Footsteps Across the Border: Walking from San Diego to Tijuana
A step-by-step guide on how to successfully walk across the border from San Diego, USA, to Tijuana, Mexico.
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I just completed a month of working and traveling in sunny SoCal in San Diego. Surprisingly, this was my first visit to California. It was primarily due to the high cost to come out here in the first place, but also the fact that I knew I would love it and not want to leave. In reality, I only came to California because I was confined to the country for the foreseeable future, as I had to apply for a new passport this year after running out of pages.
Well, three days before I flew out of Ohio, my passport arrived in the mail. As I already had the rest of my year planned out, I used this trip to my advantage. In the past three years, I have planned three separate trips to Mexico, all of them falling through for reasons outside my control. Now that I had a passport and couldn't possibly get any closer to the border than by being in San Diego, I set off on foot to Mexico. I was going to make it there one way or another.
A mere 16 miles separate San Diego from Tijuana, a bustling city in Baja California, Mexico. The proximity is so remarkable that over 100,000 individuals cross the border daily for various purposes like work, education, healthcare, shopping, dining, and entertainment, making this border one of the world's busiest land border crossings.
Typically, U.S. citizens find it relatively uncomplicated to enter Mexico, although returning home can entail lengthy customs wait times. The quickest and most convenient ways to access Tijuana are generally by car or via designated pedestrian bridges. The Smart Border Coalition continually monitors real-time wait times at all entry points for both options, addressing many frequently asked questions to streamline the process.
I am here to give you my personal experience of walking across the border from San Diego to Tijuana.
Is it Safe to Walk the Border?
I know several people in San Diego who have lived there for years but have yet to cross the border into Tijuana. Not because they aren't interested but because the news and media make it out to look like this daunting, stressful, and terrifying process. Well, it’s not. At least, it wasn't in my experience. It was one of the easiest border crossings on land I have ever done, and that’s counting four continents.
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Navigating San Ysidro Port of Entry
You can cross the border from San Diego County into the main Tijuana metro area at three pedestrian points: PedEast (close to the San Ysidro Trolley stop), Otay Mesa, and the Cross Border Express (more on the latter in the flying section). It's important to note that PedWest, another pedestrian crossing point, has been closed since October 2021 and will remain so.
Many people, including myself, opt for public transit to reach San Ysidro, specifically the San Diego Trolley.
The Blue Line runs from downtown through National City, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach, ending near the San Ysidro crossing. As I was living in Little Italy at the time, San Ysidro was the closest and easiest border crossing for me to use.
The Little Italy Station, between Old Town Station and Santa Fe Station, is a direct stretch from downtown San Diego to San Ysidro. The tram ride takes about 40-60 minutes, depending on which station you start from.
Trains run frequently from early morning to late evening, seven days a week, with a one-way fare of $2.50.
Crossing the Border
Crossing the border by foot couldn’t have been easier. Once I stepped off the trolley, I started walking across the bridge and did not stop walking until I reached my hotel. Once the border officers glanced down and saw I had an American passport, that was enough to get in. I placed my backpack through the scanner and was out of border patrol and in Tijiuanna in less than 10 minutes.
While the border crossing may not be that sweet and simple for everyone, that was my experience. Remember that I was crossing around 7:00 p.m. on a Wednesday, which was after rush hours and in the middle of the week.
If you plan on crossing the border by foot, here are a few tips to be prepared. For U.S. citizens, a valid passport is required for travel to and from Tijuana, but there's no need for a visa. (This applies to permanent residents of Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, or countries in the Schengen Area or the Pacific Alliance unless they plan to stay longer than 180 days.)
Technically, regardless of your trip's duration, you are supposed to fill out the free Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), which you can obtain from Mexican border authorities upon entry. I didn’t have to do this and was never asked to show any kind of entry form, but keep this in mind if you are trying to cross with a passport that is not from the United States.
What to do in Tijuana
Tijuana is a typical border city and is ideal for a day trip from San Diego. As I opted to go late in the evening and spend the night, I could explore a lot of downtown Tijuana, drive down the coastline to Rosarito, and spend a few hours on the beach. Besides eating a ridiculous amount of tacos, here are some of the best things to do on a day trip to Tijuana:
Avenida Revolución: Stroll along this famous avenue filled with shops, restaurants, and vibrant street art.
Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT): Explore the cultural center with its museums, IMAX theater, and botanical garden.
Plaza Santa Cecilia: Experience live mariachi music and street performances in this lively square.
Mercado Hidalgo: Visit this bustling market for local foods, crafts, and souvenirs.
Rosarito Beach: Take a scenic drive to Rosarito Beach, known for its sandy shores and beachfront restaurants.
Wine Tasting: Explore nearby Valle de Guadalupe, a wine region with numerous wineries open for tastings.
For guided tours, day trips, and other excursions, check out a full list of options here.
Crossing Back into the USA
They definitely make it more difficult to walk back into the United States from Tijuana; no surprise there. Besides the one sign by the downtown arch, there isn't a lot of guidance. I figured my best option was just to wing it, head in that direction, and hope for the best. After a few wrong turns, helpful locals with directions later, and a shot of tequila later, I found the pedestrian bridge. (Things always sort themselves out; you just have to be patient).
After doing some research of my own, I understood that foot traffic slowed down after 6:00 pm, so I went around 5:30. While there was a big difference in the time crossing back into the United States, the whole process took about 30 minutes. That includes customs, passport control, and wait times.
In summary, my journey from walking across the border from San Diego to Tijuana was an eye-opening adventure filled with culture and a lot of tacos. It reminded me that borders are merely lines on a map, and the connections we make with people transcend these boundaries. From the vibrant streets of Tijuana to the welcoming embrace of both nations, this journey highlighted the beauty of exploration and the unity of humanity. So, don’t be afraid; ignore what the media shows you and go for it. Take a step, cross a border, and discover the world beyond – you'll find that the best adventures often begin where one country ends.