Baja California Norte

BAJA CALIFORNIA NORTE

ENGLISH VERSION Mexicali its fertile valley. For a good part of Ensenada the 20th century, its main activity The name of this border city, capi- was cotton production and, cur- Known as the “Pacific’s Cinderel- tal of the state, is a contraction of rently, it is a mayor automobile, la”, Ensenada includes several in- the words Mexico and California. On aerospace, health and telecommu- teresting sites, such as the State the USA side, Calexico is the reverse nications center. Mexicali offers an Arts Center, the City Theater, the acronym formed by this combina- ample range of cultural attractions, Regional History Museum, tion. Mexicali was founded in 1904, such as the Regional Museum, the the Community Museum, the when the region already had a con- Sol del Niño Museum, the Univer- Rivera Social, Civic and Cultur- siderable population attracted by sity of Baja California Museum, al Center, the Former Rivera Pa- the State Arts Center, the Cultur- cific Casino; the traditional Hus- al Studies Center, the Museum of song’s Cantina, founded in 1892, the University of Baja California was the first canteen to be estab-

(uabc) and the State Theater. Oth- lished in the California states. In © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: er interesting points are the Former 1888, the first Mexican winery, Ensenada. Government Palace, the Colorado the Bodegas de Santo Tomás, River Land Company Building, started operations in the city. Picacho del Diablo, reaching tional production of table wines.

the Cachanilla Plaza, the Mexicali Califo r nia Sec tu r Baja PHoto: Other attractions include the 3 100 meters msl. It is a place with The valley is also rich in olive and Guadalupe Canyon. Brewery, the Calafia Bullfighting Revolución Park, the Tijuana- ideal conditions for astronomical orange orchards. Ring and the City Zoo. Los Algo- Ensenada Panoramic Highway observation, it hosts the Nation- dones town and several interesting and Dam. It is worth mentioning observation point and the inter- al Astronomical Observatory, Constitución de 1857 sites are also found in the area, in- that the Cerro Prieto geother- national regattas. It also offers one of the three best observato- National Park cluding the Guadalupe Canyon, mal plant is the largest in Latin beautiful natural areas, such as ries worldwide. with its sulphur water springs, the America and the second largest It covers a surface of 5 009 hectares PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: the Isla de Guadalupe Bio- Mexicali. Salada Lake, the Morelos dunes worldwide. sphere Reserve; La Bufadora, a Valle de Guadalupe and is one of the few green areas of sea-geyser with a water-jet Baja California. It possesses pine and reaching up to 18 meters high; A region famous for its ample vi- oak forests growing over granite Cultural Studies Regional Museum Center the Constitución de 1857 Na- neyards, the basis for the produc- rocks. It is located at the heart of the ciTY OF mexicali Lerdo de Tejada Av. Sebastian tional Park, Hanson Lake is lo- tion of world-quality wines, which Sierra of Juarez. The main attrac- Museum of the University accounts for 90% of the total nation is Hanson Lake. mírez cated inside; the Island and Bay María Ra of Baja California Paseo José goza C C nacio Zara v. Gral Ig alle alle Todos Santos, an excellent loca- Boulevard A

rista i j v ariano A tion for observing and sighting Adolfo A . M La Cachanilla Plaza López gray whales, and San Miguel, El M Larroque ateos José María Faro, Baja and Estero beaches.

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Independen PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: Collada Av. Jorge López

c ia alafia to City Zoo C Calafia Bullfighting Ring baja california Los Algodones El Florido El Vallecito Tecate Los mexicali Ciudad Morelos Manantiales U.S.A. Tijuana Echeverría Geotérmica Cerro Prieto El Álamo Laguna Salada Rosarito Valle Bonito La Mariana Guadalupe Victoria Ejido Ignacio Zaragoza Valle de Guadalupe Ejido San Marcos Constitución de 1857 San Miguel National Park sonora Arcángel de la Frontera 5 Isla Todos Santos Ensenada MEXICO Bahía Todos Santos La Bufadora Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada Alto Golfo de California y Delta del Río Colorado Lázaro Cárdenas Biosphere Reserve

