Wedding coordinator:
Alvaro Colindres
http://www.AlvaroColindres.com
events@AlvaroColindres.com
011-52-612-108-1030 México
415.367.3415 This is Alvaro's cell phone
He will be available to answer questions while you are in Todos Santos.
Transportation
There are many car rental companies at the Cabo airport, you can
reserve a car from the US on Yahoo or Orbitz.
There are no car rental branches in Todos Santos.
There are regular bus services between La Paz Todos Santos and Los
Cabos. and long distance services to and from Tijuana: Buses
Autotransportes de Baja California (ABC)Tres Estrellas de Oro
Rental Car Insurance
Alvaro wrote:
I called Budget in Los Cabos. Clients will be able to accept or decline the
insurance the agency offers. If you decide to go with a your own
company you would still have to pay for any damages by cash or credit
car and file a claim against your insurance agency. The advantage of
going with their insurance is that you can "walk" away after filing the
proper paper work. Please contact your car rental agency for further
details.
Lewis and Lewis Insurance Agency based out of L.A. offers Mexican car
insurance for tourists. They may be able to assist.
http://www.mexicanautoinsurance.com/
Where’s a Good Drug Store?
ISSTE SUPER TIENDA (one block down from the Hotel California)
For the best selection and drug store prices in Todos Santos, this
government-sponsored store offers an excellent selection of prescription
and non-prescription drugs. Many name brand drugs that are only
available by prescription in the USA are often available over the
counter. The other pharmacy that is recommended is #60 on the map.
Remember to pack your medications and feminine hygiene
products/tampons, which are often hard to find.
Yoga Classes
Yoga Classes are offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.
m. in the heart of Todos Santos at La ARCA community center. Classes
are offered on a first come, first served basis.
Massage/Bodywork
To make an appointment with a trained massage therapist, ask your
innkeeper for recommendations
Where Do I Buy groceries/organic produce and can I eat
the lettuce?
When I first arrived into Todos Santos, I was horrified by the measly
selection of fresh fruit and produce in the downtown area. Not to worry—
Todos Santos happens to be one of the biggest exporters of organic
produce to the USA. Those baby vegetables and tomatoes that
you find during the winter months in your supermarket aisles, often come
from Baja Sur.
Contrary to popular belief the lettuces, vegetables and fruits are safe to
eat as long as they are properly washed. It may take two or three stores
to find everything you’ll need, but don’t be afraid to ask. If there are
certain spices or specialty items that you can’t live without, then bring
them with you.
For the freshest certified organic produce, you’ll need to get in your car
and drive to Pescadero, which is about 15 minutes south. The fruit and
vegetable stand is on the road south of Todos Santos, so keep an eye
out for it and make a note. Depending on the time of year, you’ll find the
freshest green beans, zucchini, organic lettuces, cucumber, herbs, roma
and cherry tomatoes, eggplant, sweet potatoes, oranges, grapefruit,
strawberries and much more and don’t be shy to try the free samples. If
you’re lucky, Antonio will be there strumming away on his guitar.
Los Arcos Market
For guests staying in the Pescadero area Los Arcos offer a decent
selection of American cheese and milk, produce, canned goods, tofu,
feta and much more. They also offer a good selection of meats.
Mercado Hermanos Gonzalez
My favorite market in Todos Santos is run by Gregorio and Lucy
Gonzalez and family. They offer a broad array of American products
and, with a few days notice, you can order just about anything available
in La Paz. They offer an excellent selection of fruits and vegetables and
it’s the only place in town that offers “organic chickens.” They also often
have an excellent selection of meats and fresh fish, not to mention it’s
the only place where you’ll find olive oil, balsamic vinegar and organic
coffee from Chiapas.
They also sell prewashed organic lettuce, but make sure the label says,
RANCHO DIAMANTE ORGANIC PRODUCE. They also have a good
wine, beer and liquor selection.
El Sol Market l & ll
El Sol is open seven days a week until 10 p.m. They offer a broad array
of produce, wine, beer liquor and canned goods plus a broad selection
of American and Mexican products.
Panaderia de Todos Santos
For fresh baked bolios--rolls and pan dulce, visit Todos Santos’ only
bakery. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m.
Tortillería Todos Santos
For corn or flour tortillas just off the presses, visit the tortilla factory
where tortillas are sold by the kilo, located on Collegio Militar. One kilo is
2.2 lbs.
La Paloma Palateria
For the best gelato quality ice creams don’t miss out on La Paloma’s
house made ice creams located on Colegio Militar
Beer--Cerveza
For the coldest beer and best prices in town, buy beer by the bottle or
by the case at the many beer depositories around town.
Ice House Block Ice–Hielera del Sur
Ice is available by the block, cubes or crushed.
Can I drink the Water?
