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Tiger Leaping Gorge

The Tiger Leaping Gorge trek (虎跳峡; Pinyin: Hǔ Tiào Xiá), near Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the finest treks through some of the most naturally beautiful and diverse landscapes China has to offer. The trail runs high on the northern side of the gorge passing through quiet villages, shady forest, blustery precipice and verdant terraced farmland. The snow covered peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山; Yùlóng Xuěshān; 5,596m) and Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山; Hābā Xuěshān, 5,396m) shadow either side of the gorge.

Climate
Tiger Leaping Gorge weather is generally mild, with abundant rainfall and plenty of sunshine. Summer is the rainy season. It has an average annual temperature between 13°C (55 F) and 20°C (68 F), without too much change from spring to winter. In summer, the temperature just falls between 10 - 26°C (50 - 79 F) because of the continuous rain. In winter, the high mountains block the cold air from northern China, so it is still as warm as spring for most of the days.

Tiger Leaping Gorge hike can be undertaken at any time around the year as it enjoys a mild climate even in winter (5-15 degrees Celsius), but the temperature difference of a day is great. Most of the days are sunny and dry, however, it rains a lot during the rainy season from July to September and there is some risk that paths could be blocked due to landslides. Check the Tiger Leaping Gorge Weather Forecast before you visit.

Spring: March and April are best months to hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge for the comfortable weather with temperatures up to 20°C. Take a light jacket. May is even warmer than April and there are more blooming flowers.

Summer: June to September is the rainy season. The heavy rain may result in the gorge being closed on certain days.

Autumn: The scenery from mid-autumn to November is also excellent. Usually dry and sunny, bring a light sweater and a coat.

Winter: A good time to hike the gorge for the sunny weather, dry and clear. It's cold at night and chilly at morning.

Ticket
An open ended ticket to the trail is ¥45 (as of Feb 2024) (reduced for students under 25, half-price for seniors over 60) purchased from the ticket booths at either end of the trail. There are travelers saying that each side of the Gorge requires different tickets. Some trekkers have avoided the entry fee by setting off early before the ticket booth opens or sneaking past when the guard is out.

Prepare
Almost everything on the way can be paid with Alipay / WeChat, so money is not really needed. There are a few ATMs in Qiaotou; however, they are only likely to take Chinese bank cards.

Get in
From Lijiang: Morning buses to Qiaotou (桥头), ¥30, 2 hr, leave from the bus station southwest of outside the Old Town, stopping to pick up passengers at the new Southern Bus station down the road. As usual, you would need your Passport to make the purchase. There are busses leaving to Qiaotou every 30-60 minutes, ¥24-33 (different price for different time). The journey takes about 2.5 hours. Get to Bus station from city centre by bus no.13. Make sure you only pay for going to Qiaotou if you plan to hike the upper gorge. They might sell you a more expensive ticket to "Tiger Leaping Gorge" but that would take you past the start of the trail.

From Lijiang Train Station: If you are arriving in Lijiang by train, it is only a ¥15 taxi ride to get to the main bus station from the train station. The public bus is also an option but requires transferring onto another bus. Avoid the private minivans waiting in the train station parking lot that will ask for ¥400-500 to drive you directly to Qiaotou.

From Shangrila: You can pick any bus to Kunming, Lijiang and Dali, there is a bus at least every hour. About ¥30.

If you are heading north to Zhongdian (Shangrila) or coming from there, there is an alternative road via Haba. It is a longer but quieter with fantastic mountain landscapes. The tarmac is very good for bikes. You can think about doing some camping along this road.

If you want to avoid any hassles of figuring out your own transportation and directions you can go with a guide and a group from Lijiang for about ¥500 (covers transport, one night lodging, and any fees; no food).

Watch the gorge without hiking
If you prefer to visit without any (strenuous) hiking, a road along the south side of the gorge enters from the west and goes for a couple kilometers before stopping at a parking lot. After that there is a fairly level paved trail to Upper Tiger Leaping Stone. Tours can be arranged in Lijiang or you can try to hire a driver to take you as a day trip from Lijiang, though drivers from Lijiang are not allowed to cross the river as that's outside their allowed territory.

If you prefer to see the Tiger Leaping Stone, you can take the special bus from Lijiang Bus Terminal, southwest of outside the Old Town. There are two morning buses at 08:30 or 09:30 for ¥24-33 (different price for different time). You will be driven to the ticket counter, and then dropped on the parking lot of the Tiger Leaping Stone. You still need to take the stairs a little bit to the gorge, but everything is furnished with wood planks and stone steps. The same bus is going back to Lijiang at 14:30 and 15:30, costing ¥50 (as of Mar 2019).

Walk the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail
Typically the hike is spread over two days (one and half to three days) but a slower pace will afford you to time contemplate the natural surrounds and unwind in the villages quietude. The trail stretches between Changsheng Village (former: Qiaotou) and Walnut Grove. The more adventuresome types can continue to Daju or Baishuitai. Maps showing distances and guesthouse locations are available from the ticket office.

End of the high trail
You can also go down to the gorge and come back up to Tina's two ways - Tianti (the heavenly ladder), or Teacher Zhang's trail - or take a trail that goes a little ways down the river before coming back up a little farther down the road.

Down to the gorge until Walnut Grove / Garden
You will see signs along the hike advertising a ride from Sean's GH in Walnut Grove to Lijiang at 15:30. However, this bus does not run everyday and should not be relied upon if planning to hike from middle gorge to Walnut Grove.

A little used side-trail to a remote waterfall just outside Walnut Garden is not shown on most maps but is marked with yellow arrows. The path is a challenging but worthwhile detour, passing through shady stands of bamboo to the base of the waterfall where the crashing water flows into a series of tranquil water pools.

Get down to previous intersection if you want to check town and local market. Get up to next crossing and turn right to reach entrance of the park (and the counter)

Further to Haba
To Haba Village Tiger Leaping Gorge ends several kilometers east of Walnut Garden Village (Sean's and Woody's). You can continue on to Haba Village (哈巴村) at the base of Haba Snow Mountain (5,396m) by road or on foot.

Cope
Some locals in Lijiang will insist that this hike is dangerous, especially in rainy season. You probably will not want to go when it is pouring, or if there has been a huge amount of recent rain due to the threat of landslides, but if it hasn't been that wet lately, and you find a couple of dry days and are reasonably experienced at hiking, the worst that will happen is that you will get muddy and have to ford a couple of swollen cascades.

On the trail there are endless efforts of varying legitimacy to help you part with your cash. At regular intervals old women, young girls and sundry others will demand small fees for using optional parts of the path. Some, such as the descent to the river below Tina's guest house, are particularly annoying, as you'll be asked for money at what seems like every step of the way, with an elaborate story to explain the cost. There is a 10 Yuan fee to hike down to the Tiger Leaping Stone, and another 10 Yuan fee if you choose to take the ladder trail back up. Locals will attempt to charge you fees to use the rocks as photo ops, but ignore them and take the trail to the building downstream, visible from the stream. The views are much better from there.

Nearing the most difficult part of the trail (the 28 steep switchbacks), local men with horses or donkeys who will offer to take you part way for a fee. They will charge anywhere from ¥150-300, regardless of where on the trail you decide you want to use their services. If you feel the need to have the accomplishment of doing the hike on your own two feet, they can help you by taking your bag for about ¥50.

Some guesthouses may try to mislead you about your hiking options. Tina's guesthouse has been known to insist that while you may descend to the river below, you must hike back up, and may not continue along the river to Walnut Grove - one of the most spectacular sections of the trail. While this part of the gorge has its charm, some feel it is not an essential part of the trek and could be skipped, though some emphatically disagree.

However if you go out of season (Late March for example) many of the money collecting posts will be unattended and you'll be free to take advantage of the vistas without being harassed.

Sleep and eat
Numerous family run guesthouses are conveniently dotted along the trail. Prices rise during the peak periods but outside of these times guesthouses are cheap and blissfully quiet. Qiaotou has a handful of comfortable hotels but there is little reason to stay. Starting the walk at midday leaves ample time to reach Naxi Guesthouse or push on to Halfway Lodge.

Qiaotou town has also some hotel but with very limited English speaking staff, no trek informations and not so competitive price against guesthouses on the trek.

In (average) time and distance order from Qiaotou along the high trail.

 * 0h
 * 02h00m
 * 05h00m
 * 06h23m
 * 06h25m
 * 06h28m
 * 06h30m
 * 06h50m
 * 08h30m
 * 08h40m
 * 09h30m
 * 09h30m
 * 10h30m

Buy
Before leaving Lijiang/Qiaotou/Daju, be sure you have enough water for the first part of the hike. On the way, there are no shops, but on the trek there are occasional vendors selling fruits, water and beer. Prices vary, but fruit will be ¥2-3 per piece. Guesthouses charge ¥5 per 1.5-litre bottle of water. Between Naxi's GH and highest peak is a shop (artistic use of Red Bull cans) where you can buy a variety of things. Don't count on open shops and present vendors in low season, make sure you bring sufficient supplies from Qiaotou or Nuòyú.

Go next
 Qiaotou <-> Walnut Garden: Minivans do the 30-min trip between either end of the trek. The cost should be ¥100 for the entire van. Drivers will ask for more.

 to Haba from Walnut Garden:
 * by road Tina's or Sean's guesthouse can organise a minibus (¥150-200) to Haba along a scenic road (1½ hr). From Haba, there is a daily bus to Shangrila, then. Lodging available in Haba.
 * by walking You can walk from Walnut Garden (Sean's or Woody's) to Haba in ten hours with an elevation gain of 1,200 meters. The route passes Benxi Village (本习村) on paved roads, then continues on sometimes obscure forest paths and might include a stretch of paved road north of Ennu Village (恩怒村).  You can save three hours by arranging transport to the top of the paved road above Benxi Village.  This also mitigates risk of stone fall on the road east of Walnut Garden, a concern especially in windy weather. With good map reading skills, adventurous hikers could try it on their own (see www.OpenTopoMap.org). Otherwise hire a guide.

 to Daju from Walnut Garden  If you are in Guesthouse as Tina's or Sean's, that means you are in the middle of the trek from Qiaotou to Daju. Walk down the low road 3 hours past a small town (三坝乡; Sanba village) near the Yangtze river. (This portion of the road is subject to rockfall, especially in windy conditions. You might want to consider asking a guest house to arrange transport by auto rather than walking.) Near the river you will see paths across the Yangtze river leading down to the river itself, with a shed and real staircase heading down to the river. Roads are constantly changing here and being constructed, there is a gentle car dirt trail down to the river, choose this option rather than the goat trail. Better is to ask locals, even if you don't know Chinese, just ask for "Daju" and point opposite bank of the river. They will show you how get down to ferry pier.

