San Quintin

Contramar Fest 2025 Press Crew
 Articles, Events, San Quintin

San Quintín Welcomes Contramar Fest with Wine and Sunset Magic

San Quintín is ready for the fourth edition of Contramar Fest. On September 6 at Playa San Ramón, Vicente Guerrero, visitors will enjoy seafood, wine, beer, and one legendary sunset.

Local Leaders Toast the Event

During the press conference, Baja California’s Secretary of Tourism, Zaida Luz López Sánchez, praised the festival. “It celebrates our identity, fuels the economy, and shows the strength of our cuisine,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ana Lourdes Lomelí Morales, CEO of the festival, stressed its original goal. Since 2021, Contramar has worked to spotlight San Quintín’s food, art, and traditions.


Contramar Fest swag lands on Francisco Ortega’s desk—because every Tourism Director deserves more than paperwork.

Sea, Land, and Plenty of Wine

This year’s menu features clams, oysters, lobster, and ceviches. Guests can pair them with wines like Prestigio de Becerra, from the valley’s first winery, and Vino Love, courtesy of Luis Alberto Lomelí Morales.

In addition, Anays Naranjo Araiza of Comercializadora Jimnar confirmed that local co-ops will supply fresh seafood. She also revealed their craft beer, created to match the region’s catch.

Music, Dancing, and That Sunset

The entertainment is just as tempting. Contramar Fest promises five hours of live music. The lineup shifts from DJs to norteño to dance beats. “Smile, taste, drink, and dance,” remains the official motto.

As a result, visitors can sip, dance, and then watch the sun set in style.

Beyond the Festival

Maricela Valladolid, VP of Proturismo San Quintín, said Contramar is part of a larger push to promote the town. Likewise, Francisco Alfredo Ortega Gamboa, municipal tourism director, explained that it now joins events like the Almejazo, Langostazo, Fiestas de la Vendimia and Agrofest. Both already attract fans from California, Arizona, and across Baja.

If You Go

  • 📍 Playa San Ramón, Vicente Guerrero, San Quintín
  • 📅 September 6, 2025 – from 3:00 p.m.
  • 🎟️ Tickets at Casa Magnolia, Ensenada, or @Contramar_fest on Instagram
  • 💲 $500–$600 pesos

Organizers also confirmed safety measures. Finally, they encouraged visitors to extend their stay. Options include missions, lagoons, volcanic hikes, and stargazing in San Pedro Mártir.

Bonus for Readers

Your GGNorth reporter walked away with a Sauvignon Blanc 2020 “Prestigio de Becerra”. The label even has a radar chart—stat fans will understand the thrill. Also gifted: a Jimnar Beer “El Chute Ámbar.”

Curious about the taste? Drop a comment, and I may share my review. It might even spark the next “Sabor Patrol” adventure.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News, Ensenada, Local Politics, Mexicali, Rosarito, San Felipe, San Quintin, Tecate, Tijuana

Baja Voters Face a Judicial Marathon: 220+ Picks in Under 12 Minutes

On June 1, every citizen in Baja California will be hit with one of the most daunting ballots in history—over 220 judicial positions, including 172 state-level and 50 federal posts, with roughly 1,000 candidates in the mix.

According to election officials, casting a vote could take anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes per person. That’s right: voters will need to sift through hundreds of names to choose their judges, magistrates, and ministers. The process, described during a breakfast meeting by María Guadalupe Plaza Medina from the INE, could stretch to 12 minutes as some voters take their time reading and double-checking candidate details.

To keep things moving, each polling station will be set up with 8 to 15 voting booths so multiple people can cast their ballots at once. In total, Baja California will have 2,625 polling stations—Tijuana leading with 1,396, followed by Mexicali with 730, Ensenada with 287, Playas de Rosarito with 73, Tecate with 69, San Quintín with 59, and San Felipe with 11, plus six special sites in universities and transit hubs.

This “judicial” election, a first of its kind in the country, has already prompted a significant budget request of over 241 million pesos to cover everything from printing ballots to upgrading voting materials. The federal INE has also capped campaign spending for judicial candidates at about 220,000 pesos (11,000 U.S dollars) per person to ensure fairness.

