Navidad 2020

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate TurningThank you for all the compliments on our Fall 2020 issue with the fabulous Day of the Dead cover by Kate Turning.

This issue, we are pleased to feature a piece from artist/photographer Emanuela Gardner’s Fantasia collection to adorn our Navidad cover. You can see more of her fun and whimsical photographs throughout the issue and at Galería de Todos Santos.

Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures tells the fascinating story of the Juan Cuevas family that has made their home on Isla El Partido in the Sea of Cortez since 1923.

The Loft@Nomad ChicThe Loft @ Nomad Chic is a new private event  space that is a welcome refuge for those seeking inspiring experiences while staying safe this season. See the article in this issue and our events listings for all the sensational shows taking place in person and online.

Zócalo by LOVELeigh is excited to be opening, this December, a second location in Todos Santos, on the corner of Topete and Benito Juárez in the Plaza Antigua. Zócalo is an ethical artist collective with artists and brands from México and beyond. A portion of every sale is contributed to three local charities (dog rescue, recycling center, and a children’s not-for-profit). You can still find their fashions at the Pescadero location next to Baja Beans (formerly LOVELeigh Designs).

Madre Santa Panadería is a small Todos Santos family business that was born in the middle of the global pandemic. They offer freshly prepared handmade bread, desserts, and cakes that are fashioned by merging basic and modern techniques. These methods reflect the passion, care, and experience that create delicious and memorable flavors. Madre Santa Panadería unites tradition with the tastes and desires of today’s Todosanteños.

Hacienda Sydney is a luxurious beachfront estate located in the Las Tunas area of Todos Santos. This unique location would be ideal for a boutique hotel, corporate retreat, or one-acre family compound. See their ad for more information.

Ellen Waterston’s Writing Ranch (www.writingranch.com) and Serendipity hotel have teamed up to offer a COVID-safe environment for the eleventh annual “Writing Down the Baja” creative writing retreat–NEW DATES June 26 – July 4, 2021. See our article for more information.

In spite of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Padrino Children’s Foundation continues to grow and serve the children of Todos Santos and the surrounding areas. They welcome pediatrician Dra. Mitzy Cervantes Malagón from Mexico City to their staff in December. Dra. Cervantes Malagón will be the first resident pediatrician in Todos Santos. Jessica L. Avila Franco will also be joining as the second staff psychologist. In addition, Todos Santos community member Adali Parks has been added as a member of the Board of Directors.
The Padrino Children’s Foundation has initiated a new collaboration with the Centro de Salud—the Early Stimulation program for new mothers and their babies—which is designed to support optimal neurodevelopment and identify medical issues early in life, when they are most treatable. For more information or to support the programs, visit
www.padrinocf.org or call 612-145-0506.

Looking for garage doors, windows, doors, and hurricane protection for your home? With Pacific Door’s wide variety of professional brand partners, you’ll find the perfect complement to your home. See their ad for more information.

Have you tried Valma Chocolates? Her handmade chocolates are created from 70% dark organic bean to bar made by solar energy and love. To order for you holiday pleasure, see the Valma Shakti ad.

Baja Mandala and Sueño Tropical have teamed up to offer their certified organic produce, essential oils, chocolates, and handmade personal products at the San José del Cabo Farmer’s market on Saturdays and the new Terra Santa Farmer’s market coming to Todos Santos in the La Cachora huertas on Sundays. They are also offering their farm harvest boxes begining in December and you can contact them for group farm tours too!

La Esquina Café is open on the otro lado of Todos Santos with new hours, offering the same good food and good times. Their popular local’s market is happening every Wednesday and they’ve added Saturday movie nights under the stars.