First ferry departure at 10:00, than every few minutes. The price depends on how many people is on the board and if you know some Chinese. The most locals is on the first ferry, which cheaper (¥5 per person) than the later ferry (¥20).

Daju to Lijiang If you are coming from Qiaotou over whole gorge or from Tina's of Walnut garden, you got to the river bank with ferry. After you cross the ferry, there might be two buses a day departing to Lijiang, first at 13:0), ¥30 per person. If you arrive soon, you can walk a bit to forward Daju because bus will stop by every guesthouse or shop on the way through village. The village is really long! (not sure where it starts and finish. there is just a lot of houses by the road) When you get on the bus, it will stop a lot and soon will be full of locals going just a few kilometers with goods, vegetable or whatever from place to place.

Along with a bus there should be a private minivan bus hustler. From here they take you on a road back to Lijiang, about 3 hours.

Lijiang to Daju For some reason there is no regular bus departuring from Lijiang bus station to Daju. You can find minivan who will take you there and you can do trek from opposite side and finish in Qiaotou.

Daju
Daju is a sleepy concrete town which you can use as one end of the Tiger Leaping Gorge walk. It seems like Daju is slowly becoming a ghost town as tourists numbers are declining, but despite the fact Daju isn't picturesque, it is a peaceful place to relax and the people are very friendly. The Tiger Leaping Gorge Inn, at one end of the concrete road and overlooking the town square, is run by a very helpful and friendly woman who speaks enough English to get by - her food is simple but delicious.

From a Qiaotou start, just keep walking down the road from Walnut Grove and past the ticket office. There are two options for crossing the river to the Daju side. Either keep walking down to the permanent ferry, or not too far out of Walnut Grove you'll see a coloured sign on a pole to the winter ferry. It will tell you the ferry doesn't operate in July, August, and September because the water is too high (hence you continue to the permanent ferry). At this sign (there is also a faded red arrow painted on the road) you turn directly right off the road and start descending down a dirt trail to the river. This trail is quite steep. As you're descending you'll see the ferry and a hut on the far side of the river.

When you get to the bottom hopefully the ferryman has seen you from the top of the cliff on the far side (always a good idea to yell out "ni hao" - great echo here), and he'll make his way down, calling out as he does, to bring the ferry across. The crossing costs ¥30 per person. The only reason he might not see you is he's just taken other tourists to Daju in his minivan, in which case you'll be waiting at least an hour for his return. He can be reached by phone at +86 13987049952.

It's a steep but short climb to the carpark at the top of the cliff and if you've nodded when the ferryman said something about "Daju" and "minivan" he'll be right behind you and will drive you to Daju for ¥20 per person. Alternatively you can walk the about 8km into town.

title: Tiger Leaping Gorge


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Tignes

Tignes is a famous resort in the French Alps linked to Val D'Isere.

Get in
The nearest train station is Bourg-Saint-Maurice, which is served by TGV and local services. In the winter months, additional services operate; Eurostars direct from London, Thalys trains from Europe, and the ski train sleeper from Paris. This is some 35 km away however, so coach services provide the onward connection; the journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes in good weather.

Get around
The village itself is fairly compact, and the use of cars is now being discouraged. The slopes are accessed direct from the village level ski lifts and cable cars; there are some 90 lifts in total!

See
The bleak architecture in the town has somewhat detracted from the atmosphere in the past, but the situation is now improving. Of course, the views of the Alps from the resort are spectacular. It is partly for this reason that Tignes is not only a winter resort for skiing, but a summer one for hiking, mountain biking, summer skiing on the glacier; it won the sporting town of France in 2008.

Winter sports
Tignes is in the "Espace Killy" skiing area, which means that just one pass is needed for access to the slopes around Tignes, Val-Claret and Val D'Isere; for the 2016/17 season, a six-day pass will cost €278. Discounts are available for some people including groups, families, and people aged up to 21 and over 65 depending on other people traveling with them. Official page to purchase lift passes

The resort has some 2300 km of pistes, of which 26 km are served by snowmaking equipment. 15% are green, 46% blue, 27% red and 12% black. The resort is always renowned for the amount of snow it gets, though - a forecast of "rain up to 2000 m" means snow to village level, i.e., fresh snow on all pistes.

Summer sports

 * Mountain biking with two of the main lifts in the resort open for hikers and mountain bikers you have the choice of 8 different marked routes to descend, with a difficulty ranging from easy to difficult, although this would not be a resort for complete beginner mountain bikers.

Hiking
The resort is also much suited to hiking; in summer, the snow at ground level has disappeared and the Sun can actually be quite pleasant.

Buy
Ski equipment and rental is available, as is hiking equipment in summer.

Eat
Tignes is not renowned for its après, but the situation is improving.

Drink
There are around 20 bars and restaurants open. Le Lac is the hub for all activities in Tignes in the summer, but Le Lavachet with its all-year round atmosphere has the highest percentage of businesses open in the summer (almost the same as the winter season!) Val Claret has a slightly empty feel to the village apart from the tennis, rugby and football pitches.

Sleep
There are several hotels, apartment rentals and chalets available in the village, up to 4-star standard.

Go next
For major shopping, Geneva, Switzerland is about 2 hours away in car, 4 by train. Lyon is about 4 hours by car, 4 hours by train. For lesser needs, Bourg-Saint-Maurice has a cinema and outdoor and indoor swimming pool.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Tignes


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Tijuana

Tijuana is a city in Baja California, Mexico, just across the border from San Diego, California, USA. The city has grown from a small border town with a salacious reputation during the Prohibition Era in the United States into a large, modern city with a sizable middle class. Its proximity to the United States has made it a very popular tourist destination, especially for day-trippers from San Diego. Though still often considered an "edgy" city by Mexicans and foreigners alike, Tijuana has been undergoing a cultural revival, with thriving arts and culinary scenes revealed to those willing to peek beyond its rough veneer.

Understand
Tijuana has a population of over 1.6 million as of the 2024 census. Tijuana and its U.S. neighbor San Diego form the largest metropolitan area on the U.S.-Mexico border, with a population of 4.5 million.

Economically, a growing middle class disposable income has fueled Tijuana's transformation into a modern city with a vibrant culture, a characteristic that has attracted many national and international businesses, which had largely shunned the city before. Aside from the middle class, in Tijuana you can reasonably expect to find areas filled with wealthier people. Tijuana is a transit point for undocumented immigration into the United States, as well as a common destination for any illegal Mexican immigrants deported from the West Coast of the United States. As such, some areas are swollen with poor people with no roots in the city, who inhabit shantytowns. Apart from these poor migrants, Tijuana is one of the wealthiest cities in Mexico. Some (mainly residential) areas of the city reflect the significant number of wealthy people who inhabit the city.

Tijuana's growing reputation as a cosmopolitan city is justified. Not only is the city home to many people who have migrated from within Mexico, including some native Mexican Indians, but it boasts a significant number of Asian residents, as well as Americans (mostly people from neighboring San Diego who have been drawn to Tijuana by cheaper housing), and South Americans from Argentina and Uruguay, among others.

Frequent English-speaking visitors to Tijuana use the term "gringo-friendly" for a shop, bar, or restaurant in which a non-Spanish speaking customer will be at ease. A place is gringo-friendly if the staff there is accustomed to dealing with American tourists, if they speak English and have English-language menus. Places that are not gringo-friendly may require use of Spanish, and patience. Just because a place is not gringo-friendly does not imply that the people there will not be friendly or that tourists will not be welcome.

While the Mexican peso is the legal currency, U.S. dollars are widely accepted everywhere in Tijuana and the entire state of Baja California, even though the peso/USD exchange rate changes daily. Baja California observes daylight savings time (DST) just as California does. Money changers on the US side may offer better rates when buying pesos and worse rates when selling pesos.

Climate
Visitors can expect a warm climate for most of the year, with average temperatures during the daytime ranging from 68°F (20°C) in January, to 86°F (30°C) in August. The rainy season is short (and tame, with yearly averages close to only 10 inches/254 millimeters of rainfall), and encompasses late winter to early spring.

Talk
Spanish is the dominant language in Tijuana, as it is in much of Mexico. However, English is spoken by almost everybody in the city's tourist hot spots (such as Avenida Revolución), as well as by taxi drivers and the Americans who live in the city. Having someone with you who can speak Spanish will be helpful when going away from Avenida Revolución.

Although Tijuana is in Mexican territory, its cultural closeness to the United States, especially San Diego and Los Angeles, gives it an edge in the English language. This is because for many years (especially before the mid 1980s), there were virtually no national TV stations except for a local channel (XEWT 12) which broadcast only local programming and some news; locals who grew up in the 1970s and 80s were more attracted to American television such as PBS, NBC, CBS and ABC, where they got their language skills.

Get in
Most tourists enter Tijuana through the border crossing at San Ysidro in California, which is reportedly the busiest border crossing in the world. The crossing can be made by car, bus, or on foot.

To get a six-month visa, one must show your passport at the border crossing, fill out a form, and (if staying more than a week) pay about US$20 for a six-month visa.

Any visitor who plans to return to the United States must have a passport. A passport card or SENTRI card will work too for U.S. citizens.

By plane

 * Terminal Principal (Main Terminal)
 * Sala A - Concourse A: Aero Calafia, Aeromexico/Aeromexico Connect, Volaris
 * Sala B - Concourse B: Viva Aerobus, Volaris
 * Sala B - Concourse B: Viva Aerobus, Volaris

 * Cross Border Xpress Terminal (CBX) is the second terminal just over the international border, in the American side, and is connected to the main terminal by a 120-m-long pedestrian bridge. Passengers check in for flights, complete US immigration and customs inspections in the CBX Terminal, and Mexican immigration and customs inspections in the main terminal. This also allows for vehicular access (for those who are picking up and dropping off travelers) and parking at the Tijuana airport from San Diego without driving across the border and than a long wait to return to the U.S. There are car rental desks, taxis, rideshare (Uber & Lyft) and CBX shuttle available. Mexicoach operates the shuttles to San Diego Santa Fe Station and San Ysidro Transit Center, while Limousines Express goes up to Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento, and El Paso (via Phoenix, Tucson, etc) from CBX on multiple routes. There is a US$19.95+ one-way toll to walk across the bridge between the two terminals depending on the season and the number of people traveling together.

