Updated Guide to Tijuana Mongering for First-Timers (July 2022)
That said,for those who've never been to TJ but are planning to go soon, here's what you need to know:
HOW TO GET TO TIJUANA
If you're coming from most parts of the United States, the best way to get to TJ is flying to San Diego. While there is an airport in TJ, there are no direct flights to there from the USA; you'd have to fly to another Mexican city like Guadalajara or Mexico City and then fly up. Of course, if you live in the Los Angeles or San Diego metro areas, it's an easy drive down I-5 to the border. Just park in one of the lots in San Ysidro (where the border is located), then you can walk across. There is also the option of driving in TJ; however, by all accounts, it is a pain driving back into the USA - even if you have Sentri (you can wait for hours, especially on the weekends). So walking across would be my recommendation.
If you're flying into San Diego, there are three ways you can get to San Ysidro: 1) a traditional taxi (cost $50-$60); 2) Uber ($25-$35 depending on time of day); or 3) a bus/trolley combo. I usually do the third option because I find it to be the most economical. At the airport, for $2.50 take the #992 bus into downtown San Diego, which is like a 10 to 15 minute ride. Get off at Americas Plaza, where you can pick up a Blue Line trolley train. Board the San Ysidro-bound trolley (destination sign will read San Ysidro) for $2.50, and it's about a 45-minute ride (it starts slow due to downtown traffic, but once you clear the area, it's smooth sailing) to the border.
AT THE BORDER
Once in San Ysidro, there's a currency exchange located right next to McDonald's by the trolley terminal. If you're going to exchange dollars for pesos, you should do so here because you'll get a better exchange rate than you would in Mexico. Currently, for every dollar, you get 20 pesos. But truth be told, almost every place in TJ accepts (and - especially with the clubs - encourages) dollars, so you shouldn't need to exchange much cash.
Past McDonald's, there is a walkway sloping upwards. This is the Ped East Crossing, the main pedestrian border crossing in San Ysidro. There is also a Ped West crossing, which is a couple of blocks west of East, but it is currently closed at this time with no known reopening date.
As you make your way up the Ped East walkway heading towards the border, you'll see some rolling gates. Once you walk through them, you'll be in the checkpoint area. The checkpoint area has two lines: one for Mexican citizens, the other for USA citizens and other foreigners. Be prepared to show your passport or passport card to the border agent.
Yes, I have heard that you don't necessarily need a passport to enter Tijuana - just your driver'slicense, but in my opinion, why take that chance you'll be turned away? Just to be safe, please bring your passport or passport card; it saves you a big headache.
Also, the current rule is supposed to be that you don't pay for a visa unless you are in Mexico for seven or more days. If that's the case, you pay a $30 FMM fee; the FMM is an entry visa that's good for 180 days. However, I've heard that depending on who is working the booth, you may wind up paying $30 for the FMM anyway even if you don't plan on staying in TJ for long. I've never paid the fee; all I did was fill out a short form a couple of times. Other times, the agent looked at passport and waved me in with no issues.
In any event, once you get cleared by the agent, if you have a backpack or other luggage, you place it on a scanner similar to airport ones. If everything's good, you can leave the checkpoint area and then head down a walkway. At this point, you're officially in Mexico.
HOW TO GET TO TJ's ZONA NORTE
Zona Norte is where all of the legal mongering is allowed. It's a short ride (five minutes or so from the border) and you can get there in three ways:
1) at the end of the walkway on the Tijuana side of the crossing, you'll walk through some rolling gates. Here there are plenty of taxi drivers hustling for fares. Be careful, as some of these drivers may be scammers. The best bet for a taxi ride is by walking across the street to a pharmacy. Next to the pharmacy is a taxi stand comprised of cabs from Taxi Libre. This is a good, reliable company (it has orange and white colors) and you can get a ride into Zona Norte. The fare is generally $5 but lately many drivers have been charging $6. I would pay no more than that.
Another option is the Zona Norte Shuttle, which is operated by the owners of Hong Kong Club (more on that shortly). It's free; as you're making your way down the walkway to Tijuana, about halfway down you'll notice a parking lot. That's where the shuttle limo is located, but if you don't see it, don't worry. There's an employee who will take you to the office on the other side of the lot, where you can wait until the limo arrives. The shuttle will take you right into the heart of Zona Norte where all of the well-known clubs are. I always tip the driver $2 ($1 if I'm riding with others).
There is a third option: Uber. I've never used it TJ, but by all accounts, it's effective.
ZONA NORTE
You are now in Zona Norte, Tijuana's red-light district that's well-known worldwide. It's bounded by Calle Coahulia on the north, Calle Primera on the South, Avenue Constitucion on the east, and Avenue C. Ninos Heroes on the west. Here you'll find several strip clubs, which for the most part operate more like brothels (more on that shortly).
