Choice of two packages, each for under $500 for 3 nights!

A vacation in Los Cabos is the perfect way to celebrate the end of the school year. You deserve to get away and unwind. Recent graduates, parents or teachers – surely, you’ve earned some time to yourself to celebrate the end of another busy school year.

At Hotel El Ganzo in Puerto Los Cabos, enjoy plush amenities at this chic, new, adults- only resort in the hot new marina in Puerto Los Cabos. This special promotional offer gives you the third night free when you pay for 2, including El Ganzo breakfast. Enjoy a 15% discount at the spa for even more indulgence!  Join us at Hotel El Ganzo for 3 nights for just $482 for two.

At the other end of the peninsula, in Cabo San Lucas, you can go to the heart of it all in Medano Beach. The Bahia Hotel and Beach Club offers a warm, friendly, welcoming environment for you to enjoy a 3 night getaway, including daily breakfast and one complimentary stand-up paddle session per person. And they’ll pick you up from the airport and take you back. So bring the family. Or bring your fraternity brothers. This package is $477 for the 3 nights for a party of two…Quad occupancy for as little as $717.

Want more information on these two fabulously indulgent retreats from school, stress and strain?  Read more about El Ganzo and Bahia Hotel & Beach Club! Want to book it?  Please call our Toll Free number for room rates and promotions at (855)Baja-411 (855)225-2411 to speak to Lisa Green, our Travel Savant.

SCHOOL’S OUT!

HOTEL EL GANZO, Puerto Los Cabos Marina (ADULTS-ONLY)

$482 for 3 nights for 2 people including daily breakfast

 THE BAHIA HOTEL AND BEACH CLUB, Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas

$477 for 3 nights for 2 people including daily breakfast, airport transfers, and SUP session, $717 for quad occupancy

Offers expire July 31, 2013.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

The post School’s Out Special Promotion: Have a Baja Moment! with Hotel El Ganzo and Bahia Hotel & Beach Club in Los Cabos appeared first on Baja.com.

Baja boasts an abundance of big game sport fishing opportunities, but a few of the top sites can be a little remote and difficult to access from major tourist centers.

Baja offers an abundance of big game sport fishing.

Nowhere is this truer than when referring to the offshore waters of Baja’s rugged Pacific coast; a place where the Port of Ensenada is the only major maritime resource that exists between the International border at San Ysidro and Cabo San Lucas near the peninsula’s southern tip.

But sport fishing for Baja’s big tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular ‘blue water’ offshore game fish that often swim more than 50 miles from shore in these regions was never really a viable possibility until the middle of the last century.

The late Bill Poole at San Diego Sportfishing docks

Shortly after the end of World War II, a San Diego sport fishing pioneer named Bill Poole, who loved fishing off southern California and northern Baja, realized that that the fishing just kept getting better the further south you went.  But actually doing this required two things; sport boats that were much bigger and had the capacity to make the trips, and cooperation from the Republic of Mexico in obtaining permission to explore and fish in these isolated destinations.

After successfully initiating a viable permit agreement with Mexican officials, Poole embarked upon a bold move to begin building more sophisticated and well equipped passenger vessels that were suitable for long range multi-day travel, and which would also comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements.  By doing so, he eventually established an honorary reputation within the local industry as San Diego’s ‘top skipper’.  Between 1947 and his passing in 2009, Poole owned and operated 10 sport fishing vessels, which included the original Polaris, the Royal Polaris, the Polaris Supreme and the Excel.

Bill Poole was much more than just the pioneer of long-range fishing off of coastal Baja. During a span of over 70 years, he laid the foundation and continued to lead in building the framework for San Diego’s entire sport fishing industry. He also mentored many of today’s top sport boat captains during their early years.

Today, decades of experience in long range offshore fishing along Baja’s Pacific Coast have earned San Diego a reputation for having one of the finest sport fishing fleets on the planet. Trips are available that fit practically every itinerary and budget; whether it be a relatively short 2 day excursion off Baja Norte’s Punta Colonet for large winter rockfish or albacore tuna in the summertime, or an incredible 14-day adventure down past the southern tip of Baja on the hunt for giant ‘cow’ yellowfin tuna that can tip the scales at well over 200 pounds.

The entire length of the peninsula is randomly interspersed with small islands and rocky outcroppings that attract a wide variety of both territorial and migrating fish species to delight the intrepid angler.

One of the most beguiling and southernmost of these is the small, surf battered formation known as Roca Partida, which lies about 300 miles south of Cabo San Lucas.   It may be isolated, but it is a prime destination for long range voyages of 14 days or more for those targeting huge yellowfin.  And for those who would like to fish this area with out as much travel time on the water, at least one of San Diego’s long range operations offers a ‘fly down, fly back’ trip in spring that allows anglers to be picked up and returned to the port at Cabo San Lucas.

The small and remote outcropping, Roca Partida, is a prime venue for huge yellowfin tuna.

