Mexico’s Hidden Gem – Valle de Guadalupe
When traveling to Mexico there’s many misconceptions about safety, food, locals, etc. What most people don’t know is that Mexico is a thriving tourist destination with beautiful scenery. You’ve probably heard of the beautiful beaches in Cancun and the amazing seafood in Baja California but there’s also an up and coming town and wine country named Valle de Guadalupe.
Valle De Guadalupe
Valle De Guadalupe is an area of Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, Mexico that is increasing in popularity over the past couple of years. The reason for this popularity is because of the blend of beautiful mountains, locally grown grape vines, modern wineries, and delicious cuisine. There is a little bit of everything for most people. If you’re looking to relax and unwind you can do so at any of the local resorts or Airbnbs. If nightlife is more your thing, there are many fun nightclubs such as our favorite, the upstairs club at Casa Frida. Below we will break down recommendations for food, wineries, and locations to stay.
Food
Baja California is known for its seafood and Mexican Cuisine and Valle De Guadalupe did not disappoint. There are many high class restaurants located throughout Valle such as Deckmans, Fauna, La Cocina de Dona Esthela, Corazon and D’Petra just to name a few. The ambiance of most of the restaurants is second to none because they are out in the open so you have views of the mountains and country side. If the views weren’t enough, they also have some of the best cuts of premium meat and freshest seafood in the world. The octopus from Casa Frida was the best I’ve ever had, and their oysters were world class. All the dishes tasted fresh and with tons of flavor.
Whether coming into Valle de Guadalupe or leaving a definite recommendation is to have breakfast at La Cocina de Dona Esthela. Dona Esthela still works at her restaurant making homemade style breakfast and it was definitely worth the trip. All the food is fresh and authentic Mexican cuisine. The corn pancakes are a must try! 10/10
Wineries
There are many local wineries to tour and have wine tastings throughout Valle De Guadalupe. You can book tours that will take you to multiple wineries and tastings at each one. We chose to make reservations for Vena Cava Winery. We were intrigued by their natural wine selection and their tasting room.
Vena Cava has a very nice and authentic tasting room where you are surrounded by the wine barrels they’re using. We enjoyed the experience and tasting the various wines they had to offer. We picked up a few bottles at a reasonable price. We recommend them, 8/10.
We spent the most time at Casa Frida because they have so many things to offer. We were lucky that they took us in as walk-ins because they are always booked. We were fortunate enough to enjoy wine tasting in Cava Chavela and the Blue Velvet Room. The Cava Chavela was a truly once in a lifetime experience and something I never experienced before. Once you enter it feels like youre in an underground wine cellar that is very elegant and dimly lit. The whole experience felt very premium and we learned so much about their wines.
The Blue Velvet Room was more lively than the Cava Chavela because more people are allowed inside and music is playing. We enjoyed the conversations with other wine enthusiasts and the gentleman who was helping serve our wines. The atmosphere is very laid back but still feels classy at the same time. I would recommend having some extra money set aside because it is very easy to spend a lot of money with all the add-ons. We purchased some bottles of wine and tequila. We highly recommend 10/10!
Lodging
There are many options for lodging in and around Valle de Guadalupe. We went with Airbnbs for our two night stay. We enjoyed one night at the Arre Lulu. We loved the tranquility and peacefulness of this Airbnb. The airstream had all the amenities we needed and the view was amazing. It was close to town and a few minutes drive from all the places we wanted to visit. We couldn’t recommend this Airbnb enough.
Our second night we stayed in Rosarito because we wanted a closer Airbnb to the border for easy access back home. We stayed in another Airstream but this airstream overlooked the water. This was another beautiful stay with an amazing view of the ocean. The best part of staying with Airbnb is the prices. We feel like we got an amazing deal for the value of stay we received.
Conclusion
Although its cliche but there is literally something for everyone when visiting Valle de Guadalupe because it fits any budget. If you are looking for a simple and inexpensive weekend getaway or an extravagant over the top vacation, Valle de Guadalupe is for you. You can stay at Airbnbs or a beautiful vineyard bungalow. You can eat at inexpensive mom and pop restaurants and street food or have a filet mignon at a 5 star restaurant. The beauty of Valle de Guadalupe is that the community caters to whatever experience you want. If you are able to visit Valle de Guadalupe you should, don’t hesitate.
