baja visitor

Take a look at this great video of the 2010 Baja 1000 (click on image). Credit goes to Geoff Hill of BajaBound Insurance .

Living the dream of most Baja aficionados, Mike Younghusband continues on his trek to land's end with his trusty donkey named, well.... Don-Kay. Here's the latest update from writer Ed Zieralski and the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper with help from Baja Nomad forum and famous Baja author Graham Mackintosh. Baja adventurer and his burro over one month into trek By Ed Zieralski El Cajon's Mike Younghusband set out from Tecate, Mexico on Oct. 1 for a trek of the length of Baja with his two pet dogs and trusty burro, Don-Kay. Today, more than a month later, Mike has one dog, a stray he named, “Solo,” and Don-Kay continues to carry his gear and be his trusted companion. Last week, the Baja adventurer sent home his two pet dogs, Max and Rust y, because he feared they might be struck by a vehicle as he walks along old roads or nears the highway on some of his hiking routes. It’s been estimated that Mike covered 219 miles in October for an average of 7.06 miles per day. He did 1...

Baja Visitor recently interviewed Pedro Zapata, the coordinator for the Cabo Pulmo Vivo campaign. Their mission is to save the Cabo Pulmo reef and lifestyle for generations to come. Baja Visitor - Can you please tell our readers about Cabo Pulmo? Where it is? Why is it so special? Pedro Zapata - Of course, Cabo Pulmo is a national park, on the Gulf of California coast, between La Paz and Los Cabos. With over 20,000 years, it is one of the oldest and the most im portant coral reef in the Gulf. It has been a protected area, with no fishing allowed, for a little over 15 years. In that time, Cabo Pulmo has experienced an incredible recovery in every aspect of marine life. There are more fish, bigger fish and more complex food chains. Cabo Pulmo is a window where one can see how the Gulf must have been like 100 years ago. Baja Visitor - And what is the organization called Cabo Pulmo Vivo? Pedro Zapata - Cabo Pulmo Vivo is a coalition of organizations and citizens interested in the ...

Tijuana's tequila expo is coming up soon, specifically October 13th-17th. The event runs for four days right in front of the Jai Alai building, between 7th and 8th avenues on Avenida Revolucion. It will open Wednesday from 4pm-11:30pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1:00pm-11:30pm and Sunday from 1pm-8:30pm. There will be over sixty (60) tequila vendors and representatives. Guests will have the opportunity to sample over 300 types of Tequila. Admission is $5USD or $60.00 pesos (Tequila sampling is included in the price). Entertainment and music, beer, soft drinks and typical Mexican food vendors will be on site to compliment the event. San Diego's Five Star Tours is offering transportation packages to and from the event. You can even book a hotel in Tijuana for overnight stays. You can fin more information on their website at http://www.expo-tequila.com/

Wow, what an incredible journey Mike Younghusband began on October 1st. He is walking with a burro and two dogs from the border town of Tecate to Cabo San Lucas in, hopefully, six months. You can read the story below from the San DiegoUnion Tribune newspaper and we'll hopefully have updates throughout his travel. You'll see he began the journey and purchased his donkey at one of my favorite Tecate ranches; Rancho Ojai . Baja adventure begins for man, his burro and two dogs By Ed Zieralski Friday, October 1, 2010 at 11:10 a.m. El Cajon's Mike Younghusband begins his trek of the length of Baja with his burro, Don-Kay, and two dogs, Rusty and Max. TECATE — Mike Younghusband began his Baja adventure today with a loaded burro, his two pet dogs and a heart filled with wanderlust that he hopes will power him on his six-month, 1,500-mile trek of Mexico’s incredible peninsula. “Viva Mexico. God Bless America,” Younghusband yelled as a Tecate TV station filmed him loading his burro a...

Just got some information from Joanna Jones about her upcoming event. Sounds like fun. On Saturday, October 9, 2010, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., more than 20 authors and a variety of arts, crafts, food and more will welcome the public free of charge at Joanna Jones Galeria y Café, at kilometer 47.6 on the free road, just north of the Cantamar/Primo Tapia toll road exit. Just 45 minutes south of the border, the event is sponsored by the Baja California Secretary of Tourism, the Rosarito Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Baja Bound, AMPI, the Rosarito Beach Hotel, and the Baja Times. The Grand Baja Resort in Puerto Nuevo is offering a 30% discount on hotel accommodations for festival attendees. The festival will feature well-known food vendors including Splash! restaurant, Baja Sausage, Hogaza Hogaza, and a coffee area sponsored by Café Sospesso. Wine, beer (sponsored by Corona) and margaritas will be available for purchase, as well. Authors include Greg Niemann, Judy Botello, Marsh Cassa...

