You don't need a car for everything in Baja. Intercity buses are genuinely good, taxis are everywhere, and rideshare works in the bigger cities. Here's what each option is actually like.

Intercity Buses

ABC (Autobuses de Baja California) is the main long-distance line on the peninsula, running Tijuana–Rosarito–Ensenada plus Mexicali, San Felipe, and points south. Buses are comfortable — reclining seats, air conditioning, a bathroom on board — and far cheaper than a rideshare between cities.

• Tijuana to Ensenada runs roughly hourly and takes about 1½–2 hours depending on traffic and the route.
• Buy at the terminal counter or online. Weekends and holidays sell out, so book ahead if your timing is fixed.
• Bring your passport — buses on the peninsula pass through military and immigration checkpoints, and you will be asked.
• The Tijuana terminal is not at the border. From the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing you'll take a local bus or taxi to the Central de Autobuses first.

Taxis, Calafias & Rideshare

• Uber works in Tijuana and Ensenada and is usually the cheapest, least-stressful option in town. Coverage thins out fast outside the bigger cities — you can often get an Uber to a smaller town like Rosarito but not one back, so plan the return trip before you go.
• Rideshare pickup at Tijuana airport is still not permitted, despite court rulings saying otherwise. Use the airport's authorized taxis, or walk off airport property to meet a driver — see the Airports guide for the specifics per airport.
• Taxis mostly don't run meters here. Agree the fare before you get in — not after. Fares to and from tourist zones are quoted high; asking a local or your hotel what a ride should cost is the fix.
• Taxis de ruta / calafias are the shared local taxis and vans that run fixed routes around town for a flat fare of a few pesos. Cheap and frequent, but you need to know the route — the destination is painted on the windshield.
• Carry small peso bills. Drivers routinely can't break large notes, and dollars get a poor rate.

Staying Connected

Almost everything above assumes you have data. Uber and DiDi won't hail a car without it, maps won't reroute you around a closed road, and WhatsApp is how drivers, hosts, and small businesses here actually reach you. Sort this out before you cross, not after.

• Check your US plan first. Several US carriers already include Mexico in their normal coverage at no extra cost, and some charge a daily fee instead. It's worth five minutes on your carrier's site — if you're covered, you need nothing else.
• A local SIM from Telcel, AT&T Mexico, or Movistar is cheap and sold at OXXO and airport counters. Telcel has the widest reach once you're off the Tijuana–Ensenada corridor. Your phone has to be carrier-unlocked to use one.
• An eSIM skips the store entirely — you install it before you leave and it activates on arrival. Needs an eSIM-capable phone, and it keeps your US number live for texts and two-factor codes while data runs on the local plan.
• Coverage on any carrier thins out south of Ensenada along the Transpeninsular. Download offline maps for a long drive rather than assuming a signal.

Driving an EV

Charging in Baja works for the Tijuana–Ensenada corridor and gets thin south of that. There is a Tesla Supercharger in Ensenada, plus destination chargers at hotels around Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, and Mexicali. Most non-Tesla public charging is slow AC, not DC fast charging.

• Plan the Transpeninsular run south of Ensenada carefully — the gaps between chargers are long, and a destination charger at a hotel means an overnight, not a top-up.
• Check charger status the day you travel; units at hotels and malls go offline and nobody updates a map.
• Carry the adapters you'd carry in the US, and don't count on a specific network app working on Mexican mobile data.

Arriving by Boat: Marinas

Ensenada is the main port of entry for boaters coming down the coast, and the practical spot to clear in before heading further south. The two main slip options are Hotel Coral & Marina (north of town, resort facilities) and Ensenada Cruiseport Village (downtown, walking distance to the malecón); Baja Naval handles haul-outs and yard work.

• Transient slip rates run roughly $2–3 USD per foot per night, with real discounts by the month. Ask for a current quote — published rates go stale.
• Budget for check-in beyond the slip: port captain and processing fees are separate and not trivial.
• Your vessel needs its own paperwork (temporary import permit, crew list, port clearance). Marinas will usually walk you through it or hand you off to an agent.
• Fishing from the boat means permits for everyone aboard — see Fishing Permits.