Todos Santos is unique in that it receives its water supply from
underground aquifers.
During the wet season, the water bubbles up from the ground and there’
s no stopping it.
The water is safe to drink, but it’s not recommended for foreigners.
When dining out, make sure to ask for “agua purificada.” The water is
safe to brush you teeth with, however.
What happens if I get sick? Is there medical care in Todos
Santos?
It's probably a good idea not to get sick, at least for our wedding, but if
you do, The Centro de Salud--Hospital is open 24 hours with a medical
doctor on staff around the clock. Doctors Speak Some English.
For Emergency’s, local police and Volunteer Fire Department:
612-145-0445
Dr. Oliva, M.D / Farmacia Hippocrates
Alopathic or Homeopathic Healing
English Spoken
Cell: 044-612-0105-1316
For Emergency Medical Care
AmeriMed, Cabo San LucasInformation: http://www.amerimed-hospitals.
com/
Emergency Evacuation Information
http://www.usairambulance.com/indexg.htm
Cell Phones
If your cell phone provider claims to offer service in Mexico, we suggest
that you verify if they also offer service in Southern Baja California or
Baja California Sur, or more specifically BCS’s capital of La Paz.
The only providers that offer service in the Baja Sur area is T-1, Verizon,
Singular, and AT&T.
Once in Todos Santos, guests can purchase cell phones at the TelCel
office. Depending on the model, cell phones range from about $55 to
$100 USD each and prepaid phone cards and public phone cards are
also available at $5, $10 and $20 at TelCel. Unfortunately cell phones
are not available as rentals.
Currency/Credit Cards/ATM/Personal Checks/Banking
Currency
Most local businesses accept US dollars (cash or traveler’s checks) and
return the change in pesos. The general rule of thumb is 10 pesos to
the dollar, but the exchange rate varies.
For the best exchange rate, the ATM is your best option. There are only
two ATM’s in Todos Santos, so the cash tends to run out fast, especially
on weekends, so get there early in the day. If you’re arriving on Friday,
we suggest bringing enough cash and traveler’s checks to get through
the weekend.
I.V.A/Value Added Tax
Hotels and restaurants, along with other businesses, add a mandatory
10% value added tax
to most charges and services.
Credit Cards
MOST LOCAL BUSINESSES DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS so if
you’re planning to pay by credit card be sure to check ahead of time with
the innkeeper, business or restaurant.
If you plan on making withdrawals with your ATM card, it’s a good idea to
check whether your ATM card permits withdrawals in Mexico, and/or alert
your bank that you’ll be traveling in Mexico and planning to making
withdrawals and provide the dates of your visit.
For security reasons not all ATM cards issue withdrawals in Mexico.
Banorte does not offer cash advances, only via ATM.
Personal Checks
Most businesses including the local bank, BANORTE, DO NOT ACCEPT
PERSONAL CHECKS FROM THE USA. That’s not always the case with
art gallery owners, however.
BANCO BANORTE
Banorte is the only bank in town, so the lines tend to be long, especially
on Mondays and Fridays. The best times to cash traveler’s checks or
buy pesos are around 11:30 A.M.. and 1:00 P.M. BANORTE WILL NOT
CASH AMERICAN PERSONAL CHECKS, NOR DO THEY OFFER CASH
ADVANCES ON CREDIT CARDS. The ATM is your only means for cash.
When cashing American dollars or traveler’s checks, it’s important to
follow these simple steps to avoid any miscommunication or confusion:
1. Present your passport
2. Count the cash in front of the teller and say OUT LOUD to the teller
the amount of dollars you’d like to cash.
3. Most Importantly—ASK FOR A RECEIPT.
4 NOTE: CASH IS THE ONLY FORM OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED BY GAS
STATIONS. CREDIT CARDS NOT ACCEPTED.
Se habla Español
A few key Spanish words and phrases are worth remembering and will
go a long way to enhance your stay and make it a more pleasant one.
Locals light up when North Americans take the time to speak spanish.
Buenos Dias o Buenas Tardes
When walking into a business, it’s considered good manners to greet the
store keeper with buenos dias or buenas tardes. Generally speaking,
good morning is up until lunchtime and good afternoon is until evening.
¿Adonde Esta . . .?
When asking for directions, start with ¿Adonde Esta, Hotel California?
for example.
Por favor
It’s also considered polite to say please when ever asking or ordering
items like in a restaurant, for example.
Una margarita en las rocas con sal, por favor
A margarita on rocks with salt, please.
Buenas Noches
At the end of the evening make sure to say good night
El Gusto es mîo
The pleasure is mine
Buen Precho
This is the equivalent to “bon appetit”
Muchas Gracias
Thank you
Remember, KINDNESS goes a long way,
especially in
The United States of México
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