Baja California Getting there & around

Getting there & around

There are six official border crossings from the US state of California to Baja. At any crossing, Mexican authorities will issue and stamp tourist cards and process car permits. US and Canadian citizens can cross without a tourist card, but only if they are staying north of Ensenada or San Felipe, and only for 72 hours, or they can get a free tourist card with a seven-day limit and the same restrictions on movement. Any longer stay (up to 180 days) requires the standard tourist card (M$237).

Mexican mainland, US and international flights leave from and arrive at La Paz, Loreto and San José del Cabo. Ferries from Santa Rosalía and La Paz connect Baja California to the mainland by sea. A vehicle permit is not required for taking a car into Baja, however, it is necessary to have one if you are shipping a car to mainland Mexico. These can be obtained at La Paz but not at Santa Rosalía. If you intend to take a vehicle by boat from Santa Rosalia, you need to get the permit beforehand.

Air-conditioned, nonsmoking and reasonably priced buses operate daily between towns all along the peninsula; however, car travel is often the only way to reach isolated villages, mountains and beaches. Rent cars in larger cities and major tourist destinations, such as Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto and the border towns.

Highways are good and there are few toll roads. Drivers using the ‘Scenic’ (Cuota) route to Ensenada will need M$81; the Tijuana–Mexicali route costs M$163. Denominations larger than US$20 or M$200 are not accepted.