When I see reviews this good (all 5 star and only one lower than that on TripAdvisor) I immediately get suspicious that rating have been artificially inflated. Having said that the reviews seemed genuine and now having been on the one-day Mexico Tour I know they are real. This tour has so far been the highlight of our 10-day trip to San Diego. Baja Border Tours is run by one man (West) and his wife. That means you will always get West as your tour guide which is vital as he is what made the tour. As others have said he loves Mexico and its people and his mission is to change your perception of the country from the poor, dangerous country portrayed in the media to the actuality of a vibrant country full of incredibly friendly people and in that he succeeds. He does this by taking you to the real Mexico, places (apart from the Wall) that you might never normally get to see - small towns and villages to taste local food and drink (almond tequila made by a shopkeepers grandfather- which was delicious) but never with any pressure (or even expectation) from the shopkeepers we visited to buy anything. His enthusiasm is infectious and how he had the energy to kept us all entertained and informed for the 12 hours plus of the tour I don't know. West is a genuinely nice guy- at the Wall, as well as taking pictures for his guests he was taking them for a load of other tourists too. If you want a sanitised coach tour seeing the sights you can read about in the guide books this tour is not for you. If you want to have a great day out, see the real Mexico and its people, and have your preconceptions shattered then this is a must do. If I could give this 6 stars I would. I have left this review on TripAdvisor, Yelp and Google. Now for some practicalities. 1- Each tour is limited to about 11 or 12 people 2- Getting across the border is no problem and relatively quick. Our group had Brits, Australians, Kiwis and Americans and there were no costs or visas involved. 3- We were staying at Imperial Beach which is south of San Diego and we got a pick up from a local car park which meant that we didn't have to drive into downtown San Diego - this saved us a lot of time and as the meeting place was just off the freeway there was no extra charge for this. I suspect if we had to be picked up form our apartment it would have to have been much earlier so as the other guests didn't have to have a longer journey / shorter tour and there would have been a cost involved. 4- All food is included in the cost of the tour and there was plenty of it- If you were still hungry then you could always have more. The food was a mixture of street food and restaurant food and it was all excellent. Don't bother bringing any snacks and you won't need a meal when you get back from the tour (or even the next day!). It seemed we were constantly eating! 5- Water was provided but other drinks you bought yourself. The tequila, flaming tequila and the snake tequila (yes really!) were all included. 6- The only additional costs for tips to the places we ate and drank. West suggested about $6 or $7 dollars in total. read more

My wife's father and spouse were visiting us from Florida, and they expressed an interest in visiting Mexico. I decided to opt for a tour, and my Internet research led me to Baja Border Tours. West Barba, owner/operator had so many positive reviews that I felt reasonably comfortable booking with them. From the first moment I reached out, I felt sure I was making the right choice. Flora, his wife, was responsive, and made sure we had our questions answered, and was simply so nice to work with. They were up front about pricing, and how the tour works. Everything was clear, and I felt assured that the trip would go smoothly. Any group that spends so much time on details at the start, in my humble opinion, is sure to get all the trip details right too. All the lead up interactions with West himself were very friendly, and he made things easy and simple. Better however was the moment that we actually met West himself. He is engaging, friendly, and easy to talk with. His outgoing, humble, and *very* kind personality showed at every tour stop, and it was obvious that everyone at every stop adored him, and enjoyed working with him. They say you can really see the quality of a man by how he treats others, and by that standard, he is golden. The real benefit of how he treats others also came through by his getting us some amazing opportunities at some of the venues, such as prime seating, having the original Caesar Salad hand made in from of us while sitting at the bar (note, the bartender said we would not be able to have that happen, but a word from West, and another server came right up and said no problem), having an incredible coffee drink prepared elaborately in front of us with a preparation fire show in an art gallery, and having hot, fresh churros delivered to the car while waiting in line to cross the border back to the USA! The flow of the tour was paced extremely well, and while there is a lot of cultural food tastings that were so delicious that we overate from the first stop onward, we were able to sample dishes at every stop, keeping full the entire time, but not stuffed to the point where we could not enjoy the next bite. A really wonderful thing West also did was to take photos and videos throughout the entire trip. If you did not know this, a previous career of his was as a camera operator for many notable broadcast channels, and I believe he was even Emmy (or Oscar?) nominated. This resulted in our receiving over a hundred photos and videos that were incredible. Beautiful panoramas, many in the moment candids, and videos that captured the sheer, pure enjoyment of our moments on tour with West. We plan to take every tour he offers, and you should too. read more

