For years Cancun was the main mecca in Mexico for students in search of a place to blow off steam and have some fun. Cancun is still the hottest Mexican destination for Spring Break, but each year more and more 'Breakers' head to Baja and Cabo to relax, party and hang loose in the sun.
Rosarito Beach is a one half hour drive below the border and Cabo is approximately a 2 hour flight from the southwest US, and a bit further from cities in the midwest and on the east coast. This is a pretty short time to get to party central, and since the party usually starts at the departure point anyway, the jouney can be just as much fun as the destination.
Guns, ammunition and drugs are illegal in Mexico and definately not worth the risk. The cervesa (beer) and tequila in Baja are some of the best in the world, so leave your pot at home unless you really want to see the inside of a Mexican jail.
For those with more time than money Baja can also be reached by car instead of flyng down. Baja Highway One slips below the border just south of San Diego, and it's 1,062 miles of asphault through some pretty spectacular scenery. For most folks this is a 2 day drive from the border to Cabo. For more information visit the DRIVING TO CABO section of Cabo Expo.
Driving to Baja is easy and rental cars are an option in Cabo, but not a necessity. Unlike Cancun where some of the action is 10 miles away, most of the action in Cabo is not more than 10 blocks away. Taxi's are plentiful and not expensive, especially when divided by 3 or 4 people. The "Number 11 Taxi" (your two legs) is even cheaper and will help burn off some of those extra calories that tend to collect during any Baja Spring Break getaway.
The weather in Baja and Cabo San Lucas in April is usually great. The chance of rain is minimal and the air temperature is usually warm in northern Baja, hot in Cabo. A light jacket might be necessary in the evenings, but daytime temperatures are usually in the 80's. The chance of a hurricane in Cabo over Spring Break is zero because the ocean temperatures have cooled of since their summer highs. Although the ocean temperatures in Spring are usually not warm, the water is still swimmable and refreshing.
One of the great things about Baja is that it can accommodate almost any budget. Yes there are plenty of oceanfront hotels for $300, but there are also a fair number of rooms downtown between $50 to $75 per night. During Spring Break the cheap rooms tend to book up fast.
Food and drink can also be affordable if you know where to look. Just like the affordable lodging, inexpensive eats are located in the downtown area of Rosarito Beach and Cabo San Lucas. Taco stands, small local dining establishments, even some of the small restaurants located on the beach offer reasonable prices.
Visiting Baja and Cabo on a budget still offers plenty of options. Free things to do include laying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, snorkeling, sneaking into the pools of luxury hotels, and walking around downtown. Cheap things to do in Cabo include panga rides to El Arco and Lover's Beach, buying souveniers and testing the local Happy Hours. And for the ladies there are plenty of places to window shop, including the shops in downtwon Cabo and the new mall by the Marina.
Rosarito Beach and Cabo are famous for their nightlife! And having a drinking age of 18 is one of the reasons Baja is popular for students on Spring Break. Most cantinas start their late afternoons with a 2 for 1 program (look for the 2X1 signs near the entrance to most bars) and the party seems to evolve from there. For more information drop by the BEST BARS section of Cabo Expo.
Baja's dress code is relaxed, just like in California. Just picture Hermosa Beach in summer (with a lot more Mexicans). Shorts, tee-shirts and flip-flops are common during the day. Evening attire might include Levi's, a shirt with a collar and a decent pair of tennis shoes or Deck shoes. Dress code for women? They always seem to look good in Baja no matter what they are wearing!
For the price of a rental car and a tank of gas Cabo visitors with a spirit of adventure might like to take an excursion up the East Cape dirt road for an afternoon of body surfing or hanging out on a beautiful deserted beach. Northern Baja Breakers can head for Bahia de las Angeles for some spectacular natural beauty.
Spring Break is a chance for fun-loving kids to beak away from the normal drama of daily life and experience a new environment. Baja is one of the best venues in the world to do it!
BAJA SPRING BREAK