Located on Calle Coahulia, the Hong Kong club is the mecca of Zona Norte. It features the most beautiful girls (in my opinion) in the area, and the place is clean and big, with four levels of seating. There is always a large crowd here.
Hong Kong (HK) also owns and operates Las Chevelas, which is right next-door. There's a walkway in between the two clubs; whereas HK has a loud and raucous atmosphere, Chevelas is a little more quieter. On occasion, LC will have traditional Mexican bands performing live, and those concerts draw a large audience.
HK is an empire. It also runs Tropical Bar and Hotel Rizo de Oro, both across the street on Calle Coahulia. BT is more laid-back than HK and tends to be a favorite of the locals. In addition, HK owns Hotel Cascadas, which is ten stories tall. It's sleek and modern, and you can bring girls from HK or TB up to a room (same applies for Rizo de Oro).
The other two well-known Zona Norte clubs are Adelita Bar and Chicago Club. AB is a few doors down from HK and is usually packed, while CC - on Constitucion just north of Calle Coahulia - has a generally relaxed environment. The girls are not as hot-looking as the ones in HK and BT, but they're not bad at all.
There are other clubs in Zona Norte, including Odisea2001 Showgirls (formerly Play Boy Club), Gloria Bar, La Malquerida, Bar Gold Palace, and La Carreta among others. These smaller places can be a lot of fun and a good alternative to the Big Four of HK, BT, AB, and CC.
There is also an alley called Primer Callejón Coahuila, in between Avenues Constitucion and C. Ninos Heroes. This is where you will find a lot of street prostitutes lined up on both sides. You'll also have several on both Avenues Constitucion and C. Ninos Heroes in between Calles Coahulia and Primera. On Primera itself, while there are some girls, you should pay close attention as there are also quite a few transvestites, especially east of Constitucion towards the Arch and west of Ninos Heroes.
PRICING
Each of the Big Four clubs has a hotel where you can take a dancer upstairs for sex. The current cost is $100 for 30 minutes. You also pay for the room, which can run between $15 and $30 depending on the club (HK and BT are closer to $30, AB and CC closer to $15), as well as a $1 or $2 tip to the cleaning person. There are also VIP rooms available in the clubs if you don't want to go to a hotel, and you pay a little less - usually buying a bucket of five or ten small beers for the lady.
Drinks in the Big Four clubs are generally $4, whether it's beer, soda, juice, or water. If you want to buy a girl a drink (called a ficha), it's usually $9 or $10. The girl gets tickets for each drink a guy buys her, which she turns in at the end of her shift and gets paid. It's customary to tip the meseros (waiters) or meseras (waitresses) $1 for each drink bought.
If you want to engage with a street prostitute, it's less expensive. There are plenty of good-looking women who stand outside smaller hotels in Zona Norte, and the cost to have sex is usually $20-$25 for 15 minutes. If you want her to be naked, you may have to pay a little extra ($5 or $10).
If you're in Zona Norte for just one day (or night), plan on bringing between $300 and $500 for a good time. If it's multiple days (two or three), between $300 and $600 (including hotel room) should do it.
SAFETY TIPS
Tijuana has a reputation of being a violent city. But in my previous trips, I have yet to experience any issues. I think the reputation is overhyped by the media. Yes, there are definitely areas of TJ you shouldn't go into, but as long as you remain within the tourist areas of Zona Norte, Zona Centro (downtown), and Zona Rio - especially at night, you should be just fine.
As with any big city anywhere, it's important to be aware of your surroundings and exercise common sense. Don't get intoxicated; if you do, you become an easy mark for scammers. In the clubs, always keep an eye on your drink; I've heard stories of ladies or meseros (meseras) spiking drinks with illegal
drugs when guys weren't paying attention
Moreover, do NOT - I repeat - do NOT buy any illegal drugs from a dealer. The police have a heavy presence in Zona Norte and if you're caught with any illegal substances in a foreign country, let's just say the consequences could be really ugly. Do not take any chances.
Also, don't talk with anyone who offers you illegal substances or want to take you to a place outside of the tourist zones. That's trouble with a capital T. And the police? Many officers are honest, but there are also several that will try to shake you down for a bribe, especially if they see you talking with a drug dealer. I have not had trouble with the police, but I know a friend who was walking back to Hotel Velario on Calle Primera from Zona Norte that got stopped by a couple of officers. Fortunately, since he speaks good Spanish, he was able to get out of it with no problems.
If a police officer does stop you and ask you to pay a "fine" (bribe), inform him or her you would like to go to the station to take care of it in front of a judge. My understanding is that for the most part, he or she will decline and let you go on about your way.
SPANISH LANGUAGE
Many in Zona Norte, particularly meseros and meseras, speak solid English. Many of the bar and street ladies, however, do not, and there can be communication issues.
However, these issues can be easily resolved. Install Google Translate on your phone and set it to Spanish. Also, using a quality app like Duolingo, Pimsleur, or Rosetta Stone to learn a few basic phrases and words before your trip can help.
