Baja Beach Fest Tips, Lineup, Things To Do & More
Baja Beach Fest is one of the best experiences to date. For three days you get to sunbathe in the Mexican sun, embrace Latin culture, and vibe to the hottest reggaeton artists. For a set price, you basically get to see 50 concerts all in three jam-packed days. This upcoming year is the 5th anniversary of Baja Beach Fest which means the vibes are going to be off the charts. You have Wisin y Yandel, Becky G. Ozuna, Fied, Zion y Lennox & more! I’m telling you, this is going to be an experience of a lifetime and since going last year, I have all the tips and recommendations to share that’ll make your trip that much better. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Baja Fest 2023 Lineup
The lineup can’t get better than this. You have the hottest artists ready to take the stage and make the 5th anniversary something incredibly special for all the fans. Huge thanks to the Baja Beach Fest team for hooking it up with some great artists, a fabulous venue, and a setlist that we’re going to perreo to!
Frequently Asked Questions
Trust me, booking Baja Beach Fest tickets and a trip to Tijuana sounds nerve-wracking. I broke it down question by question to get you the most detailed information that’ll set you up for success.
FAQ #1: Price, Cost & All That Jazz
How Much Does It Cost?: How much is a concert to see one artist? It could cost up to $300-400 to see just one artist for four hours, maybe less. This festival is a total of 48 hours and prices range from $149-$799. (The prices are a bit cheaper if you purchase in advance so keep that in mind.) For the amount of travel that it takes to there, going for one day didn’t make much sense. The group decided to opt for the VIP passes for the 3 days and let me tell you, GA could never!!!
FAQ#2: Is VIP Worth It?
In one word YES. Here are my favorite perks of VIP!
- Space, Space & Space: If you have ever been to a concert/outdoor event and you’re squished, bumping shoulders with the people next to you, then this feels like royalty. VIP is sectioned off to the front of the stage so there’s plenty of space for people to walk freely & enjoy themselves. Not once was I pushed aggressively and that to me is the biggest perk, comfortability.
- Close Proximity: I never had an experience where I was THAT close to so many artists at the same time. We felt like we had such genuine interactions with the artists. It was really wholesome witnessing our favorites pour their heart into the performances and seeing their gratitude for the fans.
- Amenities: From our own bathrooms to food stands, VIP was so separate from GA which made it easy to navigate and feel that sense of “luxury”
- VIBRAS: The vibes were top tier let’s just say that. You know people in VIP invested a lot of money to be there so you know they’re dedicated. Everyone was going crazy for the performances and it was overall great energy to be around.
FAQ#3: Is It Safe To Travel To Tijuana?
There’s nothing like vacationing during a cartel war. Yup, you heard that correctly. They say to proceed with caution when traveling to Mexico, especially areas like Tijuana. We went during a cartel dispute which lead to higher security along the streets. I’d recommend reading the news for the days leading up to your trip. Being with the group at the venue made me feel safer than in the Airbnb alone. Never do what you are uncomfortable with and make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Aside from that, the locals were so nice and caring. I have a friend in the group who has family around the area and they aren’t phased by this news since it happens frequently. Just be careful and aware of your surroundings.
FAQ#4: How To Get To Tijuana
We flew into San Diego, took an Uber to the Mexican border, walked over & then checked our luggage into customs before taking a party bus to the Airbnb. We were in a group of 30+ people so the party bus made sense for us. It’s more efficient to fly into San Diego than to fly into Tijuana. It’s why we opted to walk across the border.
If you want to fly in a day earlier, you can combine your taxi with a guided food tour of Tijuana here
FAQ#5: What To Pack
What To Pack?: Lightly, lol- beach attire isn’t heavy so why is your suitcase, haha? In all honestly, it’s up to you. I usually carry my Cotopaxi 28L backpack and a tote bag with me. I hate checking in luggage and hate something that would hold me back.
Top Items To Pack:
- Portable Fan: It gets dumb hot in Tijuana. It’s so deceiving because it says the weather is 73 but feels like 85/90.
- Fanny Pack: This is my favorite way to keep my belongings safe and secure. I have it sitting right in my chest and I know it isn’t going anywhere. I love mine from Coach because it surprisingly fits a lot more than I thought and it matches practically everything.
- Bag Lock: While we weren’t in the house, I locked up my bag. Just the incase; something happened, it just made me feel secure to have my belongings secure.
- Old Sneakers: I wore an old pair of vans that held it down. For me, it was definitely comfort over style; however, the black sneakers did match my outfit very well.
- Portable Charger: From recording and taking pictures, your battery will deplete pretty easily.
- More Essentials: Festival outfits, sneakers, hats, bathing suits, sunscreen, Liquid IV.
FAQ#6: Where To Stay
Where To Stay: Baja Beach Fest actually includes some of their top hotel recs here & hotel packages here. Since I was in a group of 30, we got this insane mansion! See the Instagram video here to get a glimpse
Things To Do At Baja Fest 2023 (besides the concert)
- Street Tacos: This is self-explanatory- the locals just know how to do it. KEEP IN MIND*** It might seem like a good idea, but if your stomach cannot handle unfamiliar foods, you might have to check yourself into the hospital. (This also applies to the water!) Please don’t do it- you’re stomach will hate you !!