Federal Government Spending $30 Million In 2010 On Scenic Road Improvements ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The federal government this year has allocated about $30 million for improvements to make the scenic road from Tijuana to Ensenada safer and more attractive, according to Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres. "This significant investment will make the beautiful road more comfortable for both daily users and the tourists who use it,” Torres said. “It will make one of the most beautiful stretches of coastal highway in the world safer and even more attractive.” The funds are federal investment resources of the National Infrastructure Fund (Fonadin), which has worked closely with business groups in Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada and local authorities. The approximately 60-mile stretch of road extends from Tijuana to Ensenada, much of it in mountain areas with stunning, panoramic views of the ocean, beaches, villages and coastline. "Eventually we will have a better road, so ...

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE TIJUANA — A major expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry entails a counterpart project south of the border, and work has already begun to accommodate the future southbound flow of cars from San Diego into Tijuana. Mexico’s investment in the expansion project—about 700 million pesos, or $54 million—includes work on three bridges over the Tijuana River that will serve to channel southbound traffic into Mexico. Authorities expect to complete two of those bridges by the end of the year, said Mario Diaz, director of strategic projects for the Baja California government. By 2013, Mexico will be ready on its end to receive vehicles at a new southbound crossing located at El Chaparral, west of the current lanes. Mexico next month expects to open three additional lanes at the existing crossing, increasing the number of lanes from six to nine. But the new Chaparral crossing will have 19 southbound lanes, more than double that number. The new crossing is being b...

I just received this from Wildcoast. Check it out as it's something worthwhile. Join WiLDCOAST and Tijuana Calidad de Vida in Tijuana, Mexico for a community cleanup and help prevent ocean-bound trash from making its way across the border and into the ocean. Los Alacranes is a neighborhood of Los Laureles Canyon, a sub-basin of the Tijuana River watershed. This neighborhood is home to thousands of people who have settled in or around Los Laureles creek. Due to lack of government resources, the community goes without basic infrastructure such as trash collection and sewage collection. As a consequence, every year when it rains, thousands of pounds of trash and solid waste make their way into the Tijuana River, Estuary and ultimately into the ocean. Help us minimize the impact of this pollution on our border region by joining us on July 24 from 8am to 12pm in Tijuana, Mexico. For more information please email: paloma@wildcoast.net

Found this great blog about an Englishman (Benjamin Dawes) walking the Baja peninsula from Los Cabos to Tijuana and thought I'd give him some support by spreading the word to our readers. Hopefully you will enjoy the blog (adventure) as much as I am amd donate to some of the charities. Here's some information from his site: In April 2010 I am setting out to walk 1000 miles from Los Cabos to Tijuana up the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I’m walking this epic journey of physical punishment not only as a phyical challenge but also to raise money for three fantastic causes, GART, Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital and Los Cabos Children's Foundation. Check out his blog at http://www.theirshoes.org/site/

Discussions are underway by Baja California state government and tourism officials with representatives of Aereo Calafia to offer charter flights from Tijuana to San Felipe roundtrip. This would cut the driving time from almost 5 hours to a flight of less than an hour. Aereo Calafia already offers short-leg charters to 32 destinations such as Los Cabos, Copper Canyon, whale tours, and throughout ther Sea of Cortez region plus as far south as Manznillo. Their planes now seat between 5-20 passengers.

For the second year in a row, Baja California will promote itself in San Diego. Baja by the Sea is a free event and will be held at Embarcadero Park next to Seaport Village. Look for Mexican cuisine and wines, Baja artists, musicians and dancer plus tourism booths. See http://www.bajabythesea.org/ for more information.

Today's San Diego Union Tribune ran a great story on the efforts of CAREM, Hernán & Zella Ibáñez, Mike Wilken, and others to open a new historical museum about the indigenous Kumeyaay population of northern Baja California. CAREM has been instrumental in promoting both the history of the native population and of saving historical missions and buildings in Baja California. Personally I love the history of Baja and as friends of Zella and Hernán, I hope you help support CAREM's good work. For more information, take a look at their website: www.carem.org Here's the article: Hubbell design rounds out Indian museum By Jose Luis Jiménez, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Round shapes were prominent in local indigenous cultures. Acorns were a food staple. Bowls were woven to carry food and other artifacts. Some of the people lived in circular huts. So when noted San Diego artist and designer James Hubbell was chosen to envision a new museum to preserve the Indian culture on Mexico’s ...

