1. Is it safe to travel Mexico?
2. How do I get to Coyote Cal's in Erendira?
3. Directions in German.
   
4. Where are the nearest Airports?
5. What do I need to bring?
6. What is the weather like?
7. Do I need a Mexican Visa to travel to Coyote Cal's?
8. Do I need Mexican Auto Insurance?
9. What about using Cash, ATM's & Travelers Checks?
10. I've heard the border crossing is Crazy! What is it like?
11. If I leave personal belongings, how can I get them back?
12. How do I book a reservation at the Hostel?
13. Can I book a private room or the Crow's Nest?
14. Have a question not listed here? Email:Coyote Cals Mexican Hostels!

How do I get to Coyote Cal's Mexico Hostels?

By Bus:
From Downtown San Diego take the Tolley to San Ysidro. Walk over the bridge and keep walking until you exit until you come to the first Mexican street. Turn left and at this street and walk two blocks to the end, (Do not talk to the taxi drivers, they will try to drive you across town to the downtown bus station when the bus station you need is only 75 meters away!),at the end, turn right to the bus stations, "Autotransporte" are about 75 meters and across the street from the Taxi parking lot. Use "ABC" Bus Co. You will have to first purchase a ticket to Ensenada, Cost about $15, and then transfer to a bus to Erendira. Approximate cost to Erendira is $11. Departs every 1/2 hour. Depart before 2:00pm to arrive at the hostel in daylight. Bus drop off at Hwy 1 KM 78 turn off. The next 12 miles are an easy hitch. (If you do not want to hitch you can take the bus to San Vicente. Across the street to the left of the Pemex Gas station is a hotel called Mimi Hotel. There they have a taxi service to the Hostel 24hours a day for $300 pesos mn. The taxi phone number is 646-165-6747. They only speak spanish. The owners name is Sr. Magdaleno.) There is only one road into town and it goes right by the hostel. Total travel time from San Diego is (5) hours.

By Taxi: (Good for four or more travelers)
Take the bus to Ensenada. Station wagon taxis can be hired anywhere in Ensenada for a flat fee of about $75.00, agree on the price before you go! The taxi will take you to the store, "Calimax", buy beer and drop you at the front door of Coyote's Cals Mexico Hostels.  (9) fit in the taxi.Make sure you tell him he must take you on three miles of dirt road to the hostel for the same pricel.

Quote from recent visitors -- "Coyote Cal's was easy to get to. We took the bus from TJ. The bus dropped us off at the turn off and within 5 minutes we had a ride to the door. The locals are very friendly." -Sarah & Renee

By Car:
Interstate (5) to San Diego/Tijuana Border. The Toll or Scenic Road is to the right at the top of the first bridge, cost $8.30 one way! (Three tolls at $29 pesos each toll.) The free road is over the bridge, stay to your right as you pass over the bridge with the flags. Do not take the right turn off ramp just after this bridge. Take a right between the first and second traffic circles, (Big "V"), & (Aztec Indian),this will be after Costco and McDonalds,the turn is at a "BajaNorte Bank",follow traffic. Both roads are Mexico's Hwy 1.

The roads in Baja California are very good and you may see random check points along with the regular check points for drugs and guns. There is usually Federal Police just between the last toll both and Ensenada city limits and about 20 kilometers out of Ensenada on Hwy 1. Control your speed through these areas.

Erendira turn off is 181 km south of the border and at the 78 km marker south of Ensenada. Our Mexican hostel is another 24 km after the turn off on the beach and at the end of the last power pole. Drive through the town of Erendira and follow the signs. There will be about 5 kilometers of graded dirt road after the town.  Total driving time is 3-4 hours.

Hwy 1 from Tiajuana to the Km 78 exit is in excellent condition. The road to Erendira is paved with a few pot holes. Not a problem for any car. The last three miles to the hostel is dirt road. Sometime with muddy areas. Still not a problem for small cars but caution is advised. ( That means drive slowly.) There is a cliff area just after the Motel Erendira, please keep to the right of the road for a 50 meter area. Make sure you stop at the stop sign located in the beginning of the town at the end of the paved road! Its a $100 fine!

