Hi friends, for your convenience this section includes answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding our tours and Baja California. If for any reason you feel this section has not answered your questions, please feel free to send us an email right away and we will get back to you promptly.

 

Q. Do I need a passport to take any of your tours?

• Yes. Although, the truth of the matter is that even though the law requires you to carry a valid passport when crossing the border, many of our passengers, who are American Citizens, can take any of our driving tours by bringing an official ID from the state they are from (DMV. I.D. card, U.S. driver's license, military I.D., Global Entry Card, Birth Certificate). It is a different story when you are taking a walking tour because when walking across into Mexico you will be required to show your passport all the time. Also, if you are not a US Citizen or legal US Resident, then you will always be required to bring a passport with a valid entry visa to get back into the United States (please check with your consulate depending on your nationality).

 

Q. Is it safe for foreigners to travel into Mexico at this time?

• Absolutely Yes. Contrary to what you hear and see on the news regarding safety in Mexico, right now it is a very good and safe time to travel into Baja California. The reality is that “bad news sells! Good news doesn’t!” That’s why news broadcasters will only show you the bad isolated cases regarding Mexico because that helps their ratings. The truth is that Baja California is a wonderful place filled with rich culture and beautiful people eager to welcome travelers and show them a fantastic time. And just like any place you travel to, you have to use common sense and be respectful of others. The reality of things is that bad things happen to anyone in any country if they hang out with the wrong crowd. We have run tours in Baja California for over seven years and have never had an incident where the life or safety of our guests was in jeopardy. Our number one priority is the safety of our customers. With us you will always be safe because our experienced guides are locals who have traveled and lived in the Baja peninsula for many years, they know the law and the territory and know exactly which roads to take and places where to go and not to go. So relax and enjoy beautiful Mexico today! 

 

Q. Can I pay with US dollars in Baja?

• Yes, you can pay with US dollars in Baja California as well as with US credit card. Usually vendors will give you an exchange rate approximate to what the bank’s official exchange rate is but the only way to get the most from your dollars is by using a credit card when paying. That's because the banks are obligated to use the official exchange rate of the day. It is safe to use your credit cards in Mexico, just use the same precautions as you would in your own country when paying and make sure you notify your bank you will be using your card in Mexico before you go. Pesos are the official currency in Mexico and the exchange rate to the US dollar changes every day. Right now the exchange rate is around $20.00 pesos for one US dollar. 

 

Q. What is the difference between a Private tour and a Public (group) tour?

• The private tours are designed for private parties and families that do not want to share the transportation with people they don’t know. A public or group tour is a tour where we consolidate parties from different groups into one same vehicle. Both tours have the same things and you will visit the same places but the private tour is more flexible and may be able to do extra stops along the way depending on time. The private tours are about 20% more expensive than the public/group tours because you will have a private vehicle for you and your friends. We recommend private tours for family events, company gatherings and bachelorette parties. Public/group tours are a lot of fun too and at the end of the day you end up with many new friends! 

 

Q. What kind of transportation do you use for the tours?

• All the vehicles we use are in top shape and constantly inspected and fully insured with plenty of legroom and cold air conditioning systems. We use different types of highly reliable vehicles depending on the size of the group. For small groups of 6 or less we may use new Toyota Sienna Minivans. For groups of 7-14 we may use Ford Transit Vans or Mercedes Sprinters. For groups of 15 or more we may use several 15 passenger vans or a large 42 passenger bus with restroom and bar. For groups of 30 or more we can use either several vans or a bus, depending on the preference of the customer. For your bachelorette party we also have Party Buses for up to 22 passengers, with disco lights and bluetooth music sync capability. Size of vehicle for the tour will be determined by tour operator based on availability and group size.

 

Q. Where is the pick up point for the tours?

• For the private tours we will pick you up at your home or hotel as long as you are south of Mission Valley. If not, then you have to meet the driver at one of our meeting locations for our public/group tours. These locations may be the Old Town trolley station in Old Town, or the E street/Bayfront trolley station in Chula Vista. You will always receive an itinerary four days prior to your tour with the final pick up location for your tour. Please always show up 10 minutes early from the departure time. Driver will give you 15 minutes grace period. After that, the tour will take off without you and you will not be able to receive a refund.

 

Q. Do you do tours with less than six passengers?

• Yes. We are the only company out there that is willing to do tours to Valle de Guadalupe and other destinations with less than six passengers. Most of our competitors will cancel on you if they did not meet their six passenger minimum requirements. We can run private tours for even one person. The price will be higher but if you really want to go and there are no more passengers for that day, that’s OK. We will work with you and make sure you can go and have a fantastic time at the right price!

 

Q. Can people under 21 and kids join your tours?

• Yes. But, for all of our public/group tours you must be 18 or over. The drinking age in Mexico is 18. Any person 18 or over may join any of our public/group tours where alcohol drinking is part of the tour. Kids may only join our tours if it is considered a Private tour. Even if it is a wine tasting private tour, an underage kid may come along as long as they do not consume alcoholic beverages and as long as it is a private tour. 

 

Q. Can I bring my pets on the tour?

• Unfortunately we do not allow pets in any of our tours. If you have a service dog that must accompany you, then please let us know and we will deal with each case separately.

 

Q. Are your vehicles and most wineries in the valley wheelchair accessible?

• Even though we do not have vans that are equipped for uploading wheelchairs, we want to make sure all of our guests can enjoy the tour regardless of their situation. So please let us know what your needs are and we will work with you in the best possible manner to make sure you can go on the tour and have a great time. Each case is different so we deal with each situation separately. Regarding the wineries, most places we visit do have accessibility for wheelchairs but we cannot warranty all places do.

 

Q. Do we have to get out of the vehicle when crossing the border?

• The only time you would have to exit the transport when crossing the border is if for your tour we are using a charter bus of 40+ passengers. If your tour is in a Minivan or Transit van for 15 passengers, then nobody has to get out of the transport. You just sit back and relax and hand over your documents to the driver.

 

Q. How long is the wait time to cross the border back to San Diego?

• It really depends on the day and time you are crossing the border. The good thing is that all our guides are very seasoned drivers who know all the shortcuts and the streets of Tijuana making it easier to find better routes to the border. Once at the border, the driver will determine which lanes are the most time saving lanes that day. We have access to Fast Passes and we also use the Ready Lane to get back into San Diego. Sometimes if it is necessary the driver will determine if it is better to walk across instead of driving across in which case there will be another vehicle waiting for the group in the San Diego side. Lately it has taken us about one hour to cross back to S.D. using the Ready Lane.

 

Q. What are your cancellation rules and refund policies?

• *Cancellations*: For full refunds, any cancellation must be in writing. Day tours (public or private), to any of our destinations, and Groups of 1-6 people must cancel 7 days (168 hours) prior to 9:00 am of the day of the tour. Groups of 7 or more people and overnight stays must cancel 20 days prior to the day of the tour to receive a full refund. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation if you are unable to send an email. No-shows will be charged the full price. You will be given a maximum of 10 minute grace period from the specified meeting time to show up at the meeting location, after that, the group will leave without you and you will be considered a no-show. Any tour that involves a visit to Cuatro Cuatros (Bar Bura, Tahona), is nonrefundable and will not be able to be canceled at all, because Cuatro Cuatros does not accept cancelations of any kind.