It's summer, and we were looking for an adventure filled with heat, beaches, open roads, and places to enjoy, so we took a flight and a car to explore Baja California. In less than a week, we traveled through a desert as beautiful as it was hot, roadside scenes from the magical Rumorosa, a valley full of stories and wine, ports with gastronomy that whets your palate, and nights of music and enjoyment. Baja California, the powerful arm of Mexico, is a northern destination you must visit.
It was almost midnight. We arrived from the red-eye flight from Mexico City to Mexicali. The heat radiated from my body. I was wearing my boots, and my feet felt freer, more adapted. This is where these boots are made to walk. The next morning, we took a car and toured Avenida Colón, the last residential street north of the city, just steps from the border wall. This street led us to the city center, home to the iconic La Chinesca monuments.
As we set off, the road took us through desert landscapes: Cerro Prieto, Laguna Salada, and the magnificent Rumorosa. Arriving in Tecate is a time to take a breath of fresh air, roll down the windows, turn up the music, and feel like you're on a spiritual odyssey before reaching the Valle de Guadalupe, home to 95% of Mexico's wines. A must-stop is to delight in one, two, or more of the vineyards, accompanied by restaurants that showcase Mexican cuisine; the classic favorites: Deckman's at El Mogor, El Cielo, and Bruma. Don't forget to stop by Nómada Bazaar, where you'll find a selection of our boots and clothing.
With a designated driver, we arrived in Ensenada in less than half an hour. We chose an ocean-view restaurant to watch the sunset and explored the nightlife in downtown Plaza Santo Tomás. The next day, we ventured out to San Diego, California, for some shopping, stopping by Rosarito and Tijuana for more must-see delights —a lobster dinner, a walk on the cool beach, the best carne asada tacos, and of course, a party!
Photography by Anna Soonchi Hee-Jae Der and Aitanni Carranza. Written by Aitanni Carranza.
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