Century 21 Puerta del Sol - Travelling to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico

Traveling to San Felipe

Driving to San Felipe - You need to get to Calexico, California, which is on the border just south of El Centro, California. There are two border crossing at Calexico. The western crossing is in the heart of Calexico and Mexicali and the eastern crossing is just outside of both towns.

Mexican auto insurance is a must. Mexico does not recognize U.S. auto insurance policies. Proof of automobile ownership is required. Insurance is easy and affordable to purchase whether on a daily or annual basis. Insurance rates vary and depend on length of stay, type and value of vehicle. Visitors may purchase this through El Dorado Ranch and have access to Mexican insurance by calling Customer Service at 1-800-404-2599, or purchase Mexican Insurance online and you can print your Mexican auto insurance policy in just minutes from your own computer. You can purchase your insurance policy well in advance of your trip to Mexico - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By purchasing your Mexico auto insurance online, you will save money and time, and you will never have to wait in line at the border again!

Accidents must be reported to your Mexican insurance carrier BEFORE returning to the United States.

From San Diego: Take Interstate 8 East to highway 111 south in El Centro, CA. Continue on highway 111 south to the border crossing in Calexico.

Once through the crossing, continue one block (about 500 feet) and bear right till you get to the first intersection with traffic lights. Turn right at the light. Go straight on this road through the city of Mexicali (major intersections will have signs for San Felipe.) The road will turn into Highway 5 which takes you to San Felipe. San Felipe is at Kilometer marker 190.

From Yuma: Take Highway 8 West and exit at Highway 98. Go West on Highway 98 for about 16 miles. At the traffic light, turn left for the border crossing. Continue up and over the clover leaf and to the border crossing (this is clearly marked).

Once through the new border crossing you will come to a "T" crossing. Make a right and proceed West along the border boundary to the first stop sign where you will turn left onto Calzado Manuel Gomez Morin (MORIN BLVD). Continue South on MORIN through 7 traffic lights, passing the Sony plant on the right. Turn left onto Highway 5 going South (you will see a Costco one block on the left after turning). San Felipe is at Kilometer marker 190 and is about 2 to 2 1/2 hours driving time from the border.

To get to the eastern crossing from El Centro: Go East on Interstate 8 to Highway 111 exit. Go South on Highway 111 to the third light (Hwy. 98 or Truck Route 7). Turn left (East) on Highway 98 for about 7 miles and turn right where the sign shows the border crossing. Make a right and proceed up and over the cloverleaf and into the border crossing (this is clearly marked).

Crossing at Tijuana: Although there is a crossing at Tijuana and San Diego, and the drive is beautiful, the trip will take more time, there are toll roads, and the road conditions from Ensenada to San Felipe are very poor at this time.

1. Fly into San Diego and drive rental car. Drive time is approximately 5 hours.

2. Fly into Yuma, AZ and drive rental car. Drive time is approximately 3.5 hours.

3. Fly into Los Angeles and then fly into El Centro, CA and drive rental car. Drive time is approximately 2.5 hours.

NOTE: When renting a car in the U.S. you must tell them you are driving into Mexico. Some agencies will not allow rentals into Mexico. In San Diego Red & Blue is the most economical and allows their vehicles into Mexico with the appropriate insurance. In Yuma and El Centro, Avis rents cars that can go into Mexico. (El Centro Avis counter closes at 5:00 on weekdays, noon on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.)

There is another option to travel by bus. While it can be a long tedious trip, it can be done. Greyhound Bus has a station in Calexico, CA, right at the border. You can then walk or take a taxi into Mexicali Bus Station and get a bus to San Felipe. San Felipe does not have a rental car service at this time.

Please call us at 800-404-2599 for specific information if you are planning to travel to San Felipe. We can send you detailed maps and instructions to help you plan your trip. Or simply email us now.