport (Lindbergh Field) to the trolley stop at Santa Fe Depot. The staff at the airport information desks can show you where to catch buses and taxis. (approximately $8.00)
Purchase a one way trolley ticket on the Blue Line to the border at San Ysidro. The trip to the border by trolley is about 45 minutes. (approximately $2.50)
Walk through the steel turnstiles at the border to enter directly into Mexico. Continue walking straight. You will soon enter a sea of taxis. You will be immediately approached by taxi drivers and vendors trying to sell their wares.
You do not need a taxi. Behind the taxi stand to the right and next to a pharmacy you will see a small ABC bus terminal across the street about 250 meters away. Buses leave for Ensenada about every 30 minutes from that terminal.

Greyhound Bus

This way of getting to Ensenada is the slowest and most expensive. We recommend this option to students who are traveling with more luggage than they can transport. It is also the chosen option for students who have never been to a foreign country and for those not in any hurry.

From:
- Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego
  Walk 3.5 blocks to the Greyhound terminal at Broadway and 1st.
- San Diego International Airport
  Take a taxi from the San Diego Airport (Lindbergh Field) to the Downtown San Diego Greyhound Station on Broadway St. and 1st. (approx. $8.00)
Purchase a one-way ticket to Tijuana Central. This is the main terminal in Tijuana. As you board the bus, confirm with the Greyhound driver that the bus is going to Tijuana Central. You do not want to go to Tijuana Centro. Remember it is Tijuana Central. It is the main Tijuana bus terminal. (approximately $18.00)
From the San Diego Greyhound terminal, the first stop is about 20 minutes away. This stop is at the US side of the border in San Ysidro, CA. You may be asked to get off the bus to identify your luggage stowed underneath. If all of your luggage is with you on board, there is no need to get off the bus in San Ysidro.
Mexican customs is the next stop. You will be asked to get off the bus and identify your luggage. This stop can be as quick as 10 minutes or as long as 45 minutes. Leave your guns and other contraband at home.
Depending on traffic, you should arrive at Terminal Tijuana Central approximately 40 minutes after you have left Mexican Customs. The bus will make several stops along the way to pick-up and drop off passengers. Remember, it is Tijuana Central. You DO NOT want Tijuana Centro.

Personal Car

The drive from downtown San Diego to the College in Ensenada takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From San Diego take Interstate 5 South or Interstate 805 South until you reach the border crossing between San Ysidro, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

For those who decide not to take their cars into Mexico, there is daily parking on the US side of the border at the Camino de la Plaza exit. It is about $7.00 per day.

Dropped Off at the Border

Have somebody drop you off at the border crossing between San Ysidro, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Walk through the steel turnstiles at the border to enter directly into Mexico. Continue walking straight. You will soon enter a sea of taxis. You will be immediately approached by taxi drivers and vendors trying to sell their wares.
You do not need a taxi. Behind the taxi stand to the right and next to a pharmacy you will see a small ABC bus terminal across the street about 250 meters away. Buses leave for Ensenada about every 30 minutes from that terminal.

To Ensenada, Mexico

Bus

Purchase a one-way ticket to Ensenada on the ABC bus lines (Autotransportes de Baja California) and buy a one-way ticket to Ensenada. (approx. $9.00. US currency is OK)
You will arrive at the main Ensenada bus terminal located at Avenida Riveroll and Calle 11 about 2 hours after you depart Tijuana. The bus will make several stops in Ensenada. Make sure you stay on the bus until you are at the main Ensenada Terminal. .

Personal Car

As you cross into Mexico you'll drive over a sensor and a light will illuminate on your left indicating either a green ' PASE ' (pass on) or a red ' REVISION ' which triggers a bell. (You will then be directed into an inspection area) Only a small percentage of vehicles are stopped and their passengers queried.

Immediately after crossing in the border you travel up a rise. At the top, traffic will be merging from the right. You will want to take the very first exit ramp on the right. Take your time and don’t panic. For your convenience, the sign is in English: ROSARITO-ENSENADA SCENIC ROAD . Continue following signs to PLAYAS –ROSARITO- ENSENADA . You head toward the Pacific along the Mexican side of the border for about 6 miles. The road will take you to the Ensenada Cuota .

The Ensenada Cuota is a toll highway beginning at Playas de Tijuana and ending at the village of San Miguel, just north of Ensenada.

The Cuota is a great drive. The road is in excellent condition. The speed limit is posted as 110 kilometers through much of the drive. That is 68.3 MPH . Mind your speed as the federal police use handheld radar devices on this highway. They will pull-over gross speed violators.

There are three toll booths. You may pay in either US or Mexican currency but not a combination of the two. The tolls fluctuate with the exchange rate but generally are about $2.40 per toll booth.

After passing the third and final toll booth you continue through the village of El Sauzal. On the south side of El Sauzal, a fork in the road indicates Ensenada Oriente-Transporte de Carga to the left and Zona Turistica-San Quintin to the right. Turn right at the fork in the direction of Zona Turistica .

It is the law in Mexico that you have at least liability insurance.

Visit the FAQ section and the Links and Affiliations section on for more travel and insurance information.

TESTIMONIALS

“I am a 56 yrs old female and have a Family Practice clinic in Florida. In 2010 I wanted to learn medical Spanish to assist the patients who visit my clinic from the USA and from abroad as I am located in a prime tourist. My previous background in Spanish was just one year of high school Spanish and I could only say a few phrases. After my first week at the Baja California Language College, and living with a host family, I was able to start talking in phrases to my patients with minimal use of a telephone translation service. After my second week of immersion 6 months later, I now rarely use a medical translation service with my Spanish patients and have even picked up some Portuguese phrases.

I am not always perfect in my conjugations and still have to ask “Como se dice… (how do you say….) sometimes, but my patients really appreciate my efforts and I am complimented on my Spanish language abilities! I have found that just attempting to talk in someone else’s language is a huge gesture of good will, and the way that I have gotten even better is to not be afraid to try! If someone is bilingual, it is better to approach them in their native language, and they also will give me invaluable feedback on my pronunciation and vocabulary when I ask them to please let me talk to them in Spanish for my own practice.

The travel to and from Ensenada, Baja California Mexico was very safe – I flew into San Diego and took all public transportation BY MYSELF each time. I walked through USA customs/bridge in and out of Tijuana and walked to the ABC bus station. In nice weather, I would walk the 3 miles from my host family’s home, or get a ride from them for a nominal cost. I also walked a lot around the town when not in school just to see the fabulous scenery. I would use an internet café a few blocks away from the house that I was staying in into the evening. The host families are all very nice with excellent meals and accommodations.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone of any age.”

Dr. Pat Wahrenberger Family Practice Physician Minneola Florida

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