- Coco Beach Rosarito: A fun nightclub and the perfect way to start the antics. The place is huge and great for big crowds. Pro Tip: Don’t take a shot from anyone, it will come with a show
- Papas & Beer Rosarito: Fun day drinking spot on the Baja Beach Fest venue. I love how spacious it was and we weren’t packed like sardines. We ordered a bottle for the whole group and make our own little cocktails.
- Street Vendors: If you walk down the streets, you’ll uncover what seems like an endless loop of markets selling such amazing things. I bought my sister sandals, myself a dream catcher, my parents a guacamole masher, and my little sister- a bracelet.
- Swim In The Ocean: Tijuana and Rosarito have pretty incredible waves. You’ll see on signs they say “corrientes fuertes” which means “strong currents” and let me tell you- they’re pretty damn strong so don’t go out too far.
- Get the chorizo tacos at the venue: they’re incredibly delicious and extremely affordable (<3 pesos each)
Day Trips
If you’re looking to extend your trip, here are two fabulous reasons why! There’s a lot more to uncover here than just the festival grounds so if you’re up for an adventure, look no further than these two guided tours of Tijuana!
Tips BEFORE Traveling For Baja Fest 2023
- Exchange Money Beforehand: Exchanging USD for Mexican pesos is a great move to make sure you can pay for things that people don’t accept cards for (street tacos, taxis, etc). On the festival grounds, they also have an ATM that is heavily secured. They even make sure you present your ID and handwrite the transactions just in case something happens. I forget if they charge a fee, but you’re better off taking out one huge chunk at a time than many smaller transactions with possible fees.
- Order your coco beach / pre party wristband in advance for a cheaper rate: Saving money is always a pro tip in my book!
- When using a shuttle from TJ to the fest, reserve a nearby hotel/Airbnb for a safer/faster trip after the fest ends at night: A hotel 30+ minutes away isn’t going to do anyone justice. Get a place close to the venue!!
- LACK OF SERVICE: Service is not great so stick to your group because it’s hard to connect with them. I’d recommend getting the VOLEO device to communicate with your family back home.
- Pace Yourself: A 3-day festival is a long time so pace yourself because the alcohol can really catch up to you.
Tips For Traveling To Baja Fest 2023
- Get There At Different Times Each Day: What I mean by that is if you like the opener, go earlier to see them but you don’t have to go exactly at 2 pm each day. It’s not like other festivals where there’s a huge line to get in and you have to get there early. Everyone is on Baja time and super laid back. I’d recommend going later so you can stay awake for the closing acts!
- If you’re buying souvenirs at the markets, ask a waiter/waitress to hold your belongings: We did this and it saved us big time. If not, we would have had to settle for either losing what we bought or giving it away. We asked a waiter and he was so kind l. We exchanged numbers so that at the end of the night, we’d remember to get our things.
Saftey Tips For Baja Fest 2023
- Check The NEWS: There’s nothing like vacationing during a cartel war. Yup, you heard that correctly. They say proceed with caution when traveling to Mexico but naturally, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see some of my favorite reggaeton artists live.
- Be Careful & Aware At All Times: This might seem self-explanatory, but there’s no harm in repeating it! Be sure to go to places in groups of 2 or more.
- Get the Taxi’s Number: This is perfect for when you want to get a hold of a taxi and for some reason they’re all taken. Trust me, this is always a good call to make!
- Have a meet-up spot before with you and your group & a time after the fest ends: As mentioned before, there’s limited to no service. We have to communicate like the old days and actually make a plan that’ll stick without texting a hundred times back and forth. Make a plan and stick to it!!
- Drinking local tap water is not a good idea for your stomach and health: I’ve been there and can confess that it’s probably one of the worst experiences. Don’t drink water from the streets in mixed juices/teas. Instead, opt for bottled water EVERY time!
- BUDDY SYSTEM: Never go somewhere alone & even track your friends so you can find them if your service is good or if you have wifi.
**special thanks to Lisa for helping me with these amazing tips that’ll be a game-changer and even a lifesaver! XOXO
Favorite Performance of Baja Fest 2022
The 2022 lineup was a killer so I put them all together and added a star next to my favorite performances. I’d recommend going at different times so you can see rising stars who might become big real soon. I loved listening to new artists who soon became my favorites after Baja Fest. Definitely give all of these artists your support and attention because they worked really hard to get here and showcase their music.
ANUEL AA***, FARRUKO***, MYKE TOWERS, NATANAEL CANO***, JAY WHEELER, TOKISCHA***, OMY DE ORO, EMILIA***, CHRIS ANDREW, JOONTI, DJ DYNAMIO, WISIN Y YANDEL***, SECH***, ARCHANGEL, JHAY CORTEZ***, BANDA MS***, CHENCO CORLEONE***, MORA, NICKI NICOLE, JUNIOR H, DVILA, DJ EXILE, DADDY YANKEE***, MALUMA***, EL ALFA, JOWELL Y RANDY***, NATTI NATASHA***, LUNAY, RYAN CASTRO, NESI + DJ LUIAN, ALEESHA, VF7, DYNAMIK
Baja Beach Fest Highlights
There You Have It
As I said, Baja Beach Fest was a MOVIE!! Honestly, I had the best time and can’t wait until I can get my finances more in order so I can book this again in the future. If you’ve ever been to a music festival, you’re still missing out, especially here in Mexico! Hope you learned a lot from my blog post and am excited to hear about your travels real soon!
what do you think?