The building of the Instituto de Astronomía at Ensenada, is located at kilometer 103 of the Tijuana-Ensenada highway. There is an academic complex in this region, which includes the Institute of Astronomy, the Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Estudios Superiores de Ensenada (CICESE), the Centro de la Materia Condensada (UNAM) and the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. The latter is located by the sea, the other three are at the opposite side of the highway.
The academic and administrative operations of the San Pedro Martir site of the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional en San Pedro Mártir are carried out from here. The address and telephones are:
Mexican Mail US Mail Observatorio Astronómico Nacional Observatorio Astronómico Nacional Apartado Postal 877 P.O. Box 439027 22800 Ensenada, Baja California Sa800 Ensenada, Baja California San Diego, CA 92143-9027 Telephones Fax (Mexico) 61 74-4548 (Mexico) 61 74-4607 (Mexico) 61 74-4580 (Mexico) 61 74-4777 (Mexico) 61 74-4593
Ensenada is 100 km south of Tijuana, which is just accross the border from the US city san Diego. There are ample transportation facilities to get to Ensenada from Tijuana or san Diego.
Tijuana to Ensenada
The taxi service from the the Tijuana airport to Ensenada has the following schedule:
Ensenada-Tijuana Tijuana-Ensenada
7:00 ---> 8:30 7:30 ---> 9:00
9:30 ---> 11:00 12:30 ---> 14:00
14:30 ---> 16:00 18:30 ---> 20:00
Single trip costs some 10 US. You can ask the taxi driver to leave you at or close to the building of the Institute of Astronomy (just accross the Universidad de Baja California). If not, you will get to the taxi station at the Hotel Bahía, from where you can take a taxi to the Institute of Astronomy (ask to go to the Observatorio; if that doesn't work ask to go to CICESE, which is just accross).
There is also bus service from Tijuana to Ensenada, which costs some 3 US.
San Diego-Tijuana-Ensenada
If you reach San Diego, you must first get to the Tijuana border. There are three options to go from the San Diego airport to the s to go from the San Diego airport to the border (San Ysidro):
1) Take a taxi (expensive option).
2) Take a bus (about 1.50 US) to San Ysidro. The bus stops at the other side of the parking lot of the United Airlines terminal. We've been told that buses leave every 15 to 30 minutes.
3) Take a bus to the "trolley" station at the center of San Diego. The "trolley" will take you to San Ysidro for 3 US. This is the mos frequently used option.
Cross the border on foot (avoid heavy luggage!). Just accross the border there are 2 bus stations servicing Ensenada (ABC and Aragón). Buses leave every 30 minutes, and the price is about 3 US. The trip takes 1.5 hours (you can watch the scenery or a movie).
To reach the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional at San Pedro Mártir you must take the transpeninsular highway and travel 150 km south, until you reach the detour where the dirt road leading to San Pedro starts (some 25 km south of Colonet). The Observatory is 100 km away from this detour. Starting from Ensenada detour. Starting from Ensenada, it will take some 5 hours to reach the Observatory if road conditions are reasonable (watch for snow and rain). A 4 wheel drive vehicle is adviseable, though not necessary if road conditions are decent.
The OAN does not provide food, lodging, gasoline or mechanical service. Take this into account if you plan to go there. The sierra is 2830 meters high. Expect night temperatures between 5 and 10 C in the summer and down to -20 C in the winter. You can obtain additional information at the Institute of Astronomy in Ensenada.
If you are a professional visitor, the Observatory will take you to and bring you back from San Pedro. Four wheel drive vehicles are used. All trips leave at 9 am (from Ensenada and San Pedro). Consider this when you plan your trip (2 extra days are adviseable). You will receive lodging, food and, of course, all the necessary support to carry out your work. There are no charges for researchers from any Latin American astronomy research institution. All others have to pay a daily fee.