While it may be true that these craft will never be confused with luxury ocean liners, members of San Diego’s long range fleet go out of there way to provide comfortable accommodations via clean compact staterooms, hot showers, exceptional service and plenty of gourmet quality fare and tasty snacks throughout the trip to keep their anglers happy.  Additionally, modern techniques for fish storage aboard the boats, including some with RSW (refrigerated salt water) systems, help to keep your catch at the peak of freshness until you return to the mainland.

Of course, anglers who are visiting the Los Cabos region can also get a piece of this same world-class fishing action without spending several days on the water, by simply contacting one of the the local outfitters in the area to arrange a day-trip or even overnight trip out of the port.

A few of the more established operations include JC’s Sportfishing and The One Baja,  both in the Los Cabos area, and The Cortez Club Mosquito Fleet in La Paz, which also offers day or multi-day yacht rentals.  

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year.  For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post Exploring Baja’s Big Game Sport Fishing appeared first on Baja.com.

Mexico’s heritage of brewing great beer goes back centuries, with most of the influence coming from Germany, which accounts for the pleasingly high hop profile in many of its beers.  But, up until now, almost all of the country’s brews have been mass produced by large corporate entities such as Tecate and Modelo. 

Baja is home of many popular brands of microbrewed beer.

Over the past few years, however, Ensenada’s Baja Beer Fest has become one of the most significant events in northern Mexico showcasing artisanal breweries.  This year’s judging panel was comprised of both professional microbrewers from north of the border and by Mexican BJCP judges. The purpose of the international Beer Judge Certification Program is to promote beer literacy as well as the appreciation of ‘real beer’.  The organization evaluates individual tasting skills by ranking and certifying BJCP applicants through a rigid examination and monitoring process.

A wide selection of tasty craft brewed Baja beer was available at the 2013 Beer Fest in Ensenada.

Small microbrewery operations continue to expand in the region, with over 100 now located in and around Ensenada alone.  And over 40 of them offered up their wares at this year’s brew fest, along with a wide variety of food vendors who represented some of the city’s most popular eateries.

Just prior to the event, Baja’s secretary of tourism, Juan Tintos, expressed how important he feels Baja’s fledgling beer industry is in helping to entice even more visitors south of the border, and offered his enthusiastic support to the various breweries, business and organizations promote this annual event and make it possible.

For a fixed price of about $25.00 (U.S.) this year’s attendees were able sample products from dozens of vendors, including established regional brands like Cucapa (Mexicali), Kudos (Tijuana) and Zombie (Ensenada).  There were also a few of the operations, such as Wendland and Old Mission Brewery, who also run their own adjoining restaurant.

The largest of these is the Old Mission Brewery, which relocated from Punta Banda to 645 Avenida Castillo in Ensenada’s downtown business district a little over a year ago.  It is owned by master brewer Paul Woronicz and his wife, Karla, who also run the onsite wood fire pizza restaurant. 

Paul Woronicz, owner of Ensenada’s Old Mission Brewery, kept spirits high throughout the afternoon with his hoppy creations.

The couple has spared no expense by importing the latest and most sophisticated brewery hardware all the way from Germany, as well as many of the specialized yeasts that are necessary to create the finest of hand-crafted beers this side of Bavaria.  As a matter of fact, some critics opine that the superlative products made by this local biermeister may also be some of the finest on the entire Baja peninsula.

Nonetheless, the size of a brewery need not necessarily define the quality of its products.  Some of the tastiest beers, ales and porters are often brewed by operations generating less than 50 gallons of product per year.

But for those who relish the rich flavors, colors and textures of finely crafted brews, there are very few opportunities available to taste as many variations on the theme in a single place as can be found at Ensenada’s annual Baja Beer Fest.

By Tom Gatch

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year.  For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA.

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• Your Photo Can Win Two Tickets to the New Wine & Seafood Festival in Ensenada

The post Baja Beer Makers Tap Into Burgeoning Craft Brew Movement appeared first on Baja.com.

Ensenada’s New Wine & Seafood Festival coordinated by Provino was the kick-off to the wine season.

Over the past 15 years, the greater Ensenada area has distinguished itself as a haven for both seafood gourmets and lovers of fine wines.  In fact, it has garnered so much attention in this regard that heavy hitters like the Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain, prominent restaurateur and television chef, Rick Bayless and even Food & Wine writers for the New York Times have begun to take notice.

Of course, many are familiar with the yearly Fiestas de la Vendimia, which takes place in late summer focuses primarily on the wonderful wines produced in the valleys of Guadalupe and San Antonio de las Minas.  Nonetheless another prominent wine event, put on by Provino which sponsors the official Fiestas del la Vendimia event, is the annual Conchas y Vino (New Wine & Seafood) festival that is usually held in late April.  This program goes one step further by celebrating the pairing of young local wines with a selection of some of the delightfully fresh shellfish that is grown or harvested in the region.

