WHERE TO GET MARRIED IN BAJA CALIFORNIA? THE TOP WEDDING VENUES YOU SHOULD CONSIDER.
WHERE TO GET MARRIED IN BAJA CALIFORNIA, Discover the Most Breathtaking Wedding Venues in Baja California—You Won't Believe Your Eyes! - TABLE OF CONTENTS
LA PAZ (international airport)
TODOS SANTOS
LOS CABOS; SAN JOSE DEL CABO and CABO SAN LUCAS (international airport)
10 WEDDING VENUES IN BAJA NORTE
San Cosme Vinedos
La Cocina Que Canta
Kantiek by Rancho El Beg
Decantos Vinicola
Almazara Rancho Olivares
Monte Xanic
Hacienda Bajamar Hotel
Olivia El Asador del Porvenir
Bodegas de Santo Tomas
Casa Baloyan
Introduction
Being the main hideaway for Americans, and also their entrance to Mexico by land, the Baja California region is a cultural melting pot. It influences (and gets influenced by) the neighboring country, but keeps it real when it comes to traditions. Being a quick drive from the south of the Golden State, you must meet these amazing venues for an amazing wedding retreat in Mexico.
A) LA PAZ
B) TODOS SANTOS
C) LOS CABOS; SAN JOSE DEL CABO and CABO SAN LUCAS
D) BAJA CALIFORNIA NORTH
San Cosme Vinedos
Photo: San Cosme Viñedos (Zankyou)
Located in Ensenada, less than two hours from San Diego, this vineyard is on the historic wine route of Baja California. With a capacity for 100 to 1200 guests, these stunning gardens and the views of the vineyards will make your guests swoon. And, of course, delicious wines from the property and a selection of regional foods are on the menu.
2. La Cocina Que Canta
Photo: La Cocina Que Canta
A unique venue in Tecate, an organic farm part of the Rancho La Puerta Resort, it is a dreamy location for a small celebration. It can host from 20 to 120 people, has 86 bedrooms to accommodate guests who can even do cooking classes with the organic produce from the property. Indeed, a perfect choice for foodies.
3. Kantiek by Rancho El Beg
Photo: Kantiek by Rancho El Beg
If you are looking for an authentic venue surrounded by natural atmosphere, this one might be the spot. Fit for celebrations between 100 and 400 people, it's located in Tijuana and it will impact your guests for the rustic beauty of the surroundings. It has two cabins to host around 10 to 12 lucky guests who will feast their eyes for longer.
4. Decantos Vinícola
Photo: https://www.danielaguilarblog.com/valle-de-guadalupe-wedding-in-decantos-vinicola/
If sipping wine while admiring the modern architecture and the stunning panoramic views of the Valle de Guadalupe says something to you, maybe this venue is the right call for your wedding. This vinery hosts celebrations for up to 250 guests, indoor and outdoor spaces, and all the rustic natural beauty the region has to offer.
5. Almazara Rancho Olivares
Photo: https://www.instagram.com/almazara.ro
Located in the Valle de Guadalupe, this beautiful and romantic venue surrounded by olive trees and vineyards will impress your guests. With a capacity for 50 to 500 guests, it can surely host from a small to a big celebration, with indoor and outdoor spaces, including the gardens, olive grove, and terraces.
6. Monte Xanic
Photo: https://www.bodas.com.mx/
Also located in Ensenada, this rustic and minimalistic vineyard is a great option for small and bigger weddings. It can host from 70 to 700 people in two different settings, the lake gardens, and the esplanade. Besides tasting delicious wines made on the property, the guests can enjoy also regional flavors with special menus offered by the bodega.
7. Hacienda Bajamar Hotel & Campo de Golf
Photo: Hacienda Bajamar Hotel & Campo de Golf
With stunning panoramic views of the ocean, this venue in Ensenada is a perfect destination for a beachy wedding with that colonial feel. The hotel can host from 50 to 500 people for a celebration, and 81 bedrooms for your guests. It has four options of menus, indoor and outdoor settings, and an undeniable charm.
8. Olivia El Asador del Porvenir
Photo: Olivia El Asador del Porvenir
This beautiful restaurant in Ensenada is a perfect spot for an intimate celebration, and its specialty is exquisite cuts of beef. As the region, the restaurant is surrounded by vineyards and the dishes can be accompanied by local wine, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sangiovese. The restaurant also has cottages to host a few lucky guests.
9. Bodegas de Santo Tomás
Photo: Bodegas de Santo Tomás
The oldest wine cellar of Baja California is not only historical, but also stunning. Located in Ensenada, it can host from 50 to 500 guests with multiple indoor and outdoor spaces, from gardens to cellars, perfect for that intimate and mysterious look between wine barrels. This venue offers multiples possibilities, accordingly to your dreams.
