COVID-19 Updates for Baja California
-The U.S.-Mexico temporary land border restrictions were extended until at least June 21, 2021. U.S. Citizens and Canadian Citizens have been allowed to cross back north into the U.S. and have had no problems crossing south into Mexico from the U.S.
-Mexico has instated a national “stoplight” system which sets the safety levels for the region and is evaluated on a weekly basis. The state of Baja California (norte) is rated “yellow” (level 3), with the exception of Mexicali which is currently rated “orange.” Restaurants and hotels in the “yellow” zones are operating at 75% capacity. Parks, public spaces, and retail stores are operating at 50% capacity.
The state of Baja California Sur is also rated “yellow” (level 3) with businesses operating at 50% capacity. Specific rules vary from municipality to municipality. We recommend that you call ahead to any business that you plan on visiting to find out about current hours and COVID regulations.
-Some of the California/Baja land borders are operating on reduced hours. The following are the current hours for border crossings:
San Ysidro: open 24 hours
(PedWest is closed but PedEast remains open 24 hours)
Otay Mesa: open 24 hours
Tecate: 6am-2pm Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm Saturday-Sunday
Calexico West: open 24 hours
Calexico East: open 6am-2pm
Andrade: open 6am-2pm
-For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in the state of Baja California (norte) please visit the Baja California COVID-19 page. For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Baja Sur, please visit the BCS COVID-19 website.
-For Emergency Assistance for U.S. citizens in Mexico, call 55-8526-2561 from Mexico or 1-844-528-6611 from the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has put together a COVID-19 webpage or you can follow them on Facebook for updates.
-You can find the latest updates on our Road Conditions Page. Call the DBTC office at 800-727-2252 for more information about U.S. travelers crossing the border.
Santa Rosalía/Guaymas Baja Ferries Route Canceled
Baja Ferries stopped operating their Santa Rosalía—Guaymas ferry route at the end of April 2021. They continue to run ferry service from La Paz to mainland Mexico. For more information, visit the Baja Ferries website.
CBX Expanding
Cross Border Xpress (CBX), a popular pedestrian bridge connecting San Diego to the Tijuana International Airport, got approval for an expansion plan that includes a four-level parking garage, 170 hotel rooms, a gas station, and retail shops. The roads within the 64-acre satellite airport terminal will also be reconfigured into one-way streets, mimicking the circulation patterns of traditional airports. Within the CBX terminal, renovations are under way to double the size of the passenger processing area, a project slated for completion by November. A third phase, with no estimated construction date, would include industrial buildings, more retail and hotel rooms, restaurants, a convenience market, a rental car facility, and an area for taxis and ride-share services. CBX expects all planned upgrades to be complete by 2036 by which time they expect to be processing 7 million passengers a year. The Tijuana International Airport is also undergoing work with an almost $100 million expansion of its passenger terminal that is slated for completion by the end of 2021.
Baja California Tourism Launches New “Drive South” Website
The state of Baja California launched a new website, “Drive South,” that offers road trip itineraries highlighting some of the state’s best attractions from the wine, food, and beer to the outdoor adventures and cultural explorations. “Road trips will continue to be popular in 2021 and beyond as travelers look for safe ways to explore nearby destinations,” said Baja California Secretary of Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development (SEST) Mario Escobedo Carignan. “Knowing this, we wanted to create an online platform to streamline the research process and make it even easier for people to drive south and discover the beauty and adventure in Baja.” The website supplements the new state tourism website.
New Low CHUBB Insurance Rates
Our new “Million Dollar” CHUBB policies now have even lower rates! These policies and prices are available only for Discover Baja members and feature a full 365-day platinum policy with $1,000,000 liability with medical payments of $10,000 per person/$50,000 per accident. Liability-only policies start at just $118.67 for the full year. Full-coverage policies also include partial theft and vandalism. Call us at 800-727-2272 or go online to get a quote today.
Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride Resumes on June 26
The Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, June 26th from 10am-4pm. The 50-mile fun ride begins in Rosarito and ends with the finish line in Ensenada. The route takes Highway Mexico 1 south and in along the free road down to Ensenada. Plan to avoid the route during race hours if you are driving in the area on that day. For more information and a detailed course map, see the Rosarito Ensenada website.
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Exhibit at La Paz Museum
The new Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur in downtown La Paz has a small exhibit on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera running now through August 8th. The museum is open Tues.-Sun. from 11am-7pm with free admission. Guided tours are available by reservation by calling 011-52-612-129-4176. More information can be found on the museum’s website.
Baja California Road & Recreation Atlas Now Available
There’s a new Baja Atlas available and we’re so excited for you to have this invaluable tool for your future Baja explorations! The Baja California Road & Recreation Atlas is a large-format, full-color atlas that covers the entire peninsula with detailed maps and recreation guides that highlight campgrounds, parks, natural wonders, beaches, historical sites, and more. Published by Benchmark Maps and edited by Baja author and aficionado David Kier, this is a must-have for all Baja travelers. Click here for more information and to order your copy today!
Selena Series Filmed Around Northern Baja
Many scenes from “Selena: The Series,” the biographical drama based on the life of iconic Mexican-American performer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez were filmed around Baja. As well as utilizing Baja Studios (where famous movies such as “Titanic” were filmed), they filmed on location at various venues around northern Baja. Locations included spots such as Castillos del Mar in Rosarito, the old Jai Alai Palace and Casa de la Cultura in Tijuana, and Miguel Hidalgo plaza in Tecate. You can read more about where specific scenes were filmed here and the “Selena: The Series” can be watched on Netflix.