Commercial fishing has always been a staple of Ensenada’s economy; but more recently, viable aquaculture operations have begun to emerge along the Pacific coast of Baja Norte that have become a major resource for markets on both side of the border.  Just to the south, the waters of Bahia San Quintin have even been certified by the USDA as being fit for shellfish production.  These days a wide variety of seafood favorites, including various clams, mussels, oysters and even abalone are grown in this rich, natural environment.

The popular event is held bayside, adjacent to the well appointed Hotel Coral & Marina, and draws a host of both local and visiting attendees that revel in sampling an ongoing assortment of often exotic seafood preparations washed down with sips of wine produced by numerous nearby vineyards.  

One of the nicer aspects of having rows of individual restaurants, wineries and seafood operations available for perusal is having the rare opportunity to actually chat directly with the very people who produce and work intimately with all of the products being sampled during the festival. 

Needless to say, an ambitious event of this nature requires an incredible amount of work and planning by both organizers and vendors; but the end result of introducing or reacquainting those who attend the festival with the plethora of great wines, foods and restaurants that are available in the Ensenada area on a year round basis is certainly well worth the effort.

Ensenada’s New Wine & Seafood Festival is the first of many events that will be occurring in this region.  Find out where to stay in Ensenada, when you visit!

Hooked on Baja author & columnist Tom Gatch is one of Baja’s foremost writers with a focus upon outdoor and recreational topics in Baja and Southern California.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year.  For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA.

The post Ensenada’s New Wine & Seafood Festival: This Year’s Event was a Memorable Extravaganza appeared first on Baja.com.

Join WiLDCOAST at the Baja Bash in honoring El Hijo Del Santo and Chef Javier Plascencia for their efforts to shine a spotlight on threats to our coastlines and coastal environments and for sharing their conservation message with their fans!

This is a great way to show your support for Baja’s fragile ecosystem and mingle with conservation advocates at the Baja Bash on Saturday, June 15, 6-10 p.m., at the Port Pavilion on the Broadway Pier in San Diego. WiLDCOAST, a San Diego-based organization that works for coastal and marine conservation, is throwing the benefit party to celebrate the best of Baja—including the region’s food, wine, music, and wildlife.

The evening will feature rockstar chefs: besides Baja’s Plascencia, chefs Chad White and Jason Knibb will be in attendance, along with Miguel Angel Guerrero, also from Baja).  Quality beverages from both sides of the border (including some of Baja’s world famous wines) and a live set from Latin Alternative recording artist, B-Side Players will highlight the evening.

WiLDCOAST’s Baja Bash helps protect Baja’s coastline.

Tickets are now on sale for the Baja Bash! $75 per person, including food, drinks, and fun, to support our coast and ocean! Go to www.wildcoast.net or you can link here to purchase directly . Proceeds from the Baja efforts to conserve the most vulnerable coastal and marine habitats in San Diego and Baja California.

WiLDCOAST has spent more than a decade working in San Diego and Baja California to preserve the rich variety of plant and animal life that make it a natural setting for enchantment and exploration. The organization manages the 105,000-acre Bahia Concepcion Peninsula Preserve and has put together several successful public awareness campaigns, including a large-scale campaign to encourage people to abstain from eating turtle meat and turtle eggs, as well as campaigns to preserve threatened coastline and species.

Baja.com is proud to support WiLDCOAST in their ongoing efforts to protect Baja and its coastal treasures.  Please attend this important event, the Baja Bash.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about localrestaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post Baja Bash is Back in 2013 with Rockstar Chefs and Hot Entertainment: Save the Coast and Save the Date! appeared first on Baja.com.

Choice of two packages, each for under $500 for 3 nights!

A vacation in Los Cabos is the perfect way to celebrate the end of the school year. You deserve to get away and unwind. Recent graduates, parents or teachers – surely, you’ve earned some time to yourself to celebrate the end of another busy school year.

School’s Out! Celebrate with a special offer at El Ganzo Hotel.

At Hotel El Ganzo in Puerto Los Cabos, enjoy plush amenities at this chic, new, adults- only resort in the hot new marina in Puerto Los Cabos. This special promotional offer gives you the third night free when you pay for 2, including El Ganzo breakfast. Enjoy a 15% discount at the spa for even more indulgence!  Join us at Hotel El Ganzo for 3 nights for just $482 for two.

At boutique Bahia Hotel & Beach Club, enjoy and relax.

At the other end of the peninsula, in Cabo San Lucas, you can go to the heart of it all in Medano Beach. The Bahia Hotel and Beach Club offers a warm, friendly, welcoming environment for you to enjoy a 3 night getaway, including daily breakfast and one complimentary stand-up paddle session per person. And they’ll pick you up from the airport and take you back. So bring the family. Or bring your fraternity brothers. This package is $477 for the 3 nights for a party of two…Quad occupancy for as little as $717.

Want more information on these two fabulously indulgent retreats from school, stress and strain?  Read more about El Ganzo and Bahia Hotel & Beach Club! Want to book it?  Please call our Toll Free number for room rates and promotions at (855)Baja-411 (855)225-2411 to speak to Lisa Green, our Travel Savant.

