How to Surf on Rosarito Beach, Mexico

by Virginia Watson

Overview


Rosarito Beach is in the northern part of Baja California, Mexico, approximately 20 miles from the U.S. border. It is a popular surfing spot and home to numerous competitions, including the Mexican National Surfing Championship and a Pro-Am tournament. The area generally has consistent waves coming from the northwest and surfing conditions range from good to excellent.


Step 1

Travel to Rosarito Beach. The area is a 40-minute drive from San Diego, but it might take a while to get through the border crossing at Tijuana. All U.S. citizens need a valid passport to travel to and from Mexico, so make sure you take it with you. If you're flying in, your best bet is to fly to San Diego and drive over the border, as Tijuana's airport does not accept many flights from the United States.

Step 2

Book your hotel. The town of Rosarito (Playas de Rosarito) is a relatively small area with little in the way of accommodations, although the area is under development to encourage the tourist trade. Make reservations at your hotel early, especially if you're traveling during spring break, as the area can get quite crowded.

Step 3

Wear a wetsuit. During the fall, winter and spring months, you'll likely need a full wetsuit, as the water can be between 50 and 60 degrees F. The summer months generally require only swim trunks or a spring wetsuit.

Step 4

Rent equipment. If you didn't bring your own board or wetsuit, a few surf shops in the Rosarito area offer both sales and rentals of surfing equipment. Additionally, your hotel might have some equipment available for rentals or borrowing.

Step 5

Walk or drive to the beach. Many of the town's hotels are within easy walking distance of the beach. Additionally, numerous surf spots are within a few miles of the town and are easily accessible by car. Just don't leave anything of value in your vehicle or your boards on top of the car, as theft can be a major problem in Mexico.
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Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Judging from the numbers, many are saying 'Yes'

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

The beach at Tulum, at the southern end of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Visitation to Mexico is up, despite concerns about drug violence. Despite tales of drug violence, visitation to Mexico was up almost 19% over last year, as of September. And with 22.6 million tourists expected by year's end, numbers will about equal the record-breaking totals in 2008. About 80% of visitors are North American.

In fact, slightly more foreigners are vacationing in Mexico now than before the drug wars, which have killed about 30,000 (mostly drug traffickers) in the past four years, The Economist reported in November. Mexico now ranks No. 10 in international arrivals worldwide.

I'm just back from San Miguel de Allende, a gorgeous colonial city in central Mexico (read about it Friday at usatoday.com/travel), where, not surprisingly, more than one conversation during my visit turned toward security concerns.

But not the sort of concerns you might think. The Americans I spoke with there were worried about the bum rap they believe the entire country is getting due to drug violence that , for the most part, is concentrated hundreds of miles away near the U.S. border.

"There is very little crime here, and what there is doesn't affect gringos," said Irina Posner, a retired CBS News employee and one of an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 ex-pats who live full or part-time in San Miguel. " We love this town. We feel safe in this town."

So did I, covering miles of narrow, cobbled walkways solo by day and by night in the 17th-century city. I felt as secure as I do in my own neighborhood, yet some innkeepers say they've had cancellations due to safety concerns.

Americans are notoriously near-sighted when it comes to geographical perspective. It's an issue Mexico's new tourism secretary Gloria Guevara addressed in an on-line seminar sponsored by the trade publication, Travel Weekly, last month. She acknowledged there are places in Mexico that tourists should avoid, specifically Matamoros and Ciudad Juarez on the Texas border. (And frankly, aside from those looking to do a cheap booze run, I'm not sure who would have frequented those border towns even before the drug-cartel bloodbaths).

"But for the rest of the country, you can relax and enjoy yourself," she told the Travel Weekly audience.

Actually, as someone who has traveled all over Mexico, I think I'd also skip Acapulco, which had a spate of nasty drug-related killings in September. But Acapulco many years ago ceased to be an American vacation destination.

Mexico's tourist sweet spot is Cancun, about 1,000 miles from Ciudad Juarez. Aside from an August bar shooting in a working-class neighborhood far removed from the resort zone, there has been no reported drug violence there. Another popular, earthier destination, is the Copper Canyon, which lies more than 200 miles from the border, or about the distance between New York and Baltimore.

"If you were planning a trip to New York, would you cancel it if you heard about challenges in Baltimore?" Guevara asked.