I want to give at least a Million stars for the rating but the maximum stars available are only 5. I still am not able to believe there are such beautiful human beings like West and his wife who takes care of these tours. I was in San Diego to attend a conference and I really really wanted to visit Mexico. I called Baja border tours but they were already booked for Friday. He suggested to try fivestar tours and they were booked to. When I expressed how much I want to go to Mexico, West said he can try connecting me with his friend who could drive me to Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada. He really invested his time to help me out and then he also made sure I was safe throughout. When I crossed the border, Jose was waiting for me and West made sure it was the right guy I was meeting. West had sent me the driver's pictures, his car license pictures, shared my pictures with Jose. Then I had a pleasant surprise of meeting West in Rosarito as he was with his tour group there. All his tourists told me how much West was working since morning to take care of my trip/and my safety. West is a man with full of light radiating from his face. I had tears of joy rolling my eyes from gratitude towards him and also i was deeply touched by his helping nature. His wife is also a very sweet lady who cares for others (even strangers like me). Then along with another beautiful lady Mandy (baja borders tourist), I tasted wine from the secret private tour given by West (it is a surprise). I also had a delicious tortilla there. Then I left alone with Jose to Ensenada while West continued his tour with Mandy and other tourists. West told Jose where to take me and what to show me. Jose was kind too and he stopped at spots where I wanted to take pics. Then at Ensenada, West arranged his friend Sebastian to show me around. Sebastian was a wonderful human being too just like West. West arranged for a tequila tour there for me. Sebastian told me the history if tequila, how it is made of agave, the distillation, the types and ages of tequila etc and then he showed me the big flag in Ensenada and many other places. I am just so taken by all this hospitality. I feel indebted for their beautiful caring hearts and I want to sponsor them to visit India. I am just filled with a lot of joy and gratitude. Thank you West, thank you so much. You are one of the most beautiful and wonderful people I have ever met. Without you my Mexico trip could have not happened. I'm grateful to you - Sincerely, Pragathi read more

West Berba evinces, at times, a suprahuman energy almost like a force of nature. He is blessed with a strong constitution and uncommonly ample reserves of trust in strangers, which enables him to make friends very easily, as does his razor sharp wit and uninhibitedly spontaneous hispanic gregariousness. He believes in giving freely or (as he would put it) "working his butt off" and in turn receives kindness and generosity from people who barely know him. This makes him a tremendously well equipped guide to a maddeningly beautiful and sometimes incomprehensibly perverse culture such as Mexico and this is what enables him to bring his tour parties into close confrontation with the colourful as well as mundane and sometimes uncomfortable realities of Baja Californian life. At the same time he has an instinctive feel for the life of everyday people and is always there to shield his touring guests from being exploited or endangered in any way. Everyone from the border guard on the wall to the beggar in Tijuana is his friend and he has deepened his engaged commitment to Baja California by planning to live there. West was (and still is for the moment) a photo-journalist in his "other" life and this also gives him a privileged insight and particular perspective into the peculiar texture of Hollywood-tinted life in Southern California. He is both celebratory about the joyful aspects of life in sunny Southern California and cynical about much of the glitzy shallowness and absence of creaturely empathy which accompanies it. He possesses a very special gift of trusting his instincts which makes him a highly entertaining and plain spoken companion. He believes in living life to the full and, as he repeatedly emphasises, he is doing something which he loves - namely bringing people closer together by facillitating travel and interchange between different human cultures. It is people like West who make it possible for some of us to dream about the possibility one day of a world and a human society without borders or walls. read more