10. Casa Baloyán
Photo: https://www.miltonrios.com/casa-baloyan-tijuana-b-c/
In Tijuana, the urban winery of the iconic vineyard has four rooms fit for celebrations for 45 to 250 guests between wine barrels, beautiful ballrooms, and luxurious decor. It's amongst the barrels, and the smell of wine, that your celebration might happen, with all the charm and uniqueness a venue like this can offer.
A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT EACH OF THESE CITIES
Baja California (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja] ; ('Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California (Spanish: Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California (El Territorio Norte de Baja California). It has an area of 70,113 km2 (27,071 sq mi) (3.57% of the land mass of Mexico) and comprises the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula, north of the 28th parallel, plus oceanic Guadalupe Island. The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean; on the east by Sonora, the U.S. state of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the "Sea of Cortez" and "Vermilion Sea"); and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California.
The state has an estimated population of 3,769,020 (2020), significantly higher than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California, to its north. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali; in Ensenada; or in Tijuana. Other important cities include San Felipe, Rosarito and Tecate. The population of the state is composed of Mestizos, mostly migrants from other parts of Mexico, and, as with most northern Mexican states, a large population of Mexicans of Spanish ancestry, and also a large minority group of East Asian, Middle Eastern and indigenous descent. Additionally, there is a large immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to San Diego and the lower cost of living compared to San Diego. There is also a significant population from Central America. Many immigrants moved to Baja California for a better quality of life and the number of higher-paying jobs in comparison to the rest of Mexico and Latin America.
Baja California is the twelfth largest state by area in Mexico. Its geography ranges from beaches to forests and deserts. The backbone of the state is the Sierra de Baja California, where Picacho del Diablo, the highest point of the peninsula, is located. This mountain range effectively divides the weather patterns in the state. In the northwest, the weather is semi-dry and Mediterranean. In the narrow center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude. It is in this area where a few valleys can be found, such as the Valle de Guadalupe, the major wine-producing area in Mexico. To the east of the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the landscape. In the south, the weather becomes drier and gives way to the Vizcaíno Desert. The state is also home to numerous islands off both of its shores. In fact, the westernmost point in Mexico, Guadalupe Island, is part of Baja California. The Coronado Islands, Todos Santos islands and Cedros Island are also on the Pacific shore. On the Gulf of California, the biggest island is Angel de la Guarda Island, separated from the peninsula by the deep and narrow Canal de Ballenas.
Baja California encompasses a territory within the Californias region of North America, which exhibits diverse geography for a relatively small area. The Peninsular ranges of the California cordillera run down the geographic center of the state. The most notable ranges of these mountains are the Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. These ranges are the location of forests reminiscent of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains. Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak on the peninsula. Valleys between the mountain ranges are located within a climate zone that is suitable for agriculture. Such valleys include the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros, areas that produce citrus fruits and grapes. The mineral-rich mountain range extends southwards to the Gulf of California, where the western slope becomes wider, forming the Llanos del Berrendo on the border with Baja California Sur. The mountain ranges located in the center and southern part of the state include the Sierra de La Asamblea, Sierra de Calamajué, Sierra de San Luis and the Sierra de San Borja.
Encelia californica growing on the Ensenada Municipality coast, typical of the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion
Temperate winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold California Current make the climate along the northwestern coast pleasant year-round. As a result of the state's location on the California Current, rains from the north barely reach the peninsula, thus leaving southern areas drier. South of the El Rosario River, the state changes from a Mediterranean landscape to a desert one. This desert exhibits diverse succulent species that flourish in part due to the coastal fog.
To the east, the Sonoran Desert enters the state from both California and Sonora. Some of the highest temperatures in Mexico are recorded in or nearby the Mexicali Valley.[note 2] However, with irrigation from the Colorado River, this area has become a true agricultural center. The Cerro Prieto geothermal province is near Mexicali as well (this area is geologically part of a large pull apart basin); it produces about 80% of the electricity consumed in the state and enough additional power to export to California. Laguna Salada, a saline lake below sea level lying between the rugged Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de Los Cucapah, is also in the vicinity of Mexicali. The state government has recently been considering plans to revive Laguna Salada. The highest mountain in the Sierra de Los Cucapah is Cerro del Centinela or Mount Signal. The Cucapah are the primary indigenous people from the mountains north to Yuma, Arizona.
There are numerous islands on the Pacific shore. Guadalupe Island is located in the extreme west of the state's boundaries and is the site of large colonies of sea lions. Cedros Island exists in the southwest of the state's maritime region. The Todos Santos Islands and Coronado Islands are located off the coasts of Ensenada and Tijuana, respectively. All of the islands in the Gulf of California on the Baja California side belong to the municipality of Mexicali.
Baja California obtains much of its water from the Colorado River. Historically, the river drained into the Colorado River Delta and then flowed into the Gulf of California, but due to large demands for water in the American Southwest, less water now reaches the Gulf. The Tijuana metropolitan area also relies on the Tijuana River as a source of water. Much of rural Baja California depends predominantly on wells, a few dams, and even oases. Tijuana also purchases water from San Diego County's Otay Water District. Potable water is the largest natural resource issue of the state.
