Getting There
Valle de Guadalupe is just 90 minutes south of the US-Mexico border. You have a few options to get there. When making your choice, just keep in mind that there are no Ubers/Lyfts or taxis on demand in the Valle.
Coming from the Bay Area
If you’re open to it, we recommend driving down to Valle de Guadalupe so you’ll have a car to get around! (See driving/car rentals below.) It’s about an 8 to 9 hour drive total, but you can break up the road trip and make stops along the way. We recommend crossing the border and taking the picturesque toll (cuota) road along the coast via MEX 1. The toll road is quite seamless, and to pay the toll, you’ll need about $12 USD or 200 pesos. Once you reach Ensenada, you’ll enter Valle de Guadalupe via MEX 4. You can find the route pathed out here. If you’d rather fly, see the instructions for Coming from Elsewhere.
Coming from San Diego & LA
The best way to get to Valle de Guadalupe is to drive down. It is about a 1.5 hour drive from San Diego and a 3.5 hour drive from Los Angeles and is a very safe and easy drive the whole way. Same border instructions as if coming from the Bay Area :)
Coming from the East Coast & Elsewhere
The best way to get to Valle de Guadalupe is to fly into San Diego or Tijuana. From there, rent a car or hire a driver to take you to Valle de Guadalupe. Once you’re on the 5 and ready to cross the border, you’ll follow the same route as the one recommended for the folks coming from California. See the details below on driving & car rentals.
Driving, Renting a Car & Hiring a Driver
Whether you choose to drive your own car, rent a car, or hire a driver to take you around, here’s some information for you to know.
Global Entry
If you’ve been considering enrolling in Global Entry, now would be an excellent time to do it. You’ll save a few hours getting back into the US after this shebang. There is a special lane called the Sentri lane at the border for those with Global Entry. Note: everyone in the car must have Global Entry in order to use these lanes & you’ll need to bring your Global Entry card with you. The car you’re driving also must be registered with Sentri.
If not everyone in the car has Global Entry, it's common for those without it to walk across the border and then hop back in the car on the US side.
Car Insurance in Mexico
Whether you are driving your own car or renting a car, you will need to purchase car insurance specifically for Mexico. we suggest Baja Bound. It’s easy, straightforward, and what we use every time.
Electrical Vehicle Charging
There are several electric vehicle charging stations throughout Valle de Guadalupe including at Bruma.
Hiring a Driver in the Valle
Remember, there are no ubers, lyfts, or taxis on demand in the Valle. if you do not plan on driving down to the Valle but would like to do a little exploring and check out some of the restaurants and wineries in the area (which we recommend doing!) you’ll need to hire a driver. Our wedding planner has recommended the following services:
Road Safety
Generally speaking, the roads are safe and easy to drive to & around the Valle. We’ve driven our Tesla there and felt completely safe. If you drive to Mexico using our suggested route, you’ll be on well paved & picture-esque two-lane roads the whole way through. Once in Valle, many of the roads leading up to restaurants, wineries, or places to stay are on dirt roads. The dirt roads aren’t anything crazy and most cars will be fine, it’s just something to make note of if your car has very low clearance.
Rental Cars
Not all rental car companies will let you take your rental car to Mexico, so make note of that when booking your car! Avis does allow you to drive to Mexico as long as you purchase coverage for Mexico specifically. (See the instructions under Car Insurance in Mexico.) If you choose to rent a car instead of driving your own, please note that you cannot use Global Entry/Sentri lanes to return to the US
Hiring a Driver from the Airport
You can hire a driver to take you from the San Diego airport, Tijuana airport, or the border crossing to your hotel. You can book this directly withFive Star Tours. The price depends on how many are in your group, what car you want to be picked up in, and what location you’re being picked up from. If you walk across the border and head to the resort from the Tijuana side, these prices are cheaper. Renting a car is the more affordable option unless you’re traveling with a large group and can share the cost.
You can hire a driver to take you from either the San Diego airport or the Tijuana airport to your hotel in valle de guadalupe. you can book this directly with one of the services below. the price depends on how many are in your group and what location you’re being picked up from.