The much sought after Whale Watching tours in Baja California North will commence this month of December (after Christmas), when the big mammals return to the Mexican peninsula. The tours will extend until mid March 2013.

These popular tours last four hours on board of a boat departing from Ensenada’s Todos Santos Bay, with the boat captain and his assistant (a Marine Biology student or graduate) narrates and explains the life cycle of the magnificent California Gray Whale, and their journey as they swim South toward their breeding grounds in the warm waters of the Pacific Coast of Baja California South.

For more information, please contact Baja California State Tourism Secretariat in Ensenada at (646) 172-5444 or e-mail: gshimomoto@baja.gob.mx

On December 15th, 2012, the UABC Choir will accompany soloist Alfonso Magana while they perform a Misa Criolla (Creole Mass) and other traditional Mexican Christmas pieces at the church of Nuestra senora Guadalupe Victoria del Refugio.

The church is located in fraccionamiento Buenaventura in Ensenada, and it will open its doors at 7:30pm for this event.

The price of admission is $12 USD per person. For more information or directions on how to get there, please contact Margit Gantt at (646) 174-7969, or her cell phone (646) 191-3565; e-mail: margit@prodigy.net.mx

Are you a hiking enthusiast? Then this is your chance to prove your worth, during the 26th Travesia Baja 100!

This unique race, where teams walk and hike the width of the Baja Peninsula (69 miles), began in 1987, when a group of pioneers who advocate the camping spirit decided to cross the peninsula by foot.

This year the race will be starting at Playa Altamira, located 15 km from the village of El Nuevo Rosarito in Baja California and finishing on Bahia de los Angeles on Sea of Cortes, and it will take place on November 15th 2012. Teams have a maximum of 3 days to complete the challenge, and on November 18th, participants will gather at the finish point to exchange anecdotes and photographs and have a good time together.

Good health and excellent physical condition is required in order to complete the Travesía 100 and to fully enjoy this adventure.

For more information please contact Salvador León in Mexicali at (686) 552-9848, e-mail travesiabaja100@gmail.com

From November 14th through November 17th, 2012, Baja will be the scenery for the 45th Annual Tecate SCORE race Baja 1000.

Starting in Ensenada and concluding in the quaint town of La Paz, this world famous desert race will see its consecutive 45 edition next week. The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, in which more than 300 cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs from 32 U.S. states and 18 countries challenge 1,121.55 miles of rugged mountain, forest and desert terrain, will start at Ensenada’s Riviera Cultural Center. The finish line will be located on the outskirts of La Paz near the Grand Plaza Hotel, where an award giving ceremony and celebration will take place.

For more information please call (818) 225-8402 or visit www.score-international.com

Several packages of money were found inside a house in Tijuana, after a fire destroyed most of a dwelling and what firemen suspect to have been an underground drug lab in its basement.

An explosion that occurred yesterday afternoon triggered the fire in the basement of the house located in the new housing development El Lago, in the city of Tijuana. Three people were injured as a result of the explosion.

Firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene minutes later and after rescuing the three victims, firemen started looking for the source of the accident and oh, surprise! they found several packages of money amounting to over $1 million US dollars! The money was not damaged by the fire.

No arrests have been made but the three victims of the fire are currently in temporary custody.

On October 27th and 28, Rosarito Beach residents and visitors will enjoy a Spaniard-inspired festival that will turn this quaint Mexican town into a Flamenco village.

This encounter with the arts (including jazz, blues, opera, flamenco, modern dance, painting, sculpture and photography) will also feature artisan wines, regional fare and organic products.

WHEN: From 11AM to 9PM
WHERE: Park Abelardo L. Rodriguez and at the IMAC installations.
PRICE: free to attend.

For more information, please contact Benito del Aguila, Tijuana cell tel. (664) 123-7139; e-mail: rosaritoartfest@gmail.com

From September 19th through the 23rd, Ensenada will be the host city of Baja’s 34th Seafood Expo and Seafood Fair.

This festivity, which has happened without interruptions for 34 consecutive years, will include events such as fishery and aquaculture commercial expositions, conferences and symposiums, as well as a much awaited fishing tournament and a gastronomic contest. The event will conclude with the world famous Ensenada Seafood and Fish Fair on September 23rd, at Playa Hermosa, Ensenada, starting at 12 noon. This grand finale will feature dozens of local restaurants and wineries, all presenting their signature dishes based on local fish and seafood, and paired with Baja California wines.