Rosarito Beach is a coastal resort city in the Mexican state of Baja California. This beautiful place attracts the majority of its visitors because of its beaches.
After serving as a getaway for the Hollywood elite, it is now considered a nightlife destination for Americans due to its proximity to the US-Mexico border. This destination is increasingly popular with college students on spring break!
Even though Rosarito, Mexico is only a short flight from the United States, it seems like a truly different planet. Rosarito is a really relaxed resort town with much to offer everyone, from the calm seas to the colorful sunsets, from wildlife to relaxing spas.
Rosarito works hard to preserve Mexican culture so that visitors can experience Mexican friendliness while also making enjoying the city’s modern amenities and tourist attractions.
Continue reading to learn more about the BEST things to do in Rosarito, Mexico!
Best Things to Do in Rosarito, Mexico
VISIT Rosarito Beach
Rosarito Beach was once a Hollywood film set for blockbuster films such as Titanic!
Rosarito Beach (or Playas de Rosarito), which is just 40 minutes south of the border of downtown San Diego, California, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Baja California due to its convenient location near the United States border, beautiful sand, and picturesque setting between the Pacific Ocean and coastal foothills.
On this main beach, you can relax in the sun and on the soft sand, swim in the refreshing water, search for fish while snorkeling, and much more!
Try Local Food & Drink
El Nido Restaurant
Here you’ll find authentic Mexican cuisine and beverages, an amazing atmosphere, and fresh, handcrafted tortillas!
The staff provides fantastic customer service and are very friendly and accommodating.
Tacos El Yaqui
This restaurant has some of the best tacos in Rosarito! It goes without saying that you must experience the taco “perrón” at Tacos El Yaqui when visiting the area. It is a simplistic but delectable gastronomic pleasure.
Eat Puerto Nuevo Lobster
Located just 20 minutes from Rosarito is the seaside town of Puerto Nuevo, a fishing village and a foodie’s paradise (try the lobster)!
There are over 40 restaurants in this region that will enhance your lunch with a festive ambiance complete with mariachis and local music.
Eat Popotla Seafood
The fishing community of Popotla is located about 10 minutes south of Rosarito, a frequent destination for both locals and visitors looking to purchase the freshest fish!
A great variety of fish, clams, oysters, sea urchins, and crabs can be found here. Visit one of the numerous quaint restaurants in this wonderful location if you want to try some of this fresh seafood.
Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe)
The equivalent of Napa Valley in Baja is Guadalupe Valley, located about 37 kilometers from the Rosarito Beach Hotel in the south. There are roughly 22 wineries in the Valley, ranging in size from a small organic winery to L.A.Cetto, one of Mexico’s most well-known and established wineries. Everything from small family-run country restaurants to fine dining, wine tastings, craft studios, museums, ranches, wine shops, art galleries, and cultural and natural landmarks can be found in this region.
Rosarito, Mexico Outdoor Activities
Learn all about the popular Rosarito outdoor activities you can participate in during your visit!
Surfing
The beaches Punta Descanso and Punta Mezquite are the best for surfing in the Rosarito area. The best time of the year to practice surfing in Rosarito is during the winter months when the waves are at their peak.
Watersports
Numerous tour companies offer transportation to the greatest snorkeling, diving, jet skiing, and boat touring locations in the area. Other popular watersports in Rosarito include paddleboarding and kayaking.
Hiking
Rosarito’s highest point is El Coronel hill, which provides stunning panoramic views of the city, the sea, and the surrounding area. A great site to see biodiversity, particularly birds, is El Coronel hill. With a walk that takes about 6 hours round trip, Cerro El Coronel presents a solid challenge for hikers.
Ride an ATV
The Cantamar sand dunes, also known as Arenales, a location located 20 minutes from the center of Rosarito, are a popular destination for those who enjoy riding in the desert in motorbikes, ATVs, jeeps, buggies, and pickups with high suspensions.
Fly on Hang Gliders
Adrenaline junkies will love flying unpowered hang gliders over the beaches of Rosarito, Cerro El Coronel, and other stunning nearby locations.