FINAL WORD
If you have never been to Tijuana's Zona Norte, the looks of most of the women you meet will blow you away. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store; you'll have a tough time deciding which lady or ladies you want to spend time and money on. If you budget wisely and use common sense, you'll have a great experience that you want to repeat.
Adjudicators
EastCoaster
I wrote one of those earlier articles, and it's referenced frequently on TUSCL. This is a nice update. Thanks for taking the time to post it. As I found out with mine, be prepared to field a lot of questions from readers!
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19 comments
i’ve also walked the entire one mile distance. taxi, uber, zona shuttle, ruta bus or walk... i’ve done each many times. although it has been years since i’ve done a taxi. i’ve even driven my bad ass prius. but usually i just park a few trolley stops north of san ysidro (palm avenue) and trolley to border then zona shuttle to HK. problem with trolley is no late night service. but it works for me. have fun!
Also, the last 3 times I've ridden the 992 from the airport they haven't charged a fee, driver said no need to pay. I heard that the arrangement with the airport is its free but not sure if that's the case.
Not mentioned is the option of getting a room over night if you want to have multiple arribas and or a place to store your stuff and relax before going back to the club after a session. Hotel cascades or Rizo cater to HK and bar tropical patrons and the girls from either club can go to either of those hotels.
There is also a train that runs from many So. Cal. locations to the Santa Fe station next to the trolley in San Diego. I used it many times when working in So. Cal. It is very economical. Between the price of gas and parking, the train can be a good choice. In addition, while slower than traveling by car, the train is not impacted by traffic. Stopped driving, because Google Maps said the journey was three hours by car and five hours by train. My three-hour tour turned into a seven or eight hours of sitting, trying to find a decent radio station. Five hours by train, relaxing and practicing my Spanish became SOP. The down side is that you are on the train schedule, which is not frequent having been cut back due to Covid.
"There are also VIP rooms available in the clubs if you don't want to go to a hotel, and you pay a little less - usually buying a bucket of five or ten small beers for the lady." You are required to buy the bucket. Depending on the number of drinks determines the amount of time you get in the VIP room. Also, you can request drinks other than beer. They will be $10 each plus tip.
If you have a hotel room in the Zona, you can take a street prostitute to your room if she has ID. If you don't have a room or she doesn't have ID, typically she is associated with a hotel that will rent you a room for the intended purpose for a nominal fee. Negotiate everything that you want before going to the hotel; otherwise, she will expect you to get on, get off, and get out. Street girls are cheaper, but there is a reason for that reflected in the service.
I am sure that spiking drinks does happen, but I have never heard of it happening to anyone I know or have met in the Zona, so you can consider it rare, but the caution is well advised. I never accept a drink that I did not see poured from a bottle or can that wasn't opened in front of me or that I opened myself. (Easier for me, because I don't drink alcohol.)
The advice regarding the police is excellent.
@azfriole: that's the first I've heard of the #992 bus not charging. But that's a good thing if it's true, that means things have changed since my last trip in April.
@puta: as always, thanks for the additional info. Great point about the street girls; need to let her know exactly what you are looking for before agreeing on the price and going upstairs. If you stay at either Cascadas or Rizo de Oro, many - not all - street girls will go to your room provided they have their ID. Otherwise, you'll be getting a room in the girl's short-time hotel.
Appreciate the feedback.
Look, we take a chance anywhere we go in this world, bad stuff can happen anywhere at any time - even in America as you already know. You may not like Tijuana (and that's your right to have that opinion), but you can't tell anyone where they can go. We are all adults here capable of making our own decisions, so let us be the judge of where we should go. I'm just so tired of you dumping on guys who to Tijuana.
I used to go all the time, and it is easier said than done to avoid drug dealers and cops. Like, I literally have never used drugs my entire life and never will and people will try to sell to me and won't take no for an answer. But I had one guy offer me drugs nonstop and follow me for 5 minutes until I picked up a prostitute so he had to leave because they wouldn't let him in the hotel. I don't get it. Another cop repeatedly insisted I was a drug user. Again, all it takes is to be standing in the red light district and not be a local. It's just a matter of time. All of this went away when I only used taxis the moment I entered the zone. Locals warned me often as well. If you walk the streets there alone, it's not a matter of if but when.
My cousin lives in Cali and lives that place. Probably there every other weekend. I just did not see the big deal. I have been to Singapore at the orchard towers and that place is more my speed.
The hotel rooms have safes. Prior to their upgrade to include safes in every room, I left some valuables out, but I have never had anything taken. And that is with six+ years of going to TJ, and frequently staying in Cascadas.
Seems like a replacement hotel for Cascadas and Rizo needs to be found, as their TLN policies have become unreasonable.
Right now TUSCL is not working, the discussions are not working.
Thanks,
SJG