With radio, TV, print, and social media campaigns, along with forums at universities and community centers, officials are working hard to prepare voters for what promises to be a true test of patience and civic duty. Can Baja handle the judicial marathon? Only time will tell.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News, Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito, San Felipe, San Quintin, Tecate, Tijuana, Weather

Baja California Weather Alert: Brace for Strong Winds, Choppy Seas, and Cooler Days

Baja California kicked off the week with some challenging weather, according to the latest CONAGUA update. Two cold fronts are barreling in from the northwest and north, mixing with the subtropical jet stream to bring intense winds, rough seas, and scattered showers across the region.

Expect wind gusts between 50 and 70 km/h across both Baja California and Baja California Sur—strong enough to whip up dust clouds and reduce visibility on the roads and in the skies. The west coast will see waves between 1 and 3 meters, posing a risk for smaller boats.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect in key spots:

• Tijuana: Partly cloudy with light rains during the day, and thunderstorms in the early morning. Temperatures will hover between 13°C and 17°C, with NW winds reaching up to 30 km/h at night.

• Mexicali: Overcast skies with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 29°C. Strong west winds could hit 56 km/h in the afternoon.

• Ensenada: Expect intermittent clouds with light rain, with temps from 14°C to 20°C and west winds up to 30 km/h.

• Tecate: Cloudy with heavy showers, temperatures between 10°C and 16°C, and winds around 38 km/h.

• La Rumorosa: Partly cloudy with light rain by day turning into thunderstorms later; temperatures between 8°C and 15°C with SW winds gusting up to 79 km/h at night.

• Rosarito: Similar to Tijuana, light rain with occasional early-morning thunderstorms, temperatures between 14°C and 16°C, and winds up to 29 km/h.

• San Quintín: Partly cloudy with temperatures from 12°C to 22°C and winds between 30 and 54 km/h.

• San Felipe: A mix of sun and clouds, temperatures ranging from 18°C to 24°C, and SE winds between 23 and 39 km/h.

• San Pedro Mártir: Partly cloudy skies with temperatures from 7°C to 20°C and winds up to 55 km/h.

Residents are advised to take extra precautions, whether you’re on the road or at sea. Stay safe out there, Baja!

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 Breaking News, Ensenada, Public Security, San Quintin

Missing American Couple Found Dead

The bodies of Ian Hirschsonhn and Kathy Harvey that were reported missing two weeks ago were found at the bottom of a water well in Ensenada.

According to Ian’s daughter, they couldn’t be lost as the 77-year-old man knew the area very well, as he frequently visited since 1985.

Kathy and Ian were last seen in their truck, which was found abandoned seven days later.

On September 4, San Diego’s Police Department, where the couple was from, confirmed that the bodies were  Hirschsonhn y Kathy Harvey.

Hiram Zamora, a local prosecutor in charge of the case, said to the press that they were both murdered in their house by a drug addict who wanted to steal from them.

The suspect, who has already been identified, moved their bodies from El Socorrito (near San Quintin) to the city of Ensenada, where they were later found.

The couple rented a house near El Socorrito beach, a popular area for American retirees.

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 Breaking News, San Quintin

Governor Bonilla states that San Quintin could be an independent municipality in two months

Baja California’s State Governor, Jaime Bonilla, asserted that as soon as January, San Quintin could become independent from Ensenada. Bonilla said that this process was already advanced and that previous work regarding this subject is just being resumed by his administration. Furthermore, he emphasized the full support from the state congress, and that Rep. Miriam Cano Núñez is working on the commissions’ attaining to this matter and that soon San Quintin will be determining his own destiny.

Also, during his visit to the southern area of Ensenada for the presentation of the concert “Baja California, tierra que sueña”, where the song of the same name was performed, composed by Enrique González Medina and created especially for the occasion, the governor mentioned that the construction of the desalination plant that has been stopped for some time, now will be reviewed and continued in San Quintin. He said that water is not only important for agricultural productivity, but also for urban social development.

 

With information from Gerardo Sanchez / EL VIGIA
Rewritten in English by Alondra Arce

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