Information and History on Rosarito Beach / Playas de Rosarito
Oceanfront Living in Baja California, Mexico

The charming town of Rosarito here in Baja Mexico has long endeared itself to visiting Americans and International travelers in search of sprawling coastlines with a SoCal climate. Just 20 miles south of the California border, Rosarito is part of the Tourist Corridor that includes Tijuana, Ensenada and Rosarito. From luxury resorts to oceanfront condos, hotels and RV parks, Rosarito has been a favorite vacation spot for over eight decades. An ideal setting for large gatherings, Rosarito is the perfect destination if you're planning a special event, wedding, or anniversary. Only a short drive from San Diego, you will find the beaches, sunsets and Mexican culture to be a mind altering experience from the hustle and bustle life-style of the USA. Although a small town with one main road, you will find the accommodations, excellent food, bargain shopping and ocean views to make your stay a memorable one. So relax and browse through the site to help you plan your trip and get a small taste of life in the "Baja".

ROSARITO BEACH is a town with quite a history here in Baja Mexico. Much of the tourist business for Rosarito Beach started in 1926 when Manuel Barbachano opened the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Above the doors of the hotel is a sign with the words "Through these doors pass the most beautiful women in the world!". The same could be said for the city of Rosarito Beach itself, which has been hosting movie stars and the rich and famous for over 70 years now. Although the Hollywood stars don't frequent this seaside town as often as they used to, there were plenty of celebrities in town three years ago during the filming of 'Titanic'. Even without regular visits by movie stars, tourists galore still flock here for the beaches, bars, beef tacos and of course, oceanfront homes for sale!

Much of the popularity of Rosarito must be credited to its location here in Baja Mexico, only 18 miles south of the U.S. border. It's a great one day getaway for folks from Southern California, and a great weekend destination for anyone crossing the border headed south. For most of it's history Rosarito Beach was a part of the municipality of Tijuana. On December 1st, 1995 Rosarito Beach became it's own municipality and started a long term program to improve it's infrastructure for the future.

Those who visit Rosarito Beach Baja Mexico for shopping are usually not disappointed! Ceramics, leather goods, baskets, clothing, jewelry, prescription drugs and a host of other items are readily available at the dozens of stores around town. An increasing number of visitors are utilizing the resources of Rosarito to have custom furniture made at very attractive prices! Signs of homes for sale and the lower prices of beachfront real estate when compared to the US makes many come back to get their piece of ocean front real estate.

When darkness falls the nightlife begins in Rosarito Beach! The Rosarito Beach Hotel often features live entertainment on weekends. And just a short hop down the beach, Papa's and Beer (the largest bar in Baja) fills with dance-crazed gringos and gringettes on busy weekends. If you can't meet someone here to talk to, maybe you should buy a parrot! Many other fun-filled bars are available within walking distance on this south end of town.

Rosarito Beach also offers plenty of excellent restaurants, from delicious taco stands to large restaurants featuring Mexican, Chinese...and everything in between! Baja Mexico has the best choice of food and an incredible oceanfront view from many eating establishments that make eating out a very special and romantic experience.

On warm days the beaches are filled with many activities including surfing, body surfing, volleyball, horseback riding, all terrain vehicles, and that ever popular past time...sunbathing! An excellent 18 hole golf course is 10 minutes north at Real Del Mar, with the other golf resort at Bajamar about a half hour down the coast. Many who come down for a weekend of golf or simple sunbathing fall in love with the area, stopping in to see a real estate agent. Their weekend stop turns into a lifelong adventure as they do what so many have done, looking at homes for sale and buying their dream oceanfront home or condo. 

For a brief period in the summer of 2000 Rosarito Beach offered a new form of entertainment...offshore gambling! Featuring the 850 passenger 'Enchanted Sun' fun boat, it departed from San Diego in the morning for an oceangoing adventure of slot machines, blackjack, craps, roulette and pai gow. The plan was to put the gambling on hold and have the party continue as the ship docked briefly at the Rosarito Beach Hotel's new pier (a new marina is on the way!). Well, it sounded like a good idea to Carlos Fiesta, but after having a few problems docking at the pier the whole kit and caboodle was killed, and the boat was sold. So now, if you want to gamble, you have to play poker in your hotel room.