SCHOOL’S OUT!

HOTEL EL GANZO, Puerto Los Cabos Marina (ADULTS-ONLY)

$482 for 3 nights for 2 people including daily breakfast

 THE BAHIA HOTEL AND BEACH CLUB, Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas

$477 for 3 nights for 2 people including daily breakfast, airport transfers, and SUP session, $717 for quad occupancy

Offers expire July 31, 2013.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about localrestaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post School’s Out Special Promotion: Have a Baja Moment! with Hotel El Ganzo and Bahia Hotel & Beach Club in Los Cabos appeared first on Baja.com.

What is everyone’s favorite two-word phrase? Road Trip!

Who doesn’t want to slide on the sunglasses, and hit the open road? Particularly when all roads lead to gorgeous golden sand beaches, luxurious seaside hideaways, and world-class restaurants, and your trusty four-wheeled steed is exactly that: honest, reliable, and showroom fresh. Here’s a five day itinerary that will take you from La Paz to Los Cabos and back again, with scenic stops at the artists’ colony of Todos Santos, the Land’s End paradise known as Cabo San Lucas, and the charming colonial-style city of San Jose del Cabo.

Your five-day itinerary starts in La Paz, where National Car Rental has a special offer for those reserving through Baja.com!

Day 1 – La Paz

You’ll fly into Baja Sur’s capital city of La Paz, and pick up your Baja chariot before you leave the international airport. National Car Rental boasts a full line of cars, utility vehicles, and jeeps, and in addition to the convenient airport location, is currently offering a deal for anyone who reserves through Baja.com — they will receive a free car upgrade (only when reservation is  for any of the following categories: economy, compact, intermediate, standard and full size). There are also 20% discounts on all prepaid online rentals out of La Paz. So book a reservation before you leave home, and your vehicle of choice will be ready to go as soon as you pick up your luggage.

After a sunshine-soaked jaunt along the Malecon – the broad seaside promenade lined with bronze statues and wrought-iron benches – sample the downtown dining scene at Caffe Milano Ristorante. This superb eatery features authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of Baja, and the open kitchen allows patrons to watch the chef prepare hearty handmade pastas. If you fly in Friday for an extended weekend trip, make sure and try out the code word “Amore Mio.” Your waitress will immediately fall in love with you, and bring you a free cayenne infused chocolate cake.

Ready to hit the road again? It’s time to discover the evening’s lodging, Captain Kirk’s in La Ventana, a 45-minute drive south of La Paz. This secluded beach resort boasts spacious accommodations in boutique casas and casitas, beautiful botanical gardens, and gorgeous views overlooking the dazzling blue waters of the Sea of Cortez It’s also one of the best places in the world for windsports like kiteboarding and windsurfing. But the first evening, you’ll settle in with tropical cocktails – let’s say blended margaritas – on the Captain’s Deck , with perhaps a little local color later at area hangouts like Las Palmas or Bandito’s Sushi and Sports Bar.

Located just south of La Paz, Captain Kirk’s in La Ventana is one of the world’s best windsport resorts.

Day 2 – Todos Santos

After morning yoga and a healthy breakfast courtesy of Captain Kirk’s wife Kitty, it’s time to get wet and wild. If the kiteboarding and windsurfing are world-class in Ventana Bay, the sportfishing and diving are merely spectacular. Personally, I recommend the fishing. The waters are teeming with big fish, and the resort’s panga guides take guests out for dorado, yellowfish tuna, striped marlin, roosterfish, wahoo, sierra, and other delicious denizens of the deep. Pack your catch on ice, by the way, you’ll be sampling it later.

On the road again. After backtracking to La Paz, take Highway 1 -the Transpeninsular Highway south until you merge onto Highway 19, then ride that all the way to the Pueblo Magico - literally, magical village – of Todos Santos. Once the domain of sugar barons and hacendados, this charming town on Baja’s Pacific Coast is brimming with beautiful red brick buildings and a flourishing art scene. Sightseeing should definitely include tours of the historic Hotel California and Todos Santos Inn, plus visits to local galleries and perhaps a wine purchase at La Bodega de Todos Santos, a shop that exclusively features wines from Baja’s renowned Guadalupe Valley (located outside of Ensenada in Baja California Norte).

Your waiter at Guaycura Restaurant will be happy to uncork your wine, and deliver your fish to the chef. Located at yet another historic Todos Santos hotel, the boutique Guaycura, the onsite restaurant features a mix of Mexican ingredients like huitlacoche, corn, and epazote paired with the freshest fish caught daily in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. In this case, your own! Or, if you prefer something a bit meatier, try the chef’s superb pork tenderloin. Afterward, relax with a digestif and refreshing coastal breezes at the Sky Lounge. Yes, life is pretty good right now.

