Rosarito Beach - Baja, Mexico Rentals
Las Gaviotas Rosarito

There is a real difference

The hassle of travel has been eliminated. Compare these features to other facilities. You don't have to stuff your car with bedding and towels (beds are made and towels are stocked). You don't have to drag along laundry, cleaning chemicals and equipment (sanitary standards are maintained by our housekeepers after each guest stay). You don't have to be distressed about lawbreakers ruining your visit (stationed officers provide 24 hour protection through hourly walking patrols and gate sentries). You don't have to lose track of the rest of the world (20 channel, satellite TV is in each villa). The views from our villas are spectacular. The hassle of travel has been eliminated. Compare these features to other facilities. You don't have to stuff your car with bedding and towels (beds are made and towels are stocked). You don't have to drag along laundry, cleaning chemicals and equipment (sanitary standards are maintained by our housekeepers after each guest stay). You don't have to be distressed about lawbreakers ruining your visit (stationed officers provide 24 hour protection through hourly walking patrols and gate sentries). You don't have to lose track of the rest of the world (20 channel, satellite TV is in each villa). The views from our villas are spectacular. Lobstermen work their traps at 6am, frequently dolphins feed at the surfline or kelpbeds, and whales migrate Nov. through Apr. All may be viewed from our patios without binoculars. work their traps at 6am, frequently dolphins feed at the surfline or kelpbeds, and whales migrate Nov. through Apr. All may be viewed from our patios without binoculars.

Land activities

In large shopping areas of open-air markets (booths) and small shop arcades curios, pottery, handicrafts, jewelry, glasswork, metalworking, leather goods, furniture and clothes are among the many items that are low priced and open for bargaining. Shopping Mexico is by barter. Comparison shopping and saying "no" pays dividends. Simply asking for the best price after you have heard the first price to start the process. The largest outdoor market is next to El Nido in town. The immediate southern outskirts of Rosarito, also across from Las Gaviotas and across from Fox Studios offer bargains with uncrowded conditions. These unique shops have Mexican art from the mainland. Current U.S. Customs allows $800 per person, duty free on most items. When bringing back liquor, the limit is one liter per person 21 years or older. Beer and wine volume counts the same as hard liquor volume.

There are three golf courses within 30 minutes of the villas: Club Social y Deportivo Campestre (Tijuana Country Club), Real Del Mar and Bajamar. Contact us for directions. Horseback riding on the beach is available in Rosarito Beach, Puerto Nuevo and Rancho Reynoso (3 miles south). Normally, guides go with you to assure that the horse behaves and returns. Remember to negotiate and understand the rate at time of the rental. There is an emerging wine industry that is a one-hour drive from Las Gaviotas. If you never want to leave the gates of Las Gaviotas, it is understandable with the private beaches, pool, spa, shuffleboard, tennis and volleyball to complement the "picture postcard" view from our patios.

Ocean activities

With lots of rugged shoreline, there are plenty of unoccupied, beautiful white sand beaches that stretch for miles. Along the free (libre) road, between Rosarito and La Mision, are dozens of rock cliffs and points, rocky beaches and small sandy coves that beg to be explored. Access is unlimited (by Mexican law) and usually along the side of the road. The best-known beach turnoffs from the toll (cuota) road are La Mision and La Salina. Parking for beautiful La Mision white sand beach is along the toll road at 60 km. Enter and exit the toll road 1/4-mile south of Las Gaviotas to avoid paying toll. Surfing, windsurfing, tidepool exploring, and beachcombing are just some of the activities. Surf Lessons at Inner Reef 613-2065 at KM34. The surf at Las Gaviotas has been a destination for many surfers who know the quality of our "reef break". Our villas have two private beaches, one rock and the other sand, without cliffs. BRING BEACH TOWELS, sand chairs, sandals and your imagination.

Even the most serious fisherman cannot be disappointed by the alternatives available. For the landlubbers, coastal spots are good for corbina, surf perch, calico and kelp bass. In front of the villas, fishing is easy and good. La Salina and La Mision beaches offer a challenge to the surfcaster. Both rock and surf fishing use mussels, squid, sand crabs or anchovies. Local bait is inconsistent, so bring frozen bags of your favorite. At Puerto Popotla (next to Fox), ask around for local fishermen to serve as captains of pangas to fish the kelp beds and banks along the coast. Licenses are required for boat fishing, but not for coastline casters. At Ensenada, there are open party boats and their cost includes license, bait, rod and tackle.

