School is almost out and it’s time to head south with the kids in tow! Baja is full of adventures for kids (and adults) of all ages. Here are some of our favorite destinations for family fun.
Rosarito
Why We Love It: Just 30 minutes south of the border, this beach town is the perfect easy weekend escape when you’re craving some delicious tacos and fun beach time.
What To Do: The expansive white-sand beaches are the main draw for Rosarito. There are a number of surf spots in the area that range from beginner to intermediate. Horse rides along the beach are another popular tourist activity.
Where To Stay: The iconic Rosarito Beach Hotel is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and is a perfect spot for families to stay. The hotel is located in town walking distance to restaurants and shops. The hotel itself has a pool and is located right on Rosarito beach near the pier. You can take surf lessons through the hotel.
DBTC Insider Tip: Rosarito has similar weather to San Diego and will suffer from May Gray and June Gloom. Trips later in the summer will give you the best weather and chances for sunshine.
Ensenada
Why We Love It: Ensenada is the perfect summer destination with warm weather and plenty of beaches. The whole family will enjoy great food from fish tacos and food carts stands to more formal sit-down restaurants.
What To Do: Playa Hermosa is one of the best beaches in town with wide sandy shores and gentle waves. Enhance your beach day by taking surfing lessons from Surf Ensenada—a super fun experience for the whole family. South of town, La Bufadora is a natural blowhole that’s fun to see and has an array of booths selling artisan handicrafts and food along the way. And even farther south of town is the fun mecca, Las Cañadas. With zip lines, pools, water slides and more, you can also rent a cabin to stay right on the property.
Where to Stay: Torre Lucerna is a modern new high-rise hotel just north of town. It has a nice pool and area as well as a restaurant on site.
DBTC Insider Tip: Valle de Guadalupe is nearby for an easy day trip (there are some family-friendly wineries like Solar Fortún and Lechuza). Beware that July 31 to August 18 is the Fiestas de la Vendimia wine harvest festival and is a fun but busy time to visit the region.
Sierra de San Pedro Mártir
Why We Love It: This high mountain range is home to pine trees that see snow in the winter but is the perfect spot to enjoy cool temperatures in the summer. Outdoor enthusiasts will love camping and hiking in this gorgeous off-the-grid national park.
What To Do: There are plenty of day hiking opportunities throughout the park as well as multiple campsites. The park is also home to the National Astronomical Observatory, which is open to tours. Even if you don’t make it to the observatory, you can still enjoy the incredible amount of stars that you’ll see each night in the sky. The park has a successful California condor reintroduction program and has over 40 condors living in the park. See our Sierra de San Pedro Mártir guide for more information.
Where To Stay: There are multiple campsites for tent camping throughout the national park. If you’re not up for tent camping, there are a few rustic cabins that are available to rent at the park entrance.
DBTC Insider Tip: About an hour outside of the park entrance in the foothills of the mountain range is the rustically charming Rancho Meling, a wonderful place to stay. A destination in its own right, the ranch has plenty of family activities like a pool, volley ball courts, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Be sure to tell them when you’re booking that you’ll be eating all meals on site as there are no other options around. You won’t get cell phone service here and the electricity goes off at night so this is a perfect place to digitally detox and escape.
La Paz
Why We Love It: As the capital of Baja Sur, La Paz is a charming small city with plenty to offer. La Paz boasts some of the most gorgeous beaches on the peninsula with white sand and turquoise bays and the nearby islands and water are home to abundant marine life popular with scuba divers and snorkelers.
What To Do: A boat trip out to Isla Espiritu Santo will provide you with the opportunity to swim with sea lions and enjoy all of the other marine life that the area has to offer. This is the time of year when the whale sharks are in the waters surrounding La Paz so don’t miss a chance to swim with these gentle giants. When you’re ready to get back on land, the city has plenty of museums, shops, and fantastic restaurants.
Where To Stay: Hotel Catedral is located in the heart of downtown and walking distance to plenty of restaurants, shops, and the city’s famous malecón. For a more resort experience, Puerta Cortes is just outside of town and the newly-renovated property has a golf course and a plethora of other amenities.
DBTC Insider Tip: For a truly unique experience, try glamping on Isla Espiritu Santo at Camp Cecil with Todos Santos Eco Adventures. They’re currently offering a discount of 20 percent on stays for this May and June of 2024.
East Cape
Why We Love It: The East Cape is a paradise full of natural beauty and adventure. Although the temperatures can be hot in the summer, people still flock to the area for the epic sportfishing and range of other activities.
What To Do: Visit the waterfalls of Cañon de la Zorra. The 30-foot waterfall cascades into natural pools below, and the surrounding rocks are perfect for lounging and sun bathing. Nearby are a number of options for hot springs with Santa Rita being some of the favorites. Older kids will enjoy renting an ATV or taking an ATV tour.
Where to Stay: The Buena Vista Resort just south of Los Barriles is a lush paradise situated right on the beach. The resort has their own fleet of boats for sportfishing and a large pool for the kids. The on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
DBTC Insider Tip: Late summer will bring high heats and hurricane risks so be prepared and plan accordingly. Early summer is a better time to visit.