San Vicente Ferrer 3 San Pedro Mártir

PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: National Park Bahía de los Ángeles. Gulf of San Felipe California Gustavo Ordaz San Felipe Bahía de los Ángeles Ruben Jaramillo Punta Estrella Santo Domingo de la Frontera This town, called “the shrimp capital” One of the main beach destinations Los Olivos Highlights is a mayor commercial and fishing in the region, this bay is surrounded Gral. Leandro Valle San Quintín port. The “Juan García Aldama” Cu- by La Libertad and Sierra of Las Án- Magical town Museum capá Community Museum and imas mountain ranges, with their Civil architecture Baja Monument boardwalk are located in this town. “cirios”-covered slopes, the emblem Religious architecture Folk art Among it is many natural attractions plant of the region; the Valle de los california Central Square the most outstanding are the Valle Cirios protected area is located near- Pacific Mission Cuisine de los Gigantes, the habitat of enor- by. It is recommended not to miss vis- Nuestra Señora Note: The symbols refer to the spots described in this guide. mous plants called “cirios” (candle iting the “Nature and Culture” Mu- del Santísimo Ocean Rosario del lights); the Sierra of San Pedro Mártir, seum, the Punta La Gringa, Punta Viñadaco the tallest in the peninsula; San Luis Arena, Brisa Marina Beaches; the San Fernando Bahía San Luis Gonzaga de Velicatá Gonzaga Bay and Punta Estrella, Pu- Bays of San Rafael and las Ánimas, ertecitos, Alfonsina, Punta Calama- and Rasa and Ángel de la Guarda Islands and jué and Estero Percebú beaches. Islands, the latter being the biggest protected areas of the Gulf of California in the Gulf of California. 1 Guadalupe Island Valle de los Cirios Flora Valle de los Cirios Ángel de la Guarda Island and Fauna National Park Flora and Fauna Protection Area La Silica Bounding with the Vizcaíno Desert, it tourist attractions covers 194 hectares and is an area rich Capital Bahía de Los Ángeles in fossils. “Cirios”, the gigantic colum- Town Santo nar cactuses in this area, reach up to 15 Archaeological zone Domingo meters height. Other plant species Natural area San Francisco Punta Santa de Borja Adac abounding in this National Park are the Airport Rosalita agaves “cardón” and “torote blanco”. Two-way highway Valle de los Gigantes. Federal highway

PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: Cedros Island Secondary highway Santa Gertrudis Biosphere Reserve la Magna Road 1 La Rumorosa, Tecate. Nevado de Colima.

Tecate Ejido Ignacio Zaragoza San Quintín

Some of its main attractions are the A place linked to the hunter- Known as the “clam capital”, San Galería del icbc, the Tecate Brew- gatherers who inhabited Baja Quintin hosts the Bahía Falsa, ery, the Goverment Palace, the California in Pre-Hispanic time, where seven extinct volcanoes can Los Encinos, Hidalgo and Ojai- about 9 000 years ago. A consid- be admired and kayaking can be Koa Parks; the San José and La erable number of stone tools practiced. Other interesting sites Baja Califo r nia Sec tu r Baja PHoto: Puerta Ranches, and La Rumoro- and artifacts were discovered in are the San Quintín, Colonet, Ca- Bahía San Quintín. sa. Travelling on board the Tijuana- the area, including scrappers malú, San Ramón and Santa

