Exploring Tijuana Before Your Flight: Is It Possible?

Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) is a large airport with several bars and restaurants, serving close to 13 million passengers a year. It is a well-organised hub with a streamlined crossing process for passengers leaving the US. The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a pedestrian bridge that connects directly to the Tijuana Airport, allowing passengers to cross the border from San Diego to the airport easily. The CBX is a popular option for travellers looking to save time and money when flying to Mexico, with some travellers recommending arriving at the CBX 90 minutes before the flight. However, it is important to factor in the time needed to go through immigration and customs checks, especially during the high season when wait times can be longer.

Explore related products

Airport Exit

$3.99

Metal Sign Retro Emergency Exit Wall Decoration Highway Airport Exit Bar Club Safety Passage Sign Wall 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Retro Emergency Exit Metal Sign: for Highway Airport Exit Bar Club Safety Passage Wall Decor 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Retro Emergency Exit Metal Sign Wall Decoration for Highway Airport Exit Bar Club Passage 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Metal Signs Retro Airport Subway Entrance and Exit Baggage Service Departure Toilet Wall Decoration Home Bar Lounge Intersection Prompt Sign Wall 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Car Park Exit Sign 1 Piece Traffic Parking Metal Tin Sign 12x8 inch, Durable & Sturdy, Ideal for Parking Garage Shopping Mall Office Park Airport Parking Lot

$6.99

Cross Border Xpress (CBX)

The CBX facility first opened in December 2015, with an official opening ceremony in April 2016. The terminal was designed to bypass the lengthy wait times at traditional border crossings. Passengers can avoid the hassle of crossing the busy Tijuana border and travelling through the city. The CBX bridge can be accessed up to 24 hours before a departing flight, and passengers have two hours after landing to cross into the US.

To use the bridge, passengers must have four documents: a CBX ticket, a passport, a completed Multiple Migration Form (FMM) for Mexican Immigration, and a boarding pass. The fee to use the bridge is between $20 and $30 one-way as of 2024, with discounts available for families, military personnel, commuters, and those purchasing a round trip.

For arriving passengers, the CBX experience allows them to clear customs and immigration within the bridge connection before entering the Tijuana airport. This can save a lot of time compared to arriving at other airports in Mexico.

Explore related products

Metal Sign Vintage Taxi Bus Airport Retro Wall Decor for Bar Club Highway Airport Exit Background Prompt Slogan 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Metal Sign Old-Fashioned Door Alarmed Open Only for Emergency Exit Wall Decor Bar Club Cinema Airport Restaurant Wall Safety Prompt Slogan 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Metal Sign Old Fashioned Door Alarmed Open Only for Emergency Exit Wall Decor Bar Club Cinema Airport Restaurant Wall Safety Prompt Slogan 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Retro Metal Sign Airport Subway Entrance Exit Baggage Service Departure Toilet Wall Decoration for Home Bar Lounge Intersection Prompt 8x12 Inch

$7.99

Iron Door Push Bar, Exit Doors Panic Bars with Spare Keys, Safety Exit Lock, Commercial Door Lock for Hotels, Airports, Apartments

$52

The Layover

$4.49

Required documents

To enter Mexico from the United States via the Tijuana International Airport, you will need the following documents:

• A Cross Border Xpress (CBX) ticket. This can be purchased at a kiosk, counter, on the CBX website, or via the CBX app.
• A valid passport or passport card.
• A completed Multiple Migration Form (FMM) to be delivered to Mexican Immigration. This form is provided by the airline or at the port of entry, and can also be completed online. It is required for all non-Mexican travellers entering the country, and asks for basic travel information such as name, passport number, destination in Mexico, and length of stay. The form is free if the trip is 7 days or less and you cross by land. For stays of 7 days or more, a fee of approximately $30 USD is required.
• A boarding pass.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or resident, you will also need to show your visa to enter the United States. U.S. citizens are required to show their passports when entering the United States.

It is important to note that the CBX bridge allows travellers to bypass the Tijuana border crossing, which is one of the busiest in the world, and can save a significant amount of time.

Explore related products

BTS V - Layover album Ver. 3 + [BTS Photocards Set]

$20 $24

V 'Layover'[3]

$24.98

V 'Layover'

$21.19 $49.99

B.TS. V - Layover album Ver. 2 'Slow Dancing'

$20.5 $23

The Layover [DVD]

$27.03

The Layover

$9.36 $17

Transport options

Tijuana International Airport offers a range of transport options for travellers to get from the airport into the city of Tijuana or to other destinations.

Taxi

The airport is served by authorised taxi cabs, including the Taxi Libre, which charges half the price of the unmetered yellow cabs. It is recommended to agree on a price before getting into the taxi to avoid misunderstandings.

Bus

Buses are a cheap way to get from the airport to the city centre, with tickets costing around $0.60. The buses are painted white and blue and display 'Plaza Rio' or 'Centro'. They depart from outside the airport and are headed west. Mexicoach buses also operate from the US side of the border, ferrying tourists into Mexico and as far as Revolucion Avenue bus station.