Los Angeles International Airport is the next nearest airport for a wider range of international flights to various cities around the world. If going towards the Los Angeles metropolitan area the bus, train (from downtown San Diego) or rental car is usually more economical than flying unless you are continuing to another destination from San Diego via Los Angeles on a single ticket. This airport serves as a transit point for travelers wishing to proceed further into Mexico from Southern California and from Las Vegas on a domestic flight.

Buses depart regularly from the airport to San Diego, Los Angeles, Mexicali, Tecate, Ensenada, Rosarito and the nearby areas in Baja California Norte and Southern California on both sides of the border. The airport bus station is next to the terminal building (right turn when coming out of the arrivals doors), behind an Oxxo store, and is served by ABC, Greyhound - Cruceros USA, Autobus ACN, Rapid Connections Llc and International Bus Lines. See By bus in the below for a list of additional bus companies (with links to their websites) serving Tijuana including the airport.

You can take an authorized taxi cab, sedan or van, at the airport with "Transportes Terrestres" and "Taxis TAAG". Buy a ticket in one of the booths at the exit of the airport. They have fixed and official rates; It will cost you about M$200 (pesos) to Zona Rio (15-min ride), or M$250 to Zona Centro (25-min ride), or M$300 to the Grand Hotel (30-min ride). US dollars will be accepted.

You can take also public transportation from Tijuana Airport to city downtown and the USA-Mexico border. A bus ride will cost you M$11, less than US$1. Go outside the airport and take the blue and white Mirador-Centro-Zona Rio-Aeropuerto-Otay bus, heading west from the other side of the marked intersection with the traffic lights. The bus passes through “Centro” (downtown) and “Plaza Rio” (shopping mall & surrounding areas) so be sure they are listed on or above the windshield in the list of places the bus passes through or ask the driver before getting on. US dollars will be accepted. From downtown (Av. Revolucion area), buses to the airport leave along 2nd street (Calle Benito Juarez). The trip to the airport takes under 30 minutes. These blue and white buses have 'Aeropuerto' written on the windshield. As in many Latin American cities, buses need to be 'flagged down' to stop. Take care - the local bus system in Tijuana can be confusing [when coming from the US - e.g. no posted route maps, no schedules and sometimes the bus stop is not marked at all], and there's a lot of different bus lines leaving from this spot, so plan some extra time.

is 25 miles (41 km) north of the international border and can be used as a transit point for travelers wishing to visit Tijuana or proceed further into Mexico. You can take public transportation from the San Diego airport all the way to downtown Tijuana or the Tijuana airport and it will only cost you between US$12-26:
 * 992 Bus To the Santa Fe Station/American Plaza in downtown San Diego. Buy a US$5 day pass which allows for transfer to another bus or trolley.
 * UC San Diego Blue Line transfer to the trolley at the Santa Fe Station or American Plaza (across the street) to the end of the line in San Ysidro. The fare is US$2.50, and you can get a round trip ticket to save time on your way back. Trip is about 45 minutes from the Santa Fe Station or American Plaza to San Ysidro station.
 * Walk Across the border and take a taxi to the airport, Zona Rio, downtown Tijuana (Centro) or anywhere in Tijuana from the Mexican side of the border (See below under On foot). Cheaper to take the white & orange "Libre" taxis or the La Linea-Centro bus than the solid yellow taxis.
 * CBX Shuttle Likewise take the CBX Shuttle from the Santa Fe Station in downtown San Diego and San Ysidro to the CBX Terminal next to Tijuana Airport. Only ticketed passengers flying into or out of Tijuana are allowed to cross through here.

From U.S. to Mexico
While in the San Diego area, take Interstate 5 (I-5) or I-805 to south. Either park at the border and continue on foot or drive into Mexico. Driving from the US to Mexico often requires no stopping, but inspections driving south have become more frequent as authorities attempt to stop firearms trafficking into Mexico, resulting in long wait times during periods of heavy traffic. However, driving from Mexico to the United States will result in a long wait, even more so during evening rush hour or on holiday weekends.

If you are driving to Mexico, obtaining Mexican insurance with legal defense coverage is highly recommended, and can be bought immediately before crossing the border, or even online before your trip.

When coming into the U.S., the Otay Mesa and Tecate border crossings, also nearby, may sometimes be less congested. Getting to the Otay crossing can be a little scary (not good for Gringos at night) and the border agents here don't seem as pleasant as the ones at the San Ysidro crossing.

If the pedestrian line returning to the U.S. is long, it may be faster (in some cases) to take advantage of the numerous van and bus lines that cross the border. You will undoubtedly encounter agents for these services when approaching the pedestrian line back to the U.S., who will ask for US$5-10 per person to let you board the vehicles which are already in line. Generally, the closer the vehicle is to the front of the line, the more they will charge.

The San Ysidro border crossing is undergoing major changes to expand northbound lanes into the southbound lanes. These changes, along with augmentations to U.S. & Mexican border inspection stations, resulted in the removal of a pedestrian bridge over the American inspection station for those entering Mexico by crossing the freeway from the trolley station. If you're driving to Tijuana you go up to the border like you used to and make a sharp detour west (to the right) and then south (to the left) into the expansive Mexican customs & inspection station. Once past the inspection station there's an exit for direct access to Hwy 1D immediately to the right to continue west towards the beaches and south to Ensenada along Hwy 1/1D, to bypass the local streets of Tijuana.

Most rental cars rented from either side of the border cannot be driven across the international border without the written consent of the car rental company and usually for an extra charge if they do allow their cars to be driven across the border.

Wait time
Entering from the American side you should expect a wait of 15 minutes on a good day to more than one hour on a bad day. You may be singled out for an inspection or waved on.

Wait time
Readers have stated times ranging from 30 minutes to over 5 hours in the normal lanes. These west-most lanes are the largest set, occupying the most lanes at the Port of Entry. Accessing many of the other lanes is often a complex procedure, and streets names are reportedly difficult to see.

Sentri lanes
The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) lanes are the most exclusive means of entering the U.S. These are the east-most lanes at the Port of Entry, with access limited to Boulevard Padre Francisco Kino, which becomes the Linea Sentri.

Fast Pass Lane
People travelling between the U.S. and Mexico may use the Fast Pass. Businesses in Tijuana buy them to give to their customers. Mostly used for medical tourists, hence it mostly functions as a medical line. Make sure and take a taxi to figure out the driving route first. Tell him you want to see and learn the route to the fast pass gate. Get the drive down before you attempt it yourself. There is only one Fast-Pass entry and it's on a one-way street. It is always wonderful to legally "cut the line" at the border

If you stay at a nice hotel or eat at a nice restaurant, ask the owner for one of these.

Ready Lanes
You can also use the Ready Lanes. These lanes are limited to the east side of the Port of Entry, between the Sentri and regular lanes. Entrance to the east side of the port of entry is limited to certain streets, Boulevard Alejandro von Humboldt being a common option, and are used for Returnees that have an RFID enabled travel card.

These cards include the U.S. Passport Card, the SENTRI card, newer iterations of the Legal Permanent Resident (Green) Card, newer iterations of US Visas, and newer iterations of the Border Crossing Card (BCC). At least a few of these cards are marked "Ready Lane" on the back.

Alternate routes
You can also travel 30 minutes east to Tecate and try to cross there.

On foot
Many people drive to the border, park on the US side, and walk across. There are many lots available for this, which charge US$4-9 a day. Otherwise you can also walk from the light rail station.

As of the 2013 a bi-national effort between the United States & Mexico is underway to re-construct the border inspection stations on both sides in an effort to shorten wait times in crossing the border by widening and re-arranging the vehicular and pedestrian pathways. Therefore, everything in this section is in a state of flux and is subject to change:

From U.S. to Mexico
San Ysidro to Zona Frontera From the last light rail station go towards the US Immigration/Customs station (where are others are entering from Mexico) and go left across an open plaza. Once past the US Immigration Customs station to the other side of the plaza take a right turn and follow everyone up the hill along a paved trail up a big gray gate with "Mexico" marked above. Cross through the one-way gate and into the building behind the gate. This is where you will need to purchase the FMN card and get your passport stamped if you are going further south from the border or staying longer than 72 hrs. Everyone must have passports ready as they are enforcing more closely than they used to in the past. Once past immigration and customs inspections you go out the opposite side of the building where the paved trail continue up the hill towards a side street called La Frontera. The paved trail ends at Av Frontera where there are lines of taxis (white & orange) and buses for the onward transport into town.

Pedwest to El Chaparral This side is closest to the parking lot for visitors taking a day trip to Tijuana and the Premium outlet mall at the opposite side of the I-5 freeway from the San Ysidro trolley station. In the Mexican side it is closer to downtown Tijuana than from San Ysidro. From Camino de la Plaza go south along the left side Virginia Ave which is a bus transit center for SDMTS buses and taxis picking up others arriving from Mexico. Go towards the US Immigration/Customs station and through a gate next to the building (right side) marked with "TO MEXICO". Going alongside the building you can still turn back to the USA if necessary but once past the one way turnstile you cannot turn back into the USA. Continue along the pathway to the Mexican immigration and customs station at the left which is also the same inspection station for vehicular traffic going into Mexico. Once past the Mexican immigration & customs inspection you come out into an open plaza. The path ramps up into the continuous pedestrian bridge where you will see people walking towards the USA towards the right. There are barricades set up in the middle bridge to separate traffic going towards Mexico and towards. Go left and eventually the bridge ramps down and the path continues out through the last one way revolving gates which goes into a parking lot located behind or next the Plaza Viva Mall.

From Mexico to U.S.
There are two pedestrian entrances to the U.S. on both sides of the freeway. A walkway and inspection station on the west side of the freeway connects Plaza Viva in Tijuana to Virginia St next to the Las Americas Outlet Mall in San Ysidro.

The other sidewalk is along the east side of the freeway. To get there go up alongside La Frontera from the big roundabout with La Amistad (there's a bunch of Pharmacies and doctors/dentists clinics around there) and after crossing over the freeway there's a pedestrian walkway winding down into the side of the freeway where the line forms (or used to) to walk into the U.S. Once past the one way gate across the border the line snakes to the right into the old customs house (built in 1933) where pedestrians complete U.S. immigrations and customs inspection. From the old customs house there's another trail that goes alongside a construction site, where the larger inspection station used to be. This trail leads into the front of the retail buildings facing the San Ysidro trolley station.