Kilometro del Jugete is your opportunity to help bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Amamos Nuestro Pueblo is an organization with a focus to help the most vulnerable in our community. President Rouss Ramírez of Bésame Mucho Bazaar, believes in helping others and strengthening Mexican traditions in Todos Santos. Their goal this holiday season is to bring toys and smiles to the children of the agricultural fields, including Melitón Albañez, where there are around 700 children, the vast majority between two and eight years old. Please donate toys, clothes, or other items in good condition. Drop off locations for donations in Todos Santos are at Bésame Mucho Bazaar, Hablando Mexicano, and Hotel Guaycura. In La Paz, in Bisuteria Valentina’s, (calle Agustin Olachea and Tijeretas, local 4), and in Cabo at LocoMotion on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 181, local 3. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/FiestaDiaDeMuertos

Lic. Norberto López Aguirre is a certified English to Spanish and Spanish to English translator. See his ad for contact information for all your translation needs.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season! We’ll see you with our Winter 2021 issue. Deadline is January 9, 2021.

Platos con Amor

Platos con Amor logoHappiness is a Hot Meal
Online art auction to support local Community Kitchen

Join us Saturday December 5, 2020 from 9am to 5pm, MDT for an online auction of specially selected oil paintings by Robert E. Wood, that capture the breathtaking beauty of southern Baja. All proceeds will go to Platos con Amor, Comedor Comunitario, a volunteer organization serving free hot meals to those in need in Todos Santos, BCS.
To learn more, and to participate in the auction, visit www.platosconamor.org

Platos con Amor, Comedor Comunitario is a new, volunteer-run organization whose mission is to serve nutritious and tasteful meals, at no cost, to the most vulnerable people in the Todos Santos community.

“We strive to promote public awareness of the impact that hunger and isolation have in our society. We believe in the power of joined efforts to improve the quality of life of our neighbors.” Elisabeth Chavez Friend, Founder

Like many local businesses during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Elisabeth Chavez’ Catering Company closed temporarily. Wanting to help those in need, Elisabeth re-focused her team to cook and deliver an average of 35 meals a day, 6 days a week for those who didn’t have access to a kitchen or had disabilities that prevented them from cooking for themselves. Many are elderly, and do not have family nearby. Some are single mothers with children, who have struggled to find work at this difficult time. Knowing that this population will need longer-term support, Elisabeth’s team including Denisse González created Platos con Amor, Comedor Comunitario, the first organization of this kind in Todos Santos.

"Baja Sunset," 24” x 18” by Robert E. Wood

“Baja Sunset,” 24” x 18” by Robert E. Wood

Moved by the importance of their mission, award-winning artist Robert E. Wood, whose artwork is shown in galleries in La Paz and in Todos Santos, BCS as well as around the world, has donated 14 of his finest oil on canvas paintings. Inspired by the beauty and light of the mountains and desert landscapes of southern Baja, his dramatic works sing with color.

You can support Platos con Amor by participating in this online art auction on December 5. Simply visit www.platosconamor.org to view the available works, and to make a bid. You can also visit Jardín Alquimia in Todos Santos to view and purchase other paintings created by Robert E. Wood.   

All proceeds will go to Platos con Amor for hot meals served to those in our community who are unable to cook for themselves.

Fall 2020

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate Turning, Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate Turning

Welcome back!

The communities of Baja California Sur have been working through these trying times, finding ways to adapt to the many changes, figuring out business options, and reaching out to help those in need. These individuals are neither heroes nor saints but are the backbone of real community that we love. Like many small businesses, we’ve faced changes and challenges, but we are resilient like our Baja California pueblos. In this issue, we have fascinating local history, as well as current stories on how our communities are rising to carry on in the “new normal.”

Kate Turning once again has given us a stunning Day of The Dead themed cover based on Mexican master Diego Rivera’s painting “The Flower Vendor.”

It is sad that there will not be a large Día de los Muertos celebration in Todos Santos this year, but you can now participate in the Catrinas contest virtually. See Ivonne Benítez’s Covid Catrinas story.

Photographer Emanuela Gardner shared one of her recent photographs on the opening page of the feature story by Bryan Jauregui, of Todos Santos Eco-Adventures, the story of a Pericue named Fabian—a Todos Santos rebel—based on research by Dr. Shane Macfarlan.

Galería Militar is exploring how to show art in the pandemic age. They will be holding a series of socially distanced shows to a limited audience in-person and a wider online audience. See the article in this issue.

