Quote:
Originally Posted by thelongtallcoolone
Question, as my tip is in a couple of weeks. Flying into SD and crossing the border on foot and staying at Pueblo Amigo, is it the PedWest or Pedeast that is closed? It looks like Pedwest, which I could have walked to PA from. if so, what is the cab ride from Pedeast to PA?
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Pueblo Amigo is not recommended as it is owned by the Arellano-Félix cartel's money-launderer. The place is likely to be very noisy for the next month because he's running for governor. He also works exclusively with the most expensive and corrupt taxis in the city.
PedWest has been closed ever since the US ordered the border closed last year. The old crossing at Colonia Libertad is handling all pedestrian traffic for the time being. It's more convenient anyway because it's just past where the trolley ends. (If you come in a private car and don't want to take that across the border, you can park it for free at most of the other trolley stops.)
The official story is that the border is closed to all but essential travel, but the gringos enforce that rule more than the Mexicans do. You will most likely be asked to fill out a tourist card: if so, tell them you'll be staying for three days or less so that they'll let you in for free. If you tell them you mean to stay more than a week, they'll charge you something like thirty bucks. Also, if you need to establish the essentialness of your visit, tell them you're visiting your dentist.
The cheapest way to Zona Norte from the border is the SITT bus. It comes by about every fifteen minutes *but* it takes only pesos (about fourteen, if I remember right) and the driver doesn't give change. Its Zona Norte stop is just before the El Reloj (the big arch) due east of Las Adelitas. The taxis at the border have posted prices but they refuse to honor them, so figure five bucks if you go with them.
