How to get to Valle de Guadalupe, Around, and Home
One of the biggest questions people face when planning a trip to Mexico’s wine country is how to get to Valle de Guadalupe, how to get around, and the quickest way to get home. Especially, if you’re coming from the US and you need to cross the border to get there.
From driving across to walking across and hiring a private driver to going on a prearranged tour, there are a lot of different options to consider.
But don’t worry, I’ve done it many times. And I’m going to give you first-hand advice and information on the various ways to get there, get around, and get home. After reading this post, you will no longer have to worry about the logistics and can just focus on the fun!
There are a few ways you can go about getting to Valle de Guadalupe and what’s best for you depends on where you’re coming from, what you plan on doing, and how much you might be willing to pay for a premium service. So keep reading to figure out the best plan for you.
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How to Get to Valle de Guadalupe
With a potential border crossing involved, getting to Valle de Guadalupe is a bit different than visiting a wine region within the US if that’s where you’re from. But once you know the various ways to go about it, you can choose what makes the most sense for your group based on where you’re coming from and what you’re comfortable with.
Flying
If you’re flying into the area the closest airport to Valle de Guadalupe is the Tijuana International Airport. However, you can also easily fly into the San Deigo Airport as well since it’s not that much farther and has a lot more flight options especially if you’re coming from the US.
No matter which airport you pick, once you fly into the area you will need to decide how to get to Valle de Guadalupe from the airport. Both airports are still a few hours away from Valle therefore, you will need to decide if you will rent a car and drive or be picked up by a driver.
If you are renting a car on the US side of the border, make sure it’s cleared to drive into Mexico as a lot of car rental companies will not allow this. My favorite retinal car company Enterprise does allow this as long as you add on the extra Mexico insurance.
Or you can use a ride share service to drop you off at the border to walk across and meet a private driver to pick you up. You of course will need to prearrange this so someone is there waiting for you.
Driving to Valle de Guadalupe
Driving to Valle de Guadalupe from the United States or within Mexico is generally pretty easy but there are a few things you need to know before doing so.
- You have to get Mexico car insurance before going. This is very easy to do especially though Baja Bound Mexican Insurance. It takes about 5 minutes to sign up and has free cancelations as long as it’s before the start time you’ve entered.
- I recommend sticking to Highway 1 which is the toll road. Not only is this the most scenic, it’s also where I feel the safest driving to get down to Ensenada.
- With that, make sure to bring cash for tolls. They will accept USD as well as pesos. Generally, each toll booth costs about 44 pesos or 2.60 USD but I recommend bringing extra just in case. The booth operators will give you change but still try to have small bills.
- The roads in Tijuana can get a bit tricky to get onto Highway 1 so make sure you’re paying close attention to the directions on your GPS.
- Consider taking a car with high clearance. Once you get into the Valle area you will quickly see why. I have taken my very low clearance Toyota Corolla before and it survived but it’s much easier if you’re in a higher SUV to navigate the rough roads.
- Download Google Maps or Maps.Me before just in case you lose service.
Driving across the border is pretty straight forward. Just follow the signs as you drive across. However, be prepared for some chaotic merging and cars everywhere. So only offer to be the driver if you can handle this type of situation.
You won’t go through typical customs like you do at the airport, instead, you will go through some automated gates that feel more like a toll booth. After that, there is the chance you will be pulled into secondary if they want to ask you more questions. I have yet to be pulled into secondary but I have had friends who have. This is normal so if it happens to you don’t freak out.
Once you are through the border navigate your way to Highway 1 and enjoy the beautiful coast views on the way down the Valle!
Hiring a Private Driver
If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the area or just don’t want to worry about it. You can consider hiring a driver for the weekend. There are a lot of tailor made options for this. Most will pick you up within Mexico but there are also a few services that will pick you up in San Diego or LA.
If you have a group that doesn’t have global entry, walking across the border is typically easier to help avoid the long border crossing wait times for cars.
This does come at a premium though so driving yourself is definitely the cheaper option.
I list a few companies that offer these services in the “Valle de Guadalupe Tours and Driver Services” section. Or you can check with your hotel and ask if they have a service they run or recommend that might be cheaper.
