FAQs

Question

What are the best airports to fly in to?

Answer

Our suggestion would be to fly into the San Diego International airport or the Tijuana International airport, depending on what is cheaper. Please note that traveling into San Diego will require you to cross the border (please see note on Border Crossing below).

Question

Do I need to rent a car?

Answer

We highly recommend that you rent a car at the airport of arrival. This will allow you the freedom to enjoy Mexico and Valle de Guadalupe at your own leisure. You'll be able to explore vineyards and restaurants outside of the itinerary we propose - which is great, given that the valley boasts more than a 100 vineyards and numerous amazing restaurants. You can coordinate with a group of immediate family and friends to share the cost of renting a car. If you have any questions about who will be attending the wedding, shoot us a message!

Question

How do I cross the border by car?

Answer

Ok, this is a big, burning question for most people arriving through San Diego. And let us put you at ease - it is much easier than you might expect. Things you will need to note, irregardless of how your cross: 1) you will need a valid passport (and drivers license, if driving); and 2) you will need to fill out a visitors permit and likely pay a fee of around $20 if you will be staying in Mexico for more than 7 days. IF ARRIVING BY CAR: You can drive your car directly to the border crossing at Otaj Mesa. Please note that the waiting times to cross can range from 2 minutes all the way to 2 hours, depending on traffic. You can download an app (https://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/mobile.asp?action=n&pn=2504) to check the wait times at the border. But in general, try to avoid crossing on Fridays and Saturdays (times when a lot of Californians cross to MX for a weekend trip).

Question

How do I cross the border if I don't have a car?

Answer

If you want to coordinate with friends and family who will be renting a car in MX, you can cross the border by foot or shuttle and have them pick you up on the MX side. IF CROSSING ON FOOT: The fastest and easiest option is to cross the border by foot. Take either an Uber or catch the San Diego trolley (blue line) to the pedestrian border crossing at Otay or San Ysidro. They will drop you off right before the border patrol, and you cross by foot fairly quickly and seamlessly. Once you cross onto the MX side, there are also buses that cost $12 USD and take you straight to Ensenada (90 minute drive). USING CROSS BORDER EXPRESS (CBX): You can use the shuttle from downtown San Diego within 4 hours of your arrival into San Diego (you will have to show your plane tickets to use this service). Please note that it will drop you off at the Tijuana Airport, but you can then rent a car from there.

Question

Where should I stay?

Answer

There are a lot of options in Valle de Guadalupe. Where you choose to stay depends on your taste and budget. AIRBNB: Many people are coordinating with friends and family to rent larger Airbnb's in the area, which can come out to as little as $30/person/night. Please just make sure that the Valle de Guadalupe that the website brings up is near Ensenda (and the border) and not in Jarisco state. BOUTIQUE HOTELS: If you would prefer something more special, we recommend the many gorgeous boutique establishments in the area. You can find a good list here: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/the-best-boutique-hotels-in-baja-california-mexico/. MID-RANGE: For those of you who would like the convenience of a hotel at more reasonable prices, we recommend the Lucerna Hotel in Ensenada. It usually costs around $120/room/night.

Question

What are the transportation options in Valle de Guadalupe?

Answer

If you have not rented a car, you can arrive in Ensenada by bus. To explore the Valle, you can then rely on uber. It is fairly cheap, but please note that it may take a while for the driver to get to your location. This is also a great option for those of you who may get a bit too excited with the wine tasting and consequently do not feel safe enough to drive yourself :). ***On the day of the wedding we will arrange transportation that will leave from a central location to take guests to the venue and back again. More information to follow closer to the date.***

Question

Where will the wedding and all accompanying activities take place?

Answer

We often refer to Ensenada when talking of the wedding, but that is simply because Ensenada is the closest town in the area. It is very small and frankly does not boast many attractions. The real draw is Valle de Guadalupe - which is a 20 min drive inland. The Valle is a desert-like environment that boasts 100+ vineyards and some truly amazing restaurants. There is one main road that loops around the Valle and which you can drive along to explore the various vineyards. WEATHER: End of May/early June temperatures during the day will be around 23C (75F) with potential higher peeks at noon. Temperatures drop to as low as 15C (60F) at night. OCEAN: While Ensenada is right on the ocean, it is important to note that this is the Pacific - wild and cold. As a result, Ensenada is not known as a beach destination (though surfers seem to love it), and we wanted to manage expectations accordingly. The weather can get very hot, so we recommend finding lodgings with a pool that you can lounge at.

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

We want you all to be comfortable and happy! So there are no real guidelines. For the activities prior to the wedding, wear comfy shoes and light, breathable clothing (but bring light jacket or shawl if you will be staying out past sunset). For the cocktail reception we recommend casual cocktail attire. And for the wedding - anything that inspires you! Short or long dresses, jumpsuits, suits - this will not be a black tie event (and the groom will wear a suit) - but we would love for you to express yourself in whatever you feel most comfortable in so that we can dance the night away!

Question

What should we do while we are here?

Answer

In two words: eat and drink! WINERIES: We recommend Adobe Guadalupe, Casa de Piedra, La Escuelita, Monte Xanic, Paralelo, Bruma. FOOD: Finca Altozano, Laja, Corazon de Tierra, Deckman's (we will have Friday reception cocktails here!), and many many more. For inspiration, check out some articles and itineraries here: https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-regions/baja-california-mexico-wine-tacos https://blankitinerary.com/2016/03/what-to-do-in-valle-de-guadalupe-bajas-hidden-gem.html https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/where-eat-and-drink-in-mexicos-valle-de-guadalupe#finca-altozano-al-fresco-barbecue