Table of Contents

1. Official language
2. Currency
3. Weather
4. Insurance
5. Visa and tourist fees
6. What to eat
7. What about the nightlife
8. Where to shop
9. The best wine in Mexico
10. Infrastructure
11. Crossing the border
12. How Baja came to be
13. How safe is Mexico
14. How about the language
15. What are the hospitals like in Mexico?
16. Can I bring my pet
17. What are the locals attitude towards gringos?

Official language

Spanish, but due to the proximity to the border and tourism expansion, you could probably get by with English.

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Currency

The Mexican peso is the official currency, however, the dollar is also widely accepted.  Try to carry smaller bills, as larger ones may be harder to exchange.

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Weather

The Pacific coast of Baja averages 60°F - 75°F (16°C - 24°C).  During summer, temperatures may reach 85°F (30°C).  Winter nights get a bit chiller, down to 48°F (9°C).  Inland summer temperature can rise to 110°F (43°C).  The Baja cape, from La Paz to Cabo, is warm year-round, summers may be just as hot as inland and winters remain a moderate 70°F - 80°F (21°C - 27°C).

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Insurance

Your U.S. car insurance may not be valid in Mexico.  Check with your company, otherwise a number of travel and car insurance options are available near the border.

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Visas and tourist fees

For short visits (72 hours or less) or if you're not going past Ensenada and San Felipe, no paperwork is necessary.  Longer trips or deeper plans require a visa and tourist fee, which can be purchased at several locations near the border.  Passports are also required.

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What to eat

It doesn't matter how you like it, there is only one thing in the menu:  Pacific red lobster, a regional specialty.  The bay's rich waters are the home of the ocean delicacy, which are caught by the thousands in Baja.  Reaching one or two pounds (up to 1 kilogram), this bright red main course is a must for those lucky enough to make it south of the border.

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What about the nightlife

Ask the many spring breakers that make it to Rosarito and they'll tell you the town is all about fun.  The beaches are one asset, but the thousands of discos, restaurants, and open-air bars on the sand are just as important.  Many include volleyball courts, mechanical bulls, tequila shooters and popular music played by DJs.  For those seeking a different pace, some bars also feature traditional music, jazz clubs and even kareoke bars.

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Where to shop

Rosarito is also known for its affordable prices.  Hundreds of stores around town offer ceramics, leather goods, baskets, clothing, jewelry, custom-made furniture and souvenirs.  Many arts and crafts shops are located along the main boulevard in Rosarito Beach, which is also a gathering place for artitst.

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The best wine in Mexico

More than 90% of Mexican wines are produced in Ensenada and surrounding areas.  Its weather, with warm summers, pleasant winters, sunny days and chilly nights, create the perfect conditions for the production of international quality wines.  The vineyards offer wine tasting and tours of the fields by foot, car, bicycle or on a horse.  If you want to see them all, follow the "wine route" which stops at the most important vineyards in the area.  One of the most popular events is the Fiesta de la Vendimia in the Guadalupe Valley.  The celebration of the harvest gathers many visitors that take part in the rodeos, dances and of course, the food with a glass of good wine.

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Infrastructure

• Tourism in Baja California has excellent access infrastructure with three international airports: Tijuana, Mexicali and San Felipe.

• The Ensenada port receives 33% of the total cruise ship arrivals in Mexico.
  

• 350,000 tourists arrive to Ensenada on cruise ships, outnumbered only by Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean.
  

• The port of Ensenada offers top-of-the-line technology that makes it the most important in Baja Calaifornia.

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Crossing the border

Stepping into Mexico through Baja is simple but it may take more than a few minutes.  The border is rather organized, but thorough searches and paperwork delay the process.  Make sure your identification and documents are up to date, that should save you some time.  Try to travel at off hours and weekdays, because weekends are more crowded, and comply with all instructions given by border authorities.

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How Baja came to be

The Baja Peninsula was separated from mainland Mexico about six million years ago.  A result of plate tectonics, Baja was slowly moved north on the Pacific Oceanic plate, opening up the Sea of Cortez in the process.  The gap continues to expand, as Baja and peninsula southern California (United States), follow their course on the tectonic plate.

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How Safe is Mexico?

In many cases, they are safer. Large cities everywhere have higher crime than small towns and suburban areas. Common sense is, of course, the most important factor to keeping anyone safe, but hundreds of thousands of northerners have happily moved to Mexico and they think no more about crime than they would in their hometowns in the US or in Canada. Of course, we are happy to answer questions about specific locations if you’re considering a visit.

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How about the language?

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What are the hospitals like in Mexico?

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Can I bring my pet?

In Mexico, only cats and dogs are considered pets!
If your pet is older than three months of age, a health certificate is required. If your pet is older than three months of age, it will need a Health Certificate and anti-rabies vaccination record dated within the previous year. It is very important to take the necessary precautions to have all the documentation needed, and that the information it contains fits the pet’s characteristics i.e. age, breed, color, sex, etc. If inconsistencies are detected you might face drawbacks or even the rejection of your application.

1.  When arriving to Mexico, you must present your pet and all the documentation in one of the Inspection de Sanidad Aropecuaria offices (Sanitary Inspection Office), located in every airport, port and border-crossing.
   

2.  Your pet will be inspected physically by a government officer of Mexico to check for parasites or other infectious health issues.
   

3. If your pet complies with all the requirements mentioned above, a Zoo Sanitary Import Certificate will be issued, allowing your pet to enter the country.
   
   The cost of issuing the Import Certificate (approximately US$130) will have to be paid by the owner at a bank counter, (usually this counter is right next to the inspection office). The rate changes every six months, on January 1st and July 1st.

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What are the locals attitude towards gringos?

Mexicans are very mild people and generally love the Gringos. You’ll most certainly find them some of the friendliest people in the world towards both Americans and Canadians. They may stare for a moment, wondering if you are a tourist who’s gotten lost, but when they recognize you as a resident, they’ll be as welcoming as they would be toward anyone who has lived for generations in your new neighborhood.

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