Walking Across the Mexico Border
If you choose to hire someone that picks you up in Mexico you can simply walk across the border and arrange for your driver to pick you up there. There are plenty of parking lots by the border that generally range from $9 – $18 per day or you can get there by ride share or the San Diego Trolley.
There are 4 border crossing options for pedestrians, two in Tijuana, one at Otay Mesa, and one in Tecate.
The El Chaparral PedWest option at the Virginia Avenue Transit Center has 12 pedestrian lanes (the most of the 3) and is west of the San Ysidro car border crossing. This is the most used option since it’s a bit farther from the crazy border crossing traffic which will make it much easier for your driver to pick you up. Plus it is closest to the tourist areas of Tijuana.
However, the blue line on the San Diego Trolley does have a stop at San Ysidro border which gives you another option for getting to the border and is still close to the tourist areas of Tijuana.
Walking across the border is generally pretty quick. You will go through customs like you normally would at an airport and then walk out into Mexico. Of course, you will want to make sure you have your passport, passport card, or global entry card. Once you are on the other side you can meet your driver to continue your journey to Valle de Guadalupe.
Make sure you precordianate which border crossing you will be picked up at, have your driver’s phone number to call them in case you can’t find them, and a translator app like google translate downloaded just in case you need it.
Getting Around Valle de Guadalupe
Once you are there you will either need a car, have a driver set up to take you around, or plan on joining a tour that will pick you up for any activities you want to do.
Uber is very unreliable and basically non-existent in the area. I’ve had friends actually get stuck at a restaurant because they took an Uber there and couldn’t get one back to their hotel. They ended up having to pay one of the cooks to take them home… don’t be like my friends. Plan ahead.
Driving
Driving in this area is quite an adventure. Even the main roads aren’t very well maintained and the side roads to get to most of the wineries are dirt roads that can feel like you’re driving over ski moguls. So you will need to stay on the lookout for potholes and obstacles. This is why I recommend taking a car with high clearance if you have one.
If you plan on driving for wine tasting, make sure you have someone willing to be the sober driver for the group. The rules still apply here and you shouldn’t be drinking and driving.
It’s also important to be comfortable driving in very dark areas if you plan on driving at night. Many of the streets have little to no lights. So make sure to take it slow so you can avoid the potholes.
Hiring a Driver
Hiring a driver is a great option for a day of wine tasting or even to drive you to and from dinner. This helps take a lot of the stress off of everyone so no one has to worry about driving. This obviously costs more money but it’s definitely worth it if everyone wants to drink.
Again, to find a driver you can check with your hotel and ask if they have a service they recommend or I list a few companies that offer these services below.
Go on a prearranged tour
Another option is to sign up for prearranged tours that offer pick ups and drop offs to your hotel or wherever you’re staying. This not only takes away the stress of driving it also takes away the stress of having to plan out which wineries to visit.
I personally love planning what to do but I know it’s not for everyone 🙂
Valle de Guadalupe Tours and Driver Services
If you’re looking to hire a driver or want to set up a pre-arranged Valle de Guadalupe tour there are a few companies that offer these services and more and more keep popping up. Many are still independent small businesses but as the popularity of the region keeps growing these companies are becoming more sophisticated making it easier for visitors.
Booking one of the Valle de Guadalupe tours is usually more expensive than a DIY experience or hiring a driver through your hotel but they also come with a different level of assurance and ease by booking something a little more official which you may or may not prefer.
Wine Eat Travel
This Mexicana woman owned ecotourism company offers premium services that are perfect for any girls weekend in Valle de Guadalupe! They have many unique experiences including a winery tour that’s focused on visiting the amazing women owned wineries in the area. (Love to support women out there making it happen! Am I right?!) Outside of that they also host spa, private speakeasy, and sustainable architecture experiences.
What they offer:
- Private transportation services – from Valle de Guadalupe, Tijuana, San Diego, and LA
- Pre-arranged experiences
- Trip planning services
Baja Winery Tours
One of the original Valle de Guadalupe tour companies servicing the San Diego area, this is a good option for a really big group.
What they offer:
- Private transportation services for groups of anywhere from 2 – 50 people. They offer pick ups in Valle and Tijuana, or in San Diego but only for their bigger bus tours (20+ people).