Shuttle

Shuttle buses connect the airport with several cities in the US and Mexico, including direct lines to San Diego, Los Angeles, Mexicali, and Ensenada. The CBX to San Diego shuttle operates every two hours from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and costs around $11. Buses to San Ysidro cost about $6, and to Los Angeles, around $25. The Greyhound shuttle service also operates from Tijuana Airport to San Diego, with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $29.

Private Transfer

You can pre-book a private transfer service to avoid waiting in taxi lines or sharing a shuttle. Your driver will meet you in the arrivals terminal with a sign displaying your name and take you directly to your destination.

Cross Border Xpress (CBX)

The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a pedestrian bridge that connects directly to Tijuana Airport, allowing travellers to cross easily from San Diego to Tijuana Airport. The CBX facility in San Diego offers check-in services for airlines such as Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris. After checking in, travellers can walk a short distance across the border and clear customs on the Mexican side before entering the airport. This option is particularly useful for saving time when returning to the US, as the Tijuana border crossing is one of the busiest in the world.

International Coach

International coach services are available from the airport to destinations in San Diego and other parts of Southern California.

Car

Travellers can also opt to drive their cars and park them in the airport's short-term or long-term parking lots.

Explore related products

Layover

$4.99 $16

V 'Layover'[1]

$24.98

V - Layover Album (3 ver. SET)

$74.93

B.T.S V - Layover album Ver. 1 'Slow Dancing'

$20 $23

OGIO Layover, Graphite, One Size

$209.95 $219.99

V - Layover Album (VIOLET ver.)

$30 $35

Safety in Tijuana

Tijuana is a large city in Mexico with a unique cultural mix, offering a full border-town experience. It has a lively nightlife and an array of restaurants and bars, attracting many tourists. The city has struggled with issues like drug trafficking, violent crimes, and illegal immigration, and, as of 2023, is ranked as one of the most violent cities globally, with burglary, larceny, and robberies being the most common crimes. However, some sources claim that Tijuana is completely safe and very US-friendly.

To ensure safety in Tijuana, it is advisable to stay in well-lit, metropolitan, and populated tourist areas like Zona Centro, Playas, La Mesa, Zona Rio, and Playas de Tijuana. It is recommended to avoid the eastern part of Tijuana due to drug trafficking and violence, especially in neighborhoods like Sánchez Taboada, Tres de Octubre, and Camino Verde. It is also important to be cautious of petty theft and scams, and to avoid carrying unnecessary valuables, cash, or cards.

When crossing the border, it is important to plan and allow enough time, especially when returning to the United States, as the Tijuana border crossing is one of the busiest in the world. The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) facility provides a convenient and faster alternative to traditional border crossings, allowing passengers to check in on the US side and then walk across the border into the Tijuana International Airport.

To enter Mexico through CBX, you need four documents: a CBX ticket, a passport, a completed Multiple Migration Form (FMM), and a boarding pass. It is recommended to arrive at CBX at least 90 minutes before the boarding time of your flight.

Explore related products

BTS : V Layover (Version 1 - Green) 1st Solo Album CD+Poster+Photocards+Letter+Photobook A+Photobook B+Postcards+Lyric Book+Checklist

$31.4

Cost savings

Tijuana International Airport is located directly across the US-Mexico border from San Diego. The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a pedestrian bridge that connects San Diego to the Tijuana International Airport. The CBX facility is open 24 hours, and travellers can use it to cross the border directly to the airport terminal in Tijuana. The CBX is a popular option for those looking to save costs on their flights.

When flying from San Diego, travellers are limited to one airport, where flights are typically more expensive and often involve layovers in other US cities. In contrast, flying from Tijuana can offer cost savings and direct flights to many Mexican cities. For example, travellers can take a direct 5-hour flight from Tijuana to Cancun, which is much more appealing than flying to Texas and spending 4-6 hours at the airport before taking another 2-hour flight to Cancun.

Travellers can save money by flying from Tijuana instead of San Diego. For instance, one traveller saved hundreds of dollars by flying to Isla Mujeres from Tijuana instead of San Diego. Additionally, another family bought first-class tickets on Aeromexico from Tijuana to their final destination in Mexico, which were still cheaper than flying in coach seats from San Diego.

Using the CBX to cross the border is also a cost-saving option. Travellers can take an Uber or Lyft to the border for around $5-$7, cross the border on foot, and then take a Mexican Uber to the Tijuana Airport for about $4. This option helps avoid the cost of parking at the airport, which starts at $15 per day for street parking and $18 per day for on-site lots.

Travellers can also save costs by avoiding the complicated traffic back to the US and the long lines at the Tijuana border crossing, which is one of the busiest in the world. By using the CBX, travellers can save time and money by clearing customs and immigration within the bridge connection before entering the Tijuana airport.

Frequently asked questions