And it gets better. Tonight you’re staying at CalyCanto Casitas’ premier property, Casita del Pescado. Located 2 1/2 miles outside of Todos Santos, on a bluff 700 yards above the Pacific Ocean, the property has all the modern conveniences, as well as traditional Mexican comforts and antique artisanal mesquite furnishings. Did I mention the views? Before bedtime, go out and thank your National Car Rental for bringing you here.

In addition to its luxurious accommodations, the historic Guaycura Todos Santos Boutique Hotel & Spa also houses one of Baja’s best restaurants.

Day 3 – Cabo San Lucas

Get up early, and by early I mean 10 a.m. What kind of a monster do you think I am? Don’t answer that, and remember this itinerary is not gospel, merely a collection of suggestions. But since this is Sunday, I highly urge you to stop at Cerritos Beach on the way to Cabo San Lucas. Jazz chanteuse Daline Jones and ace keyboardist Diego Ramirez perform at the Beach Club every Sunday afternoon, and they’re fantastic. So are the mariscos and house tequila, by the way. Assuming you don’t get too fascinated by the tequila – you have to drive later – this is one of the best surf spots in Baja. The Beach Club will rent you a board. Hang ten, dude or dudette!

Okay, let’s roll. We’re going to my own hometown, that beautiful Land’s End resort destination and nightclub haven known as Cabo San Lucas. Arrive and check in at the chic Bahia Hotel near Medano Beach. Yes, it’s half a block from the town’s best beach, a two mile stretch of glorious golden sand. The hotel also boasts one of the best onsite restaurants in town, Bar Esquina – you’ll be having tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast there – plus a little coffee shop where you can grab a cappuccino to go on the way to the beach.

But no trip to Cabo is complete without a sightseeing trip to Land’s End, Pelican and Scooby Doo rocks, and the signature granite monument, El Arco. The Arch looks out on two bodies of water, the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The best way to get out there? I recommend a tandem kayak trip courtesy of High Tide Sea Expeditions. On the way back to Playa Coral Negro, near the old Cannery, you’ll stop for snorkeling and photo ops at Lover’s and Divorce Beaches. Lover’s Beach is one of the most famous in all of Baja. Accessible only by water, this pristine stretch is surrounded by hulking granite, and features spectacular views of Cabo San Lucas and her bay.

Later, go to Cabo Wabo, the nightclub founded by former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar. All I’m going to say is try the Waborita. Oh, and leave the car at the hotel.

Since Lover’s Beach is only accessible by water, paddle out with High Tide Sea Expeditions’ tandem kayak tour.

Day 4 – San Jose del Cabo

Did you end up in the hot tub last night? Okay, good. I’m starting to trust your judgement. Today we drive to San Jose del Cabo. It’s 20 miles along the Tourist Corridor – you’ll remember it as Highway 1, which will eventually get you back to La Paz – and you’ll get gorgeous glimpses of secluded beaches and glittering blue water as you roll into your second Cape city in as many days.

San Jose del Cabo lacks the boisterous nightlife of Cabo San Lucas, but the big sister has plenty of colonial charm, a thriving Art District, and some truly world-class restaurants. I’ll mention two: Don Sanchez Cantina and Deckman’s at Havana. Sandwich them around your sightseeing schedule (don’t forget a visit to the historic church, and check out the murals in the City Hall courtyard). Don Sanchez is perfect for lunch. Visit the indoor wine cave, then relax in the tapas lounge, or walk upstairs to Retro for a gourmet cheeseburger. The restaurant is right down the street from City Hall, so you don’t have to worry about losing your parking spot.

Deckman’s at Havana is your dinner destination. Chef Drew Deckman has been mentored by some of the world’s best chefs, was a private chef for one of the world’s most famous movie stars, and earned a coveted Michelin star while helming Restaurant Vitus in Germany. In other words, he can cook. Deckman’s features only locally grown, sourced, or caught foods, and the menu turns over nightly to take advantage of the freshest seasonal ingredients. Like Don Sanchez, the wine selections are superb, and focus on Mexico’s Guadalupe Valley.

Your final hotel is also the newest. El Ganzo Hotel is located at the luxurious Puerto Los Cabos property, a high-end development that includes residences, a yacht-worthy marina, a fabulous selection of bronze statues from famed Mexican surrealist Leonora Carrington, as well as a golf course collaboration between major champions Jack “the Golden Bear” Nicklaus and Greg “the Great White Shark” Norman. More on that later. For now, concentrate on the trendy sushi bar and the pampering spa, and remember there is an onsite recording studio, in case you want to cut a Top 40 smash before checkout time.

After meeting the ghosts of John Wayne and Bing Crosby for lunch at Palomar, tour Santiago’s historic church. Image: Michael Kull

Day 5 – La Paz

Get up, play golf. That was easy. Puerto Los Cabos showcases 9-hole layouts from Norman and Nicklaus, and eventually both will become separate 18-hole courses. For now, this is one of the most incredible collaborative efforts you’ll find anywhere in the world, with everything from desert terrain – think huge sand trap – to spectacular seaside views. Elevated tee boxes are common, so you’ll feel like you’re killing the ball.