The other pathway begins in a smaller plaza and parking lot from behind (north of) the expansive Plaza Viva at Calle Larroque and Pastor Ramos. This pathway ramps up to a bridge which goes alongside the El Chaparral inspection station (for vehicles crossing into Mexico) and then ramps down in circular structure on the other end. Pedestrians walk across the gate and into the building on the other side for U.S. immigration and customs inspection. Upon completion of the inspection you come out to the Virginia Ave Transit Center where you can catch a bus, taxi or be picked up by a private vehicle. From here, the 906 bus goes north to the Iris Ave trolley station while the 907 bus goes east to the San Ysidro trolley station. The bus fare is US$2.25 for a single ride or $5 for a day ticket which allows you to transfer to the trolley or another bus. Likewise you can go right along the main road (Camino de la Plaza) which crosses over the freeway towards San Ysidro Blvd (0.6 mi or 1 km). Before the road crosses over the freeway there's another pedestrian walkway to the right that crosses over the freeway on a separate bridge and directly into the San Ysidro Transit Center for the trolley ride up to San Diego.

From behind the McDonald's building facing the San Ysidro trolley station there is an intercity bus station for an onward bus north to Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, El Monte, Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton, Sacramento and anywhere in between in the San Joaquins. From the east side of the trolley station follow everyone to the side street (Rail Ave) between McDonald's & Mercado Internacional to the lot or cul de sac behind the buildings. Everyone will be going right to cross back to Mexico, but once behind the buildings the bus loading platforms are immediately to the left.

By bus
Buses from here go as far north as Sacramento (via San Ysidro, Santa Ana, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton etc along Hwy 99/I-5) and Salt Lake City (via San Bernardino, Riverside, Las Vegas along I-15) and as far east as El Paso (via Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Cruces) in the U.S. and as far south as Mexico City (via Mexicali, Hermosillo, Culiacán, Mazatlan, Guadalajara, Tepic, etc along Hwy 2 & 15) and as far east as Monterrey in Mexico. They're most ideal for travel in the surrounding regions of southern California and the northwestern Mexican states of Baja California Norte and Sonora. Anywhere beyond in Mexico and the U.S., it will become more economical to fly from San Diego to the U.S. and from Tijuana to Mexico instead. Buses cross the border through San Ysidro/El Chaparral (I-5/MX Hwy 1/1D) and have their own lanes to bypass the long (vehicular) lines in both directions:

 * It is served by the following:

The below are some of the bus companies operating out of their own terminals next to the main bus station along Ing. Juan Ojeda Robles west of Carretera Tijuana-Tecate (Hwy 2) in Col. Guadalupe Victoria in the SE part of town. Some of the same companies also operate buses from the airport bus station. Others are located in Zona Rio or Zona Centro. Buses crossing the border cross at San Ysidro/El Chaparral with an extra stop in San Ysidro going north, behind the adjacent building northeast of the border inspection station to wait for people continuing north as they complete immigration & customs inspections and to pick up new passengers. See the addresses in the below listings and in their websites as to where they go to in Tijuana:

Get around
Cabs are abundant throughout the city. If you are walking into Tijuana via the San Ysidro border crossing, you will be immediately confronted with a massive array of yellow cabs waiting to take you into downtown. Be sure to negotiate a price before jumping into a cab. You should pay no more than US$5 in normal traffic to get from the border to the downtown area.

If you exit the border area by taking a right instead of going straight ahead to the taxi stand, then walk toward town after crossing the street, you will encounter the Taxi Libre taxi stand, which will generally cost half as much as a yellow cab would charge.

Throughout the city, cab drivers stand on the sidewalks and solicit customers. It is almost impossible to avoid them, so finding a cab should never be a problem. Yellow cabs do not have meters, so agree with your driver in advance what the cost will be. Taxi Libre, white with red stripe, cabs have meters and are cheaper than yellow cabs, though you might have to remind the driver to use the meter.

Be aware that when taking a Yellow Cab to a specific location, the drivers may tell you that the restaurant or bar you asked for is closed, and conveniently offer an alternative. This is almost always untrue, and the taxi driver is attempting to divert you to a business where he will receive a commission for delivering passengers. The driver may alternately tell you that "company rules" say that all rides to a given area can only take passengers to certain businesses, to achieve the same result. Taxi Libre drivers do not engage in this practice, as they are independent contractors, and do not have the commission structure that Yellow Cabs do.

A commuter railway system is under construction, it's expected to open in 2024.

See

 * Avenida Revolucion in the Zona Centro - the main tourist area
 * Bullfights - Tijuana has one bullring, which is open during the summer months, and has bullfights most Sundays. It is in the Playas de Tijuana, adjacent to the US border. It is the only seaside bullring in the world. The older and more historic bullring near the city center has been partially demolished by the owner of the property in the past year, citing failed business practices of the bullring. However, there is a strong movement within the city to designate this site a historical monument, rebuild the bullring and have it serve as a municipal arena. Official bullring schedules and pricing are available at plazamonumental.com.
 * Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT)
 * El Popo Market

Do
Tijuana is on the ocean, but is not known for its beaches, for boating, or as a seaside resort. However, it is in cabbing distance of Rosarito - the trip will cost US$20, while Mexicoach will bus you there for around US$10. Ensenada is further down the coast but easily accessible by car or bus.

 * Visitors to Rosarito and Ensenada should note that the main road is a toll road, with small sedans and trucks being tolled at M$38-340 or US$2.18-$2.41. Either currency is accepted generally and the toll stations are cash only.
 * Visit the historical centers such as the Preparatoria Federal Lazaro Cardenas which is famous for being the central base of liquor contraband during the Al Capone days.
 * Visit the world-famous Zona Norte "Red Light District". Tourists, American Military, and locals alike have been venturing to this area for decades.  Be aware that this is a dangerous area, relatively speaking, but this is compensated for by a large police presence.  Visitors should take caution just as they would visiting any high-crime area of a major city.
 * Catch a professional baseball game between March and August each year. The Toros de Tijuana play their games at, one of the largest and most lively stadiums in the Mexican League.
 * Visit the Estadio Caliente for a Liga MX soccer match from the local team Xolos. The Liga MX is Mexico's top professional football league and they play two seasons annually, so you could catch a game almost any time of the year.

Buy
There are disappointingly few bargains to be had in Tijuana. Silver and leather products are allegedly cheaper than in the US. Souvenir shops abound. Many of the items sold in the souvenir shops are actually purchased in the San Diegan swap meets and brought into Mexico and resold to tourists.

 * Cuban cigars are mostly fake, with the majority being of Mexican origin with a "Cohiba" or "Montecristo" brand name added. However, La Casa Del Habano on Avenida Revolucion is a licensed dealer that sells genuine Cubans.
 * Silver bracelets and necklaces are common, but may be fake. Don't pay more than four dollars for fake jewelry.
 * Vanilla is a bargain. Good place to buy is in plaza on revolucion
 * Spanish music cassettes for only about US$0.50 available in plaza on Revolucion.
 * Mexican groceries try stores like Calimax or Comercial Mexicana and see numerous Mexican products not found in other places or Mexicanized version of American products.
 * Hand made crafts and colorful blankets you can find in the small "mercados" or public markets spread along Ave. Revolucion. Be sure and bargain for good prices and deals.

Eat
Apart from the abundant, over-priced tourist traps, local cuisine ranges from world-class restaurants to locals-only eateries and street vendors selling tacos. Travellers' diarrhea is more of a risk at the cheaper establishments, but will probably not be a concern. In many sit down restaurants, musicians will wander in and play for tip. A good price for a song is US$1 per musician per song, but most musicians will try to charge US$2 per musician per song. For example, if there are five musicians in a band then a good price is US$5. Many non-mariachi musicians are untalented and some work with pickpockets, so keep an eye out.

If cuisine is an important factor in your visit to Mexico, be sure to check out the local filled taco shops, where you will be able to enjoy the best carne asada tacos in the world and for better price. Also delicious are churros made by street vendors, and the "hot dog" imitations sold as well. Be sure to avoid vendors that are not being patronized by locals.

However, American establishments such as McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Carl's Jr. (as Carl's Jr., not Hardee's) are in many parts of the city. However there are some local chains, such as Cafe Sanborns, that prove to be more popular and interesting than the American ones.

Budget

 * Café La Especial, Av. Revolucion 718, in the heart of the tourist district. Down the stairs in a pedestrian alley. This inexpensive restaurant is the opposite of the noisy, over-priced tourist traps that line Revolución. Standard Mexican dishes served in a very relaxed, quiet environment. Gringo-friendly, though very popular with locals.
 * Bol Corona , Any cab driver can direct you to one of the many franchises of this Tijuana establishment near the city centre. Bol Corona was founded in the 1930s and popularized the then little known "burrito" among the American tourists seeking haven from prohibition laws in the United States. Featuring inexpensive yet high quality Mexican cuisine, Bol Corona is a must. Several franchises have opened on the San Diego side of the border as well.
 * Birriería Guadalajara Pues Avenida Constitución, between Calle Primera (First Street) and Callejón Coahuila (Coahuila Alley), Zona Norte. This restaurant serves awesome birria de chivo. Birria is a dish made from roasted goat with consomme poured over the meat, and is accompanied by onion, cilantro, limes and tortillas.
 * Taquería "El Takerito" It is an authentic "taquería" (taco shop) on Díaz Ordaz Blvd., and located on one of the most crowded intersections of the city (5 y 10). It is not close to the border but any cab driver knows how to get to 5 y 10. They claim to have the best tacos in town at a very cheap price. Expect to pay around US$0.60 per taco.
 * Taco Bell Art 123 Fuente Mexico, on the walk to the Arch from the border. There appears to be 2 adjacent places with this name, which is not part of the well known chain of the same name, but one doesn't look very open as of early 2010.  Offers US$1 beers (Corona, Pacifico, Tecate) and 3 tacos for US$1 (various flavors).  English in menus, mostly populated by locals.
 * El Mazateño on Avenida Tecnológico a few blocks away from Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana and right across the street of Unidad Deportiva Reforma. You will find a wide variety of sea food and fish tacos at an excellent price. Expect to pay around US$2 for fish tacos to US$10 for a dish.
 * Nelson Restaurante on Ave. Revolucion 721 with a beautiful view of the famous Tijuana Arch. Offers budget friendly authentic Mexican dishes, drinks, cafe de olla, and a very rare tequila with a rattlesnake put into a big jar, supposedly a medicinal tequila.