Our family doesn't usually take tours but, after reading the reviews of West's day tour of Baja California, we decided we couldn't miss this one - BEST DECISION EVER!!! This tour is a full day of amazing sights, food and shopping and I can't recommend it highly enough! It feels like West is your best friend taking you to his favorite places in Baja and feeding you (incredible amounts) of the most delicious food! In fact, we started calling him "The Mayor" because everyone everywhere appears to know and love him (we definitely loved him too so I get it). He is constantly surprising you with things you don't expect and goes the extra mile to be sure everyone is having a great experience. Happily, West doesn't fill every moment so you can take some time to focus the activities you enjoy most - want to hang out at the beach and drink margaritas for a while? wander the amazing warren of shops and haggle for beautiful handmade crafts? explore the town and talk with locals? There's time built in for whatever you enjoy most, just don't spend that time eating because West definitely has your meals and snacks covered for the day (btw, be sure to leave room for the best pork taco you've ever eaten at the end of the tour - seriously, save room. And then save a little more for the churros in the car at the border. In fact, maybe eat lightly the day before, lol!). There are so many highlights to this tour and you will walk away at the end of the day in disbelief that you have experienced so much in such a short time. Even our two teenagers said it was the most fun day they've ever had on a vacation -- that's right, teenagers expressing enthusiasm about something they've been signed up to do and that doesn't involved their friends or phones - SCORE! Fantastic tour that you definitely don't want to miss! Six stars out of five!!! read more

Last week, our family embarked on an extraordinary adventure with West (Baja Boarder Tours), and I must say, it exceeded all our expectations. This private tour across the Mexico border from San Diego, CA was an absolute delight from start to finish. First and foremost, the tour's impeccable organization and attention to detail were evident from the moment West picked us up. The round trip transportation provided was comfortable and efficient, ensuring a seamless journey throughout the day. Now, let's talk about the food. Oh, the food! Baja Boarder Tours truly knows how to indulge your taste buds. From the moment we savored the mouthwatering typical tamal breakfast, we knew we were in for a treat. And the best part? You can eat as many as you want! Along the way, we were also treated to delightful food tantalizing our palates at every turn. To top it all off, the best tacos we have ever tasted awaited us, truly a culinary experience to cherish. Beyond the gastronomic delights, the tour showcased the beauty of the Baja California region. We visited remarkable locations along the Baja coastline, including Friendship Park (Border Wall Park), Tijuana, Rosarito, and Puerto Nuevo. There was ample time allotted for shopping and exploration. allowed us to immerse ourselves in the local culture. The duration of the tour, approximately 10 hours, was perfect. We never felt rushed and had ample time to appreciate the sights, indulge in delicious food, and create lasting memories. In summary, Baja Boarder Tours provided us with an unforgettable day of adventure, culinary delights, and cultural immersion. If you're seeking a well-organized, small group or private tour that showcases the best of Baja California, look no further. This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting the San Diego area. The Clements read more

I knew the tour would be a good one within three minutes of meeting West, the tour guide and co-owner of Baja Border Tours. West is fun, knowledgeable about the locations, and loves sharing the beauties and history of Mexico and it's people. It seemed like everywhere we went, West knew the people -- and they adored him. What also helps a tour to be spectacular is the group that travels with you. Given the different personalities, perspectives, experiences and so forth that people bring with them on a tour, it is a gamble as to whether or not you'll have fun with your group, but West did a wonderful introduction pep talk that made everyone want to be sociable and (safely) adventurous. After I booked the tour for December 30, 2019, I told people what I had done, where I was going. I saw horrified expressions in return. People warned me about traveling to Mexico, telling me how dangerous it is. (No one had actually been to Mexico, recently, mind you.) When I told them I was traveling alone, people nearly passed out at the thought, so when I share that Mexico was no more dangerous than walking around any major city, and seemed cleaner and safer than downtown Los Angeles, I mean it. West made sure that we were safe, and that those touring were in the mindset to have fun, and eat well. The eating was superb! I keep a vegan diet, and didn't think that any delicious food would be made for me -- I was wrong. West made sure that there was always something for me to enjoy. If you are not vegan, when West says you'll be eating good food, trust that you will get a chance to eat (and drink) everything that West promises. This tour is worth far more than what you spend. read more