Vacation costs -- mainly hotels -- are down in Mexico. The average tourist spends about 5% less than in 2008, The Economist reports. And a number of forecasters are predicting that discounting in Cancun and south along the Riviera Maya will make that region particularly popular this winter.

The website Travelzoo , for instance, lists a four-night package, with air and all meals and drinks starting at $562 per person, double. It's good for travel Jan. 4-31, but must be booked by Jan. 10.

Another website, Smarter Travel, cites increased air service as likely to boost travel to Mexico. On Dec. 1, Southwest Airlines joined with Mexican carrier Volaris, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary booked on Southwest. On Dec. 15, Alaska Airlines begins service between San Jose and Guadalajara, and from Sacramento on Dec. 16. On Feb. 10, American Eagle launches daily nonstop service from Dallas to Veracruz and Queretaro. And on Feb. 12, American begins seasonal service between Chicago and Cozumel.

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UN agency desinates Mexican food a cualtural treasure

By TIM JOHNSON

McClatchy Newspapers

MEXICO CITY -- Maligned as unhealthy and misunderstood in its complexity, Mexican cuisine is finally getting its due.

It's now considered an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, elevated along with French cuisine this week at a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

The designation elated culinary experts, who say that diners sometimes fail to appreciate the richness of a cuisine with vast regional variation and use of aromatic herbs and plants, nothing like the cheesy nachos and brittle tacos many Americans eat at restaurants.

Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs said on its website Wednesday that the designation provides "global recognition to our cuisine as one of the most important in the world."

An American who offers culinary tours of Mexico City, Lesley Tellez, said she hopes the recognition will change ideas about Mexican food.

"There's a misconception that it is food covered in cheese and that it's totally unhealthy. It's not true," said Tellez, adding that the U.N. designation "is an affirmation that Mexican cuisine has richness and complexity, and it deserves to be known."

Last year, several Mexican chefs appealed to UNESCO to honor a culinary tradition based on corn, beans and chili peppers that has roots in the distant past, has maintained continuity over centuries and uses original techniques. The Mexican government belatedly got behind the nomination.

The designation was made Tuesday at a meeting of the intangible cultural heritage committee of UNESCO in Nairobi, Kenya.

"Mexican cuisine is endless in variety," Fernando del Paso, a co-author of a Spanish-language Mexican cookbook, "La Cocina Mexicana," told the newspaper La Jornada. "It is no exaggeration to say that, along with French and Chinese, it is one of the three major cuisines of the world."

But Mexicans themselves, guarded about their own indigenous roots, don't always hold their national culinary tradition in high esteem.

"Like a battered wife, it is subject to our affection at home but meets with some rejection away," said Andres Juarez, academic coordinator at the Mexican Gastronomic School in the capital. High-end restaurants serving Mexican food are limited, he added.
"When we go to an elegant restaurant, we look for foreign dishes because we don't value our own food," Juarez said.

Outside another three-story cooking school in the capital, apprentice chef Jose Zelonka Vela said foreigners have a lot to learn about Mexican cooking, too.

"They think Mexican food is just burritos and tacos, and the tacos are made of fried tortillas. This has nothing to do with a Mexican taco," Zelonka said.

Many Mexican signature dishes use a variety of aromatic herbs and are labor intensive, requiring peeling, grinding, boiling and roasting. One national dish, chiles en nogada, little known outside of Mexico, is prepared with a creamy nut sauce, red pomegranate seeds and green cilantro - giving it the bright colors of the national flag.

"I love cochinita pibil," said cooking student Mara Guardarrama, referring to a slow-roasted dish of suckling pig. "It's the aroma of the orange and the adobo paste of herbs and chilies."

Ancient Mayan myth says a deity formed humans from corn, and Juarez noted that Mexico has 63 varieties of corn, hinting at the complexity of regional cooking.

Many recipes date from centuries back.

"We see dishes eaten these days that are quite similar to what chroniclers from pre-Hispanic times or the colonial era mentioned in their writings," Juarez said, noting the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagun, who wrote of stews with insects, chilies, flowers, seeds and other ingredients similar to rural dishes of today.

