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Finally! Californians have a new, convenient way to reach Mexico without hassles through customs.
As I’m sure you’ve heard on the news, just because we’re neighbors doesn’t mean you can randomly cross either side.
There’s a lot to be said about the border, but one aspect cannot be denied: wait times are unpredictable, and when they’re bad, they’re really bad!
Tijuana is said to be home to the busiest border in the world, which draws an impenetrable line in the sand between a few fascinating destinations.
Instead of visiting Napa Valley, California’s undisputed wine king, Southern Californians often choose to stay closer to home by crossing Mexico’s beautiful Valle de Guadalupe region for world-class wineries and breathtaking scenery.
A new exciting ferry makes the process so much easier.
Skip the awkward lines and head straight to the port city of Ensenada in northern Baja.
Azteca Ferry: the new easy route to wine country
Azteca Ferries will operate the only ferry connecting Californians to Mexico. Cruises are of course a different story.
Travelers looking to explore more of Baja beyond Tijuana have an important decision to make: Do you want to risk waiting in line for hours when you get home?
No matter how many TikToks you can scroll through for 3 hours, it’s not a good time.
That’s why I’m extra excited to discover this new ferry, especially as someone who has lived in San Diego for 10 years has probably crossed Tijuana at least 200 times and never made it to Ensenada, one of Baja’s most overlooked gems.
Getting to Ensenada is honestly difficult.
It’s so close and yet so far away. About 90 minutes from Tijuana, Ensenada is both a popular cruise port and a gateway to Mexico’s underrated wine country.
That 90 minutes back to the border could turn into 5 hours if the lines are backed up.
That’s why this ferry is such a good news to escape the hassle departure from San Diegoinstead of even setting foot in Tijuana.
Tip: See if you qualify for one SENTRI cardthe kryptonite to bypass border lines. New appointment openings are released between 10am and 11am, so please refresh the page while booking!
What to expect
While the Azteca Ferries website is still quite bare, local publication San Diego red revealed a juicy insight.
To be clear: there is no official departure date. “Coming Soon” teases us on Azteca’s website. The great thing is that Valle de Guadalupe is great to visit all year round.
According to San Diego Red, these will be the departure times:
- San Diego to Ensenada is from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM and from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Ensenada to San Diego will be From 7:00 am to 9:30 am and from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
The prices are also not official, but these are the expected ticket prices:
- One way – $70
- Return – $130
Although children and seniors may qualify for discounts.
Despite being on the open sea, the best perks are WiFi and the food and drink service, which will certainly offer local wine on board as a taste of what you’re getting into.
The boat can accommodate 300 passengers.
Ensenada to Tecate: Mexico’s Most Underrated Trip
There are many ways to reach the Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico. Before this ferry, my personal preference was Tijuana’s neighbor, Tecate.
Typically, people start their journey through the ‘Napa of Mexico’, from Tecate to Ensenada, passing beautiful small towns and beautiful wineries along the way.
By ferry you have to do it in reverse order, with Ensenada as the starting point.
Ensenada itself is best known as a stop on cruise itineraries and a phenomenal seafood destination. Otherwise, it’s simply a gateway to Northern Baja’s famous wineries.
There are plenty of guides for hire, but you can also go out alone. Just know that despite Tijuana’s sketchy reputation, the rest of Baja is very safe.
You’ll also find some really great places to stay here, like the recently opened Banyan tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe or my personal favorite Santuario Diegueño offers breathtaking views of Tecate.
According to TripAdvisor, these are the top 3 wineries you can visit right now:
- Xecue Vinicola
- Monte Xanic
- LA Cetto Boutique Valle de Guadalupe
Tip: If you love beer as much as wine, stop by the Tecate factory where you’ll get a free beer upon arrival.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