I thought I'd put down my thoughts on my first flight on up and coming Volaris Airlines. Even though I was flying to Acapulco for April's Tianguis Turistico travel show, I was flying out of Tijuana. I was also taking their U.S. shuttle from San Diego to the Tijuana airport. I decided to take the red-eye on a Saturday night leaving Tijuana at 12:55am and arriving in Acapulco at 6:25am. Two factors brought me to this decision; price and a direct flight. The price was incredible ($230 USD roundtrip) and I also could pay $2 USD to select my seat which was the emergency aisle. After so many years of visiting Acapulco for the show and having to connect to a different flight in Mexico City - sometimes waiting for 3 hours - a direct flight sounded great. After making reservations online, I also reserved the round trip cross-border shuttle from the San Diego Greyhound station, which is downtown, to the TJ airport. Cost was $15 USD. You do have to be at the bus station about 3.5 h...

If you've driven from Mexicali to San Felipe, you'll recognize this stretch of road and the mountains in the video. WOW.

Easter Sunday brought northern Baja and southern California quite a shake. The epicenter was some 20 miles south of Mexicali near the small farming village Guadalupe Victoria. Full reports are not in on damage and possible lives lost (2 so far in Mexico), but these pictures will give you an idea of the damage in that area of Baja. Photo from Jorge Rivera Reyes

I haven't seen it personally, but the owners sent me an email about their new property just north of Todos Santos. It's on the beach too. It seems to have everything you would want in a private hacienda-style villa; oceanfront suites, colorful tiles floors, pool and Jacuzzi, complimentary breakfast, and even a crow's nest to gather in those wonderful Todos Santos sunset or see how the surf is breaking down the beach. With four bedrooms, it's perfect for a small group or wedding party who wish to relish the peacefulness of Baja California Sur's Pacific Coast.

Saw this article in the San Diego Union Tribune about a new basketball team in Tijuana. Love the mascot name, the Zonkeys , which is a play on the donkeys on Avenida Revolucion which are painted to look like Zebras. Gonna have to get a t-shirt. Here's the article: Tijuana's Zonkeys hope to earn stripes

Just received a great video from my good friend Geoff at BajaBound Insurance Services (www.bajabound.com). Makes me wish I was there. Click on the image to see the video.

Some Baja travelers to the northern coast of the peninsula, especially the Ensenada area, might have heard of The Ensenada Gazette or met Connie Ellig, owner/editor/writer of this great and informative internet newspaper. Well, if so you've either met or seen David Hopps photography work or had an animated chat with him. He and Connie are good people and doing a lot to promote Northern Baja. Congrats amigo, you deserve it.

Although this is not exactly Baja, it does pertain the destination, especially for those who want to get married or honeymoon here. Thought I'd let you all know the first issue will be published at the end of April and you can get a free copy by emailing from the website (see the link to the right).

Since I consider myself a somewhat "middle to upper-middle of the road" expert on travel to Baja and information about the peninsula, I was somewhat surprised when I read the San Diego Union Tribune's obituary today (something I never do) and saw the story on this Baja expert. Sounds like one of the great Baja explorers and I wonder if any of you out there have heard of him? I hadn't. Here's the article: Dr. Reid Venable Moran (1916 - 2010) Reid Moran, an explorer and scientist, spent many years traveling by mule, truck and boat to remote locations throughout Baja California in search of plant specimens. His expeditions yielded hundreds of plants from islands off Baja including Guadalupe Island, a volcanic island 250 miles south of San Diego. His peers considered him a legend in botanical exploration. As the longtime curator of botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum, he played a key role in the museum’s growth. Dr. Moran died of pneumonia Jan. 21 in Clearl...

As most of you know, Baja's Highway 1 is the singular track stretching the length of the peninsula. In many points, there are either bridges that span dry arroyos or dips that lower down and cross through them. Well, with the storms of last week (Jan. 18-23), the northern half of the region (Ensenada south to Vizcaino) received so much rain that this arroyos became raging rivers and toppled at least 7 bridges and destroyed many sections of the highway. It could be months before all the bridges are fixed. But with that said, the Baja people are hard workers and will have bypasses through the arroyos as soon as the water let's up. Will be a slower ride down the peninsula that's for sure. Check out this image from my friend Antonio, the owner of Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario. Bridge at El Rosario missing a section

Received any email from my friend Geoff at Bajabound Insurance that the big wave surf contest at Todos Santos island's Killer's surf break will be held between Feb. 1-28. Isla de Todos Santos is just off Ensenada, although you would not be able to view it from the shoreline, gotta take a boat out. The way it works is that the organizers figure out when the biggest swells will be coming in (can you say 50ft!) and open the competition in a 72 hour window for the surfers. Check out www.todossantosevent.com for more information. Taylor Knox during the Reef Todos, 1998