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Safety of Traveling to Rosarito, Mexico

by Raechel Donahue, Demand Media

Overview


Travel in Mexico has its share of safety issues, and the middle-class town of Rosarito is no exception. By observing a few rules and taking some basic precautions, you can have a safe and pleasant journey to this charming seaside hamlet. Whether you travel by bus or car, enjoy the scenery on the way to a destination that has served as a hideaway for movie stars and royalty for over 80 years.

Taking the Bus

Leaving from Tijuana, Mexicoach offers regular service to Rosarito. Simply leave your car on the American side -- there are many secure parking lots -- and walk across the border. If you are uncomfortable with leaving your car in a lot, consider taking the trolley from San Diego to reach the border. As soon as you pass through the gates, you will see the Tijuana Tourist Office, where friendly employees will direct you to the Mexicoach depot. The bus makes the 29-mile trip to Rosarito in a little over half an hour and costs about the same as a street taco.

Taxis

There are two kinds of Mexican taxis that will take you to Rosarito: "route taxis" that charge a flat rate for packing up to 12 tourists into a station wagon and yellow cabs. The route taxi is the most economical, but unless you are with a large enough group to fill the whole vehicle you may find yourself traveling in unsavory company. This can be a prime opportunity for pickpockets to prey upon tourists. The yellow cabs are not only more comfortable but also a safer choice because you are not placed in the position of traveling with strangers. The price is reasonable ($20 to $30 in 2010), and a little haggling is expected. Make sure to settle on a flat rate before starting the trip.

Driving to Rosarito

Driving in Mexico is rather challenging, especially passing through Tijuana, a necessary leg of the route to Rosarito. Drivers may seem erratic, aggressive and even angry, so it pays to be alert. It is crucial to purchase Mexican auto insurance in advance -- preferably from your own insurance agent. Approaching the border, there are many signs offering cut-rate insurance, but even the most seasoned traveler might have difficulty discerning legitimate agents from scam artists.

Safe Shopping in Rosarito

Rosarito's main boulevard is lined with all manner of shops, and every few yards there is a narrow corridor that leads to a hidden maze of tiny stands and cubbyholes. Even though Rosarito has the lowest crime rate in Baja (as of 2010), there is always the possibility of pickpocketing. Men should carry their wallets in a jacket pocket rather than the rear pants' pocket, and women should make sure their purses are closed.

General Safety Warnings

If driving, make sure to top off frequently to avoid the possibility of running out of gas. Do not stop for hitchhikers. Do not purchase a green parrot and attempt to bring it home; the penalty is as much as 50 years in prison.
 
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Harley Riders Donate Backpacks & Supplies

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA , MEXICO ---More than 250 motorcyclists from the U.S. donated backpacks and other items for 300 Rosarito school children at this weekend’s annual Harley Charity Run.

As well as the school supplies, bicycles and toys were among the items donated, said Leticia Gonzalez, director of DIF, the city’s family social services agency, who helped coordinate the event.

Ride organizers Martin and Sonia Resendez said the concept was developed years ago when during a motorcycle tour to the area they learned of the needs of some of the city children. Since, the city and charity run have become part of their lives.

“We are very grateful for the donation from the Harley riders,” said Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres. “The goodwill from U.S. citizens, both those who visit and those who now live here, is deeply appreciated.”

This year a convoy of motorcyclists and vehicles carrying donations rode from Otay Mesa to Rosarito with a special escort. The Harley Run also included a celebration at the popular club Papas & Beers.

Mexican Dispatch: A Quiet Beach Town, Kept That Way by "Tourist" Police

New America Media/PBS NewsHour, News Report, Jose Luis Sierra, Posted: Sep 16, 2010

ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico—Walking or driving down boulevard Benito Juarez, the main street of Rosarito Beach, gives no hints of the struggles this tourist community has been fighting for the past four years.

As the sun sinks over the Pacific Ocean, neon lights advertise hotel rooms at competitive prices. Restaurants from French, Japanese, or local cuisine that offers rabbit, snake, quail, goat or deer meat— as well as the typical hamburger or Mexican menus—entice customers with margarita specials. Bars and discos compete for customers with loud music. If you care to ask, locals will advise you about the best choices.

If things get a little out of hand, "tourist police" will show up and make an effort to help you feel safe.

The town has a population of about 130,000 residents—14,000 of them U.S. citizens living here permanently. It gained fame in the 1920s for being a favorite spot for Hollywood legends like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, and now is advertised as the closest place south of the U.S.-Mexico border where tourists can enjoy the good life at affordable prices.

