San Ysidro Border Temporary Southbound Closure: Sept 23-25
The San Ysidro El Chaparral border will be temporary closed to southbound vehicular traffic from Saturday, September 23 at 3am to Monday, September 25th at noon. Northbound vehicular traffic will not be affected and pedestrian traffic (both southbound and northbound) will not be affected. Learn more.
Tickets on Sale for Concurso de Paellas!
This year’s Paella fest will take place on Sunday, August 20, 2017 and is considered one of the premier events of Valle de Guadalupe’s Fiestas de la Vendimia. As the closing event of the Vendimia wine harvest festival, the Concurso de Paellas will feature over 90 teams presenting paellas for competition and consumption. More than 50 wineries from the region will be serving wine tastings of more than 130 different wines. The event takes place each year outside under the oak trees at Viña de Liceaga. To learn more about the event, read our article about Concurso de Paellas.
We still have a few tickets left for US$60 each for DBTC members (US$70 each for non-DBTC members). Please call 800-727-2252 or email ask@discoverbaja.com to purchase your tickets. We strongly suggest that you pay an additional $7 per order for USPS priority shipping as DBTC is not responsible for tickets lost in the mail.
Valle de Guadalupe’s Fiestas de la Vendimia
The 2017 Fiestas de la Vendimia will be an extra week this year, taking place from July 28 to August 20. Here are some of the great resources we’ve put together for you to enjoy:
- Full 2017 Vendimia schedule of events
- Informational page on visiting Valle de Guadalupe
- New list of Valle de Guadalupe hotels
- Wine and culinary tours through our sister company Baja Test Kitchen
- Valle de Guadalupe resource section in the DBTC office in San Diego with brochures for wineries, restaurants, and hotels in the region.
- Tickets for the Concurso de Paellas (see above)
Southbound PedWest Border Crossing Open
The southbound lanes for the PedWest San Ysidro (Tijuana) pedestrian crossing are now open, meaning that the facility is now open in both directions for southbound and northbound crossing. For directions and more information about the PedWest crossing, read our PedWest page.
The Mission Walker
The recently-released book, “The Mission Walker,” recounts the amazing tale by Edie Littlefield Sundby of her diagnosis with terminal cancer and her decision to embrace life. After being told she had three months to live, Edie beat the odds and then walked the entire California mission trail, El Camino Real. The Baja stretch of El Camino Real hadn’t been walked in 250 years and Edie’s trek through the rugged Baja desert is an inspiring journey on a physical and spiritual level. This moving tale is a true testament to the resiliency and determination of the human spirit. The Mission Walker is available on Amazon.
Living or Retiring in Mexico
If you’re thinking of moving to Mexico, don’t miss the comprehensive book, “Living or Retiring in Mexico: All you need to know before you go,” by Leo Buijs. Covering everything from the fun aspects of living in Mexico to the nitty gritty logistics, this guide has you covered. Whether you’re already in the process of becoming an expat or are just pondering a move down south, this book will walk you through the process and help you get inspired about your new life in Mexico. Available on Amazon.
Boat Temporary Importation Permits (TIP) Reminders
- If you have lost your boat TIP, you will need to go to the police in Mexico to report it stolen as a “lost document.” Take the police report and go to Banjercito where they will cancel the lost TIP and reissue a new one. You will need to pay the full fee again.
- There is only one extension allowed on a boat TIP in the lifetime of the boat, meaning there is a maximum of 20 years on the import permit for a boat. The TIP transfers with the boat (not the owner).
- Only a family member who is a direct relative, or a registered person, can tow the boat if the owner is not present in the vehicle.
- Ensenada is the only place in Baja where you can get a boat TIP without the boat being present.
For more information on boat TIPS, or to get a TIP through Discover Baja, please see our Boat Temporary Importation Permit page.
Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel
A reminder that Ultra-low-sulfur Diesel, ULSD, is not available south of El Rosario. If you are traveling down to Baja Sur and your vehicle requires ULSD, bring empty gas cans (you cannot bring gasoline across the border) and fill them up with ULSD in northern Baja before heading south.
Snorkel with Whale Sharks for Science
Whale shark season is here! Join the Vermillion Sea Institute and help scientists identify new and returning whale sharks in Bahía de los Ángeles.
There are two dates (and a possible thrid) for this trip: August 11-16, 2017, August 21-26, 2017. The $960 all-inclusive price includes round trip travel from San Diego, lodging, meals, boat rental, wetsuit, and fins. For more information see the Vermilion Sea Institute website.