In centuries past, the California peninsula here in what is now Baja Mexico was inhabited by tribes of natives, notably the Pai Pai, Cochimi, Kiliwa, Cucupa and Kumiai. The Kumiai settled in the area we now know as Rosarito naming it UACUATAY (which translates to "the big house"). Traces of their everyday life such as arrowheads, stone kitchen utensils, mortars, etc., have been discovered. These artifacts provide a rich source of information regarding their lifestyles and the first stage in Rosarito's evolution. Today, in the area of San Jose la Zorra just 30 kilometers east of La Mision Village, descendants of the Kumiai can still be found.

The second stage in Rosarito's evolution, referred to as the "Misional", began with the arrival of the Spaniards in 1533. So named because it marked the establishment of missions throughout the peninsula and the evangelization of the native tribes, a total of 28 missions were founded by the Jesuit, Dominican and Franciscan monks in what we now know as Baja California. The Palou Frontier was established in 1773 as the dividing line between Nueva (new) or Alta (upper) California and Antigua (old) or Baja (lower) California. In 1788, the De Sales Frontier was established and the boundary between the two California’s was relocated to the site of the Rosarito Creek.

The third stage in Rosarito's history began with the establishment of the big Ranchos in Baja Mexico. The property of El Rosarito Ranch, granted to Don Jose Manuel Machado on 1825, stands out as the first in the area. Subsequently his son, Joaquin Machado, applied for title to the land to then President Porfirio Diaz, and, on May 14th, 1885, title was granted and registered in la Ensenada de Todos los Santos, then capitol city of Baja California. May 14 is now recognized and celebrated as Rosarito's Foundation Day by the Historical Society of Rosarito. The first land grants were made in Rosarito in the year 1827. And after secularization of the mission lands in 1833, it has been estimated that over 700 private land grants were made in California within the nest decade.

Baja California had its share, with many of the grantees being families who were prominent in Alta California. One of the largest in the northwestern sector was Rancho El Rosario, or Rosarito. It extended from what is now the southern edge of the San Antonio Shores development to the Rosarito River bounded on the west by the ocean and stretching eastward to the peaks of the mountains. The first grant had been made to Don Jose Manuel Machado in 1827 by the Mexican governor, Jose Maria Echeandia Machado had been born in San Gabriel and had grown up and married in San Diego. His land grants, along with the later one of the famous ranchos that marked the "age of the Dons". It may be said that it was at this time that the people of Rosarito first learned to party. "The Age of the Dons", the Golden Age, is probably best remembered for the hospitality and sociability of the people on barbecues were the order of the day. All classes of society and all people from surrounding ranchos took part, and though the music was a far cry from the heart of native musicians and the vigorous stamp of dancer's feet.

Great herds of cattle and horses roamed the brown hills, and it was at this time that the Rosaritans first became renowned for their fine mounts. Truly the vaqueros who bring their horses to the beach for tourist to ride and to splash through the surf are part of those great traditions of the past. It was at this time also that there was a migration of people from Western Europe to the ranchos of Baja. Names like Ames, Crosthwaite, Gilbert, and Ireland, joined the Machados, Yorba's, and Valdez's on the ranches of the time. Intermarriage was common, and the cultures blended then as they do today, resulting in families with names Machado Gilbert, Crosthwaite Machado, Yorba Gilbert, Ames Crosthwaite, etc. even to this day.

The fourth stage of Rosarito's history is known as the "Touristic". It began with the establishment of Rene's in 1925 and the Rosarito Beach Hotel in 1926. Rosarito has been visited by tourists since 1874 (Source: San Diego Union), attracted by hunting (dear, quail and rabbit) and fishing (lobster, abalone) and of course, real estate / home and property sales in Baja Mexico.

The "Ejidal" and fifth stage in Rosarito's history began with the inception of Ejidos (common land for farming) when, on August 17, 1930, General Lazaro Cardenas, then President of Mexico, issued a resolution granting 4,671 hectares (over 10,000 acres) of land to a community of local farmers known as Ejido Mazatlan.

