Tijuana, Mexico’s westernmost city, is also a border city with the USA that offers great opportunities for day trips. Tijuana is full of quaint beaches that are maintained with tourists in mind. If you’re an avid beachgoer, Tijuana has plenty of beaches to choose from.
Keep in mind that the best beach is the one that offers the most activities you enjoy. Check out this traveler’s guide to the best beaches in Tijuana to find out what’s so special about each of the 10 on our list to make your trip more enjoyable.
El Faro Beach
El Faro offers a great place for swimming and soaking up the sun but there is much more available than sand and water. It’s located across the Border Field State Park in Imperial Beach, California.
You can see the fence that separates Mexico from the United States. One of the best features of this beach is the lighthouse, followed by the native plants in the community garden that stretch across the US/Mexico border.
The Binational Garden is a nice attraction to see while you’re there. You can enjoy the sun, sand, and water, and when you’re done there are several restaurants and small shops you can visit.
The beach gets a little crowded on holidays and weekends. The best time to visit is during the week when it’s less crowded.
Playas de Tijuana Beach
Playas de Tijuana is one of the top beaches to visit when you’re in Tijuana. This is a beautiful beach featuring a wooden boardwalk to serve as a walking or jogging path. It’s a good option if you don’t want sand in your shoes.
You can also schedule a variety of different tours at the beach including walking tours, biking tours, cultural tours, and more. On a clear day, you can see the Coronado Islands that lie off in the distance or watch the ships come in and out.
Playas de Rosarito
Playas de Rosarito is a famous beach near Tijuana. It’s not far to travel to Rosarito for some of the most enjoyable beach fun.
At the beach, you will find various trendy condos in the background along with plenty of activities including your choice of sunning yourself on the beach, swimming, or booking a sunset horseback ride.
If you enjoy hiking, the Cerro El Coronel path is a great trip to the summit that gives you some spectacular views of Tijuana and the ocean.
Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach is a highly recommended beach. If you’re looking for a great place to stay with beach access and full amenities, we recommend staying at the Hotel del Coronado.
You will enjoy the white sands of the beach expanse on its property. While here you can enjoy panoramic ocean views and some of the most spectacular sunsets with clean sand. The beach is not usually crowded.
El Vigia
El Vigia is situated at Playas de Tijuana’s southern end. It’s the last accessible beach on this strip.
There are lots of places to explore on this beach with its harbor and tidepools that are teeming with aquatic life. Enjoy fun in the water, sun yourself on the sandy beach, or go exploring.
Parque Mexico
Parque Mexico is an excellent beach for tourist activities or excursions. The beach is popular with tourists. Here you will find plenty of vendors in the area. It’s also one of the favorites for surfing.
Above the beach sits the Parque Mexico. It’s a park that offers grassy areas with benches, tables, and grills for picnicking, basketball courts, a public library, and a kiosk where artistic performances are occasionally held.
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is not far from Tijuana and if you’re looking for great beaches this comes highly recommended. It’s found near the road to Rosarito and the port of Ensenada.
Residents in the area are a mix of Mexican and US citizens. It’s popular with retirees and families with kids. The beach is clean and well-maintained. It’s in the San Antonio del Mar community within 13 miles of the international border of the Baja coast.
It’s accessible off the toll road. While there look for the oceanfront swimming pool if you’re not into saltwater. There is also an 18-hole golf course not far from the beach.
Canada Azteca
Canada Azteca is a beach that starts at the border fence to the south end of Playas de Tijuana.
This stretch of beach features a small ravine where runoff from the city runs into the Pacific Ocean. This is an excellent choice if you love the beach but you’re also into sporting activities. There are several ballparks in this beach area.
Playa Estero
Playa Estero is one of the most highly recommended beaches for visitors who like being active.
There are tons of aquatic activities to choose from. It’s a private beach that offers a variety of rental opportunities. Vendors are nearby with available kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, jet packs, and jet skis. You can also take a Banana boat ride on this beach.
Saldamando Beach
Saldamando Beach is one of the top beaches near Tijuana. It’s off the Tijuana/Ensenada Toll Road about 8 miles to the north of Ensenada, California. This is a family beach that is attended by employees 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
Here you’ll find fenced and gated beach property with private campsites on the cliffs overlooking the beach as well as sites on the beach. Each site offers spectacular ocean views. This is a clean and maintained area with clean restrooms and showers.
Trailer rentals are available and come with patios with a view.