Mid-range

 * Sushi House, Zona Rio, right by the Office Depot on Paseo de los Heroes.
 * La Cantina de los Remedios, Zona Rio, northeast corner of the Abraham Lincoln traffic circle on Paseo de los Heroes. Vast liquor selection, all of which is visible on the immense shelving along the wall behind the bar. Great menu of traditional and modern Mexican cuisine. Two features are of special interest - first are the quotations and pithy sayings in Spanish along all the ceiling beams. The second is the extensive use of Loteria cards to decorate the ceilings as well as the backs of the menus. Both are great for practicing Spanish while enjoying your meal.
 * Negro Durazo, Seafood - Located near the Zona Rio. Owned by members of the Sinaloa drug cartel; many of the regular customers are in the business and carry weapons.
 * Los Arcos - Popular local place with tasty lobster, mussels and fish platters. No English menu, but if you ask for Cesar, he can help you order.  Owned by other members of the Sinaloa drug cartel but more mainstream than Negro Durazo.
 * Albahaca - Restaurant inside Hotel Ticuan. Good mix of continental and traditional Mexican cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week. The omelets are great at breakfast, and at dinner the "Filet with Three Sauces" is excellent.

Splurge

 * Cien Años, Zona Rio, on a side street off Paseo de los Heroes, across from the big Pockets billiards bar (another place to visit). Open for lunch and dinner. Very famous. Supposedly every recipe on the menu is over 100 years old (hence the name "Cien Años", one hundred years). Some recipes supposedly date back to Aztec times. Menu includes a number of items such as corn fungus, and bone marrow soup. Gringo-friendly but Spanish is useful. Restaurant is small, with beautiful decor, and a relaxing atmosphere. Prices range from moderate to expensive.
 * La Diferencia, Blvd. Sánchez Taboada No.10611-A Zona Río, between Blvd. Abelardo L. Rodríguez & Escuadrón 201. Excellent and innovative Mexican dishes, and great tamarindo margaritas. Moderately expensive by Tijuana standards but well worth it (~US$95 for 2 people, incl. margaritas, wine, appetizer, entree & dessert). Highly recommended.
 * Villa Marina - Seafood, in Zona Rio
 * Italianissimo -, Blvd. Agua Caliente No. 10556-9AR, Centro. Com. Rocasa. Italian cuisine, a classic restaurant in Tijuana. Dishes from all regions of Italy. Moderate to expensive.
 * Villa Saverios - Escuadrón 201 3151, on the corner of Blvd. Sanchez Taboada" . Open daily 13:00-02:00. US$5-20 meals. Owned by the same founder of the other Italian restaurant chain in Tijuana, Guisseppis, this Tuscany style mansion/restaurant has excellent Italian food and atmosphere, aimed at middle and high class customers. It's also a favorite because of its unique menu which blends both Baja and Mediterranean flavors in its food and wine selection. It is in the so-called restaurant district on Blvd. Sanchez Taboada, right besides La Espadaña, T.G.I. Fridays, La Diferencia and Cheripan. There are two other Saverios in the city; both are smaller café-style ones.

There are many other great restaurants in the city, ranging from Mexican to Asian food. The city is also full of sushi bars. Another favorite is Chinese food, and thanks to a large Chinese population in Baja, the locals tend to say that it's the best Chinese food in México or the region.

Sleep
Tijuana offers a wide range of accommodations and a wide range of price levels. If one doesn't mind splurging, there are a number luxury highrise hotels in Zona Rio which has become a "second downtown" and is the location for the Central Business District, upscale shopping, country club and city hall (palacio municipal).

For travellers with a smaller budget, Tijuana also has a few downtown hotels in a more seedier Zona Centro and the adjacent Zona Norte north of Calle 2a (Benito Juarez) which is Tijuana's red light district and even sketchier especially at night. Some of these may only offer room rates by the hour as a "love making" hotel or a "motel" for couples looking for a quick (seedy) rendezvous than a place to stay for the night. Others may also offer a weekly, nightly and hourly rate depending on the need so ask. Security in some of these places are not the greatest and pilfering of personal items left in guest rooms and valuables left with front desk by hotel staff are common.

Migrant houses
Migrant houses offer free or very cheap accommodation for anyone regarded as a migrant. They are more geared towards migrants from poorer regions working in Tijuana or continuing north to the U.S. than for the backpacking tourists. Some are said to also accept backpackers.

Stay safe
Tijuana has a reputation for crime. Drug violence has erupted in Tijuana due to an intense crackdown by the Mexican government and Mexican drug cartels turning on each other. However, joint action between the government and the police deleted the Cartel and their leader, and now all that's left is the remnants of an uncontrolled group of renegades. The east side of Tijuana is particularly dangerous and prone to drug violence. Zona Norte can also be very dangerous if you are walking alone. Much of Tijuana's drug violence happens in these two parts of the city. Most of the drug violence is not targeted at tourists, but rather at competing drug cartels as well as Mexican police. However, tourists can get caught in the crossfire, so it is best to stay alert. Most tourist sections (for the most part) are generally safe, such as Avenida Revolucion, Playas de Tijuana,  Zona Rio, and Tijuana's red light district in Zona Norte. As with any large city, use common-sense and street smarts when walking the street; especially in the red light district of the "Zona Norte" (North Zone).

Be very careful of buying anything that would draw suspicion from Mexican police. This would include any type of prescription medicine (with potential for abuse, or perhaps low overdose/extreme side effects), pornography, and weapons. The police will use anything against you if they do stop you, so the less they have to go on the better. Laws differ from those in the USA. The police are known to rob and harass foreigners, and there is not much you can do about this.

Park in well-marked parking lots with security guards. Police enforce the laws on foreigners who commit crimes such as pedophilia or buying illegal drugs. Corruption still exists among the Tijuana Police Department as it does in many Mexican cities (the Mexican Federal Police on the other hand is trustworthy), so beware. But this is usually done when you are alone after a night on the town, are slightly intoxicated, and your actions make you a potential victim. When speaking to an officer, stay calm and respectful. Typically, if you have done nothing wrong, stand your ground and they will eventually let you go. You can insist on seeing a judge, and explain what happened. If you do this, most likely the officer will try and save face, and give you a warning and send you on your way. In any case, made-up charges are usually only a small fine, most likely less than the bribe you would offer, and you do not go to jail.

For traffic infractions, you are entitled to a written ticket, and you can pay the fine by mail. Illegal drugs and drunk driving are taken seriously in Mexico, as they are elsewhere.

 * Theft - Pickpockets can be found in certain heavy tourist areas. You are generally safe in areas such as the Zona Río, Playas de Tijuana, El Hipódromo, and many others; just make sure to always be cautious when visiting alone. The best targets for theft are those who speak no Spanish, wander alone (especially at night), are intoxicated, and travel to the Avenida Revolución. If you find yourself being swarmed by small children who say they want to sell you something, be aware that they could be trying to pick your pockets.
 * Drug-dealer informants - In many bars and on the street, it is common to be offered illegal narcotic drugs for sale. Some of these peddlers work with the police. They sell someone the drugs, then tell the police that person is carrying. The police shake the person down for cash, and confiscate the drugs, which they presumably return to the original peddler, who goes looking for another victim.
 * Strip clubs - There are a numerous clubs on Revolución that offer nude dance shows. As you walk down the street, barkers will try to entice you to come in; if you are not interested, simply smile and walk on. If you do walk into one, most likely you will soon be approached by one or several ladies who will ask you to buy them a drink. Keep in mind that their "mixed drinks" are often nothing but soda or juice, but you will be expected to pay a ladies' drink price, whether they ask for beer, real mixed drinks, or non-alcoholic drinks. These drinks will typically cost you US$8-10, and the ladies get a commission for each drink you purchase for them.
 * Prescription drugs - Though your prescription drugs may be much cheaper here, carrying large quantities or carrying them without your prescription can land you many years in a Mexican prison. Some foreign prescriptions may not be valid in Mexico. If you break the law, you will be dealt with accordingly. However, this does not include medications which often change in status in the USA from prescription to over-the-counter. Such medications are readily available without a prescription in Mexico. Police are mainly concerned about prescription drugs which have the potential to be abused.
 * Food and alcohol imports - at the border, U.S. Customs will confiscate any fruits, vegetables, and live or raw meat products in an effort to combat certain diseases or bugs from entering the U.S. food supply. Meat products confiscated can include pork rinds. Alcohol can be brought across the border if for 'personal use' with a limit of 1L duty and tax free. Importing more than 1L for personal use can be challenging - the amount you are allowed to import depends on whether not you live in California and if you are crossing on foot, in a private vehicle, or on a bus. For details, refer to the California ABC - and don't forget to declare your alcohol to Customs. Another note is the importation of abalone or conch meat, which are endangered species and not for sale in the US.
 * Contraband items - Can be confiscated by U.S. Customs, they include weapons, drugs (illegal or without prescription), Cuban cigars, and live animals.

Consulates
Additional consulates for multiple countries are in Los Angeles (in the U.S.) and Mexico City (in Mexico):
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Tijuana offers several bus routes further into Mexico. From Tijuana you can easily go to Ensenada, the wine country of Valle de Guadalupe, or further south to Guerrero Negro, which is a very popular destination for whale watching. It is a 12-hour bus ride to Guerrero Negro but well worth it. Other bus routes destinations include La Paz (Mexico), San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. Local buses are available to the nearby city of Tecate, about 40 miles to the east.

Taxis from Ave. Revolucion to the Central Camionera cost about M$60. Tijuana -> Guerrero Negro: M$945

title: Tijuana


text:
Tijuana/Playas

Playas de Tijuana is the beach neighborhood of Tijuana. It includes the Bullring by the Sea, and some decent restaurants, but is mostly residential. The beaches are considered inferior to nearby Rosarito and are not a big attraction.

title: Tijuana/Playas


text:
Tijuana/Zona Centro

Downtown Tijuana is referred to as the Zona Centro. It includes Revolucion Avenue, which is the main tourist drag. For about 8 blocks, Revolucion is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants, many aimed at tourists. This is what most day-trippers to Tijuana experience, and it should go without saying that Revolucion is not representative of Tijuana and certainly not of Mexico.