It is hard to summarize how amazing this tour was. West is fully immersed in the fabric of these border towns, and you get to experience Mexico in a very intimate way. If you want to peer down on people from an air-conditioned luxury bus, this tour is not for you. But if you want to be in be introduced to Mexico on the ground, in all its layers, I cannot recommend Baja Border tours enough. West has a heart as big as his personality, and his interactions with the people of Tijuana in particular, touched me in a way that I am still processing. Life is difficult for so many people, and he rushed toward them during the tour, calling out encouragement, giving amputee buskers and musicians tips, supporting a grandma who lost her son to covid and is now raising his three daughters, buying food for us from amazing local vendors, lamenting the border policies and the effect on the Mexican people and migrants, but also showing us unique and breathtaking experiences. Yes - my teenage kids needed to see this, because it was an acknowledgment that life is amazing, but also very hard and very unfair for many. We had a beautiful and touching day, and West was nothing less than attentive, and by the way, he is fantastic with kids, and a great photographer. As we left the border rather quickly, West remembered that he had promised Churros, so as we were moving at a rapid pace through the line, he shouted to a border vendor, but it seemed to be too late as we whizzed by. But in what seemed like seconds, piping churros were delivered to the car just before we crossed back to the US. Magical moments like this are part of what you get with West. read more

This tour was, hands down, the best I have ever been on. If you want a real taste of Baja--its people, culture, foods, and sights--you won't be disappointed by Baja Border Tours. West is a local at heart, offering experiences and interactions you won't get anywhere else--he has great rapport with the locals, knows all the best spots, and shares interesting details and context as you go. The tour is also filled with surprises, personal touches, and some of the best food around (did I say "some"? Do not eat before this tour... for at least a day!). Truly, the food and drinks alone are worth the price! But it's the personal touches that make this tour one in a million. This was my son's long-awaited first trip to Mexico (a dream trip for him that occurred shortly after his 16th birthday), and West not only bought him a souvenir birthday gift but also organized a mariachi band street performance to wish him a happy birthday, Mexican style. It was magnificent--an experience my son and I will never forget. West is also funny, personable, and just plain fun to travel with. He clearly loves the area and his work, and he goes out of his way to ensure his customers get the experience they're looking for. Bonus: West is a master at capturing videos and photos of his customers' experiences. You won't believe all you'll see and do in just one day, and you'll head home with great photos and memories. This is a wonderful tour of a beautiful and magical place. I would love to book it again--it's just that good. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. Don't hesitate to choose this tour. I can't recommend it enough. read more

This was not just a tour, it was an adventure! Everything that they say on their website is true plus more. We were a couple but the tour requires a minimum of six people so we were lucky that there was a family of four who also booked the tour around the same dates that we were visiting San Diego. We had booked Airbnb accomodations so we drove to the Old Town Transit Center for pickup. Flora, his wife, gave us clear instructions so we had no problems finding West. First of all, you don't get hungry on this tour because West constantly feeds you. Everything was good, from tamales in the morning to street tacos at night, even churros just before crossing the border! We also went to the tourist sights but West made sure he explained everything even little known facts about Friendship Park in Tijuana or Christ of the Sacred Heart in Rosarito. There were a lot of first times for us including tequila tasting, coffee with tequila (with a live demo!) and even a little Tijuana night adventure. West treated us like we were friends visiting, not his customers. He regaled us with many stories but also gave us a lot of insights about Mexico and its culture and people. You can see from his interaction with all the people that we met, be it the street vendors or the owner of the resto where we ate, that this was a person that was well loved and respected. This tour was not only eye-opening, it was also transforming. Thank you West (and Flora!) for the experiences! Please keep on doing what you do. The world needs a lot more people like you. read more

Baja Border Tours is AWESOME!! My Mom and 73 year old Granny came to San Diego from Tennessee for a visit. My Granny had always wanted to go to Mexico. Sad as it makes me, she was calling it her "bucket list" trip. Naturally, never having been on a plane let alone out of the country, my Granny was nervous. My Mom and I were also nervous but more because my Granny's age and some physical limitations. I searched everywhere locally, but being on a big bus full of strangers (on a schedule) or getting taxis was NOT an option. Then I found West, not only a REAL tour guide, an incredible human being. The ENTIRE day, West took care of my Granny. He held her hand everywhere we went. He was a GREAT sport with my Granny's relentless (harmless) flirting with him, in fact, he had that old woman blushing. We had the BEST time. Her day was definitely a "bucket list" level type day. We felt completely safe. Everyone knew West and anyone who didn't, understood him. He protected us from "tourist traps" and made sure we were doing what made us happy. As for my Mom, he enabled her to have a life changing experience at the border wall and on Rosarito Beach. She will never look at Mexico the same way again. It was so special!!! I honestly cannot recommend Baja Border Tours enough for ANY occasion!! I'll be taking a trip with this service again soon!! West, thank you so much!! You're really one of the best humans I've ever met!! read more

