How many magical towns are there in Baja California? The short answer is four. In Northern Baja California, there is only one, Tecate which is the lone single magical town located along the U.S. border. What is Pueblo Magico, one might ask. A “Pueblo Mágico” is a Mexican town designated by the government of Mexico for its cultural richness, historical significance, natural beauty, and preservation of traditional architecture and folklore. The Pueblo Mágico program officially began in 2001.
Some of the key points about Pueblos Mágicos, as determined by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism were based on their unique qualities. The program aimed to promote the protection and development of these towns’ cultural heritage. Pueblos Mágicos are often defined as popular tourist destinations due to their charm and authentic atmosphere.
The border region location of Tecate joined this program in 2012. The city of Tecate, founded in 1892, is a picturesque area surrounded by majestic mountains and stone cliffs. The semi-warm and dry climate has temperatures ranging between 40°F to 88°F, rarely below 32°F during the winter months or above 95° degrees during the summer seasons.
“Tecate was part of the San Diego Mission since the 18th century. It has a colonial style, landscapes of cattle fields, and one can acquire pieces of popular art in clay, blown glass, ceramics and wicker at the Casa de Artesanías,” highlights the website of the Government of Mexico.
Located just across the border from the U.S., Tecate is a beautiful gateway to Baja that makes for a breezy weekend or day trip. Tecate is a quaint little place full of colonial architecture. It’s a visit deep into the heart of “real” Mexico without having to travel more than an hour away from downtown San Diego.
For those of us who live in Cabo or are frequent visiting vacationers, our preferences would be the three Magical Towns of Baja California Sur which are Loreto, Todos Santos and Santa Rosalía.
Todos Santos has a few nice beaches that have become slightly famous for their Pacific Ocean surfing waves. Last year it hosted the Mexican National Championships for the first time.
A six-hour drive from Los Cabos, the magical town of Loreto is the oldest settlement in Baja and home to the first mission in all of California. It was established in 1697. With a quaint little plaza, the beautiful waters of the Sea of Cortez, and the Coronado islands right offshore, Loreto regularly draws tourists year-round who go to fish, dive, snorkel, and relax. The city boasts a small airport and a five-star resort, Villas de Palmar.
There are very nice places and boutique hotels in town with charming atmospheres, pool areas, and Sea of Cortez views. Orlando’s Cocina Mexicana is a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The casual atmosphere and great Mexican dish selections, make for a memorable dining experience. One can also check out Asadero Super Burrito where the food is super savory and served in large portions.
Further north, but still in Southern Baja, is Santa Rosalía, an old French mining town, which has a distinct character unlike anywhere else in Baja California, North or South. The area is full of relics of old mining equipment and industrial buildings from the 1800s when the French-owned Boleo Mining Company dominated the town. With deteriorating French-style houses with wood siding, porches, and balconies overlooking the narrow streets, many parts of the town look like an old Wild West Hollywood movie set.
The white-painted metal Iglesia de Santa Bárbara de Santa Rosalía church was designed in 1884 by Gustave Eiffel, the famous designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. On the northside hillside of town is Hotel Frances, an old, two-story French building with large wraparound balconies. The hotel is old but has loads of French colonial charm.
One of the best tacos stands in Santa Rosalía is Tacos el Faro Verde, which serves the usual fish and shrimp tacos in addition to a unique and tasty chile relleno taco—A large jalapeño stuffed with cream cheese and shrimp. Open since 1901, the Panadería El Boleo is a French-influenced bakery offering the traditional Mexican bolillos, it also offers French baguettes.
In another twist of the government’s efforts to give more towns a unique distinction and attraction, Barrios Mágicos (Magical Neighborhoods) was created. La Chinesca in Mexicali along the U.S. border, directly across from Calexico, CA is one.
Mexicali’s La Chinesca is the largest Chinatown in all of Mexico. Because of the Colorado River Delta and the agricultural lands surrounding Mexicali, the region saw an abundance of Chinese laborers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, La Chinesca is a bit run-down but still has a buzzing energy. There are at least 2,000 Chinese people still living in Mexicali, but the region remains heavily influenced by Chinese culture.
Because of the intense heat in Mexicali, many buildings in La Chinesca feature basements that were heavily used for living and working. Access to the underground Chinatown is through private businesses. Taking a guided underground tour of La Chinesca is a popular attraction allowing visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of the area. Tours are offered Friday-Sunday through Origenes y Secretos de La Chinesca and are available only in Spanish.
There are over 200 Chinese restaurants in Mexicali. Most of the restaurants are located outside of La Chinesca and spread throughout the city. Beijing Restaurant and Chinahouse are the two most highly recommended places to dine.
As of last year, there haven’t been any new Magic Neighborhoods selected but San Jose del Cabo petitioned to have their downtown area considered for that magical distinction. And after all, when you really think about it, everything about Los Cabos and BCS is very magical.