Tecate Tourist Train is a must. © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: and arrow heads. A local mu- María Bays. The Misión de Santo seum displaying these pieces Domingo de la Frontera and the Isla of Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve Folk Art El Vallecito Tijuana can be visited in the site. Muelle Viejo are also worth visiting. Baja California possesses a varied craft tradition. Objects manufactured with A volcanic island with heights Located in the area formerly occu- It is considered Mexico’s border city by Rosarito Camino Real Misionero sea materials stand out, such as the pied by the Kumiai Indians, one of reaching 1 300 meters, its impor- shells and winkles frames of San Fe- excellence. It borders San Diego, Cali- th tance is due to the abundance of lipe, and those made by Indian the four Indian groups that inhab- fornia, and is the most frequently Attractions to visit in Rosarito in- Since the end of the 17 Century th marine mammals, such as North- groups, including baskets manufac- ited the peninsula in Pre-Hispanic clude the Misión de San Miguel and up to the 19 Century, Jesuit, crossed immigration control post in ern Sea elephant seal, the fine tured with woven cachanilla, willow times. They were mostly hunters Arcángel, the “Wa Kuatay” Dominican and Franciscan friars the world. Among the main attractions Guadalupe sea wolf, the common and wicker. Tecate flower pots and and collectors who used to estab- Community Museum, the El trying to convert natives in the of the city, it is worth mentioning the seal and otter. It is also home to other red-clay ceramic objects are lish temporary camps depending Rosario Community Museum, region founded several missions. also remarkable. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Ca- sea and land mollusks, birds and a on the seasons of the year and car- and the Calafia Hotel –with the Among the most important are: thedral; the Revolución Avenue, the great variety of fish. ried out magic rituals to favor suc- oldest street of the city; Las Califor- small museum rooms depicting San Miguel Arcángel de la Fron- Cuisine cess in hunting, painting diverse tera, San Vicente Ferrer, Santo nias Museum: the Tijuana State Arts the history of the state–, the Islands and protected Baja California is a state famous for its symbolic motifs related to their Center; the Wax Museum; the Tijua- Popotla Crafts Corridor and Domingo de la Frontera, Nuestra ample number of Mexican and Inter- rituals in caves and other rocky Señora del Santísimo Rosario de areas of the Gulf of national restaurants, offering Japa- na Cultural Center (cecut); the El the Rosarito Beach Boulevard California nese, Chinese and French Cuisines. shelters. Several cave paintings, Cubo; the Culture Palace; the Torre (former Benito Juárez Boule- Viñadaco, San Fernando de Veli- such as “the shark”, the “little devil catá, San Francisco de Borja Adac Among the local dishes outstand the de Agua Caliente, built in 1929; the vard). The most visited beaches Considered as a World Heritage or solstice”, the “rooted man” and and Santa Gertrudis La Magna. machaca La Mesa style, the Caesar’s Palacio de Frontón Jai Alai; the Agua are those extending from Punta Reserve, it covers 934,756 hect- salad, Puerto Nuevo lobster, garlic the “Indian cave” have been locat- Caliente Horse Track; the Tijua- Descanso to Punta Mezquite, ares, embracing zones pertaining duck, shrimps in several presenta- ed in El Vallecito. na Bullfighting Ring; the José Ma- as well as the Ala Delta and to Baja California, Baja California tions and the Tecate bread. Tradi- ría Morelos y Pavón State Park; Popotla beaches. Other inter- Sur, and Sonora. The habitat of en- tional beverages include beer and table wines, produced in the local Caesar’s Hotel, cradle of the famous esting sites are the Rosarito dangered animal species, such as vineyards, as well as the pitahaya and Cesar’s Salad; the L.A. Cetto winery, Canyon, the Primo Tapia and the sea cow, it is also the home of the largest in Baja California, and the Ejido Mazatlán Dunes, and the mesquite bean waters and the several marine ecosystems of ma- acorn tea. Popo Market. Baja Cinema Studios. jor relevance for the region as well as of wetlands, mangroves, and mountain and desert ecosystems. PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: Tijuana Cultural Misión de San Francisco de Borja Adac. Center.

Fauna in the Gulf of California Islands. PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: El Vallecito. PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: Shrimps. Baja Califo r nia Sec tu r Baja PHoto: PHoto: © CP T M / Ri c a r do Es p inosa– re o PHoto: And don’t miss . . .