The beginning of urbanization in 1950 marks the sixth stage in Rosarito's development with the planning and construction of streets and city blocks. As land sales soared, coupled with the construction of small restaurants, some shops and two hotels, the city began to take shape. US citizens and developers began looking to this community as a hidden treasure in real estate opportunities. Home sales were considered a bargain, even when compared to the "cheap" prices in California at that time. Many came to buy the “dirt cheap” oceanfront lots for sale at a dollar or less per square foot. Even though there were no services available, many speculated on the promise that one day the land would be developed and property values much higher. They had no idea how right they would be. Lot sales of beachfront property along the Rosarito Beach coast is a very hot commodity and if you can find vacant oceanfront lots the prices are at a hundred dollars per square foot and higher, based on property location.

In the 1960's Rosarito entered the commercial/industrial era with the construction of a huge thermoelectric power plant and the later installation of Pemex, the Mexican Gas Company. The increased investment in infrastructure locally was a welcome sight as development was on the rise.

This seventh stage in Rosarito's evolution was marked with further construction and the development of shopping centers as more restaurants and shops were established along the main street. This street has been renovated and enlarge to encompass four lanes and a lighted meridian strip and, in 1989, was officially designated Boulevard Benito Juarez. During the seventies and early eighties, Rosarito's growth was moderate but constant. The mid-eighties, however, were marked with the strong development of tourist related businesses of obviously considerable investment. Available hotel rooms in Rosarito are up from 350 to over 2000 now with more being built and home sales growing at a faster rate. Real estate was becoming the biggest business and source of jobs for gringos relocating to Baja. Gringos who would head down to Hussong's in Ensenada would now stop to enjoy this growing community and wonder why they would always make the longer drive down south when so much awaited them here in Rosarito Beach, although many struggled with the spelling and still call it Rosarita Beach.

In the early 1990's appreciable economic growth was achieved by the construction and completion of numerous hotels, condominiums and shopping centers. On December 1, 1995, Rosarito became the fifth Municipality (county) of the State of Baja California, this being the eight stage of the history of Rosarito. Today the city of Rosarito Beach serves as host to thousands of Gringos who have chosen to retire in Baja, finding that the weather, cost of living and lifestyle is unbeatable. Real estate listings attract hundreds every day to the scenic coastal community. Homes for sale here are much more reasonable than the San Diego community just across the border yet they share the same view, climate and wonderful white sandy beaches.


Places to go

The Rosarito Beach Hotel
The early 1930's were the heyday for most resorts. There was wide-open gambling in Baja California (prohibited in the United Estates, in California even horse racing was illegal). Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada became a Mecca for the thousands of visitors, but the bottom began to drop out with the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933, and later, in 1935 the Mexican government outlawed gambling in the country. Of the three big resorts: The Rosarito Beach Hotel, Tijuana's Agua Caliente and Ensenada's Riviera del Pacífico, only the Rosarito Beach Hotel survived. In 1937 Manuel Barbachano shrewdly remodeled and greatly enlarged the hotel. Mexican muralist Matias Santoyo was retained to create the fascinating murals that adorn the lobby. During this period of extensive construction at the hotel, Barbachano also built an ornate and spacious mansion next door for his young bride Maria Luisa Chabert.

Through the years the Rosarito Beach Hotel continued to attract the world's glamorous people. The beautiful mansion, located at the north wing of the hotel was restored into a world class spa and the elegant Chabert's restaurant. The Rosarito Beach hotel boasts now 280 deluxe rooms and suites, two restaurants, three bars, 4 swimming pools, 3 jacuzzis, museum and a lot more. Is a place that reflects Mexico's past like no other hotel in the world. An alluring past is now combined with an exiting present and the future is just beginning...

The Titanic Museum
In the elegant first-class men's card room, a blackjack hand has been interrupted in progress. A face-up jack, partly covered by another card, is a chilling reminder that the players will never return to this game. Every item in the room is authentic and these very details make the story all the more real. A small box of Rizla rolling papers for tobacco open on a shelf; the wooden boxes of cigars from Honduras and the Dominican Republic, some tied with red ribbons. You'll see them in the movie. It is disconcerting to see them here in the stillness of the museum.

