Tecate [1] is a small city in Baja California (state) on the border with California, about an hour east of Tijuana. Unlike most US/Mexico border crossings, there is no town on the US side.

Travel to Tecate - Visa Requirements

From San Diego, take Highway 94 east.

From Tijuana, Take the toll road ("cuota") that parallels Mexico Highway 2, 30 miles east. Highway 2 then leads east about 80 miles to Mexicali by way of the notorious "Rumorosa Grade".

From Ensenada take Mexico Highway 3 east. The highway is two lanes and is about a 75 minute drive to the border crossing. Ranger2000 19:21, 28 November 2008 (EST)

Tecate's border crossing is probably the easiest in California. You can pay a few dollars to park at one of the lots on the US side and walk across the border. It can also be an alternative border crossing to get back into the US; it's less crowded than the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa border crossings (to get back into the US). It wil be a long drive from Tijuana, but it will save you some time.

Tours and Getting around Tecate

  • US Customs Border Crossing Station [2]

Tecate tourist attractions and sightseeing

Tecate city tours

  • Rancho La Puerta [3] health spa, also known as "The Golden Door".
  • The yearly Tecate-Ensenada bike ride.
  • California Motorsport Adventours Based in San Diego. Off road adventure tours for people of all riding abilities. Everyone welcome: families, couples, friends, single riders, bachelor and corporate groups. Full day excursions or longer tours available also. Ride in the dunes and then enjoy a guided adventure into the surrounding mountain trails. Our trips out to Tecate are 2 to 4 days long. Contact the office for reservations and inquiries.

Tecate souvenirs and shopping

Tecate has a central shopping plaza, but those crossing the border and looking for souvenirs will be disappointed.

  • Chris Haines Motorcycle Adventure Company, [4]. Challenge yourself with an action packed offroad motorsports adventure in the vast and world famous Baja terrain. Whether your pick is desert off-road riding, mountain ATV exploring or Racing Baja yourself. Chris Haines experience is like nothing else. 

Tecate Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Tecate nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Tecate is home to the namesake Tecate Brewery [5], which offers tours.

Tecate cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Get out

  • The Vinicola L.A. Cetto winery, along Highway 3, offers tours.
  • California Motorsport Adventours Off road adventure tours to the LA Cetto WInery. Begin the San Diego or Puerto Nuevo Baja. Minimum 4 riders. Contact the office for reservations.
  • Guadelupe Canyon hot springs, with nearby hiking and petroglyphs, is located 30 miles down a dirt road east of La Rumorosa.

This page was last edited by Frederick Heald. Based on work by San Francisco Girl, Peter Fitzgerald and Sarah B., Wikitravel user(s) Ranger2000, Morph and Jonboy and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license

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