- Done for your itineraries and winery reservations for a flat fee of $100
- Other tours including helicopter tours and cheese cave tours
Valle de Guadalupe Wine and Dine Tour
If you’ve driven down to Valle yourself and just looking for a wine tour for the day, this Airbnb experience could be a great option for you. Local Wine Guide, Andrea will take you to 3 wineries and end with a farm to table dinner.
Getting Home from Valle de Guadalupe
Outside of knowing how to get to Valle de Guadalupe, it’s important to know the logistics of getting home.
This tends to be everyone’s least favorite part. Not only because you’re going back to reality but also because of the dreaded long border crossing wait lines. But don’t worry, I have a few tips to help make your border crossing a bit easier.
Check the wait times – Check the wait times at both the Tijuana and Otay Mesa border crossings. Otay Mesa typically has shorter lines than Tijuana but it can add a bit more to your drive time depending on where home is.
Weekends usually have the longest wait times – If you can avoid crossing during peak times. Specifically on weekends and especially on Sundays.
Walk instead of drive – Pedestrian border crossing times are typically much shorter than driving. So this is something to consider when planning how to get to Valle de Guadalupe, especially if no one in your group has Global Entry/Sentri.
Take the Sentri or Global Entry Lanes – If you’re driving, having Sentri is a game changer! The same goes for having global entry for walking across the border. Either option, you will need to make sure you have your physical card with you to use these lanes.
Using the Sentri Lanes
If anyone in your group has global entry, get them to sign up for Sentri if they haven’t already. This is essentially a global entry line for cars and the wait times are SO MUCH shorter. I’m talking like 15 minutes compared to hours in the normal lanes. However, the one caveat to that is that everyone in the car must also have global entry and have their cards with them.
If you have people in your group that don’t have global entry, I recommend going to the Otay Mesa crossing. Here, you can drive into the Sentri lane and then those that don’t have global entry can get out and walk across the border since the pedestrian crossing is right next to the Sentri lanes.
You can also do this at the San Ysidro crossing but it feels a bit less safe to me for some reason.
Finding the Sentri lane can prove to be a bit difficult. The signs seem to not actually take you to the lane or they block off streets as the normal border crossing starts getting long. Here is how I find the Sentri Lanes for each border crossing:
Otay Mesa – you will need to start your journey to the Sentri lane by heading east on Blvd de las Bellas Artes. Google Maps will try to get you to take a left hand turn coming off of this road into the Sentri lane but this turn will usually be blocked off. Instead, keep going east until you can make a U-turn to head west. Then stay in the right hand lane where you will eventually take a right (right before the bridge underpass) into the Snetri lane.
If you have people in your group who don’t have Sentri, keep them in your car until you take a right hand turn into the Sentri lane. Once you are in the lane, they can get out and walk down the sidewalk north which will take them right to the pedestrian crossing. They are supposed to take their bags with them and if they purchased wine they will need to bring their two bottles with them as well.
San Ysidro – Again if you follow Google Maps you will ultimately get frustrated trying to find the Sentri lane since they also start blocking off streets as the normal border crossing gets long. You will ultimately want to map to Father Eusebio Kino, S.J. roundabout (32.53535, -117.0172) and take the northwest exit onto Padre Kino Blvd. Continue straight on this road until you see the signs for the Sentri Lane. You will want to make sure you go in between the curbs which separates the Sentri lane from the others.
There is also a pedestrian crossing right next to this border crossing if you have people in your group who don’t have global entry and need to get out and walk across the border but there is a lot more traffic in this area so it feels more dangerous to do so than at the Otay Mesa crossing.
When to go
This area is beautiful year round but like California, Baja California does get colder in the winters and warmer in the summers. Due to the road conditions, it’s best to avoid the area when it’s raining as the roads get a bit treacherous in these conditions.
Spring makes for beautiful drives with the chance of wildflowers and green covered mountains especially if it has been a rainy winter. While summer gives you more of an opportunity to stop at the beach on the way down or enjoy some pool time at your hotel.
What to Bring With You
There are a few essential items to bring with you if you are crossing into Mexico by land.
Other Mexico Resources
If you’re planning on heading somewhere else in Mexico as well, make sure to check out my other Mexico Travel guides.
