Guest Post By: K.C. Dermody
Are you thinking about traveling to beautiful Baja, but don’t want to leave your furry friends at home? You’re in luck because Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is particularly dog-friendly, making it easy to find a welcoming place for you and Fluffy or Fido to stay at. Dogs are welcome in many outdoor eateries in Baja, too.
Many of the best attractions in Baja involve being outside, which means it’s easy to find activities your pets can join in on. You can bring your canine to the beach, out on your surfboard while riding the waves, on mountain trails for a hike, and more.
Here’s all you need to know to enjoy an unforgettable pet-friendly adventure in Baja California.
Mexico Entrance Requirements for Pets
You’ll need to get a passport to travel to Mexico, but what do your pets need? Mexican customs will let you bring domestic pets — dogs or cats only — into the country provided that the animals appear to be in good health and have the necessary paperwork. Each person is allowed up to two pets, so if you’re traveling as a couple, you can bring as many as four. If you’re flying, you’ll also have to follow the airline’s rules that pertain to traveling with your pets.
Whether you fly or drive into Mexico, to cross the border with your pet(s), you’ll need to obtain an accredited veterinarian certificate issued by a licensed vet who’s examined the animal within 15 days prior to your travel. Many vets are aware of the requirements, but you’ll want to be sure the latest guidelines are followed, which can be found here. The following are the current requirements:
- Your pet(s) must be vaccinated against rabies and distemper, administered 15 days or more before you plan to enter Mexico, with the expiration date noted.
- The certificate must also show each animal has been treated against endoparasites and ectoparasites within the last six months.
Pet-Friendly Hotels
Baja covers over 55,000 square miles and is filled with a long list of fantastic places to visit. Driving from north to south takes about 20 hours, and you’ll find pet-friendly hotels in just about every area. The following are some of the top hotels in popular regions like Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area, as well as Northern Baja.
Casa Dorada Resort & Spa, Cabo San Lucas
Casa Dorado Resort & Spa is ideal for travelers looking for luxury for themselves and their pet. Guests are allowed one pet, dog or cat, that weighs less than 40 pounds, for a fee of $100 per stay. The resort’s lavish suites have kitchenettes and balconies with ocean views. The property also includes two free-form pools surrounded by hammocks, plush lounges, palm trees, and fire pits. This beautiful resort is perfectly situated for enjoying all the action on famous Medano Beach, one of the best beaches in Cabo for swimming. The beach is also famous for its bars and clubs, like The Office and the Mango Deck, as well as for being within walking distance of top restaurants, the marina and boat excursions to The Arch.
Bahia Hotel, Cabo San Lucas
The Bahia Hotel is just a block from Medano Beach and is an affordable option for you and one pet up to 66 pounds with a refundable deposit of less than $10 per night. While only some of the rooms were updated when the resort underwent remodeling, it has a great restaurant and bar, and it’s close to many Cabo attractions, including party hot spots. There’s also a pool, swim-up bar and poolside café on site.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo
Frequently ranked among the country’s top hotels, Las Ventanas al Paraiso offers the ultimate in pampering for you and your four-legged friend with a maximum weight of 40 pounds and a $60 fee per stay (plus tax and a service charge). Your private butler will greet you with a margarita, and you can enjoy tropical drinks at the beautiful swim-up bar in one of seven infinity pools overlooking the ocean. The standard junior suites come with adobe fireplaces and private patios with ocean or garden views.
Hyatt Place, La Paz
Just 10 minutes from downtown and the picturesque waterfront promenade along the Sea of Cortez in La Paz, Hyatt Place is one of the best value hotels around. Some of its rooms include balconies that overlook the marina and its rates are less than what you’d pay for a Super 8 in most cities. As an added benefit, it’s pet-friendly with low fees of $40 per stay. Look forward to exceptional service and enjoying the outdoor pool, as well as an outstanding buffet breakfast included in room rates.
Estero Beach Hotel & Resort, Ensenada
Ensenada is located in Northern Baja, just a two-hour drive from San Diego, and is home to the pet-friendly and affordable Estero Beach Hotel & Resort. The resort sits in a secluded location on the city’s top beach, with its best rooms just steps from the sand. It hosts two restaurants, a swimming pool, and activities like horseback riding, kayaking, and jet skiing.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
Because so many restaurants in Baja feature outdoor dining spaces, lots are dog-friendly. Just be sure to keep yours leashed and don’t let him or her lick the plates after you’re finished with your meal.
Here are some of the best restaurants you can visit with your dog.
The Mango Deck, Cabo San Lucas
One of the most popular bars and eateries in Cabo, The Mango Deck is a great place for you to hang out with your dog and have breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has a “mascota” seating area in the sand with shady umbrellas so neither you nor your pet will get too hot.
La Esquina Café, Todos Santos
La Esquina Café is a must-visit restaurant in Todos Santos, especially for breakfast. It serves fresh-squeezed juices and lots of delicious organic dishes, including amazing gluten-free coconut-flax pancakes. The best part is that your dog is welcome to join you.
The Green Room, Todos Santos
The Green Room, a fabulous restaurant hidden away on Playa La Pastora, is about 10 minutes north of Todos Santos. Tables sit right on the sand and dogs are more than welcome. You’ll enjoy authentic, gourmet Mexican fare and jaw-dropping sunsets.
Vinicola Xecue, Ensenada
If you want to enjoy fine food and do some wine tasting, Vinicola Xecue in Ensenada is ideal. Located along the Ruta del Vino, the restaurant is an epicurean delight that’s guaranteed not to disappoint. Of course, it’s pet-friendly too.
Fun Things to Do with Your Dog
One of the best places you can bring your dog is to the miles and miles of often empty sands in Todos Santos, where they can play to their heart’s content. If you visit in the winter, the beach is one of the best places to watch for whales, with countless humpback and grey whales coming so close to shore they can be spotted without binoculars.
Just outside of La Ventana, head to the Punta Arenas Lighthouse and discover a remote beach covered with perfect seashells and edged by stunning turquoise waters ideal for snorkeling. You and your pup are likely to enjoy it all to yourself; at most there will be just a handful of others around.
You can also bring your canine hiking. The Sierra de la Laguna Mountains offer established trails with some water sources, providing some of the best treks on the peninsula. If you’re in Todos Santos, just minutes from town is a great trail leaving from Punta Lobos where you’ll discover beautiful hidden coves and a sea lion colony.
Other Important Considerations
When bringing your pet to Baja, keep in mind that there is very little money for animal control in Mexico. This results in lots of stray animals roaming freely in towns, villages and on beaches, some of which are likely to be carrying disease and/or black ticks. Be sure to always keep your dog on a leash and away from these animals.
While major cities have veterinarians and animal hospitals, they can be difficult to find in more remote areas.
You’ll easily be able to find dog and cat food in large grocery stores and small markets, but don’t count on finding specialty brands. If your pet requires a particular brand or has to follow a certain diet, you’ll want to bring your own.
About the Author
K.C. Dermody is the author of Best Travel Guide for First Time Visitors to Ireland and a freelance travel writer with hundreds of articles and guides published both online and in print.
She has traveled to nearly all 50 states and over 20 different countries and counting, including visits to Ireland at least once a year. She has a passion for adventure travel in particular and exploring the world’s last true remaining wilderness destinations, with places like Greenland, Labrador’s Torngat Mountains, Antarctica, and Patagonia at the top of her bucket list.
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