Rosarito Flights

a properly functioning automobile helps

Youi can get to Rosarito from Tijuana easily by cab. It's about 30 minutes and costs yuo 10 peso. get the cab at Madero between Calle 5A and 6A. For the trip back you can just flag a cab on Juarez. By car you will find your way easily along Rte. 1.

WARNING!!!!!! If you are there on the weekend do not try to cross the border back into the states after 4pm. You will be waiting in line for at least two hours. It's not fun.

From anywhere in the North America or the world, head to San Diego, California. From there you can take either Interstate 5 or 805 south towards the Mexican border. This is of course if you are travelling by car. Upon crossing the border you would follow the signs that will take you to Rosarito/Ensenada Toll Road (Also known as the scenic route). The toll road to Rosarito will cost you about $2.50 (that's now, I'll keep prices updated). The road is truly beautiful but be mindful of your speed, you don't know when a Mexican highway patrolman will pull up next to you! Upon leaving Tijuana and Playas the Tijuana, you will be in Rosarito in about 15-25 minutes, all depending on how fast you drive.
Should you be traveling by bus, head towards Tijuana's Estacion de Autobuses (bus station) and take a local bus to Rosarito. The journey is short and inexpensive by bus, so if the conditions present in the bus are not of the 5 star variety, you won't mind it too much.
Another option is crossing the border by foot and hailing a cab and having him/her drop you off in Rosarito. Try to haggle the price down because some of them will charge you an arm and a leg!
If you are staying in the hotels towards the south end of Rosarito Beach, which is where all the more happening clubs are, you really won't require a vehicle. You can pretty much get around by foot on the main drag. I can almost guarantee you that aside from a walk to the beach, the furthest you may go from your hotel room (save Puerto Nuevo for their delicious Lobsters) will be within a four block radius.
You can find mini-marts, licquor stores, taco stands, restaurants, clubs, and pharmacies on almost every block.
Should you require motorized transportation around Rosarito Beach, a taxi is your best bet. Once again, try to bring the price down, just don't be rude about it. Just try to reason with your driver, if he doesn't seem receptive, just let it go and find yourself another taxi driver. There are many around!

One day, we were trying to go to a place in the city. There were twelve of us, so we had to take two taxis. The first taxi driver had the map to where we were going. I was in the second taxi. The first taxi immediately took off and lost us. Our driver said, "I know how to get there!" Ha! He did not. So he spent the next half hour asking directions to try to find this place. The moral of the story: Take a map!

The Mexicoach offers an inexpensive alternative to taking a cab from Rosarito to Tijuana and vice versa. Y. and I caught this red colored bus from the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which left exactly on the hour every two hours. We left at noon. The cost is $5/person and will drop you off at the Terminal Turística Tijuana. For an additional $2 you can purchase a ticket from the TJ terminal to take you back to the border. However, you can just save that money and opt for a leisurely walk down Avenida Revolución to get the "touristy" feel to Tijuana. The walk from the Tourist Terminal to the border will take about 30+ minutes.

Crossing the boarder from the US side to the Mexico side ususally goes pretty smooth. You might get a red light which means go to inspection. This is totally random and you might not have to even get out of your car. they check your car real quick and then your on your way. If you do get asked to pullover as you are crossing the boarder dont panic its all routine.
Most times you get the green light and you just keep on driving with no problem.

To cross the border to get back to the US side usually takes alot longer. Sometimes even up to a few hours. Other times the line seems to go on forever but you get to cross very quick. It all depends on how thoroughly they are checking the cars. Sometimes i have been just waived on through and other times they have searched my car completely. It is definately harder to get to the US side. But if you are not doind anything wrong dont worry about it and relax as they let you through. This would also be the best time to get good deals on souveniers as you are waiting in line to cross the border as the vendor know this is the last opportunity to sell you something. Sometimes i will do my souvenier shopping at this time because you can get a better deal. At other times the line goes so fast that i miss out on my shopping.
Expect that on big weekends the line to cross the border might be very long.