Baja California's climate varies from the Mediterranean to arid. The Mediterranean climate is found in the northwestern corner of the state, where the summers are dry and mild and the winters cool and rainy. This climate is observed in areas from Tijuana to San Quintín and nearby interior valleys. The cold oceanic California Current often creates a low-level marine fog near the coast. The fog occurs along any part of the Pacific coast of the state.
Snowfall at Constitution 1857 National Park
The change of altitude towards the Sierra de Baja California creates an alpine climate in this region. Summers are cool, while winters can be cold with below-freezing temperatures at night. It is common to see snow in the Sierra de Juárez, Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, and in the valleys in between the two ranges from December to April. Due to orographic effects, precipitation is much higher in the mountains of northern Baja California than on the western coastal plain or eastern desert plain. Pine, cedar, and fir forests are found in the mountains.
The east side of the mountains produces a rain shadow, creating an extremely arid environment. The Sonoran Desert region of Baja California experiences hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. The Mexicali Valley (which is below sea level) experiences the highest temperatures in Mexico, frequently surpassing 47 °C (116.6 °F) in mid-summer, and exceeding 50 °C (122 °F) on some occasions.
Further south along the Pacific coast, the Mediterranean climate transitions into a desert climate but it is milder and not as hot as along the gulf coast. Transition climates, from the Mediterranean to desert, can be found from San Quintín to El Rosario. Further inland and along the Gulf of California, the vegetation is scarce and temperatures are very high during the summer months. The islands in the Gulf of California also have a desert climate. Some oases can be found in the desert where few towns are located – for instance, Catavina, San Borja and Santa Gertrudis.
Common trees are the Jeffrey pine, sugar pine and pinon pine. Understory species include manzanita. There is a variety of reptiles, including the Western fence lizard, which is at the southern extent of its range. The name of the fish genus Bajacalifornia is derived from the Baja California peninsula.
In the main wildlife refuges on the peninsula of Baja California, Constitution 1857 National Park and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, several coniferous species can be found. The most abundant are Jeffrey pine, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus cembroides, Pinus quadrifolia, Pinus monophylla, Juniperus, Arctostaphylos pringlei subsp. drupacea, Artemisia ludoviciana and Adenostoma sparsifolium. Baja California shares many plant species with the Laguna Mountains and San Jacinto Mountains in southwest California. The lower elevations of the Sierra de Juárez are characterized by chaparral and desert shrub.
The fauna in the parks includes a large number of mammals, primarily mule deer, bighorn sheep, cougars, bobcats, ringtail cats, coyotes, rabbits, squirrels and more than 30 species of bats. The park is also home to many avian species like bald eagles, golden eagles, falcons, woodpeckers, black vultures, crows, and several species of Sittidae and duck.
The majority of the population of Baja California is Mestizo, however the state has one of the larger percentages of White Mexicans (European Mexicans), making up about 40% of the population. There are small indigenous communities as well.
Historically, the state has had sizable East Asian immigration. Mexicali has a large Chinese community, as well as many Filipinos who arrived to the state during the eras of Spanish and American rule (1898–1946) in much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tijuana and Ensenada were major ports of entry for East Asians entering the U.S. ever since the first Asian-Americans were present in California.
A significant number of Middle Eastern immigrants, such as Lebanese, Syrians and Armenians, settled near the U.S. border. Small waves of settlers in the early 20th century, usually members of the Molokan sect of the Russian Orthodox church fleeing the Russian Revolution of 1917 when the Soviet Union took power, established a few villages along the Pacific coast south of Ensenada.
Since 1960, large numbers of migrants from southern Mexican states have arrived to work in agriculture (especially the Mexicali Valley and nearby Imperial Valley, California, U.S.) and manufacturing. The cities of Ensenada, Tijuana and Mexicali grew as a result of migrants, primarily those who sought U.S. citizenship. Those temporary residents awaiting their entry into the United States are called flotillas, which is derived from the Spanish word flota, meaning 'fleet'.
There is also a sizable immigrant community from Central and South America, and from the United States and Canada. An estimated 200,000+ American expatriates live in the state, especially in coastal resort towns such as Ensenada, known for affordable homes purchased by retirees who continue to hold U.S. citizenship. San Felipe, Rosarito and Tijuana also have a large American population (second largest in Mexico after Mexico City), particularly for their cheaper housing and proximity to San Diego.
Some 60,000 Oaxacans live in Baja California, the vast majority being indigenous. Some 40% of them lack proper birth certificates.
According to a Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) investigator, a little under a million people were classified as "poor" in the state, up from 2008 when there were roughly 810,000. Exactly who these people are, whether locals, interstate or international migrants, was not explained.