After the round, drive up Highway 1 to Santiago, and have lunch at the Palomar Restaurant and Hotel. The Palomar has been around forever, and John Wayne and Bing Crosby used to hang out there when they flew down to go white-winged dove hunting. The chile rellenos are delicious and the beer is cold. Take a detour to inspect the lovely church, and the nearby waterfalls.

Tired? You should be. It’s been a whirlwind 5-day weekend (what can I say, that’s how we do it in Baja). Proceed back to La Paz. Tell your waitress at Caffe Milano Ristorante that you still love her. Have more pasta. Turn in your car to National. Stagger onto the plane. Sleep all the way home. Wake up in Oregon. Make plans to come back next week.

What’s your favorite road trip? Let us know at Baja.com.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post Road Trip: Have a Baja Moment! Traveling the Highways and Byways of Baja Sur appeared first on Baja.com.

by Jessica Wray

Jessica Wray is a 24 year-old San Diegan traveling, teaching and eating her way around the world! She writes about it all in her blog Curiosity Travels.

My last two posts have all had to do with previous and current roamings around Baja California, and now I’d like to help others explore the area independently as well.  With the help of a “Baja Calfornia travel expert” (my Dad), I have compiled a post with current information for anyone planning to travel to Baja in 2013.  My Dad has traveled independently and extensively throughout the area for years, and has seen the region go through booming tourism to a slow trot, due to the influx of media reports on violence.  Now, we both agree people should stop being so scared of Baja and start going back.  Though the violence in Mexico has been devastating for the lives of thousands, business, and tourism, there is one silver lining — travel to Baja is now a completely local and authentic experience.

In my Dad’s opinion, “Baja Mexico (and not Cabo, that’s  not the real Baja) is a magical place. You can drive, or better yet ride a motorcycle, for a 1000 miles through a beautiful desert void of crowds or development.  Each day you can eat fresh inexpensive seafood, or authentic Mexican cuisine , camp or or get a hotel right on the beach, kayak in the ocean, get close to the grey whales, golf on the coastline, party at a real cantina or just sit back and be part of authentic Mexico.  For those of us who continue to go south regardless of the northern media bashing (yes, there is crime along the border) Baja is special because it has barely changed, even since the highway was completed in 1972.”

Crossing the border and methods of transportation

By car: Crossing the U.S. border into Baja Mexico is fast and easy. You can cross at Tijuana or Mexicali, and visit several villages and towns with only a passport, a U.S. drivers license, vehicle registration and Mexican liability insurance for your vehicle. Be sure to purchase Mexican liability insurance at the border, or better yet from the internet and print a copy before you leave. If you are in an accident, regardless of fault, you will need this policy or go to jail until fault is determined. You can also purchase full coverage for your vehicle that includes Mexican legal service.  You pay for each day of travel but it’s well advised.

If you plan to visit Baja for more than 72 hours, or travel farther south than Ensenada or San Felipe, you also need a tourist card (FMM). Tourist cards can be obtained quickly, usually within minutes, at the Mexican immigration offices at the border. Simply park right past the border check and the officers will point you the way. However, my Dad has made several trips through Baja and has never been asked for the card.

To get to most coastal Baja destinations: From the San Ysidro border crossing, follow the signs to “Rosarito/Beach Cities” and take the toll roads down Coastal Highway One.

Highway One along the coast

By bus: One easy and non-threatening way to see some of Baja is by taking the Mexicoach bus from the border parking in San Ysidro. These red  Mexicoach buses go into Tijuana and also Rosarito.

To travel further south, Ensensada and down the Baja Peninsula, you can take an ABC bus from Tijuana.  Walk across the border at San Ysidro to the Plaza Viva.  Buses for Ensenada depart every half hour from 6 am to 9:30pm and cost about $15 U.S. dollars.

Tip: Sit on the right side of the bus for ocean views.

All of these bus options above should lead to a safe, hassle free option of exploring a bit of Baja.

Safety in Baja

Though drug related crime has been a serious problem in Mexico in the last 7 years, still the question of safety is often debated on the internet. Everyone traveling into Mexico for the first time should do their own research, but take media reports of violence with a grain of salt.  Sometimes, the U.S. media reports on violent crime in Mexico more than the crime in our own cities.  From some various articles I’ve read around the internet, Tijuana could be considered a success story in fighting drug-related crime in the last few years. Research will also show that Baja is currently the safest area of Mexico. As reports of violent crime have gone up in the last few years in other parts of Mexico, reports of violent crime in Tijuana has been going down.   To get a first hand view, you can read about my recent experience in Mexico.  Gadling also has a great article about safety in Baja, and some local’s personal experiences, here

There are a few simple safety rules for Baja, but most involve just using common sense and being aware of your surroundings.  Not being out past dark in Tijuana or Rosarito is one way to avoid problems.  The farther south you go, the safer you will be.  Also, do not drive on the highways  after dark– black cows on a dark and black highway is a sure recipe for disaster.  Taking just a few precautions will go far.  Don’t flash money or jewelry, cause attention to yourself, or get too drunk.  If you look easy to take advantage of, the higher the risk you will be.

