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Mexico will be packed this summer, especially in the holiday destinations you would expect.
Every year, travelers looking for an incredible beach vacation set their sights on one of Mexico’s three iconic beach cities: Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.
As great as these places are, the beaches can be more cramped than a Frontier Airlines economy seat.
No.
The crowds won’t stop everyone from packing their bags and heading to paradise, but travelers should know that there are some other vacation options that fly under the radar.
Not every Mexican beach attracts millions of tourists, but there are many that are well equipped for a summer vacation.
Three of them are in northern Mexico, not far from the border, but don’t let that word make you think it’s unsafe or dilapidated.
With crystal clear waters and affordable places to stay, these 3 beach towns in Northern Mexico are perfect for a summer vacation:
Puerto Peñasco
Perhaps best visited on an epic road trip, Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point, won’t disappoint no matter how you get here.
You may have heard George Strait’s classic hit Oceanfront propertywhere he claims he owns prime real estate with sea views from Arizona.
Although physically impossible, Puerto Penasco is one of Arizonans’ favorite beach getaways, just over an hour from the border.
This small Sonoran resort town, with beautiful blue waters and even white sandy beaches along the Sea of Cortez, has a lot to offer and isn’t talked about enough as a top Mexican vacation destination.
Local connoisseurs probably prefer it too, but hey, I’m just doing my job here!
There are no major airports nearby, so this is truly a secret spot that people in the area know about, yet it surprisingly caters to vacationers with cheap resorts, fresh seafood, and plenty of fun activities like fishing.
Better yet, the beautiful waters are swimmable despite being close to the border, where infrastructure is notoriously poor.
Resorts line scenic beaches and are nowhere near Cabo’s sky-high rates, for example.
Luxury hotels are easy to find in the $100 to $200 price range.
San Felipe
Another gem of the Sea of Cortez is on the Baja side, and it’s even more scenic than Rocky Point.
From the clear waters to the breathtaking views and much more, a getaway to San Felipe is the perfect place to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico’s action-packed vacation destinations.
Although San Felipe is also a great road trip, getting to this small coastal town is much easier new direct flights to Tijuana. You can also enter Baja from San Diego or Arizona.
San Felipe is also close to Tijuana’s extensive wine region. In other words, this region of Baja is the ultimate place to kick back, relax and enjoy the finer things in life.
As a proud fishing village, you know that here you will also get the best selection of food while enjoying your stay by the sea without spending a lot of money.
Although the resorts are not well known, there are plenty of places along the coast ranging from vacation rentals to boutique stays – many in the low $100s.
Rosarito
Northern Baja’s most striking beach town is fun, festive, beautiful, and definitely a foodie destination.
About 30 minutes south of Mexico’s busiest border crossing, Rosarito is easily accessible from Tijuana and/or San Diego.
Here lies a small beach town that seems to borrow New York’s slogan: ‘the city that never sleeps’.
Rosarito has it all: beach bars, horseback riding, lavish hotels and incredible cuisine, where the main strip rivals downtown Cabo when it comes to knowing how to party.
There are more blissful sides spread across the region. You can still relax at several beachfront hotels, like the high-rise Hotel Corona in the low $100s.
Sadly, the picturesque pier was damaged in a recent storm, but there are still great ocean views elsewhere.
Disadvantages for Rosarito
As a recent visitor to Rosarito, I can tell you that there are two downsides to visiting…
First of all, those are the waters not swimmabledespite the fact that many beachgoers tempt fate with possible bacterial infections.
Secondly, touristy scam, of which I was the victim. Papas and Beer is the most popular bar in the area. Honestly, you could say this is the hottest bar in Northern Baja.
The bar is huge and even has a swimming pool and a stage where famous acts, such as Cardi B, have performed.
Menu prices were not honored during my visit. Neither the server nor the manager would exactly be eligible for an Oscar if they pretend to be surprised.
The clearly displayed “2×1” cocktail special turned out to be double what has already been inflated for a watered-down, molten Jolly Rancher-style drink – a far cry from what an adult beverage should be.
Their excuse? “Oh, this is a seasonal promotion.”
Since these types of bars surround the area, their goal is to get tourists drunk and hope they don’t notice.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
