Baja California’s international border with the U.S. has six official crossings:

• San Ysidro/ Tijuana (24 hrs daily)
• Otay Mesa (24 hrs daily)
• Tecate (5 A.M.–11 P.M. daily)
• Calexico East (6 A.M.–midnight daily)
• West/Mexicali (24 hrs daily)
• Los Algodones (6 A.M.–10 P.M. daily)

Tijuana is the largest and busiest of the bunch, with waits up to two hours, but even the less-crowded ones have lines during morning and afternoon commute hours and on weekends. The pedestrian crossing is a great way to avoid the lines. Public and chartered buses are also allowed to jump to the front of the lines.

Mexican Consulate in San Diego

San Diego’s Mexican Consulate General (1549 India St., San Diego, CA 92101, U.S. tel. 619/231-8414, www.consulmexsd.org, 8 A.M.–1:30 P.M. Mon.–Fri.) is 30–45 minutes by car from the Tijuana border crossing. The office can help with visas, immigration problems, special-import permits, and questions concerning Mexican customs regulations.