Police safety

There is no doubting the presence of corrupt police officers in Mexico. If trouble arises with one, don’t be afraid to go to the police station (or tell them you will meet them there later) to settle the issue. If you have not broken a law, it is unlikely that you will pay a fine. Most likely, the officer will tell you to go on your way or hold your license and give it to you when you go to the police station. Some use an expired license for this issue and never go back to claim it. Most officers will want a small bribe to quickly settle the issue, and while it is illegal to take or offer a bribe, it is still done frequently.  Try not to take this route, as you are only making the situation worse for others in the future, making it easy for police officers to expect bribes.

To do your best to avoid these situations, don’t break laws on the road or do anything to attract attention to yourself.  Tip:  A family friend was pulled over in Mexico while talking on a cell phone while driving.  Whether it is technically illegal or not, best avoid it.  

Health Safety

Street food in Mexico is delicious and filling, but use the same cautions as you would when traveling to other countries.  Eat street tacos from busy taco carts or shops where the food turnover is fast and nothing is sitting out.  Only drink bottled water, and be careful with juices or ice made without filtered water.  Coffee in upscale areas is usually safe but when in doubt, opt for bottled water… or better yet a Corona.  

Other tips

• Know some  Spanish:  Before the war on drugs, tourism in Baja was huge and the use of English was widespread.  Nowadays, most tourists are not coming from the U.S., but mostly Europe and other parts of Mexico, therefore English is used less often.  Learn some basic phrases to not only to make your time in Baja a bit easier, but to also be respectful of the local culture.
• Currency: Most parts of northern Baja still accept U.S. dollars and you can also use U.S. currency on the toll roads.  If planning to travel more extensively throughout Baja, it is best to find a “casa de cambio” or use my preferred method for getting currency in a foreign country– just withdraw from an ATM.
• Souvenirs:  Shopping in Mexico is fun, and haggling is encouraged.  For the best deal, walk away and wait for the person to shout a lower price to you.  Don’t always haggle too hard, remember that many of these people have gone through rough times with the decline in tourism.  Spending a little extra money on a souvenir will probably help them more than it will hurt your wallet.  Also, try and buy souvenirs or items made by local artists.

Some shot glasses we bought that were painted by a local artist

 

Best of:
For great fresh seafood try: Ensenada, San Felipe, Loreto and La Paz.
Best beach camping: Bahia Concepcion, South of Mulege.
For whale watching: Scammon’s Lagoon. 
Must do’s: Lobster in Puerto Nuevo, hanging out in downtown Mulege, golfing in Loreto, visiting the old Spanish missions of San Ignacio, Mulege and Loreto.

 

With crime levels down, more Americans should be taking advantage of the foreign country we have so close. But visit soon, it won’t feel untouched and authentic forever…

Jessica Wray is a 24 year-old San Diegan traveling, teaching and eating her way around the world! She writes about it all in her blog Curiosity Travels.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals(our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about localrestaurants,hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles aboutevents, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post Tips for Visiting Baja in 2013 appeared first on Baja.com.

The New Wine  and Seafood Festival is being held from April 19-21.  It is a chance for you to be part of winemaking, food and aquaculture in Baja California!

Mexico’s wine country is just an hour south of the US border, in Ensenada. With the number of cavas and wineries guesstimated to be between 70-90, this wine region – the Valle de Guadalupe and the Santo Tomas Valley to the south – offers endless possibilities for travel and amazing gastronomical experiences (there are even some wineries in town…here, wine is ubiquitous!).

Will your picture win 2 tickets to the New Wine and Seafood Festival?

Verdant vineyards provide the romantic settings for wine tastings; old gnarled oak trees and tender lavender gardens offer venues for outdoor dining and enjoying the bounties of Baja.  And, there are also abundant opportunities, also known as photo opps, to capture these magical moments.

From now until October, Ensenada and its world-renowned Valle de Guadalupe come alive with the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences of the wine season.  One of the opening events of the year, and a highlight to the entire wine season, is the New Wine and Seafood Festival coming up on April, 19, 20 and 21^st.  There are any number of activities associated with this event that looks at the sustainability of seafood, the evolution of culinary products and the revolution that is happening in Mexico’s wines.

Tickets to the culminating event that features tastings and pairings, on Sunday, April 21, at the Hotel Coral, are prized.  How can you get hold of a couple of them?  Baja.com and sponsor Provino have an idea…

Win two tickets to the New Wine & Seafood Festival in Ensenada!

(Tickets are for the grand finale event at the luxurious Hotel Coral on Sunday April 21.  Transporation/accommodation costs are not included.)

 How to Enter

Upload a photo of any of the following:

–Baja Wine Country (Valle de Guadalupe or Santo Tomas Valley)

–You or a group of friends or a loved one (we will need to verify their consent to be in the photo) enjoying a Baja Wine.

