Border Crossing via the Ventana View  10-28-12

From the iwindsurf.com/ikitesurf.com   Baja Guide/Mike Godsey:
     The new high tech El Chaparral border crossing at the end of U.S. hwy. 5 from San Ysidro to Tijuana opened Wed. Oct. 27, 2012. The old San Ysidro border crossing at the end of Hwy. 5 is suppose to close Nov. 1, 2012 but there is some controversy in Tijuana about this so I can not give you a definitive date for its closure. What is clear is that Mexican custom officials are standing at the end of Hwy. 5 waving some of Baja bound cars onto a extremely sharp curving right turn that goes to the new high tech El Chaparral border crossing nearby. Custom officials at the new El Chaparral crossing carry hand held computers that relay information to and from high tech instruments that allows official perform "non-invasive" inspections of vehicles and passengers that are pulled into Secondary after a initial red light warning.
     So far I do not have any definite word regarding facilities for El Chaparral for obtaining your tourist card (FMT) or paying your bank fee.
     After leaving the new crossing you reach a muli lane road with signs directing you to various destinations. At this point the available old maps including the most recent version of Google Maps do NOT clearly show any these changes.
     If you still want to save time going through Tijuana and don't plan on getting your card at the border you can either try staying in the far left lane at the old crossing and take your normal route to the toll road or just try out the new crossing. If you plan on getting your FMT at the border then I suggest considering the longer Tecate border crossing.
     Once the USA completes the road to the new crossing going through Tijuana will be much easier than in the past. Watch for updates in the Baja Guide: http://www.iwindsurf.com/travel.iws?genID=22

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