Ik raad deze tour guide voor een trip naar Mexico zeker aan! Ontzettend aardige en leuke man die vol enthousiasme delen van Mexico laat zien. Met hem in de buurt heb ik mezelf geen moment onveilig gevoeld. Hij laat je kennis maken met lokaal eten en laat verschillende mooie plekken zien. Zoals de straten van Tijuana, het strand bij Tijuana, Rosarito en Puerto Nuevo. Het eten wordt bij de tour erbij gerekend, alcoholische dranken moet je zelf betalen behalve verschillende soorten Tequila die je mag proeven. Ook vraagt hij of je fooi wilt geven aan de mensen bij wie je langs komt. Dit valt reuze mee, de mensen zijn vaak al blij met 1 of 2 dollar. Al met al heb ik een fantastische tijd gehad. Eentje om nooit te vergeten! I definitely recommend this tour guide for a trip to Mexico! Very nice and fun man who enthusiastically shows parts of Mexico. I never felt unsafe with him around. He will introduce you to local food and show you different beautiful places. Such as the streets of Tijuana, the beach at Tijuana, Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo. The food is included in the tour, you only have to pay for alcoholic drinks yourself, except for different types of Tequila that you can taste. He also asks if you want to tip the people you visit. This is not so bad, people are often happy with 1 or 2 dollars. All in all I had a fantastic time. A memory to never forget! read more

As a single mom traveling with 2 teens across the US to visit Tijuana, I must say it was a true blessing doing business with West. From the initial call (very straight forward) he explained all my options even when 2 of those weren't even with him. He made me feel really secure about my travels and really put a lot of that anxiety to rest. West picked us up in the hotel and we were off. One place to the other was amazing. it only gets better throughout the day. I found it amazing how he has relationship with all the locals. I mean everyone know West and vice versa. Relationships are very important and I think that really added to the experience. From the beach town of Rosarito to the night life in Encinada.... We were welcomed with open arms. Let's talk about the cost for a second. The only thing I can say is that it's worth every cent and more!!!! Please take my word for it. Its just not a tour, it's truly an experience that is priceless. BTW he is a great photographer. My kids had a great time and I can tell because the only time they were on the phone was when they were taking pictures. They learned about the friendship wall in Tijuana and even cried knowing some of the struggles. I hope if you have gotten this far, you can feel a bit more confident about booking with West. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, BEST TOUR EVER!!!!!! read more

Authentic Mexico! West (the tour operator) took us to places we could not have found and would not have gone to on our own. A word about West. He has spent many years as a camera man for major news networks, been to 27 countries and speaks 3 languages. So his perspective on Mexico (not his home country) is unique and broad. Our first stop was Freedom Park on the Mexican side of the border. The park sits between the Mexican and US border and is frequented by families that are separated by the wall. There we also stopped at a family run restaurant for tamales. Then off to Rosarito for some shopping in a typical Mexican market. Check out the candy store down the block. Then to Popolito, a small fishing village. For lunch we had fish that literally just came off the boat. Grilled with traditional Mexican spices on an open grill. Delicioso! Then to Valle de Guadeloupe, wine country in Baja California. If you've been to Napa Valley this will look familiar. Three wineries later we're off to Ensenada. Then back up to Tijuana, where we went to the best street taco place. It was packed but not a tourist in sight. All locals. Great tacos. You will see much more than I described here, and most importantly, it is all authentic Mexico. If you've never been or if you've only gone to resorts, do this trip. You will not regret it. read more