• Touring the City of Tijuana • Going to Ensenada • Sighting gray whales • Enjoying a good table wine or a beer • Visiting the Gulf of California Reserve • Taking a tour the missions • Visiting Mexicali • Admiring the natural zones • Admiring the El Vallecito cave art • Knowing the Valle de Guadalupe vineyards

Tourist information

www.descubrebajacalifornia.com T E S A R Tijuana

Secretary of Tourism Information Module: Calle Juan Ruiz de Alarcón LAS Y no.1572, Zona Rio, C.P. 22320, Tijuana, B.C., 664-682-3367 Ensenada

Tourism Delegation Offices: Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas and Calle las Rocas R A C ULTU

no. 1477, Zona Centro, C.P. 22800, 646-172-5444 LA Tourist Information Module A R

Plaza Cívica, Blvd. Costero and Macheros, Zona Centro, C.P. 22800, P 646-178-3070, [email protected] Mexicali Tourism Delegation Offices: Blvd. Benito Juárez, no. 1, and L. Monte- jano, Col. Cantú, C.P. 21260, 686-566-1277 San Quintín Tourism Sub-Delegation Offices: Santa Fe, km 178.3, Carretera Trans- peninsular no. 1, road Ensenada-San Quintín, C.P. 22920, 616- Portada: viñedo, valle de guadalupe. foto: sectur baja california. 165-3645 Contraportada: la rumorosa. Foto: ©cptm / ricardo espinosa-reo Rosarito Beaches Tourism Delegation Offices: Blvd. Benito Juárez, no. 907, local 29, National Chamber of Restaurants and Spiced Food Indus- R IA /C ONS E JO NA C IONAL E H ISTO Centro Comercial Oceana Plaza, Zona Centro, C.P. 22710, 661- try (canirac) Tijuana: Av. Nezahualcóyotl, núm. 1650, 612-5222 y 612-5127 Zona Río, C.P. 22320, 664-682-8744 y 682-8745, Tecate [email protected], Tourism Delegation Offices: Andador Libertad no. 1305, Zona Centro, www.caniractijuana.com.mx C.P. 21400, 665-654 1095, Tourist help: 078 canirac Ensenada: Calle 4a. and Obregón, no. 527, local 8,

San Felipe Zona Centro, C.P. 22800, 646-174-0603 y 174-0448, ANT R O P OLOG Í A Tourism Sub-Delegation Offices: Ave. Mar de Cortés and Calz. Chetu- [email protected]; gerencia@canica- D E mal no. 101, local 2, C.P. 21850, 686-577-1865 rensenada.org, www.caniracensenada.com.mx canirac Mexicali: Calle G, no. 1501, local 7, between Calle Tijuana Tourism and Conventions Committee: Paseo de los Héroes Zaragoza and Mariano Arista, Col. Nueva, C.P. 21100, no. 9365-201, Zona Río, C.P. 22320, 664-684-0537, exts. 105, 106 686-554 3285, [email protected], and 107, www.ocvtijuana.org [email protected] Public Trust for the Tourism Promotion of Ensenada: Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas no. 609.5, Edif. Hotel Santo Tomás, Zona Centro, C.P. 22800, 646-178-8588 Emergency phone numbers NA C IONAL ./ INSTITUTO Mexicali Tourism and Conventions Committee: Blvd. López Mateos Baja California Mexicali no #. esq. Av. de las Camelias, Col. Bella Vista, C.P. 21150, 686- Emergency: 066 Civil Protections: 551-9800 y 551-9801 686-557 2850 Playas de Rosarito Tourism and Conventions Committee: Blvd. Benito Tijuana Federal Highway Patrol: Juárez, no. 907, local 14, Centro Comercial Oceana Plaza, Zona Civil Protections: 686-554-29-09 664-634 9360

Centro, C.P. 22710, 661-612 3078 R A ÍCE S , . D E C. V Federal Highway Patrol: 664-682 5285 CONACULTA Culture and Art Technical President Secretary Secretary Lic. Consuelo Lic. Roberto Lic. Raúl Ensenada Sáizar Vázquez Díaz Arenzana Olvera Federal Highway Patrol: