April 1-7  Festival La Paz  Art & Culture  Special guest country is Australia.  Info: paxcultura@gmail.com

April 3  18th Annual Festival de Artes. Information: Eastcapearts@gmail.com

April 3: Paws ‘ N Claws 2011 Open Golf Tournament   Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course   Benefits the Los Cabos Humane Society

April 9  Home and Garden Tour Todos Santos  Information: Info@escuelapacifica.org

April 14  Bocce Ball Tournament-East Cape Guild  Information: bjborg@earthlink.com

April 16 & 17  Nikiki Beach 6th Annual White Party

April 21-23  Cabo Marina Show

CABO EXPEDITIONS RESCUES HUMPBACK WHALE!
Trapped Whale in Fish Net Saved…

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — Each year, the migration of thousands of whales from the cooling arctic oceans migrate to the warm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets with the Sea of Cortez.  Annually, from the beginning of December through approximately the second week of April, Los Cabos becomes the Mecca for whale watching on water or sightings from land at local resorts or hotels.
 
These incredible mammals celebrate over a 10,000-mile journey each year and then repeat this natural process.  Once in a while, a whale will get tangled in a fishing net dozens of miles from the shore.  For some time now, fishermen and their nets have been monitored in Mexico by a variety of governmental agencies who implement standardized regulations.  Fishermen always abide with the fishing regulations but sometimes, a whale will not recognize the hazard and gets tangled inadvertently.  

On the morning of February 8th, 2011, an unfortunate whale probably miles upon miles from shore was caught up in a fisherman’s net.  Oftentimes, a whale’s natural tendency can be to swim to shore whereas they may beach themselves.  In this instance, it seemed very likely that this adult-male Humpback whale was headed to the shore with a 75% chance of drowning or being beached had Cabo Expeditions and the Mexican Navy not gotten to it in time. 

Around 10 A.M. local time, a number of phone calls were made from local fishermen on their fishing boats and other whale watching companies to Cabo Expeditions with a whale in distress.  Immediately, the SCUBA diving, boat captain and marine biologist teams prepared themselves.  Administrators at Cabo Expeditions notified the Mexican Navy who works in conjunction with whale-rescue efforts.

Cabo Expeditions is one of our favorite vendors for whale watching.  We have booked with them since 1998 and always had a fantastic experience.

Thanks Cabo Expeditions for some great memories and thanks what you do to save the whales.  This isn’t the first time you have come to the rescue of a whale.

A Fideicomiso is a Trust, similar to an Estate Trust in the United States which gives the owner of the property all of the rights of ownership.  This is not a land lease.  The Trust is established solely for the ownership of land in Mexico.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the agency that issues a permit to the Mexican bank of the purchaser’s choice.  The bank acts as the “Trustee” for the Trust.  The Purchaser, (owner), is the  “Beneficiary” of the Trust.  The Trust is not an asset of the bank.  The bank simply acts as the Trustee to hold the Trust and takes direction from the Beneficiary regarding the Trust.  An annual fee is paid to the bank for acting as the “Trustee”. 

The owner’s (purchaser’s) rights are the same as a property owner in the U.S. or Canada.  These rights include the right to enjoy, sell, rent, and improve the property, etc. 

The term of the Trust when first set up was 30 years.  It is now a 50-year term and is automatically renewed at the end of the term an additional 50 years.  The Trust can be renewed for perpetuity, allowing for long-term control of the property and allowing the owner to pass the property on to heirs.  The Trust may be transferred to another Buyer or to another person via a Cession de Derechos (Succession or assignment of Rights.)  There are fees for each transfer, which are calculated by a Notary in Mexico.

Aero Calafia offers a fabulous “Grey Whale Adventure” tour during whale season.

The tour includes:

Ground transportation pick up and drop off from your accommodations to the airport.

Fabulous scenic flight to Magdalena Bay

3 Hours of whale watching

Lunch in a local restaurant, sodas, water and snacks

During the winter the grey whales migrate to the lagoons of the Baja Peninsula.  Between the months of January and March great activity takes place in that babies are born, mothers and babies frolic in the waters by coming to the surface, jumping out of the water and swimming close to the boats of those visiting their habitat.  Approximately 1000 whales are born each year and you can be an observer of this beauty in nature.  In addition to whale watching visitors will observe different species of birds and dolphins in their environments.

For a spectacular day observing Mother Nature this is must do adventure.

Adults $440 USD

Children $395 USD

Loreto

When driving the Baja between Phoenix and Cabo San Lucas one of our favorite stops is Loreto, located on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula.  Loreto was founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries and was the first Spanish settlement on the east coast of Baja California.  Loreto served as the capital of the province of Las Californias from 1697 until February 3, 1777. 

Today, Loreto is a tourist resort with daily flights arriving at the Loreto International Airport.  Tourists enjoy great fishing and the beautiful Sea of Cortez.  There is an excellent museum in town beside the historic, active parish.  The Spanish Fathers found a steady spring of fresh water on this site.

The climate is hot and humid with loads of sunshine.  Average temperature is 76 except June through October where the average temperature is 93 and higher humidity. 

We have stayed at the Posada de Las Flores, our favorite, and the La Pinta.  There are other options as well as private home rentals.  We have always found Loreto a beautiful, clean town with warm people and great food!  If you get the opportunity to visit Loreto, take it.