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Cabo has been hogging Baja’s spotlight for far too long.
There’s a lesser known beach town in Northern Baja that has found itself as a nominee for Mexico’s ‘Best Beach to Discover in 2025‘.
This slice of paradise lined with fresh seafood shacks, postcard shores, and American road trippers braving the so-called ‘danger’ of Tijuana, is one of Mexico’s most underrated beach getaways.
What I would call a microcosm of Cabo, at least in terms of laid-back Baja vibes and tequila shot central, Rosarito is not only recognized in tandem by south-of-the-border magazine México Desconocido and Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism, but also playing host to Tianguis Turístico México to showcase the country’s up-and-coming destinations.
This speak volumes to how great Rosarito truly is — even Mexico’s newly elected President Claudia Sheinbaum recently announced a new housing program in an effort to clean up the city, creating a more welcoming environment not only for its residents, but tourists too.
Is Rosarito Safe?
Rosarito lies on the outskirts of Tijuana, a notorious border town riddled with dark underbellies and decades of lawlessness, but the instances that make headlines largely don’t affect visitors.
I’ve personally been to Tijuana over 200 times. The worst thing I’ve witnessed first-hand is handlers of Tijuana’s famous photo-op “Zonkeys” feeding them 2-liter bottles of Pepsi.
Cue PETA’s wrath…
Other than that, my experiences have been pretty much flawless, including day trips to Rosarito, which are quite honestly prettier than some of San Diego’s beaches and you don’t have to worry about police issuing citations for an outdoor yoga class with no permit.
Rosarito is great to visit, and you don’t have to worry about the fear-mongering headlines of Tijuana. Ubers are safe from the border or Tijuana’s convenient airport.
From personal experience, one thing I will say to be wary of when visiting is bars not honoring their prices, in particular Papas & Beer, the unmissable beachfront tourist trap — not recommended unless you’re attending a concert.
A Favorite For Locals And Californians
Rosarito may be lesser known to mainstream travelers, but locals and Southern Californians have been enjoying weekend getaways here for ages.
To me, it’s no surprise Rosarito is being hyped as one of Mexico’s best vacation spots.
There’s so much regulation on American shores that it’s nice to have a quick escape just across the border for beachside massages, horseback riding, barbecue grills, and open beer cans without having to hide the label from ticket-happy lifeguards.
It appears Rosarito wants to take some shine away from Cabo, becoming the northern side of Baja’s top coastal retreat not just for expats, locals, and Californians.
It’s already lined with towering oceanside hotels, a scenic pier, phenomenal eats ranging from fresh-as-can-be ceviche to classic street tacos, as well as plentiful Uber drivers, and even DiDi, Mexico’s answer to Lyft.
Given how close San Diego is to the border, Rosarito is even more enticing. Plus, Tijuana’s airport keeps expanding and there’s currently one U.S. route (Phoenix) with more sure to come.
Rosarito’s Top Beach Hotels
Don’t get your hopes up thinking Rosarito is laden with all-inclusives. Cabo still takes the cake there…
As an up-and-coming destination, Rosarito still has plenty of comfortable stays should you want to stay here longer than a day trip from San Diego, or even Mexico’s vast wine region of Guadalupe de Valle nearby.
All my trips to Rosarito have been quick in-and-out trips, so I can’t attest to what hotel experiences are like here, but TripAdvisor claims these are travelers’ 3 favorites:
- Rosarito Beach Hotel
- Las Rocas Resort & Spa
- Oceana Rosarito Inn
While not in the top 3 faves, Hotel Corona offers the best rates at $91 this summer.
Swimming In Rosarito
If Rosarito and Cabo do have something else in common, it’s the lack of swimming spots. Don’t get me wrong; you will see people swimming in Rosarito, but it’s frowned upon as there are sewage issues year-round.
While I’ve personally done it and made it out without any flesh-eating bacterial infections, it’s advised to enjoy the views of Rosarito’s blue waters, among other fun beach activities.
The most recent report claims there’s only one beach suitable for swimming.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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