I may be in my thirties now, but mention tacos and tequila in any context and you can guarantee that my eyes will light up!
When my boyfriend Martin and I were planning our summer getaway several weeks back, I wanted to go somewhere easy where we could just relax and let loose without breaking the bank. I made the executive decision (which I tend to do sometimes lol) that the most cost effective, easy, beautiful beach getaway would be to spend several days in Baja, specifically, Rosarito and Ensenada, Mexico.
Now, I know that there are a ton of people who are highly concerned about the safety of visiting Mexico, especially in the northern border areas such as Rosarito. All I can say is that as someone who has traveled to that region since infancy, I have learned that if you use precautionary and common sense methods of staying safe, and understand your place while visiting other countries like a respectful traveler would, there really is not much to worry about. Though Martin tends to be a bit skeptical, I was able to convince him that we would be safe and that he would love spending time there, boy was I was right!
We left from borderline Los Angeles/ Orange County area on a Sunday morning around 6:30 a.m. and made it to Rosarito around 8:45 a.m. We opted to head in further south to have Sunday brunch at a well known restaurant and hotel, Gary's La Fonda. La Fonda is known for its gorgeous view and beautiful beach. As we ate, we watched a group of surfers try their best shot at some great waves and were even able to gawk over a school of dolphins that wanted in on the wave action also! We enjoyed the delicious homemade brunch buffet while a local musician played the guitar, we toasted our michelada glasses to the start of an amazing vacation!
After brunch we headed to check into our hotel, my favorite in Rosarito, The Rosarito Beach Hotel. I have been staying at the Rosarito Beach Hotel since I was a kid, they have upgraded significantly throughout the years. We got an amazing Groupon Getaway deal on the newest part of the resort, the Pacifico Towers. Our room was a one bedroom ocean view suite, complete with a kitchenette, whirlpool bathtub, and large ocean view balcony. The Pacifico Towers also has a new rooftop pool overlooking the ocean, ground level infinity pool, jacuzzi, bar, gym, and lounge that are all exclusive to guests staying at that portion of the resort. Another amazing thing about the hotel is the convenient location, I love being able to walk to all the restaurants, shops, and clubs on both the sand and street. I highly recommend this hotel above all others in the area.
The next couple of days were spent lounging, eating, and drinking. The tacos and tequila definitely did not disappoint! We had some amazing pool and beach days, spent some time at the world famous beach club Papas and Beer, explored the town, and just enjoyed spending time away from our everyday life. We came across some DELICIOUS restaurants (new and old) and got our fair share of fresh seafood.
One of our favorite new finds is a father and son owned taco stand, fish market, and restaurant, El Timor and Adelante. The fish stand was spectacular and SO cheap, we spent $10 on 2 fish tacos, 1 shrimp taco, 4 beers, and 2 bottles of water... Talk about an amazing deal! It was so good that we decided to try out the associated restaurant for dinner later that same night. The server informed us that they have specially hired fisherman that bring in fresh caught fish to their restaurants and fish market EVERY single morning... the quality was excellent. Martin ordered fresh Sea Bass which the server brought in its entirety to the table to make sure Martin was happy with the quality before he went to the back to filet the fish. I ordered lobster which was cooked to perfection and came with rice, beans, house special fish soup, and large homemade flour tortillas. If you are planning a trip, this restaurant is a must!
I suppose you could call me a bit of a lobster lover... I ordered it 3 different times on our 3 night stay in Rosarito and would NOT have changed a thing. Although, I have to say the absolute BEST lobster always comes from the same restaurant, Puerto Nuevo #1 in Puerto Nuevo. My grandparent's used to be friends with the owner, which has since retired and left the family secret recipes to her grandchildren who currently run the business. Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village is about 10 miles south from Rosarito and takes about 15 minutes to get to. I am not lying when I say making a stop here (or multiple like we did) is CRUTIAL for foodies everywhere!
After we checked out of Rosarito Beach Hotel we took a drive into the port of Ensenada before we headed to Valle de Guadalupe wine country. Martin's longtime friend and musician, Steven Bejarano has been working on Carnival Cruise Lines as a kick ass soloist and was going to be docked for the day so we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to catch up and enjoy the day. We took a stroll and ended up at a cute little outdoor patio with beers the size of a small baby, tequila shots, and the most impressive duo of Mexican Musicians that I have seen (sorry Steve lol). We spent the afternoon enjoying the music, catching up, and getting REAL TIPSY. It was the perfect send off to the next segment of our trip (See blog post, Ruto de Vino, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico).
After so many years of traveling to Baja with my family, it was wonderful to be able to share some amazing experiences with my significant other and show him what a beautiful place it is. We can't wait for our next visit!
XOXO-M
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