Highway Mexico 5 Now Complete
Highway Mexico 5 is now paved all the way to Highway Mexico 1 at Laguna Chapala! There are two unpaved detours about 1/2 mile long just north of Puertecitos and some bad potholes around San Felipe.
Daylight Savings
It’s time to spring ahead! Daylight Savings time will begin in California and the northern state of Baja California (which are on Pacific Time) on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The state of Baja California Sur (which is on Mountain Time) will not spring ahead to Daylight Savings time until Sunday, April 5, 2020 this year. While BCS is usually an hour ahead of BC, the two states will be on the same time zone for almost a month until BCS goes onto Daylight Savings on April 5th.
New Baja Kids Book
A new children’s book by Susan Diorio has been published about kayaking in Baja. In Kayak Jack and Amigo Go to Baja a young boy and his best friend paddle into the waters of Baja encountering animal, bird, and marine life along the way. This picture book will inspire young readers to explore nature and experience the peninsula. Learn more!
Semana Santa: April 4-12
Heads up that Semana Santa Holy Week is April 4-12 this year. This is a very popular time to travel in Mexico, especially around beach destinations. Please be sure to make reservations for hotels and campsites in advance during this time.
New Baja Moon Handbook Now Available
We’re proud to announce that the newest edition of the Baja Moon Handbook, written by Discover Baja’s own Jennifer Kramer (who brings you this newsletter every month) is now available for purchase! Printed in full color with vibrant photos and maps, this guide covers the entire peninsula with all of the best places to eat, drink, stay, and see along the way. Full of insider tips, detailed trip itineraries, and background information, don’t travel to Baja California without this book! Buy now
2020 Vendimia Dates Announced
Provino has announced the dates for the 2020 Valle de Guadalupe Fiestas de la Vendimia. The wine harvest festival will take place from July 30 to August 23 with Muestra del Vino happening on Friday, August 7th and Concurso de Paellas happening on Sunday, August 23rd. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
Towing Reimbursement Increased
Both ACE and CHUBB insurance polices now come with up to $1,000 of towing services reimbursed in case of a breakdown or accident.
U.S. Citizens Voting Abroad from Mexico
With primary elections currently happening and the presidential election in November, here’s your reminder to get out and vote! U.S. citizens living abroad can still vote absentee from anywhere in the world. To start, go to FVAP.gov to connect to your state’s voter portal. Here you can register to vote, request a ballot, and find out more information.
CBX Beach Destination Promotion
For the months of February and March, Cross Border XPress is offering a 20% discount on roundtrip CBX tickets for passengers flying to beach locations in Mexico including Loreto, La Paz, and San Jose del Cabo. To redeem the discount, show your boarding pass at the San Diego CBX counter. For more information visit www.crossborderxpress.com
FMM Tourist Permit Price Increase
The price of the FMM tourist permits increased in January 2020 to $575 pesos. The price for the Discover Baja prepaid FMMs will remain the same. For more information, visit our FMM page.
Health Certificate No Longer Required for Driving Pets into Mexico
As of December 19, 2019, a health certificate is no longer required to drive a dog or cat into Mexico. The airlines have separate requirements and as of right now, the airport in Cabo is still requiring a health certificate for pets flying into Baja. Be sure to check with your airline about specific requirements directly before flying with a pet. Pets entering Mexico will be inspected by SENASICA upon arrival into Mexico to be sure that they are free of parasites, diseases, and wounds. For coming back to the U.S. with your pet, the U.S. does not currently require proof of rabies for pets returning from Mexico. For more information, please see the USDA website.
Tourist Tax in Baja California Sur
On November 9, 2019, the state of Baja California Sur began charging a tax of $350 pesos (about $18.50 US) to foreign tourists staying for more than 24 hours. The tax is payable at kiosks at the airports for visitors arriving by air. For visitors arriving by sea, the port authority can collect the tax. For travelers arriving by car, the tax can be paid at hotels or other accommodation providers. The state said that the tax is for use of infrastructure and will be used to fund social service works.