–Baja Wine Festivities or Vendimia (obviously from years past)

–A Baja Wine paired with the perfect meal or food.

Your photo must be uploaded to the Baja.com Facebook Page  (https://www.facebook.com/bajacom)  by 10 p.m., Sunday, April 14, 2013. The picture that receives the most ‘likes’ by Monday, April 15, at 10 a.m. will win the two tickets to the New Wine & Seafood Festival on April 21.  Please provide your email address, so that we can contact you if you are the winner!!  

Even if you are not the grand winner of this contest, there will be more, so stay tuned.  And, of course, visit Baja.com to find out about tours to Baja!

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year.  For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 

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The post Your Photo Can Win Two Tickets to the New Wine & Seafood Festival in Ensenada appeared first on Baja.com.

by Kennia Thackaberry

Great companions and explorers together in the past, two American friends set out last February with a grant from National Geographic, embarking upon the quest to document their 1000 mile walk and stand-up paddle adventure down the Baja Peninsula.

Crossing the border to Baja California in search of waves and new experiences came naturally for the two Southern California surfers during their teenage years. With time, what started in the northern towns of Baja expanded southwards and grew into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the environment and cultural diversity that this part of Mexico — the whole Baja Peninsula — has to offer.

Camped in the caldera of a old volcano, our campfire lights up the walls usually occupied by owls. The shell site was recently excavated because it showed signs of use by pre-colombian native people.

After a few years apart, Justin DeShields and Bryan Morales came together on an idea that would reconnect them in the spirit of exploration: They wanted to revisit Baja. The obvious reason was the adventure.

Both still felt drawn by the romance, and the possibility of leaving your  lonely footprints on a remote beach.  DeShields expressed the idea that, “to walk 200 miles and encounter not more than 50 people… it is still out there in Baja. It is not something you only see in the movies or read about,” it still exists.  The idea of journeying this last frontier of Baja — a small chunk of the world that hasn’t been documented in recent years and that has largely retained its remoteness, although human development has impacted some areas — compelled them to write the grant proposal  that ultimately made the trip possible when it was accepted by National Geographic.  They are currently on the road to completing this amazing documentary.

Bryan assembles a peanut butter and jelly tortilla as I assess our route on our GPS device.

DeShields and Morales examined their options and the many different ways to travel the peninsula, but realized that walking would bring an entirely different perspective to the project. Said DeShields, “By leaving the carretera (highway) we feel limitless in a way,” and so they are as they walk along cliffs, empty beaches, into mountain ranges and desolate desert.

The morning sun captures the constant assault of swell on the coastline. Needless to say, we chose to go inland to the road.

The journey began at the border, where one of their sponsors, BajaBound (a leading company helping travelers access Mexican insurance coverage) assisted the duo in crossing the border and setting them on their way.  The walkers found Tijuana to be a maze of noisy streets but once they passed through the commotion and traffic, the beaches of Rosarito welcomed them and the shores of Ensenada offered beautiful cliffs eroded by the unruly waters of the Pacific.

Tijuana, does not have ample sidewalks. We walked with local people on the main road leading to the coast.

At the time of this interview, they have spent their days walking and then setting camps at sunset, traveling with only absolute necessities in their backpacks and the cameras required to capture their journey. Along their trip, locals have played key roles in the journey, helping the explorers obtain food and other supplies. Many times, after the initial suspicious reactions they received, they were invited into homes to join a party or to share a meal.  When this happened, no money exchanged hands — it was simply that after the first hesitation, they often became ‘amigos’ with the local.

Camped at the to of a massive mesa, Bryan and I enjoyed one of the many stellar sunsets over the Pacific.

During a stop in Abreojos, which is roughly half-way down the Baja, Justin sounded excited about their next part of the trip:  “Can’t wait to hit the Gulf and get into the water!” It would be a chance for the two to unload their backpacks and take off the hiking boots.

Both Bryan and I have spent over a decade exploring this coast in search of waves. No doubt we would bring a surfboard with us celebrate and interact with the ocean whenever time allows for a break from hiking and filming.

To finish the journey is their personal goal and it, in itself, is a great achievement. But the other vital goal is to have their documentary ignite a conversation about how to better manage the imminent transformation that is facing Baja due to development without jeopardizing the pensinsula’s delicate ecological balance.

After sleeping in the caldera of an old volcano, I woke before dawn to explore the surrounding area and snapped this photo from the top of the crater just after sunrise.

Follow Justin and Bryant via WHATISWEST on the next part of their trip. And find out more about their adventure and sponsors.

Baja.com supports the goals of What is West and hopes that the 1000 mile trek brings awareness of Baja’s boundless beauties and the need to protect them to the world.  Traveling to Baja? Let BajaBound assist you finding the right insurance for your needs.

Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants,hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, please call toll-free (US/CAN) 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

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The post The WHAT IS WEST Project: A 1000 Mile Journey Down Baja California appeared first on Baja.com.