Note: Free Road Short Cuts.
The owners of the toll road do their best to trick you into using the toll road. If you want to save the tolls and shave about 20 minutes from your travel then do this:After you leave T.J. on the Free road you enter into the eastern part of Rosarito. You cross over the toll road with the view of the power plant in front of you. Turn left after you cross the bridge and get on the toll road at this point. Just before the toll gates you can turn right at the Pemex/AMPM gas station. Drive through the station and get back onto the free road. You just drove around Rosarito traffic and stop signs!At the kilometer 42.5 point and across from Raul's Restaurant, (Now closed), you can get back on the toll road for free. Travel ten miles or (17) kilometers, exit the toll road at the La Fonta Exit and get back on the free road. At this point I recommend you do not exit at La Fontas and stay on the toll road because of the fantastic ocean views. It's worth the $2.76!
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It's a good idea to bring personal items such as: shampoo, towel, shaving cream, razors, soap, dental floss, toothpaste, contact lens solution, tampons, contraceptives and deodorant. Other desirable items include sunglasses, a flashlight, a baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat, disposable lighter, a pocketknife, sunscreen, lip balm, money belt, current newspaper (make friends fast with this one!) and a small Spanish-English dictionary.

Coyote Cals now has the Barfoot Cantina open with full bar sevices. We serve XX lager, Sol and Tecate beer along with all your favorite mixed drinks. Happy hour is between 4:30pm through 630pm. (Note: Store bought alcohol is only allowed in your car and in our campground area. You can no longer bring alcohol into the hostel compound.)

There is no food service at our Mexican hostel. Breakfast, usually pancakes, and rice, and drinking water are included with a nights stay, all other items you will need to shop for before coming to the hostel. Full kitchen services are available, (see Services for more info). There are local stores near the hostel to buy food inexpensively, but the selection is limited. The best day to shop is Saturday! I suggest you stop in Ensenada at a local supermarket, "Calimax" or "Gigante" and pick up what you need there. Suggest items to buy are: meat, chicken, veggies, fruits, pastas, juices, milk, cereals, eggs, salsa, candy bars, lemons, bread, pastries and tortias.
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What about using Cash, ATMs & Travelers checks?
Using USA currency or Mexican Pesos are acceptable anywhere in Mexico including Coyote Cal's Mexico Hostels. It is best to use dollars or travelers checks in any currency to pay for your stay and we do currently accept credit cards! "Visa and MasterCard". The nearest ATM or bank is 90 kilometers in Ensenada. We also nick you a bit for converting into pesos, (11/1), which is just the opposite situation everywhere else in Baja California. For a listing of ATM locations in Baja California and the current Peso/Dollar exchange rate link to: www.math.ucr.edu/~ftm/baja.html
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Is it safe to travel Mexico (2nd quarter 2008)

Answer: Yes, but with caution:
(Erendira is a good safe option!)

Whats going on?

One of the biggest questions on Northern Baja traveler's minds is safety. In the last six months both USA and international news agencies have reported many violent attacts, in the areas of Tiajuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada between drug cartels and police with the public being in the crossfire. In addition, traveler's have been carjacked, mostly in the San Felipe area and the route between Tj and Rosearito, and armed robberies have been directed at campers and surfers, the most noted in Cuarto Casas and Colonet. (Note: In the last 50 years there has never been a tourist kidnapp in Baja!)

In the beach community of Erendira there has never been any violent activity against tourists. The town of 1,500 has a professional and honist police force and has an active program of tourist safetly, even along the beach campgrounds. There is still a problem with theft around the area of the river month (Km 181) and Punta Carbras, (Long Beach). In addition, the Northern Baja State Police, and the Green Angels have increased patrols between TJ and Esenada and areas near the boarder crossing. Rosarito has a new tourist police force to help. The emergcy number in Baja is (066) but (911) can be used too. State police in the Tj. Rosearito and Ensenada area now have english speaking officers to help you.

Travel recommendations:

I highly recommend holidays planed in Enendira to maxiumze your travel safety. Many campers are choosing to stay at Coyote Cals as a safe option to camping. Coyote Cals has a very high commentment to our guest safety. Video cameras in our parking and common areas, staff on site 24 hours, daily police visits and availiblity of lockers, keyed dorm and private rooms. Telephone access to emergency services and limited hostel access to the local public is also standard. Surfers, beach visiters and fishermen are leaving all valuables at the hostel so that it reduces them as a targets on the beaches. Family and friends of our guests can call the hostel at any time by calling 011-52-646-154-4080. For emergency US Consulate services call 664-622-7400 or after hours 001-619-692-2154.