But locals say things have changed, as they recall the period of 2006-2008, when a violent crime was reported on an average every two hours.

Tourism, with a little more than 1 million visitors a year and the main staple of the local economy, has gone down more than 50 percent. Hotels, restaurants and just about every business related to the service industry faced the choice of closing or reducing staff and scaling down operations.

But the final blow came with the burst of the local real estate market bubble, a little more than three years ago.

Nobody saw it coming, after years of brisk sales of condos and villas along Rosarito Beach. There was a splashy announcement that billionaire Donald Trump would lend his name to a lavish coastal condo-hotel project, 10 miles south of the border on the outskirts of the town. Developers took Trump's move as a sign of confidence and began a frenetic pace of construction.

Thousands of U.S. retirees flocked to the area by the busload in search of an opportunity to own beachfront property at prices impossible to find north of the border. As side benefits, they saw the opportunities of a much lower cost of living, low property taxes, and the option of renting out their property when not in use.

"We originally built out our office space to support 30 to 60 agents. And currently we are running around 10, six. So that's basically what the marketing is supporting right now," said David Biondolillo, a real estate agent in charge of a five tower luxury condos by the beach, with prices ranging from the low $200,000 to $460,000.

Happy to get by, and with most of his 600 units already sold, Biondolillo is one of the lucky few. He said that more than 200 projects with permits already approved had to be shut down for lack of financing. That includes the project to which Trump had lent his name. It now resembles an empty pit.

For now, just as in the United States, a new market is emerging. Buyers are beginning to scout for foreclosure properties, or properties that are being offered for 30-40 percent under their original price, as developers scramble to recoup whatever they can from their investments. Still, perception plays a key role in this strategy.

"True, we had a problem with police corruption and crime four years ago, and that's one of the reasons I ran for mayor," said Hugo Torres, just a few months from finishing his second stint in that post. Torres is also owner of the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

"People ask me constantly if Rosarito is safe. My answer is always yes. It is as safe as any other city in the world. It is a matter of common sense. If you deal with drugs or are involved in any type criminal activity, you will never be safe, no matter where you are," said the 74-year-old mayor.

Tijuana at 30 miles per hour

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE

August 30, 2010

Sandra Dibble holds a cup of clamato juice, a popular treat in Baja California, on Sunday in Rosarito Beach

This was a difficult assignment: In the space of just a few hours, give my new editor, Hieu Tran Phan, a tour of Tijuana. On one quiet Sunday afternoon, what could I possibly show him? Tijuana has about two million people, hundreds of neighborhoods, vast contrasts. After 16 years of reporting here, driving across Tijuana still fills me with a sense of wonder, and more than anything I wanted him to get a sense of the city’s rich texture and variety.


We started at Colonia Federal, a tiny neighborhood just southwest of the San Ysidro border crossing, cruising past the house where drug smugglers once dug a tunnel. Now a binational group has taken over, converting it into an arts center, La Casa del Tunel. We headed east into Colonia Libertad, to the top of a steep hill that offers a breathtaking view of the border. Then down into the Zona Rio, past the giant pastel globe and deep red cube that make up the Tijuana Cultural Center, past the Via Corporativo, a new office building that is Baja California’s first certified green structure.

Zooming down the Via Rapida, a highway that crosses the city, we headed toward El Cerro Colorado, Tijuana’s tallest hill and the gateway to eastern Tijuana, where the city has been growing rapidly in recent years. We drove and drove, past the huge boxlike factory buildings that make up El Florido Industrial Park. Past tens of thousands of tiny houses that make up the newer housing developments.

In El Nino, we stopped for tacos and ran into a church group from San Clemente whose members had come to build houses. We pressed on, toward Tecate, into Valle de las Palmas, where authorities are planning a satellite city with more than one million residents.

We drove down Boulevard 2000, and in no time found ourselves in Rosarito Beach, taking in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Then back into Tijuana, to Colonia Chapultepec, whose large hillside mansions reminded Hieu (he was raised in Vietnam and Orange County) of the hills of Laguna Beach.

A day after our tour, Hieu says he was struck by the city’s contrasts and the determination of its residents to make the most of their circumstances, wherever they may find themselves

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