Your U.S. auto insurance alone is not valid in Baja, so stop near the border at any number of insurance companies visible from the highway. Buy Mexican insurance coverage for however many days you will be in Baja - rates are around $10 per day.

From San Diego, California, take Interstate Highway 5 or Interstate 805 south. This will take you to the San Ysidro, California border crossing (at Tijuana). There will be various freeway exit signs along the way including one reading "Last U.S. Exit." If you are planning to walk across the border, then you'll leave the freeway at this exit, find a parking lot, and proceed to enter Mexico (Tijuana) on foot. If you continue driving, the Interstate the freeway takes you right into Mexico.  

There are two roads that will bring you to Rosarito. The toll road (cuota) and the free (libre) road. The well maintained toll road is faster and easier with beautiful ocean views. The toll highway is also patrolled by the "Green Angels," a mobile mechanic that will assist you in the event you have mechanical problems. There are solar powered call boxes located about every two miles along the toll road. If you need help just pick up the phone and a bilingual operator will provide assistance. The free road is harder to find if you are not familiar with Tijuana, Once you locate it, you will find a modern four-lane highway, but with heavy commercial traffic, many exits, and many people. Not nearly as scenic as the toll route. Our recommendation is to take the toll road.  

To get to the toll road from the border, bear to the right just after entering Mexico. As the road begins to split, take the second left where the signs read "Ensenada Cuota /Rosarito Scenic Route." That will take you to the road that runs along the international border (Avenida Internacional). You'll see the border fence to your right as you travel west. You'll stay on this road as you climb the first hill. Stay right and keep going straight. As you drop down into the canyon (known as "Smugglers Canyon"), you'll want to continue to follow signs that say, "Ensenada Quota/ Rosarito Scenic Route."  

Just ahead is the toll booth. A toll fee of $2.50 US dollars will take you all the way to Rosarito. The 17 mile scenic trip will take about twenty minutes. It is a beautiful trip. Some of northern Baja California's most spectacular scenery is along this route that glides along the coast with its unblemished views of the Pacific Ocean.

As you enter Rosarito , there are three exits off the toll road. The first exit will take you into the North end of town.  There is convenient grocery shopping at Calimax or the new Commerciale store. If you would prefer to avoid city traffic, stay on the toll road and take the third exit which says Popotla/La Paloma/Calafia. (Note: if you miss this exit, you can still get off at the Pemex gas station, exiting to the West, which will take you to the old road). Drive an additional 3.2 miles after making the turn off the Toll Road onto the “old road” and you will come to Km 34.5 which is Calafia.  You will make a right turn into the private gated driveway which leads to the two condo towers ahead which are just before the large "Calafia" arch which leads to the Calafia Mission Hotel.