A Granel opened in Todos Santos right before the April shutdown, but that didn’t stop them with their quest to reduce waste while providing sustainable, affordable products that biodegrade in the environment. Read more about it in our article.

Five years ago, the co-creators of Women Awakening embarked on a new journey of self-discovery and love, bringing to the community of Todos Santos a Women’s Summit designed to foster connection and celebration to the women of Todos Santos and beyond. In 2020, Elemental Change: Engaging in Our Evolution was chosen as the theme. Not long afterwards, the entire world began a great and seismic shift that has indeed altered the entire trajectory of all our lives. ”We could never have known at that time of our themes choosing, that it would prove to be so apropos and timely.”

With deep contemplation and great consideration for the community, the co-creators are announcing the cancellation of the Annual Women Awakening Summit, previously scheduled for December 4 to 6, 2020. “We may be separate physically at this time, but we are all truly together in spirit, and want you to know you are not alone. We are with you. The bonds we have built these past five years have not broken and we will join together one day again, when the climate is right for such a gathering. We encourage you to take this pause as we are also doing, as a time of spaciousness.”
Women Awakening CO-Creators
Angelica Vélez Mendez
Marimar Higgins
Jill Mollenhauer
Elena Ascencio Ibañez
Arii Corona Miranda

The Todos Santos Writers Workshop will continue, in its eighth year, as a virtual event via Zoom on January 31 to February 6, 2021, adding novelist and long-time Todos Santos resident Joanna Hershon to the faculty. The team of creative writers and editors “dedicated to inspiring and furthering the art of the written word,” also includes editor/memoirist Jeanne McCulloch, journalist/screenwriter Rex Weiner, author/memoirist Karen Karbo and poet/author Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa. The one-week event, this year, offers workshops via Zoom in Fiction, Poetry, Writing for Stage and Screen, and two classes in Memoir. Additional events will include craft seminars, panel discussions, social gatherings, and the opportunity to engage one-on-one with instructors. Tuition is $850US. For more information: www.todossantoswritersworkshop.com

Étnica now carries textiles for the home like cushions, runners, placemats, and napkins—all made in Mexico.

We’d like to welcome two business that have recently opened offices on calle Juárez in Todos Santos: Legal & Tax, attorneys and accountants, and DAR Design and Construction. Legal & Tax can help with all your legal, immigration, and accounting needs, while DAR will work with you to design and build your dream.

This is the first year that Pueblo Pescadero is launching for sale the “Hacienda” home, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath, with a 1350 sq.-ft. private garage available for secure storage.
The Mini Super Munchies crew welcomes everyone into the new season with a few great new additions to their sweet little shop. They will be offering in-house prepared, healthy fresh food ‘to go” with daily hot food specials and a pre-order pick up option. Check out their website for details and daily specials: http://www.minisupermunchies.com. And, of course, all safety protocols are in place.

Casa Maya & Barefoot Cantina Bar in the Barefoot Luxury’s property at Cerritos Beach features freshly caught and delectably prepared local seafood dishes, carefully selected meats, locally grown organic vegetables, an assortment of sushi, homemade pastas, soups, and salads. Barefoot Cantina offers a generous selection of ice-cold beers, fresh-squeezed margaritas, tasty cocktails, and an extensive wine selection.

Baja Beaters Renta Yota, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoNeed to get to the beach? Baja Beaters / Renta Yota has Toyota trucks for local rentals. Call or email for more information.

Allende Books has recently moved to a larger location close to the malecón near Sears in La Paz. In addition to an expanded inventory of books and gifts, they have a coffee shop, outdoor seating in the courtyard, Wi-Fi, and information on events and resources. Local artists have brought the interior and exterior walls alive with a dazzling display of the vibrant marine life found in the Sea of Cortez. Drop by and see their magical new space.

Pelican Theatre of La Paz has cancelled their 2021 production due to COVID-19.

