48 Hours in Baja California, Mexico
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Since our Bali adventure, we've settled back into our daily routine and work grind: missing the exploration, curiosity, and wonder of travel. However, we realized that exploration doesn't have to come with a pricey plane ticket, and can be a way of life (as we save for pricey plane tickets!) Seeing as we live in one of the most coveted travel destinations in the US, we are becoming tourists in our hometown, bringing you the best of San Diego.
Sand dunes on the 1 South
One of the best things about San Diego is the easy escape to Mexico. Within half an hour, you can be crossing the border, into a world of color and flavor and energy. I've always loved Mexico, and Jay and I like to get down to Baja a few times a year. Here's what we did with our weekend-48 hours in Mexico.
We wanted to get a jump start to our weekend so we ended up heading south down the 5 right after work. It's easy crossing into Mexico by car, but expect 2 hours crossing back into the U.S. and bring your passport (now required to get back). We cut to the toll road, that weaves south with breathtaking views along the coast, cutting through mountains and valleys.
Our Friday night started off strong with a pitstop at Charly's Place (spelled correctly and with a cat that will join you for tacos and margaritas). The garlic shrimp taco is epic. That night, we stayed at our favorite Las Rocas Spa and Resort, cut into the cliff and watched over by the Christo statue on the hill behind. Their margaritas are top notch, and even better in the jacuzzi with the sound of waves breaking down below.
Las Rocas
View from our room, Las Rocas
The next morning, we continued south and were pleasantly surprised to find previous local restaurant, Splash, transformed into Acua Sunset- easily one of the best breakfasts we've had since Bali. The personable owner, Victor, guided us to a table in a room sunken down into the cliff, with a glass wall so we could enjoy the waves crashing towards us as we ate. The Juevos Verdes were life changing, with pesto and pine nuts, and fresh avocado. Victor also brought us fresh banana bread, grilled to melt the butter it came with. Acua Sunset is a gem of Baja, with a large bar and outdoor deck. We can't wait to come back during warmer weather, and loved chatting with Victor. The local art on the entrance is a clue that you're walking into a culinary masterpiece, not just a restaurant.
Juevos Verdes, Acua
A table with a view, Acua
Tequila Experts in Ensenada
About an hour south of Rosarito is Ensenada, a famous port that floods with tourists when the cruise ships arrived. We took a few hour detour and were quickly swept into Dona Engracia for a Tequila Tour. For $10/person, we learned about the history of agave, the jimadors who make the tequila, and the regions that generate 90% of the world's tequila. Oh, and we got to "sample" 6 shots of premium, unsweetened tequila. We got a tour through each flavor, learning what each pairs best with.
Next we headed east, into Valle de Guadalupe, the Napa of Baja. Winding up through mountains and dropping into an expansive valley of vineyards, we used maps.me to navigate dirt roads and finally find Campera Hotel, the one-of-a-kind bubble hotel. The property is quiet and private, offering a luxury glamping experience with views of the stars that you can't get near any big city. Dinner at Fuego, a few miles away at Hotel Boutique, was worth braving the dirt roads. Just plan better than we did, and bring an offroad vehicle.
We slowly bumped our way out of wine country the next morning, after watching the rays of sun glide over the mountains from the comfort of our bubble bed. Mr. and Mrs. Waffle in Ensenada fueled our drive back, and the Nutella Hot Chocolate was "probably one of the better hot chocolates I've ever had in my life." -Jay
Chicken mole waffle and the classic Mr. Waffle
Mango and pina margaritas at Bombay Club
We wrapped up the weekend with a surf session at k38s, and "buy one get one" margaritas at Bombay Club in downtown Rosarito (a trick because they brought each of us two...language barrier...)
Border tacos capped off our Baja adventure, and we came back ready to take on the week- and without a dent in our wallets. Mexico never disappoints, and reminds us why we love San Diego.