El Regalo Airstrip

Military Action / Government Security Initiative. El Regalo Airstrip, along with numerous other remote, private airstrips in Baja California, was permanently closed by the Mexican military. This was part of a widespread crackdown to prevent the use of these unmonitored runways for illicit activities, primarily drug trafficking by cartels. The military often rendered such airstrips unusable by digging trenches or creating large berms across the runway surface.

The airstrip is abandoned, closed, and unusable. Satellite imagery confirms its state of disrepair. The dirt/gravel runway is overgrown with desert vegetation and shows significant erosion. Markings of its closure, such as man-made berms or ditches dug across its length, are visible, which is consistent with military decommissioning. The associated ranch or facilities appear to be abandoned as well. The site is now just a remnant of a former runway in the remote desert landscape and is not used for any aviation or significant commercial purpose.

El Regalo was a private-use general aviation airstrip that primarily served the 'Rancho El Regalo', a remote fly-in guest ranch and fishing lodge. Its significance lay in providing direct air access for private pilots, tourists, and sport fishermen, predominantly from the United States and Canada, to an isolated and scenic part of the Baja California peninsula. Flying in allowed visitors to bypass long and often difficult travel on unpaved roads. The operations were exclusively General Aviation (GA), consisting of small, single-engine aircraft like Cessnas and Pipers. It was a key piece of infrastructure for the niche eco-tourism and adventure travel market it supported.

Extremely low to none. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening El Regalo Airstrip. The original reason for its closure—national security—remains a priority for the Mexican government. Reopening would require not only significant capital investment to repair the runway and facilities but also extensive political and military approval, which is highly unlikely to be granted for a remote, private airstrip of this nature. The strip is considered permanently closed.