Traveling to Ensenada |
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.
The last stop for Amtrak in Southern California is the historic Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego.
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.
You are already in San Diego CA or will be getting there some other way.
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.
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.
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.
“The staff at Baja California Language College gives each student all the tools necessary to accomplish their individual goals. If you simply want to brush up on your skills, learn basic conversational skills or become completely fluent, the instructors will adapt your lesson plan to accommodate you.
During my seven months of study, not only did I achieve my goal of becoming fluent, I received something I had never anticipated and something far more valuable. The director, Yoli, and instructors, Dey, Bibiana, Edith, Lupita, Jesus and Reina quickly became a delightful addition to my family. I remain in contact with most via email, etc., and I treasure my entire experience there. I also developed a wonderful appreciation for the city of Ensenada and its population.
The past few years have not been kind to Mexico or its citizens and quite frankly, have been devastating to many businesses which rely on some form of tourism. It's very sad how a news report of some act of unspeakable violence in one city within one state of a vast and beautiful country can destroy a crucial part of Mexico's economy. I have been a resident of this wonderful country since 2004 and live in Rosarito, Baja California. I fell in love with Mexico, its culture and its people long before and for this reason, jumped at the opportunity to make Mexico my home. Attending the Baja California Language College allowed me to become fluent in Spanish and more importantly enriched me as a human being.
I am forever grateful to Keith Rolle for having this program of excellence. If you've been thinking about learning Spanish but have had trepidations because of media reports, please... take it from me: contact Keith and enroll. You will open the door to a wonderful educational experience and when it's all said and done, you may just find yourself leaving with truly beautiful memories that are indeed priceless. This is the only school of its kind in Baja, it's easily accessible, affordable and its reputation is impeccable. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn this beautiful language taught by remarkable, gifted and professional instructors.
If you're reading this you may be saying to yourself, "well, that's sounds good, but really...can you really speak and understand the language?" Fair question. The answer is yes. I now work as an office manager for a large child and adolescent psychiatric group in San Diego and happen to be the only person who speaks and understands Spanish. I translate everything from basic voice mail messages to therapy and psychiatric sessions ensuring the communication is clear to everyone involved. Seeing the relieved and grateful look on a parent's face when I am able to communicate with them in their language about the care and well-being of their child is one of the many rewards of my job. I couldn't have this experience without the wonderful people of the Baja California Language College.”
Hazlo, si se puede! (Do it, yes you can!)
Mary Anne Cox Office Manager-San Diego California Resident Rosartio, BC, Mexico
Baja California Spanish Language School - Offering Spanish Immersion Programs
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