US State Department Recognizes Safety of Baja Sur – Finally!

The US State Department has finally recognized what we have known for a long time – that Todos Santos is one of the safest regions in North America. When you visit Villa Santa Cruz, Todos Santos Hotel on the Beach, you will relish the privacy and seclusion of the Villa, enjoy the natural beauty of the ocean and leave your cares the moment you walk through our grand front entryway. Although the State Department may be late with its recognition of the safety of the area, we are so glad it is finally sending the right message about Baja Sur!
For the First Time, New Travel Notices for Mexico Specifically Separate La Paz and Other Regions, Confirming It as One of the Safest Cities in North America
LA PAZ, Baja California Sur, Mexico– In a significant move that recognizes the safety of La Paz and Baja California Sur, the U.S. State Department’s latest 2012 travel update states no security concerns for the region. For the first time, the regular update includes “no advisory” in effect for La Paz and the entire South Baja region. The move reaffirms the reputation of La Paz as the city of peace and abundance on the Sea of Cortez, and one of the safest places in the world to live in and visit.

“We applaud the U.S. State Department for recognizing what every visitor to La Paz experiences here: That it is a beautiful, peaceful city, and – along with the entire South Baja region – it is an entirely secure and rewarding place for vacations, for owning a second home, or for retirement,” said Agustin Olachea, President of La Paz Tourism Board, and spokesperson for the La Paz Developers Tourism Council. “Travelers can feel confident coming here, knowing that the peace that one quietly encounters in La Paz extends directly from the abundant ocean life and cultural richness that sets La Paz apart from any place on the planet.”

The report marks the first time that the State Department has broken down its Mexico travel update into specific populated areas and regions. According to an unnamed State Department source, the “granularized” report was compiled at the request of American business groups interested in employee security. It was not done to appease various boosters of Mexican tourism. Previous to this report, the US State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued travel warnings to larger, more general areas for Americans visiting Mexico. The result was confusion, with some tourists curtailing plans for visiting Mexico in spite of huge areas of the country unaffected by recent drug-related violence.

The safety of Baja Sur in particular was also underscored by the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other international leaders at last month’s G20 Foreign Ministers Summit in Los Cabos.

Our pueblo of Todos Santos, a bohemian artist community, was in true form on Sunday, February 12 when over 30 local artists opened their studio doors and welcomed in the public for the 3rd Annual Artists’ Open Studio Tour. From Villa Santa Cruz, Todos Santos Hotel, we headed into town and started the tour at the neighborhood café, Cafelix, to receive our self-guided tour map and official red wristband. We also browsed Cafelix’s Visions Gallery which had on display one work from each artist on the Studio Tour. As novice art enthusiasts (notice the emphasis!), we set out on the tour, looking forward to chatting with the artists and learning about their craft.

We headed up the main drag and stopped in at the Galeria de Todos Santos to visit with artists Michael Cope and Erick Ochoa. Their studio, an outdoor garden space draped in weather-resistant tarps, let in natural sunlight and a soft breeze while beautifully exhibiting their large oil works. (They also have an Asian inspired restaurant, Michael’s at the Gallery, on Friday & Saturday nights).
We then stopped at Diane Knight’s Purple Door Studio and enjoyed her work – lovely paintings inspired by life in Mexico.

At Tori Sepulveda’s studio, we were hypnotized by her paintings of strong women and horses.
Next door, we visited with Nanette Hayles and ogled her vibrant mosaics and discussed her emotionally charged pieces that depict the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy.

Jill Logan’s lovely garden studio displayed her colorful and sensual landscapes, broken tile murals and bold abstracts.
As we headed back towards La Pastora Beach to Villa Santa Cruz, we stopped at the Studio of Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz. She explained how she combines encaustic, found objects and photography into her works.

Our last stop was to see Jan Marie Sessler, whose serene abstracts featuring ocean colors and found materials were calming.
We were proud to have supported the artist community of Todos Santos during the Studio Tour. We are continually impressed by the ingenuity and beauty in the works they create. Our sincere thanks to the artists for sharing your spaces with us!

Thanks to our friends at Baja.com – a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel advice on Baja California, Mexico – we spent the day aboard a spectacular yacht in the Sea of Cortez, explored the beautiful Balandra Beach and swam with whale sharks. While our guests at Villa Santa Cruz, Boutique Hotel on the Beach, are usually quite content enjoying the Villa and Todos Santos, this day trip to La Paz is a “must do” for any guest of Villa Santa Cruz and any traveler to Baja Sur.
Arriving bright and early to the La Paz marina after an hour drive from Todos Santos, we were welcomed by Kenny Busick, the owner and captain of our vessel for the day, The One Baja’s 56′ Samurai Luxury Yacht. Over piping hot coffee and breakfast on board, we met up with the Baja.com team and other Baja “ambassadors” with whom we would spend the day. The impressive list of locals included Tim Means, a passionate Baja conservationist and owner of the outdoor adventure company, Baja Expeditions, Roy Stock – Principal of Wide Open Baja, an off road touring company, James Curtis – Owner of the Cortez Club, the best diving and watersports center in La Paz, who regaled us with amazing tales of personal encounters with whales and dolphins in the Sea of Cortez, and Restaurateurs Miguel Ochoa (Hotel Casa Tota and La Santena Restaurant & Bar), Geoffrey Lujan (Las Tres Virgines Restaurant in La Paz) and Rafael Rodriguez (Salsipuedes Bar & Restaurant in La Paz) and more!

Once we settled in on the yacht, we were soon heading north through the La Paz Bay. With the morning sun on our shoulders, it was a beautiful sight watching the coast from the sea. Within minutes, the crew on the top deck spotted a friendly whale shark near our boat. Jim Pickell, the CEO of Baja.com, was the only one brave enough to jump in and get up close and personal with him.

We made our way to Balandra Beach, one of the most breath taking stretches in all of Baja Sur. With crystal clear water, powder white sand and gently lapping waves, an afternoon here is one spent in paradise. Captain Kenny anchored the boat in the bay and let us explore.

Docking back at the Marina, we were sad to say good-bye to all our new friends and to such a great day out on the water. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone at Baja.com for such a fun day. We look forward to sending our Villa Santa Cruz guests out for the same adventure!

General Information:

Location. La Paz is located approximately one hour northeast of Todos Santos by car. With a completed four-lane highway, the drive is easy and quick. The Samurai is located here.

About the Samurai. The Samurai is a luxury yacht for cruising, fishing and family fun. It is a luxurious, smooth riding stable platform that offers a 20 knot cruise, great for sport fishing and perfect for multi-island exploration or long range voyages, manufactured by Ronin Shipbuilding in Puerto Rico. She is completely self-sufficient with two generators, four air conditioners, 800 per day fresh water maker, three private staterooms, two private heads, complete chef’s galley, two custom BBQ’s, main dining room and underwater lights for night time fishing action.

Charter Includes. They typical day includes full breakfast, lunch and snacks as well as beer and wine. Guests can take the dinghy to explore beaches, snorkel, kayak, dive, fish, paddleboard and more.

Cost. The cost varies with the number of people, itinerary and menu, but is usually around $3,000 USD/day (plus 10-20% tip). Overnight trips are quoted upon request.

Reservations. Reservations can be made through Samurai’s listing on Baja.com.