Understand
Constitucion Avenue, one block west of Revolucion, is a busy downtown street but with none of the touristy nonsense. It is probably worth walking along here just to get a more authentic picture of Tijuana. Visitors should be careful (or aware) of walking too far north on this street, best not to go below Juarez (Segunda) as it will abruptly lead you into the “red light” district.

Get in
From San Diego, cross the San Ysidro border, and to your right hand side, walk toward the arch all along the pedestrian street: The arch is located at Avenida Revolución and Calle Primera (First Street). It takes less than 15 minutes. There are enough signs to direct you: you can’t miss it! At the arch, go to your left, southbound, and enjoy your walk along the avenue.

Alternatively you can take a taxi:
 * The traditional Yellow Cabs are just across the border, on their own commuter spot. Many cab drivers wearing a yellow & black uniform will be hosting you. Most of them speak English and take US dollars. Make sure to negotiate the fare before starting the ride. US$3 will be expected to “Avenida Revolución, Zona Centro”. You can arrange the same cab picks you up later with no extra charge.
 * Street Cabs are outside the commuter spot. These are white cars with a red stripe and labeled as “Libre” (Cab). They usually park in line along the street and some of them have a dispatcher who has written rates. Usually, their rates are almost half of the yellow cabs´ and take US dollars as well. Make sure to confirm the fare before starting the ride and to have the exact amount as they carry no change.

In San Ysidro, catch the Mexicoach that will take you to the bus station in the Zona Centro in the middle of the Avenida Revolución, the heart of the Zona Centro District.

Do
Take an afternoon walk to the park. Parque Guerrero is only half a mile from Revolucion. (follow Carillo Puerto) several blocks past Constitucion. Lovely clean park with friendly food vendors. On Sundays there are often entertainers.

Buy
There are some good shops along Revolucion but mostly they are little more than cheesy souvenir shops. There are a few "fixed price" shops as you walk south on Revolucion. "Precios fijos" no games. And the people are nice. The ladies in colorful native clothing with the little stands often have awesome painted ceramics. Just remember to haggle. The same ceramics on the "Avenida" in shops will cost at least twice as much.

Eat
Restaurants vary in quality. Tourist traps are usually easy to spot. These will be overpriced, but may serve good food.

Drink
The bars on Avenida Revolución are often packed with Americans. The drinking age in Tijuana is 18, compared to 21 in the US, so many young people visit Tijuana to party. The street is also lined with strip bars, it's not always obvious from the outside if it is a regular bar or a strip bar, so enter with caution. Scams are also quite common, especially with "2 for 1" bargains are advertised.

Budget
Although travel guides and taxi drivers insist that there is no cheap accommodation to be had in Tijuana, there is if you know where to look. Most of Tijuana's budget haunts are located along Calle 2a (Benito Juarez) & Calle 3a (Carillo Puerto) in Zona Centro, while the more outlying ones are less safe and may be more difficult to reach. The red light district north of Calle Benito Juarez (2a) in the adjacent Zona Norte tends to be less safer than Zona Centro. Some of the budget accommodations can only be renting rooms by the hour for "love making" or as a "motel" than as a place to stay for the night while others have an hourly, nightly and weekly rate depending on the need so ask.
 * More cheap hotels can be found within the turf of the drug vendors (around 5 de Mayo and Baja California) West of the red light district (Zona Norte) where you can stay for around M$100 per night (and it's surprisingly safe as long as you stay away from drugs, do note that it's a notorious place for getting pinned by police officers because of all the drugs in the area so make sure you don't carry any and avoid talking to anybody hanging around if all possible.
 * More cheap hotels can be found within the turf of the drug vendors (around 5 de Mayo and Baja California) West of the red light district (Zona Norte) where you can stay for around M$100 per night (and it's surprisingly safe as long as you stay away from drugs, do note that it's a notorious place for getting pinned by police officers because of all the drugs in the area so make sure you don't carry any and avoid talking to anybody hanging around if all possible.

Stay safe
Do not give money to the tiny Indian women with lots of kids. They come to the city in groups, so when anyone asks you for money it is best to just ignore them or give them a curt "no". If their children hand your children a bobble-head turtle or such, just give it back; if they let it hit the ground, they will tell you that you owe them. Tell them, "Quitate!" (Kee-tat-tay) for "Get away." If you start handing out money, they will want more, or more of them will crowd around you.

title: Tijuana/Zona Centro


text:
Tijuana/Zona Norte

Tijuana's Zona Norte is adjacent to the tourist zone in the Zona Centro, to the north, and just south of the border. This zone is primarily residential and also includes the local red light district. Prostitution is legal in this zone and very visible.

A police station in the middle of the red light district and the presence of numerous police on foot make the area reasonably safe, though if you wander into one of the many secluded pedestrian alleys you might never wander out again. Acting touristy in this zone will attract predators.

Get in
From San Diego, cross the San Ysidro border, and walk toward the arch: The arch is located at Revolucion and First Street, officially known as Calle Artículo 123. Keep walking west toward Constitucion, and you will find yourself in the Zona Norte. Stay very alert to anyone following you on this route as many muggings occur on First Street.

Turn right (north) on Constitucion, and the next street (not the alley to your left) will be Calle Coahuila, where most of the major attractions of the neighborhood can be found. The alley is Callejon Coahuila and is where most of the street prostitutes are. They are referred to locally as Paraditas. The vast majority of the paraditas are recent arrivals from the southeastern states of Puebla and Veracruz, with a few from Cuba and California. Many are single mothers who used to be factory workers.

Alternately, take a taxi, which is especially recommended if you are unfamiliar with the area or are traveling after dark.

See
The primary purpose of most visits to the Zona Norte involves prostitution. The two primary establishments for this are:
 * Adelita Bar - On the south side of Calle Coahuila between the streets Constitucion and Niños Heroes.
 * Hong Kong Bar - On the south side of Calle Coahuila, several doors west of Adelita Bar. Newly remodeled, and probably closest in style to an "American style" strip club in the Zona Norte.

Both clubs have a significant number of "available" women working there who are available for companionship and conversation if you purchase them a drink -- at approximately twice the price of a normal drink, and for which they receive a commission from the bar. It is generally not difficult to find English-speaking ladies and waiters at these clubs.

Other bars of note include:
 * Tropical Bar, Las Chavelas on Calle Coahuila.
 * La Valentina, La Carrata on Callejon Coahuila.
 * Malquerida at the corner of Constitucion and Callejon Coahuila. Malquerida has a live band playing rock music four nights a week. It is best experienced in the wee hours of 2:30am - 7am.
 * Play Boy, half a block south of Coahuila on Constitucion.

These bars all also have "drink companions" (known as ficheras in Spanish) available, but they are much less likely to speak English than those at the major bars in this neighborhood. Some waiters may not speak much English beyond what they need to take drink orders.

Many of the bars also have a dance floor available (often the stage, when no exotic dance show is in progress) where the women will dance with customers for a small tip.

Do
Be cautious and aware while in the Zona Norte, much as you would in a not-so-nice area of any major city. Zona Norte is full of people who will take advantage of tourists who appear to be unfamiliar with the area. Often (but not always), Mexicans who speak good English in this area may be criminals or people who have been deported from the United States.

In particular, police in Zona Norte will target tourists and accuse them of crimes in order to extort "fines" from them. Some say you should be polite but firm in insisting that they take you to see a judge, which is the only legal way they can take you to jail. Others say that it is easier to just pay the "fine" and not waste time negotiating with the police. The decision as to whether to politely refuse or simply pay the "fine" must be made individually based on each person's comfort level.

Be careful when speaking to people in the Zona Norte, as police may accuse you of attempting to buy drugs if you are seen talking with known drug dealers, even if you simply told the person you are not interested in buying any.

Buy
Zona Norte is generally not a location for shopping other than food, drink, drugs and "companionship". One exception is Saturdays, when there is a street market stretching four blocks on Avenida Mutualismo between Avenida Articulo 123 and Avenida Internacional. This street market has stalls selling all manner of foods, household goods, CDs, movies, tools, clothing, and more.

DO NOT try to buy drugs in the Zona Norte. It is an area well known for street drug sales and the local police know most of the dealers. You WILL be busted if you attempt to buy drugs here. Keep in mind that drug offenses are Federal offenses in Mexico and are punished by very lengthy prison sentences. There is no bail for drug offenses, so you will go to prison while awaiting trial, which usually takes one to three years!

Eat
Dining in Zona Norte is not generally considered high class. There are numerous small eateries along Calle Coahuila, and food carts which will serve street tacos and similar food on Calle Coahuila at the corners of Constitucion and Niños Heroes. Be cautious when eating from the food carts; however, a reasonable rule of thumb is that a cart that is busy, especially with native consumers, is generally more safe. Locals know where the good food is.

Alternatively, walk a couple of blocks south from Coahuila along Constitucion, and you'll find a street market flanked by a large selection of restaurants, including McDonald's.

Drink
There is no shortage of places to drink in the Zona Norte. Most bars have drink specials (two-for-one is typical) until the evening hours, to generate more business.

 * Bar Majestic, east end of Callejon Coahuila is a bar without working girls and has a great jukebox.

Sleep
There are many very cheap hotels in the Zona Norte, with rooms for US$15-25 a night not unheard of, though these places are as seedy as you would expect. Do not assume anything left in your room will be there when you return. Bringing your own bedsheets is probably a wise move.

Stay safe
Petty crimes such as muggings and pickpocketing can happen in Zona Norte, even during the day, so it is best if you are with someone else. And while drug violence is often not targeted at tourists, it is still better to be alert. You may unknowingly walk into the cross-fire of rival drug cartels, but this is less likely in Zona Norte than in other, seedier parts of town. Because of significant police presence, Zona Norte can actually be a safer part of town than others, with respect to violent crime, as long as you stay on the major thoroughfares and avoid the alleyways north of Calle Coahuila.

At night, however, tourists are highly discouraged from venturing off of Calle Coahuila and the Coahuila Alley to other parts of the neighborhood. Much of this area is very deserted at night, and you can be an easy target for criminals or police corruption.

One good rule of thumb is, if you are a man, to try to avoid direct eye contact with a local tough guy or young man. By "letting" him stare you down by averting your gaze you are less likely to bring about some macho confrontation, especially if the other fellow is drunk. If you are there to have fun, focus on the fun, and avoid proving your manhood to some local.

Always carry some ID with you (such as a driver's license) because the police will ask you for it if they stop and search you.

Stay in the well-populated areas between Coahuila and Articulo 123, generally between Ninos Heroes and Constitucion; wandering in other areas of Zona Norte will cause you unwanted attention by local criminals and police.

title: Tijuana/Zona Norte


text:
Tijuana/Zona Rio

The Zona Rio is a fashionable middle class Tijuana neighborhood known for its shopping, night clubs, and restaurants.

It is dominated by the Paseo de los Héroes, a wide, divided and usually very busy street. The major intersections of the Paseo de los Héroes are circuses, each with a large statue of a hero. Lesser heroes appear as busts along the grassy center of the avenue. As circular intersections are almost unheard of in the US, the Zona Rio has a distinctly foreign look to the American eye, despite the fact that it is only a mile or so from the border. That you seldom see tourists in this zone adds to the sense of being truly abroad.

A visit to the Zona Río presents a sharp, mostly favorable, contrast to the touristy Zona Centro. Knowing Spanish will be very helpful here, but non-Spanish speakers need not be deterred.

Destinations include the Mercado Hidalgo, a large open farmer's market, the Plaza Río, a popular shopping mall, and countless restaurants, many of them with excellent reputations.

Get in
You can walk to the Zona Rio from the border in about 30 minutes without passing through any bad neighborhoods. However, it is not obvious how to do this without experience or a good map. A cab or Uber ride should not cost more than US$3.

See
Exhibits at the Tijuana Cultural Center at the intersection of the Paseo de los Héroes and Avenida Independencia.

Budget
The "accommodations" in the "budget" category are migrant houses or hostels operated by NGOs, religious organizations and other charities that are more geared towards meeting the spiritual and physical needs (including feeding & providing shelter) of the migrants from poorer regions of Mexico and Central America working in Tijuana or continuing north to the U.S. (or had been repatriated from the U.S.) than as a "hostel" for the backpacking tourist. Many are located in Colonia Postal north of Rio Tijuana, from Zona Rio. The neighborhood is a shabbier mixed use neighborhood between residential and light industrial use. The 'Ejercito de Salvacion' is located further in Libertad closer to the border and east of the San Ysidro crossing point. Some may let in a backpacker, ask:

Splurge
Most of the hotels in Zona Rio are in the "Splurge" category and are usually the Mexican and international chain brands. There are a number of hotels lined up along Blvd Aguascaliente north of the country club as well as along Paseo de la Reforma surrounding the Plaza Rio Mall.

title: Tijuana/Zona Rio


text:
Tikal

Tikal is a large archaeological site in the Guatemalan department of Petén. During the Classic Period it was one of the largest and most important of the Mayan cities. Today it's one of the most fascinating and enjoyable of the Mayan sites to visit, largely due to its remoteness, but also its jungle setting. Tourists still descend on it by the busload, but it's far from feeling overrun like Chichen Itza and other sites. Some of the temples are still being uncovered, and you can watch archaeologists busy at work. Many others remain completely covered in dirt and plants, much as the first outside explorers found them in the 1800s. Tikal was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

Understand
Tikal was a Maya city of great power and size, the largest of Maya cities during the "Classic Era" over 1000 years ago. Many beautiful buildings have been uncovered and many more wait to be discovered. Amongst the many Maya sites in Central America, Tikal is perhaps the most breathtaking because of the scattered impressive buildings which have been restored in an area with many more ruined buildings still enveloped by the jungle. The sight of the temples poking through the canopy is quite awesome. Though you're not allowed to climb the stone steps of the larger pyramids, several of them have wooden staircases up the back so you can climb to the top and get panoramic views from above the trees.

History
Tikal dates back as far as 400 BC, and grew into one of the largest and most powerful of the Mayan cities during the Classic Period (AD 200-900), during which it had some shared cultural features with far-away Teotihuacan, whose warriors may have founded Tikal's greatest dynasty. It often clashed with other cities in the region, and was eventually defeated by Caracol in 562 AD. King Ah Cacau returned Tikal to its former glory about a century later, and it remained somewhat prosperous until the general decline of Mayan civilization set in around AD 900.

Tikal was eventually abandoned completely, consumed by the jungle, and pretty much fell off the map. Stories of its existence started to surface in the 17th & 18th centuries, but it wasn't until the mid-1800s that expeditions were hatched to explore and map it. After a hundred years of roughing it overland by horse and foot to reach the site, a small airstrip was built in the mid-1950s. The University of Pennsylvania oversaw major excavation work at Tikal during the 1960s, and then in the late 1970s, the government of Guatemala began the work you still see being done today.

During colonial times there was a legend spoken among the indigenous peoples in Guatemala of a lost city inside the jungle where their ancestors had thrived. In 1848 this legend became a reality. Tikal was discovered, arousing curiosity around the world.

Landscape
The experience of visiting Tikal is largely one of hiking through the tropical jungle, with options to take either wide dirt road or small, shaded trails. Lots of very tall trees provide shade even among the wider trails as you trek from one ruin to the next. With the exception of Temple IV, the elevations are small. Very steep wooden staircases lead up to public overlooks from some of the larger. Only minimal disabled access is provided.

Flora and fauna
It's often possible to see and hear monkeys in Tikal, especially if you go on a sunny morning or stay in one of the local hotels. Spider monkeys sleep together in large groups, but during the day they disperse in small groups across the park, and can usually at least be found by someone with binoculars and some wildlife spotting skills. It's easiest to see them when they've woken up and are beginning to move around. Howler monkeys are more often heard than seen, but sometimes hang out near the Temple IV overlook. Coatimundis, a racoon-like mammal and brightly colored wild Ocellated Turkeys, are everywhere. Toucans, parrots and other exotic species contribute to the ruins' reputation for wonderful bird watching. Jaguars are rare but have been spotted on the more remote trails - and at least once in early 2024, in the public parking lot!

Climate
It's sunny, hot and humid in the northern hemisphere, winter so dress lightly and bring water since you will be sweating climbing up the many steep steps of the monuments which are spread out. In the rainy season, during the northern hemisphere summer, it may rain all afternoon or even all day, but temperatures will still be quite hot. The trails can be muddy in a few places but there is plenty of shade under the canopy of trees. Winter nights can be cool. Brings lots of water or sports drinks - dehydration and heat stroke are the biggest dangers here. There are a few vendors along the main west-east walking route if you need to get more to drink.

Website
Tikal Archaeological Site website

Get in
Tikal is located about 1.5-2 hours' drive from Flores, which hosts the nearest airport. The airstrip at Tikal is no longer in use, and cannot be used even for private planes or in emergencies, as it's now overgrown with trees.

Buses and minibuses come in from all surrounding areas on a well maintained, fully-paved road, and you can also drive there with your own vehicle. Many visitors do single-day tours from Flores, but there are also some accommodation options at the park for those who want to stay longer or arrive earlier.

As of June 2024, for visitors with normal day tickets (see below), the main entrance to the archeological site opens at 06:00 and closes by 17:00 and you are expected to be out by 17:30. Staff roam the park around 17:00 looking for people without an evening bracelet, and will escort you out, although the official website says that entry is from 06:00 to 18:00.

By bus/shuttle
At one point, the San Juan Travel Agency had a virtual monopoly on the minibuses that would pick you up from your hotel in Flores in the morning on the hour and cost Q120 roundtrip or Q60 one way leaving hourly from 04:00 to 10:00, and then possibly one more at 14:00 (travel time: 75 mins). Return trips are at 12:30, and then hourly from 14:00 to 18:00. As of June 2024, some hostels are selling round-trip tickets for Q100, for shuttles apparently leaving at Flores Island near the bridge.

Regular second class buses leave from Flores (at the new bus terminal in southern Santa Elena) to Tikal for Q50 each way. Since this adds up to about the same round-trip price as you would pay to leave from the island with a tourist shuttle, the only reason to do this is if you're going one-way or happen to be staying in Santa Elena. At one point, the scheduled departures were at 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 08:30, 10:00, 11:30 and 12:30, arriving two hours later. Once-or-twice per day buses to Uaxactún, one of which leaves the Santa Elena old station a few blocks from the bridge around 2:00pm, can also drop you in Tikal for the same price. Some local buses may not run on Sundays. Beware about buying a round trip ticket from "Exploradores de la Cultura Maya" from the Santa Elena bus station as they may sell you a return ticket for a bus that doesn't exist.

Fees and permits
The following ticket prices apply to foreign citizens (make sure to select extranjeros if buying online). Local Guatemalans can enter for a reduced price. Your tickets will be checked and traded for a bracelet at the garita de control at the entrance to the ruins (el sitio), and the staff at the ticket booth taquilla on the road in may also want to see them.

How to Purchase
It's recommended that you buy your tickets online before leaving Flores on the official website. There is also a ticket office on the way to the ruins, but it may not accept credit/debit cards, and it is 12 km before reaching the main part of the park. They also reportedly can have problems with their ticketing system due to electrical or cell service outages.

There are no ticket sales at the entrance to the ruins. Furthermore, as of June 2024, there is no cell signal in Tikal, except sometimes at certain spots inside the ruins, so if you need to buy a ticket for another day or special entry once you're already there, the only way to do it is by finding wifi at one of the restaurants nearby (unless you feel like driving, catching a bus, or hitchhiking the 12 km back to the ticket booth). There are also no ATMs in Tikal, so be sure to bring enough cash to cover your tickets if you didn't buy them online, plus any souvenirs or food you might want to buy (though the nicer restaurants accept cards), and for transport if you're visiting by bus or taxi and don't have a round-trip ticket.

If you'll be buying tickets at the ticket booth on the road in, bring your passport. If you're buying tickets online, you'll be asked to provide your passport number, but as of June 2024 no one is checking passports for online tickets when you actually arrive.

Ticket Pricing
As of June 2024, the foreigner cost for a normal full-day ticket (valid from 06:00 to 17:00) to explore the ruins is Q150. A separate ticket for early entry (amanecer) (from 04:00) is Q100 - guided tour required, not included in the price. This is the only way to watch the sunrise over the pyramids, though remember it might be cloudy. There is reportedly a cheap colectivo (walk-up) guided tour that leaves from the entrance at 04:20. Similarly, another separate Q100 ticket is required if you plan to stay for dusk/sunset (atardecer), and it's unclear whether or not a guide is required for this. You may be required to show a normal day ticket alongside these special entry tickets, even if you only plan to be in the park for dawn or dusk hours.

It had been reported that tickets bought in after 15:00 or 16:00 were also valid for the next day, but as of June 2024, this seems no longer to be the case.

Entry to the museum is a separate Q30 for foreign citizens (June 2024), and apparently also needs to be bought online or in advance.

Get around
The restaurants, souvenir shops, visitor center, museum, and hotels can be reached by car but are all within about 5 minutes' walk of each other and the entrance to the ruins.

Once you enter the ruins, walking is the only way to get around, as only staff and vendor vehicles are allowed inside. The distances can be on the long side - walking from the entrance straight to the far end of the park, where the must-see Temple IV viewdeck is located, takes about 40 minutes even if you don't stop for the other must-see sights in between. The Gran Plaza with the most famous pyramids is about halfway in between, and there are tons of other interesting ruins on side paths, some straying as much as a half-hour walk or more off of the main axis. Some routes are small forest hiking paths (usually well-maintained), but more of them are car-sized hard-packed dirt/gravel roads, many corresponding to the original limestone causeways used by the ancient Maya to traverse the city.

To see just about everything, you would probably need all day from morning to evening, and it's unlikely you'd manage it one day without getting tired out from the heat. But the most important sites can be visited in a few hours. In case you have a very short amount of time or limited energy, paying a guide could be a useful way to make sure you catch the highlights.

 * are available for cash outside the Visitor's Center and from a dude who hangs out where you get your tickets checked, or for free at the government tourist information center in Flores. Or just use your phone to take a photo of the signs with the same map on it, just past the ticket checkpoint.

See

You will also see a few black monkeys jumping high up among the trees.

Do

 * Tikal sunrise tour. Either stay in the park (see Sleep section) and book from them, or buy a tour from Flores, or also ask your hotel. Tour is needed as a guide is required to be able to enter the park at sunrise. Ticket is Q100 in addition to your Q150 park entry, and doesn't include the guide fee. Must be purchased when buying tickets online or at the booth 12 km up the road. There is reportedly a cheap colectivo (walk-up) tour that leaves from the entrance of the ruins at 04:20.
 * Tickets sold at park southern entrance.
 * Tikal sunrise tour. Either stay in the park (see Sleep section) and book from them, or buy a tour from Flores, or also ask your hotel. Tour is needed as a guide is required to be able to enter the park at sunrise. Ticket is Q100 in addition to your Q150 park entry, and doesn't include the guide fee. Must be purchased when buying tickets online or at the booth 12 km up the road. There is reportedly a cheap colectivo (walk-up) tour that leaves from the entrance of the ruins at 04:20.
 * Tickets sold at park southern entrance.

Buy

There are no ATMs in Tikal, so be sure to bring enough cash to cover your tickets if you're not buying them online, plus equipment rental if you're staying in the campground, plus any souvenirs or food you might want to buy (though the nicer restaurants accept cards), and for transport if you're visiting by bus or taxi and don't have a round-trip ticket. If you need to conserve cash, consider staying at the hotels in Tikal, and only eating at the nicer restaurants, even though that's more expensive, because they accept payment by card. In case you're continuing to Uaxactun, be aware that you'll need cash for everything there too, including accommodations and food. For a multi-day trip to Tikal and Uaxactun, even carrying Q1000 in cash can be cutting it very close.

The Visitors' Center and its immediate area hosts a number of souvenir shops, selling T-shirts, assorted local handicrafts, snacks, drinks, and numerous guide books in English and Spanish of Tikal, the Maya, and Guatemala. Guatemalan highland’s textiles are also sold in a small rancho near the parking area.

Eat
The Visitors' Center has a restaurant offering food and drink until 16:00, though it's on the expensive side. At one point, the Jungle Lodge reportedly offered dinners for guests, and some travellers reported that it is better than the Tikal Inn.

There are several comedores (food stalls/cheap diners) along the road just before and across from the visitor center. These are by far the cheapest option, though still not quite cheap by Guatemalan standards, and they likely don't accept credit cards and there's no ATM, so make sure you brought enough cash. Several of them close around 17:00, with the farthest-out on, Comedor Imperio Maya, usually open until 18:00.

The restaurant at the Hotel Jaguar, which is open to everyone, may be cheaper than the visitors centre, and as of June 2024 is quite a bit more expensive than the comedores, but also better, and offers card payment and free WiFi. It's open until 20:30.

Within the ruins, vendors at the three designated rest areas along the main east-west walking route sell small bags of chips and cookies in addition to bottled drinks.

Drink
There are all sorts of drinks (cans and bottles of soda, juice, and water) available at kiosks in the visitor center reasonably priced considering that they could charge much more. If you're buying orange juice at the Jaguar, Inn buy the bottled stuff (Q6 - Jugo De La Granja), as it is likely the same as the stuff in a glass but half the price.

Around the Grand Plaza small covered shops offer water. These close pretty early so plan ahead and carry some extra water in the afternoon.

The restaurant at the Jaguar Inn, which is open to everyone, also sells craft beer.

Sleep
Many people prefer to stay in the park and wake up with the jungle to the sounds of birds and nature rather than the vehicle sounds of Flores, and staying here one of the ways to be in the park for sunrise. Unfortunately the park options are not the cheapest, and demand often exceeds supply. As of June 2024, prices started at around Q500 (possibly a low-season rate). Many visitors instead choose to stay in the cute historical center of Flores island and hour or two away, which has many affordable hostels, and take an early shuttle bus to the park. There are also several cheap lodges lakeside in El Remate, in between Flores and Tikal, where your hotel can arrange a shuttle pick up for you.

Hotels
Three hotels next to the park entrance provide somewhat basic but decent accommodation, all within very short walking distance to the entrance to the ruins. All three cater to Western travellers and their amenities and prices reflect this. For those on a shoestring, try asking if you can rent a hammock, or just a spot to hang your own, under a palapa roof.

Camping

Connect
There is no cell signal in Tikal, except sometimes at certain points within the ruins, mainly at the viewdeck atop Temple IV (at the farthest point of the park from the entrance), and usually yat the ticket booth on the road to Tikal, 12km before you reach the ruins.

If you're staying at one of the Tikal hotels, which are all located just outside the ruins, they will probably have free WiFi for you. But if you're on a day trip or camping, you can only access the internet at restaurant by the visitor center (Q10/hour, Q30/day) or at restaurant of Hotel Jaguar (free for paying customers). These wifi networks seem to remain active into the evening, though you'll need to acquire access before they close (16:00 for the visitor center restaurant, 20:30pm for the Hotel Jaguar). Campers should know that neither wifi signal reaches the campground, and that the park guards may not want you want you wandering the grounds after 21:00.

Be aware that this is a remote jungle location, and it's possible wifi could be unavailable if there's a problem with electricity or the satellite internet link.

Stay safe
As of June 2024, robberies do not seem to be an issue anymore, either at Tikal or on the way to it. Though park staff may scare you about jaguar attacks (technically possible), the main danger is dehydration or heatstroke from the extreme heat and humidity. Make sure to carry lots of water - you can buy it at a few points along the main east-west path of the ruins, but it's probably cheaper at the shops just outside.

The park staff have been spooked by a few incidents and close calls recently: a hiker died from heatstroke in 2022, a middle-aged birdwatcher disappeared in 2023, and a family of French tourists got lost for two days in the jungle later that year. Because of this, the park recommends taking a guide, but they do not require it. However, the trails are very well signed, and the reality is that you won't get dangerously lost as long as you stay on obvious trails and don't pass any "no passing"/"no trespassing" signs.

The park guards may also not allow you to wander the parking lot and public roads at night between 21:00 and 06:00, though if you have a very good reason to be out, you're encouraged to go straight to the guard post at the roundabout and ask them for an exception.

It's unlikely you'd want to jump into any of the shallow, muddy ponds around the park, but be aware that this is considered dangerous, since there are usually crocodiles in them.

There can be a lot of bugs in Tikal, including the type of mosquitoes that carries dengue fever - bringing insect repellent is strongly recommended, especially if you'll be out in the evening or early morning (but you can be bitten in shady areas even in the day).

Go next
If you are going to Belize, you have few options. To leave directly from Tikal, you'll have to hire a cab all the way to the border, which can be pricey. From there you have a good jumping off point to San Ignacio. You can return to Flores to catch a bus, but most departures are in the morning and early afternoon. The best option is to plan to return to Flores and stay the night before moving east.

title: Tikal


text:
Tikehau

Tikehau is an atoll in French Polynesia.

Understand

A beautiful large coral atoll with no central island. Population 510, with one village, one luxury hotel, several small residences. The economy is based on tourism, fishing and coconut oil.

Get in

 * Tikehau Airport is located on the Southern tip of the atoll. There are daily flights to and from Tahiti and other atolls of the Tuamotus. Flight time from Tahiti is 55 minutes in modern turboprop planes.

Get around
Roads exist only within the village. Otherwise, all transportation by boat.

See

 * Pink sand beaches

Do

There is magnificent snorkelling and diving. Great coral and tropical fish within the atoll. Bird Island is an isolated bird refuge. No people, but a strong dock for arrival.

title: Tikehau


text:
Tikrit

Tikrit is a town in the Al Jazira region of Iraq. It is best known for being the birthplace of Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein and the Ayyubid Sultan, Saladin.

Get in
Tikrit is along highway 1, running between Baghdad and Mosul, driving distance from Baghdad is about 170 km. The road is fully usable and there are buses plying the route, however there has been incidents of robbery and hijackings. Also, the rail line between the same cities also passes by Tikrit, however there are been no service for more then a decade. Some rehabilitation are underway, but don't hold your breath for the restart of passenger services. The old is located west of city centre.

There are no airports in the vicinity, with Baghdad being the nearest major airport.

See

title: Tikrit


text:
Tilarán

Tilarán is in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Buy
The Book Store at Casa del Agua The only English-language book store in the Lago Arenal area. Has a good selection of new and used books. Buy or trade. Also sports a remodeled porch with a great view of the lake. Located between Tilaran and Nuevo Arenal on Ruta 142 near Rio Piedras. 2692-2101

Eat

 * Aroma Tico Open every day of the week from 06:30-17:30. Good food, free wi-fi!
 * Casa del Agua: Nice view of the lake, good coffee, good food. Also have art and a great book selection to trade, buy or sell.  Is located between Tilaran and Rio Piedras.

Go next
Go to La Fortuna. Bus leaves at 12:15pm at the local bus station.

Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest

title: Tilarán