Where to live in Rosarito, and what a week looks like

Downtown: the boulevard, the pier, the sand

Central Rosarito is where the restaurants, shopping and nightlife sit along Blvd. Benito Juárez, with the pier and boardwalk a short walk away and Papas & Beer on the beach. It is the most walkable option and the busiest on weekends, when visitors from across the border arrive. Rosarito Inn is here, on the sand at Blvd. Benito Juárez 907.

South of center: the Popotla high-rises

A little south of downtown, towers such as Las Palmas (an 18-story building at Blvd. Popotla 1905, completed in 2008) offer pools, a gym and tennis courts. Most units are individually owned and rented through short-term platforms, so quality and availability vary by owner. You will want a car.

The cliffs and the quiet coast

Further south the coastline turns to cliffs and rocky coves, with houses perched above the water and a slower pace. It suits people who want quiet and do not mind driving for groceries and doctors.

A normal week, and a good weekend

• Puerto Nuevo, the lobster village, is roughly 20 to 30 minutes south.
• Baja Studios, where Titanic was filmed, and the Xploration adventure park are both within a short drive.
• La Fonda, a long-standing restaurant and hotel at Km 59, is known for its Sunday brunch.
• Gray whales typically pass this coast in winter, from about December to April.

What you will eat

Seafood tostadas, tacos and Puerto Nuevo-style lobster are the staples, and prices are far friendlier than across the border.

Weather

Mild year-round, with coastal fog on some mornings, especially in late spring. This is the single most common surprise for people who only visit in summer, which is one more reason to test a different season.

Pick by routine, not by photo

Where you live should follow where you shop, see a doctor and drive to the border, not where the best view is. That is easiest to learn by renting for a few weeks.