I also recomment that travelers gas up at San Diego and drive trough the cities of Tiajuana and Rosarito Beach. (See our directions) When on route do not stop in a remote area for any unmarked cars with flashing red lights. Police cars are clearly marked "Policia" or "Federal" on the side of car. This will eleminate the chance of a car jacking. Use Ensenada as your stop for fish tacos, food, gas and stocking up on the stuff you forgot to pack in the States. If you need a visa, (FM-t) pick it up at the North/South Baja state line. Ensenada immagration office is open only from 9am to 11am Monday thru Friday. You sill do not need a Mexican vias to visit Coyote Cals.

Other travel info:

Good times to cross over the border into the United States are between the hours of 1:30pm to 3:00pm and 11:00pm to Midnight. Plan to be over the line before Midnight because stations begin to close at this time and the line starts backing up. Very bad times to cross is in the Morning between 1am through 10am. And Sundays and Saturdays during the Evenings.

Car travel going into Mexico has no waiting, except on Friday evenings so schedule extra time. On average it takes about one hour, to re-ener into the United States. Make sure you have all your USA documents in order because every car and person is checked! (Starting Feburary 1st, all US Citizens will need a passport or proof of passport application or birth certificate to drive back into the US. On January 1st 2009 only passports will be accepted) Walking into the the US can take up to 30 miniutes or less and can be much faster than a drive across!

The roads in Baja California are very good and you may see random check points along with the regular check points for drugs and guns. There is usually Federal Police just between the last toll both and Ensenada city limits and about 20 kilometers out of Ensenada on Hwy 1. Control your speed through these areas.

Hwy 1 from Tiajuana to the Km 78 exit is in excellent condition. The road to Erendira is paved with a few pot holes. Not a problem for any car. The last three miles to the hostel is dirt road. Sometime with muddy areas. Still not a problem for small cars but caution is advised. ( That means drive slowly and do not drive your tire into large pot holes.) There is a cliff area just after the Motel Erendira, please keep to the right of the road for a 50 to 75 meter area. Make sure you stop at the stop sign located in the beginning of the town at the end of the paved road! Its a $100 fine! (Sometimes you can talk them down to $40)

There has never been a better time to travel to Mexican Hostels and experience all the fun and adventure this great country has to offer!

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I've heard the border crossing is Crazy! What is it like?
With the right kind of planning, the long border waits into the United States can be avoided. (There is no waiting to cross into Mexico!) It is true that in the first two weeks of the September 11th terrorist attacks border lines were over four hours and that included the usual quick border crossings of Otay and Tecate. However, the crossing time has been reduced to an average of 1 hour to 30 minutes, and some times are better than others. When crossing the border keep these suggestion in mind:

*The time to cross is about the same at the three crossings of Tijuana, Otay and Tecate. (Remember  Otay crossing closes at 8pm and Tecate's crossing close at 12am. They both open at 8am.)
*If you can walk across the border you can save at least a half hour! Most   crossings by foot take under 30 miniutes.
*The best times to cross are between 1pm and 3pm, 10pm - 12pm. (Crossings between these times are under an hour   and sometimes you can drive right through.)
* Avoid crossing on Sundays and Monday Mornings if you can, (early Sunday mornings are okay).

Expect all cars and baggage to be inspected. Agents will ask all to show proper and valid identification so if you are from the USA it might be a good idea to bring proof of US citizenship if you have it. A drivers Liicense is still okay but depending on your heritage or accent it might be a good idea to bring more. For all travelers not from the US make sure your visa allows you to re-enter into the United States.

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If I leave personal belongings, how can I get them back?
Personal items such as sandles, clothing, books and identification are regularly left behind at our Mexican hostel. Many call us a few days later and ask how they can get these items back. Unfortunally it is not an easy task to do this. Mexican mail is not reliable as in other countries and many valuable items mailed end up in the homes of postal workers. In addition our local town does not have a post office. So in order for us to return these items we must first bring them to the US and then mail them via UPS.

Because of the time and effort this takes, Coyote Cal's Mexico Hostels charges a $30.00 handling fee plus the cost of postage. This must be paid in full before we send back the item. Payment can be sent to 339 Citrus Ave. Imperial Beach CA. 91932-1107. Make the checks payable to "Rick Barnard". Payment can be by US check or bank draft. In addition, it might take as much as six weeks before our Mexican Hostel can mail the item out.