I can easily give the highest recommendation for West and his company, Baja Border Tours. West knows how to navigate the border crossings, traffic jams, and any other glitches quickly and efficiently. He is known and welcomed by the locals, who can sometimes be seen high-fiving him. He chose terrific local venues, sights, and vendors for us, some of which only an insider might know about. Perhaps the best part of the trip was watching how West handled one of our tour-mates who was in a difficult state. He spent extra time and care watching out for her and making sure she had the best experience possible. When a tour-mate left their passport in Mexico, West was able to sail us through the border check into the US in spite of the missing passport and humongous lines. Then, as our day was ending late (thanks to a traffic jam in the US), we received word the passport had been found in Rosarito. West dropped us off in Old Town, then headed right back to Rosarito, alone. He eventually retrieved the missing passport and hand-delivered it to the tour-mate's residence. West can design a tour around just about any kind of experience you would like. I can't wait to do another tour by Baja Border Tours. read more

The sorority that I joined 47 years ago gets together regularly. The last one was just a month ago in San Diego and part of the itinerary was to cross to Tijuana. Some were apprehensive about going, however upon meeting Wes the tour operator, we know that we will be in good hands. He is a professional, kind, responsible and knowledgeable guide who has a good heart. Along the way during the trip he greeted people young and old that when he misplaced his phone in one of the places we visited he got a call to pick it upon his way back! The food places that he brought us were fantastic- breakfast at a tamale place with our choices of chicken, beef or plain corn, a generous lobster lunch with Mexican specials like burrito, rice, salsa, refried beans etc and then a roadside ice cream treat with local fruit flavours. We drove through beautiful mountains and ocean views and headed back with a dinner in a taco stop with mostly the locals eating with us. We also passed downtown Tijuana that gave us a taste of the everyday lives of local folk. We were so pleased with that trip that when my husband's fraternity met in Temecula, I suggested the same tour and they loved it! Tita E. from Toronto, Canada read more

Wow. I had read all of the positive reviews of West and of the tour, but still came out surprised. The tour was one of the best experiences my husband and I have ever had, and it would not have been half as good if West had not been our guide. We felt safe the entire time, and spent the day eating delicious food, stopping at beaches, and driving up to beautiful lookout points. West was flexible and helpful the entire time; he paid for essentially everything during the day, and just had us pay him back at the end of the tour, which made for very convenient dining situations. West knows all of the best places to visit, and we enjoyed every single activity we did! He's also so funny, let me practice my broken Spanish with him, took excellent pictures and videos of us (he also works as a cameraman, so his photography skills are superb), and planned a little surprise cake since it was my husband's birthday. I can't recommend this tour enough!! Crossing the border was easy both ways; it took only half an hour to come back to the US on a Friday night! If you have even the slightest desire to go south of the border, Baja Tours is the best way to do it. read more

Just completed our Baja California/Ensenada blowhole tour with Baja Border Tours. This guy West Barba is fun energetic informative guide. We had the 27yo kid whose emotionless but he thoroughly enjoyed this tour. You get to stop and see the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean from along the Baja. On our tour the guide bought fish/oyster right from the boats and they were cooked immediately for us for lunch. You will make many stops as too many to name and you will not get bored. There were a couple of cute college gals on our tour and the guide made sure we were all safe at all stops. His rates are basically half price of the tour buses and I'm sure he gives three times the tour. He changed our tour to go to Ensenada blowhole for me. It was cool. His van holds maybe 8-10 comfortably and there were five in our tour. He also offers Mexican wine country tours, San Diego and any number of night tours you'd be interested in such as swimming with the sharks etc. you name it he will arrange it. I could go on and on but give West a shot you won't regret it. read more

This was the best day tour that we could have asked for. Our tour guide, West, went above and beyond to make sure everyone in our small group had a good time and an authentic experience in the northwestern border cities of Baja Mexico. Our tour included four distinct stops with plenty of time for walking around, shopping, eating delicious Mexican food, and tasting quality wine and tequila. We experienced a bunch of unexpected adventures with amazing surprises and delightful treats that I don't want to give away. In addition, West is totally hilarious, so be prepared to laugh and joke a lot. And he seems to know everyone from the border southward, fist-bumping and hand-shaking and hugging folks in every town and city. Previously he'd been a videocamera operator for over two decades in 42 countries around the world, including in war zones. He can handle pretty much anything, including expediting the border-crossing process and parking the large van in tiny spots. I highly recommend this day trip for a fun, hands-on experience of this region of Mexico. read more