Rosarito Beach Mexico

Rosarito Beach Mexico is just a little over half an hour south of Tijuana and the US border. It is a popular beach and party destination for revelers from the United States, especially over long like Memorial Day and Labor Day.

You might know Rosarito Beach even though you’ve never been there, or, that is at least a piece of it. The rocks used for the Pet Rock craze in the 1970’s were imported from Rosarito Beach.

Orignally, Rosarito Beach was a small ranching community in the far north of Baja California, between Tijuana and Ensenada, that first became a playground for Hollywood types and other well-heeled gringos in the mid 1920’s, when alcohol was illegal in the States and tequila flowed freely in Rosarito. The Ortiz family established René’s, a complex of bar, hotel, restaurant and trailer park, which exists to this very day. René Ortiz became the local mayor, and his influence lasted for decades.

Today, Rosarito thrives on tourists, and is sometimes called “the Baja Gold Coast.” Over two dozen resorts offer nearly 1000 hotel rooms to visitors, together with golf courts, spas and many places for elegant dining. The main attraction is the sequence of long white sand beaches. Several new condominium developments and timeshare hotels have sprung up along the coastline. The Rosarito Beach Hotel, perhaps the largest in the area, opened a new tower with condominiums in 2008. Campers will easily find spots to set up a tent near the ocean.

In the southern end of town a small artist colony provides decorative items for the home, original works of art and handmade furniture. Other attractions include the Statue of Christ of the Sacred Heart on the summit of a peak at the southern end of the beach at Rosarito, the “Rosarito Pavillion” shopping center at the north end, and Puerto Nuevo, 15 minutes to the south. There you will find lobster, “Puerto Nuevo” style, grilled with lots of butter.

The municipality of Rosarito was incorporated in 1995 as “Playas de Rosarito.” It had 56,887 permanent residents in 2005 and continues to be a favorite party spot for Americans.