Janet Howey distinctly remembers her first visit to Todos Santos. She was cycling through the region when she fell and broke her arm, and was taken to Todos Santos for medical care. Granted, It’s not exactly the best introduction to a town; but nonetheless Janet fell in love with it.
That was 15 years ago. Since then, her arm has healed and Janet and her husband have relocated to Todos Santos. They purchased the local bookstore, settled in and built a house. And while they were building the house, they also built Casa Calera, a wheelchair-accessible casita. Today, Janet rents out Casa Calera for a very affordable $80 per night, to wheelchair-users and slow walkers who want to explore the Baja Peninsula.
Barrier-Free Casita
Located about 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas and 70 miles south of La Paz, Todos Santos attracts an eclectic mix of folks, from artists to surfers. Casa Calera sits on a hillside overlooking the town, and offers folks a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.
The 600-square foot casita sleeps four, and includes two twin beds that can be converted to a king, plus a queen-sized futon. Access features include a wheelchair ramped entrance, wide doorways, tile floors and barrier-free access throughout the unit. The bathroom is equipped with a spacious roll-in shower with grab bars and a hand-held showerhead. The toilet has a raised seat, and a portable shower bench can be provided upon advance request.
As for Janet’s motivation for making the casita accessible; well, it was purely personal. “My nephew Noah is a quadriplegic,” she explains. “Also, my husband has Parkinson’s Disease and he may need a wheelchair one day.”
Noah made his first visit to Casa Calera this spring and was very happy with the access. He did suggest that his aunt install a lowered mirror in the bathroom; a project that will be completed by November.
Exploring Baja
Access in Todos Santos is improving, but it’s not exactly up to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Says Janet, “A recent road improvement project through town resulted in curb-cuts at all corners, but they are poorly engineered.
Noah agrees. “In general you have to have someone with you in town, especially if you are in a manual chair, advises Noah. “That being said, it is a really gorgeous little town.” Noah also reminds folks that they will need a car to get to town, as it’s a pretty steep climb up to Casa Calera.
On the other hand, Noah gave high marks to the La Paz beaches. “You can get close to them in your car,” he recalls. “There are a couple places where you can literally drive up to the beach, get out and have tacos on a concrete patio with the ocean just 30 yards away.”
Would he go back again? “Todos Santos is a good place to go for atmosphere and trips to the beach,” Noah enthusiastically answers .”I hope to go back there again soon!.”
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com.
See Related Accessible Travel Articles
If you’d like to try your hand at deep sea fishing while you’re visiting the Baja Peninsula, read Wheelchair Accessible Sport Fishing in Los Cabos for more information.
Want to read more about accessible travel options around the word? Then check out these Accessible Travel Resources.