This is a fun and thrilling activity option, especially if the ATVs don’t give you enough of a thrill!
View the Coronado Islands (Isla Los Coronados)
The islands are uninhabited and home to a variety of fauna. Wildlife in this region is safeguarded by Mexico, including elephant seals, sea lions, pelicans, snakes, and others.
Visitors who want to explore the islands may anchor their boats so they can go swimming, snorkeling, or fishing in the deep blue sea.
It is important to note that it is completely forbidden to set foot on the islands, but tourists can go on tours that include fishing, diving, and snorkeling or hire a charter boat.
Go Whale Watching (December to March)
For anyone who would like to board a boat and approach these enormous creatures up close, whale-watching cruises are offered in Rosarito during the winter months.
Visit Art Galleries
Explore the culture of Rosarito at art galleries like the State Art Center, The Municipal Culture Institute, Baja California Culture Institute and The Ugi Gallery. Discover Rosarito’s Art Route. This collection of galleries is recognized for fostering Rosarito’s art scene and presenting the creations of well-known Mexican and foreign artists.
Buy Souvenirs from the Local Artisan Market
A shopper’s paradise exists in Rosarito! Bring some of Mexico’s arts, crafts, furniture, home decor, leather, and other items home with you.
Plaza Pabellón
Find clothing stores, movie theatres, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, food courts, and much more at this open-air shopping mall.
Arts and Crafts Marketplace
This market lies in the center of Rosarito; stroll through the alleyways to find hidden gems including apparel, leather, Talavera pottery, clay, traditional Mexican blankets, jewelry, and more.
Best Time to Visit Rosarito, Mexico
Rosarito enjoys the same climate as San Diego, making it a great place to visit at any time of year! Summer is peak season, as well as all American holidays and weekends year-round. If you want to schedule your trip when there aren’t many crowds, try to avoid the US holidays. There isn’t, however, a bad time to visit Rosarito!
Best Places to Stay in Rosarito, Mexico
Rosarito Beach Hotel
One of the most well-known landmarks in the Baja peninsula, Rosarito Beach Hotel is also its biggest beachside resort!
The historic Rosarito Beach Hotel’s beautiful old-world elegance and warm hospitality have drawn millions of guests since it first opened nearly a century ago, including Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe, Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, and Frank Sinatra.
The next time you stay at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, plan to relax at the Casa Playa Spa, a place with a lot of history and lovely nooks to hide away in.
One million tourists visit Rosarito every year, and this is still the most popular hotel in the area. This resort is right on the sand and has everything you need for an amazing holiday in Rosarito!
Hotel Festival Plaza Playas de Rosarito
The lovely, sandy beach is only a minute’s walk away from this accomodation. This hotel in Playas de Rosarito has a hot tub, outdoor pool, and a full-service spa with massages and cosmetic procedures (even in-room massages!).
The Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village is only a 15-minute drive away from the hotel, and local eateries are only 50 metres away. The neighborhood also has places to shop for souvenirs and gifts for yourself.
Las Rocas Resort
Las Rocas boasts a stunning seaside location, a variety of accommodations with spectacular views of the ocean, and an award-winning restaurant with some of the best service and cuisine in Baja.
Unwind in the holistic spa with a full range of services or by one of the infinity pools on the cliffside with a view of the ocean.
Del Mar Inn Rosarito
A notable hotel in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, is the Del Mar Inn. It is known for its traditional Mexican hospitality and for providing guests with excellent one-on-one service.
This easily accessible hotel in Rosarito, Mexico, is a fantastic choice for a vacation. Among their many amenities are a heated pool and jacuzzi, free parking, and great WiFi. One of its most spectacular features, however, is the hotel’s location right on Rosarito Beach! This gorgeous strip of sand faces city centre and is usually full of activities during the day and at night.
Puerto Nuevo Baja Hotel
The hotel and villas in Puerto Nuevo Baja are proud to present their first-class amenities, service, and facilities to guests looking for an amazing resort to relax in.
The hotel is about ten minutes from Rosarito’s center and just a block from the renowned Lobster Village. It faces the stunning Pacific Ocean. All of the area’s top attractions are accessible by foot from this hotel!
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