Important items such as Passports, identification or other documents you can't live or travel without will be mailed free of charge and within one week of the location you request. Call the hostel at 011-52-646-154-4080 or email us at bajabuddies@coyotecals.com.

We can also hold the items at our Mexican hostels up to four weeks if you plan to return. The reality is that most people just forget about it. In cases such items are donated to poor families in the area, so there is a silver lining no matter what happens. So make sure you take a little extra time before you leave our Mexican hostel and make sure you have everthing you came with!

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How do I book a reservation at our Mexican Hostels?

During the months of January through March Reservations at Coyote Cal's Mexican Hostels are not required but recommended. You still need to fill out your reservation information on this web site. This is very importance if your are part of a small group and not sending money. You can do this by clicking on the bookings navigation key above or by clicking here: Reserve Now!

( *Call or email us to waive the deposit if you are planning to come in less than two weeks.)

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Can I book a private room or the Crow's Nest?

At this time you can not reserve any specific room at our Mexican hostel. Your booking will assure you of a bed, however, rooms are assigned upon arrival. Single rooms can not be reserved. Couples have priority. Single Rooms can have only two per room.

Starting the first of the year, the our best room, the Crows Nest with it's 360 view of ocean and mountains can be reserved! The rate is $60.00 per day with a three day minimum stay. Payment must be in advance and in full for the whole time of your reservation.

To confirm your stay in the Crows Nest with Coyote Cal's Mexico Hostels full payment is needed. You can Pay by Visa or MasterCard on line by submitting your booking form. Your booking confirmation email will have the information you need to use your credit card or mail your payment by personal check in U. S. funds or travelers check, in any currency, *two weeks in advance made payable to: Rick Barnard,
339 Citrus Ave., Imperial Beach CA.
91932-1107, USA.
*Call us to waive the deposit if you are
planning to come in less than one week and you do not have a credit card.

In addition, you will also need to fill out your reservation information on this web site. You can do this by clicking on the bookings navigation key above or by clicking here: Reserve Now!

Days Crows Nest is not available to reserve:

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Directions in German.

Anreise:

Mit dem Bus: Nimm die Strassenbahn ("Trolley") in San Diego bis zur Grenze. Laufe ueber die Bruecke (Einreise nach Mexiko), dann geradeaus weiter und die erste Strasse links. Der Busbahnhof ist ungefaehr 75m entfernt, direkt hinter den Taxis .* Nimm die "ABC" Busgesellschaft (ca. USD 8) nach Ensenada. Busse fahren alle 1/2 Stunde. Um vor Einbruch der Dunkelheit anzukommen, empfiehlt es sich den Bus vor 13 Uhr zu nehmen. In Ensenada dann den Bus nach Erendira nehmen (USD 5). Busse fahren jede Stunde. Der Bus faehrt nicht direkt nach Erendira rein, sondern haelt bei der Abzweigung nach Erendira, Kilometer 78, (dem Busfahrer Bescheid sagen). Die restlichen 20 km bis Erendira lassen sich gut per Anhalter fahren. Die Einheimischen sind ausgesprochen nett und hilfsbereit und nehmen Reisende gerne bis Erendira, manchmal sogar direkt bis zum Hostel, mit. Falls ihr nur bis Erendira mitgenommen werdet, koennt ihr beim Hostel anrufen (Tel: 154 40 80) und werdet dann abgeholt.
* Vorsicht: Die Taxifahrer verweisen gern auf einen anderen, weiter entfernten Busbahhof.

Mit dem Auto: Nimm die Interstate 5 zur Tijuana Grenze. Nach passieren der Bruecke fuehren die linken Spuren zur gebuehrenpflichtigen Strasse (USD 7,20). Nur die ganz rechte Spur fuehrt auf die kostenfreie Strasse. Wenn man diese nimmt, kurz vor dem zweiten Kreisverkehr (grosse aztekische Kaempferstatue in der Mitte) rechts abbiegen (Richtung Ensenada). Beide Strassen sind Mexikos Autobahn 1. Die Abzweigung nach Endira ist 181km suedlich der Grenze und bei Kilometer 78 suedlich von Ensenada. Von hier sind es weitere 20km bis zum Hostel am Strand (beim letztem Strommast). Gesamtfahrzeit ist 3 bis 4 Stunden.

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