There are also the simple, carved wooden toys of children, the watermarked suitcases, including a wicker pet carrier, the alligator purse, with claws, of a wealthy but doomed passenger, the corroded silver hairbrush brought up from the bottom of the sea. All are poignant reminders of the human side of this 86-year-old drama. From the single canvas life jacket marked Titanic to the eerily lit and empty first-class hallway, the props and sets alone at the museum bring the history of this tragedy alive. And a short video, detailing the making of the movie right here on this location, brings Cameron's larger-than-life retelling of it to life, too. It is definitely worth a half-hour stop the next time you're in Rosarito.

The "Titanic" Museum is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is also open on Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m. when there is no production at the Fox studio. Look for the sign out front signifying that the museum is open. Admission $5. Find the studio on the Free Road, five minutes south of downtown Rosarito.

Wa-Kuatay Museum
At the museum of Playas de Rosarito you will find the most important historical events, divided in several exposition halls. It shows how the Kumiai tribe lived and you will also find arrows and vessels made from stone. It's important to mention that descendants of the Kumiai tribe still live in a reservation south of Rosarito. The museums also counts with Pre-Hispanic and Mesoamericans objects where you can find pieces from 2300 b.c to 300a.c and from the "post-classic" period from 900 to 1521. The recent history of Rosarito is well-illustrated with pictures, displaying all the information in English and Spanish. The museum opens from 10am to 4pm Monday thru Sunday (Closed on Tuesday). Your host will be Mr. Pedro Arias.

Horseback Riding
One of the most attractive activities for people visiting the beautiful Rosarito is without a dude, horse back riding. As many other recreational activities (in my opinion) this is the must do one if you don't' own a horse. If you are not a cowboy don't worry, a horse back ride can be as romantic, fun or whatever as you want; it's a complete family activity and believe me, it will be a wonderful experience for the children.

Horse back riding is easy; the tough part is to get on top of the horse, the guides will help you to sit looking at the horse head instead of the back (things can happen!). If you are short they'll help you by doing a step with their hands so you can climb on the horse. There are the beach rides where you can enjoy a sunset, the sea breeze, the seagulls and even a pelican! For the fearless ones there are rides through the ranches and mountains that will allow you to discover the rural life of the citizens. All guides will speak English. The horse herds are generally located at the beach and besides the main street.

Puerto Nuevo - Lobster Village
If you are one of those people with a healthy appetite for good food, a definite recommendation is this quaint village dedicated exclusively to the sale of seafood and their specialty is recognized worldwide as lobster based dishes. Puerto Nuevo is only 10 minutes South of Rosarito Beach (approximately 45 minutes South of the border with the U. S.) it's accessible from the toll road as well as the free road. We must mention that the view from the road is absolutely breathtaking. The spectacular marine view on one side and the hills on the other, they are an ideal excuse not to forget the camera.

If you are traveling from North to South, Puerto Nuevo will be on your right hand side and you will be able to identify it when you see its arched entrance. The climate is always nice but it never hurts to take a jacket. It's a small village by the ocean, surrounded by sun and beach, it started many years ago as a fishing village. There is still some fishing but its infrastructure has changed. Today its filled with restaurants and store filled with Mexican craftsmanship ideal for spending a nice afternoon delighting your pallet and doing a little shopping.

All of the restaurants without exception sell dishes based on lobster Puerto Nuevo Style, it consists of a lobster cut in half served with a bowl of rice and beans with delicious hand made flour tortillas with melted butter and lemon on the side. (mmm) You can accompany the lobster with a pitcher of Margaritas or your favorite Mexican beer. The ambiance in these restaurants is very Mexican and for a few dollars you can enjoy some of the traditional Mexican music, interpreted by mariachis bands there at your table.

Galleries
In down town Rosarito we have many galleries like Mission Gallery & Del Mar Gallery located in the Rosarito Beach Hotel Shopping Center, the Derby Gallery on the boulevard and the newest one Goirgio Santini Gallery located at km 40.5 free road Rosarito- Ensenada where you can also admire artistic jewelry. All of them have exquisite painting and sculptures of great quality; select pieces for those who know art.
 

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