General Information for Expedition: Baja
Location: The San Quintin Valley, Baja California Norte, Mexico, approximately 180 miles south of the U.S. border on Mexico Highway 1.
Accommodations: We have various styles of housing available as available. We cannot guarantee any particular type of housing, but we are here to take care of you. Hot showers (usually), flush toilets (a luxury in rural Baja), and filtered water on site are included. Picknick tables, a patio with gas fireplace, a basketball/floor hockey court, sand volleyball courts, and even low-key ziplines are part of our property.
- Dorms – bunk beds for 20 males and 20 females (Capacity of 40)
- Bunk rooms – 3 rooms for 6-12 with detached bathrooms. (Capacity of 22)
- Family rooms – 8 rooms with one queen and one or more bunk beds with private bathrooms (Capacity of 36)
- Couples Rooms – 3 rooms for 2 each (Capacity of 6)
- Rustic youth cabins – 10 cabins with bunks for 8 and detached bathrooms (Capacity of 80)
- Alternate accommodations – Air BnB or modest motel accommodations
Food: Our local cooks prepare breakfast and dinner in our kitchen on most trips with standard American food and some Mexican meals as well. Most trips include daily sack lunches. We are quite proud of our food quality and choices.
Activities: During our free time, activities will include going to the beach, hiking, and trips to the best taco stands on the planet! Surfing, boogie boarding, fishing, off-roading and other related activities are available. Please feel free to bring the items needed to engage in these activities.
Trip length: 7 days including travel in and out of Baja.
Travel: In most cases, participants will arrange their own travel to San Diego International airport and be picked up by uReach Staff for ground transportation down the Baja coast. Travel to San Diego International airport can be arranged by air, bus, or personal car. Free parking can be arranged by uReach with advanced notice.
- Flights should arrive in time for a noon pickup by uReach staff. We cannot guarantee an early pickup on the day of arrival if the flight arrives before noon.
- Departure flights should be scheduled for after 4PM on the day of departure. uReach staff can assist you with travel arrangements or special needs.
Currency: American dollars are accepted everywhere, and small bills are most useful. Nothing larger than a $20 bill will be accepted at most places – 1s and 5s are much better, and all change will be given in pesos. Individuals are encouraged to bring $50-100 in spending money for extra meals, snacks, shopping, etc. As a point of reference, tacos cost $2, soft drinks cost $1, and Mexican ponchos or blankets cost about $15. Some places are starting to take credit cards, and one ATM is available, however, cash is still preferred.
Language: Spanish is the official language and very few people speak English. You can learn some key Spanish phrases here.
Climate: The climate is Mediterranean, with warm days and cool nights. Summer temperatures average 800/700, and winter averages 650/500. It’s frequently cool at the beach, and the water temperature of the Pacific Ocean is about 60-75o.
Travel documents: At the time of this writing, the requirements for entering Mexico and coming back into the U.S. are: ALL adult trip participants MUST have a U.S. valid passport (or passport from another country and a valid U.S. travel visa), a US passport card or an Enhanced Security Driver’s license (currently issued by Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington – and some Canadian states).
In addition, all minors must carry a letter of permission: “Mexican law requires that any non-Mexican citizen under the age of 18 departing Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Mexico. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s). The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel. The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable.”
uReach will keep all documents in safe keeping for unaccompanied minor travelers.
In some cases, arrangements can be made for US citizens without passports, typically minors or in emergency situations. No undocumented migrants should take part in this trip.
What’s included in the price of the trip: Your trip cost includes: ground transport from San Diego (unless otherwise specified), all meals in Mexico, purified water, construction materials/tools for house build, trip leadership/project management, recreational activities, and leadership training.