This past summer, we featured advertisers on our blog including Irving de la Rosa, architect. When asked about his design philosophy, he stated: “To me, the important thing is that the people who will live in the spaces that I design are happy. As they look out their window, they see something beautiful: the ocean, the mountains, a tree, a bougainvillea. And that the spaces are bright, warm, and pleasant. If I could talk briefly about my philosophy that I believe is the most important thing in life, it is the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a person—his connection with his environment, with nature. What I try to do in my spaces is create an equilibrium, a harmony in the person’s habitat.”

We look forward to seeing you with the Holiday/Navidad issue! The deadline is November 10.

New 20/21 Season!

Texto en Español abajo

Journal del Pacifico Spring 2020 cover by Kate TurningAfter your long wait, we’re back!

Mexico is slowly reopening. New safety measures are in place as we create a thoughtful path to reopening our tourism economy.

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are looking to attract tourists with an advertising campaign that blended the area’s natural beauty with coronavirus recommendations. “Wear a mask,” one ad says, flashing to video of a woman snorkeling. “Practice social distancing,” it says before displaying an image of a lone surfer.

It’s a challenge at tourist spots across Mexico. There have been many changes in Todos Santos, el Pescadero, La Paz, Los Cabos, and all of BCS.

We at Journal del Pacifico, now in our tenth season, continue in our mission to support local businesses and promote our beautiful peninsula.

Following are the closing dates, ad prices and sizes for the 2020/2021 season.

Fall / Otoño mid-October through early December 2019
Issue closing date: September 20, 2019
Holiday / Navidad mid-December 2019 / January 2020
Issue closing date: November 9, 2019
Winter / Invierno February / March 2020
Issue closing date: January 10, 2020
Spring / Primavera April / May 2020
Issue closing date: March 10, 2020
Summer / Verano June through September 2020
Issue closing date: May 9, 2020

Don’t wait! Contact us today to participate in the upcoming Fall/Otoño 2020 issue that covers mid-October through early December. We’ll have more beautiful artwork, stunning photography, exclusive stories, profiles, and, as always, the features that make each issue a valuable resource to guide visitors and residents to the special qualities that make Baja California Sur a great place to live and a magical place to visit.


Tras una larga espera, ¡estamos de vuelta!

México gradualmente está reabriendo. Se han implementado medidas de seguridad mientras forjamos un camino seguro hacia la reapertura del sector turístico.

Cabo San Lucas y San José del Cabo buscan atraer turismo con una campaña que combina la belleza natural de la región con recomendaciones de salud: “Usa tu máscara,” dice un anuncio, en que vemos a una mujer practicando snorkel. Leemos “Mantén tu sana distancia,” mientras vemos una imagen de un surfista solitario.

Es todo un reto en los destinos turísticos mexicanos. Hemos visto muchos cambios en Todos Santos, El Pescadero, La Paz, Los Cabos y en toda Baja California Sur.

En Journal del Pacífico, ahora en nuestro décimo año de publicación, continuamos nuestra misión de apoyar a los negocios locales y promover nuestra bella península.

A continuación, las fechas límite, precios y dimensiones para publicidad de la temporada 2020/21.

Fall / Otoño Octubre / Noviembre 2020
Fecha de cierre: 19 de Septiembre 2020
Holiday / Navidad Diciembre 2020 / Enero 2021
Fecha de cierre: 10 de Noviembre 2020
Winter / Invierno Febrero / Marzo 2021
Fecha de cierre: 9 de Enero 2021
Spring / Primavera Abril / Mayo 2021
Fecha de cierre: 10 de Marzo 2021
Summer / Verano Junio hasta Octubre 2021
Fecha de cierre: 10 de Mayo 2021

¡No esperes más! Contáctanos hoy mismo para participar en la edición Otoño 2020, que cubre de mediados de octubre hasta principios de diciembre. Tendremos hermosas piezas de arte, fotografía espectacular, artículos exclusivos, perfiles locales y como siempre, las secciones que hacen de cada ejemplar un valioso recurso para guiar a los visitantes y residentes a través del mundo de cualidades que hace de Baja California Sur un lugar tan singular para vivir y tan mágico para visitar.