Things we have learned, random notes and more information

Don't forget your camera and binoculars. U.S. citizens can cross the Mexican border without a tourist card as long as you are not going past Ensenada or La Bufadora. Take small denomination U.S. money. On Friday nights, there is normally a 20-minute delay in crossing into Mexico. On Sundays or holidays, the crossing into the U.S. can take one hour or more. US PROHIBITED: All Pork products (cooked or not), Poultry (uncooked), Beef (uncooked) and Eggs. ALL fruits are PROHIBITED: except bananas, blackberries, cactus fruit, dates, grapes, melons, papayas, pineapples and strawberries are permitted. ALL vegetables are permitted, EXCEPT: potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes! Nuts are permitted. Sugarcane is not permitted. Live birds are not permitted. Plants and seeds for plants are prohibited. For more details go to: www.bajamexicovillas.com/customs.html

Local contact for help

At Las Gaviotas, if you need to talk to someone about situations that arise with the villa, please go to the police at the entrance to contact my repairman, Mariano. Most folks speak sufficient English. The police are there for any situation day or night, they try to be helpful, but they may be limited in giving assistance.

Road service

Note that roadside call boxes are installed on the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. They are marked S.O.S. and are located every 2 KM (1 mi.) on alternating sides of the road. This way, emergency roadside help is no more than 1/2 mile away if you have to stop. The legendary Green Angels also patrol the highways of Mexico with their radio-controlled units to supply assistance for any motorist in distress.

How far is Rosarito from San Diego? 40 minutes.

Do I need a passport to go to Baja? No, birth certificates and California Driver's licenses are acceptable.

Do I need to change money? How can I exchange currency? Not normally. Stop for currency exchange at San Ysidro if you are planning to spend over $200 in food and other things.

What about Travelers' Checks? Traveler's Checks are hard to cash in Baja, because a passport is required ID.

Are there ATM machines in Rosarito? ATM's dispense Pesos.
Banamex - ATM, currency exchange - Diego Rivera #2532
Bancomer - ATM, currency exchange -Blvd.B.Juarez #300
Bital - ATM, currency exchange - Blvd. B. Juarez, Plaza del Sol
Santender - ATM, currency exchange - Blvd.B.Juarez #101
Scotia Bank-Inverlat - ATM, currency exchange - Blvd.B.Juarez# 909

Can I bring in merchandise into Mexico? You can bring in your car, personal clothing, camera, and other personal items without a problem. Firearms are illegal in Mexico; special permits can be obtained for hunting.

What is the alcoholic beverage law in Mexico? Legal drinking age is 18. Most bars and nightclubs request an ID before admittance when they doubt the customer's age. Drinking on the streets is against city ordinance; fines are applied when caught. Drinking and driving is definitely against the law; offenders will land in jail and will have to pay a big fine.

Auto insurance savings

Purchase of special auto insurance is mandatory for the U.S. driver in Mexico. If you are involved in an accident, whether your fault or not, you won't be able to prove your ability to pay unless you have a Mexican policy. Drivers can be detained in jail until proof is established. Contact your American insurance company to determine your comprehensive and collision coverage below the border. Search the Internet for Lewis & Lewis Mexican insurance and they will provide you a policy, by FAX. Insurance booths at the border are the lowest priced choice ($10-$12 per day) for the minimum required $10,000 liability policy. Stop at San Ysidro Blvd off the 805 or 5 freeway before crossing into TJ.

Moving violations and the law

Mexican traffic laws require that when you receive a traffic citation, your driver's license be taken until you have paid the fine. Since Mexican police officers aren't permitted to keep a driver's license issued in another country, they will ask you to follow them to the nearest police station (sometimes the term "taking to jail" is used). There you pay the fine and receive an official receipt. 10 MPH too fast costs $100! Much has been said about the practice of paying police when pulled over. This is called La Mordida (the death bite) and is up to your discretion when faced with a street side scene with the police. There are two things you should mention when asked for what you deem to be an outrageous fine. First, there is a public worker's union office specifically charged with investigating police matters and firing corrupt officials. It is called the "sindicatura," and it is a name you should remember. It is pronounced seen-dee-kah-too-ra. It does not matter if the cop speaks English or understands anything of what you are saying. When he hears that word, the game is usually over. Said one of my Mexican friends, "Sindicatura to a police officer is like a gold cross is to a vampire." They are the "untouchables" of the local government. Second, if the cop gives you an option of paying him or going downtown, and you are even remotely confident that you are in the right, tell him you want to go downtown, but you want to talk to the juez calificador (whes cal-eef-ee-cah-dor), or qualifying judge. He is an office judge, not in charge of a court, but responsible for determining whether or not a fine is just, and exactly how much you should pay. As I suggested before, it is a good idea to write these names on a card. Keep it over your visor and show it if the cop does not seem to understand what you are talking about. Nine times out of 10, the cop will wave you off with a shrug of the shoulders and go looking for a more pliant pigeon. Mexico governs with Napoleonic Law which has you guilty until proven inno cent, so demanding your "rights" will normally fall on deaf ears. The Attorney General for the Protection of Tourists in Rosarito Beach is located next to the police station.