1.5 hrs from San Diego lies an underrated wine country that provides much more than it’s distant relative, Napa.

Valle is located in Baja California, Mexico and is 30 minutes inland from Ensenada. With its close proximity to San Diego, it’s a perfect weekend getaway for Californians and a short drive for visitors who fly into the Tijuana airport. Valle is the kind of place for adventurers who find themselves frequently on dirt roads, in search of extraordinary foods and hidden secrets. The sky is dark at 8 PM, which is around when the wineries wind down, and at this moment, adventure begins. Here’s our weekend itinerary, carefully curated for an epic adventure.

Airbnb of Dreams

There’s plenty of hotels and resorts available in the area, however this Airbnb might take the cake for accommodations. It’s located on top of the Guadalupe mountains with an unrestricted view of wineries below. We slept with the light swaying of the trees overlooking the city below and woke with the soft hums of the birds.  Best of all, it’s brand new with new furniture throughout so you don’t need to worry about cleanliness. There’s another Airbnb on site, so if you have a big group, it’s convenient to book both.

Name: Chalet Codorniz

Website: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27040730

Cactus Tostadas in the Valley

Those who only buy organic, and praise farm to fresh culture will obsess over Fauna restaurant. It’s apart of the boutique hotel, Bruma which is made of a eight all natural, eco friendly villas embellished with contemporary Mexican design. Talking food, the best things to try on the menu is the kampachi roll, cactus tostadas (obviously), striped bass aguachile with chayote, and ceviche verde with shrimp. The portions are larger than most, so plan for that! It’s an experience with no other comparison. Thank you Chef Hussong.

Name: Fauna Restaurant at Bruma

Website: http://bruma.mx/index.html

Sunsets Like Santorini

You’d never guess this picture wasn’t from Greece. You enter through oversized gates. and you’re immediately on a dirt path that leads you ten minutes up the mountain. You shuttle to the cliff and walk into the abyss. With unobstructed ocean views, Cuatro Cuatros is the best place to watch the sun gently set over the ocean below. There’s a sort of calmness that overrides your body as you sit on the ledge overlooking the Pacific sipping on your sauvignon blanc. Cuatro Cuatros is built over 144 acres, with so much space to run free and cherish nature.

Name: Cuatro Cuatros

Website: http://www.cuatrocuatros.mx/en/

All Day Wine Time

A modern take on mountain life. Agua de Vid is another resort architecturally driven and naturally derived. It’s a boutique resort with it’s own vineyards. We came for lunch at their Pancracia restaurant and ordered the catch of the day, embellished with organic veggies from their garden. It’s a top notch rooftop to enjoy the summer breeze.

Name: Agua de Vid

Website: https://aguadevid.com/

Alien Space Pods

Last but not least, we entered another dimension filled with space pods perched upon the mountains. Encuentro is the best place to get alien living, at its best. Their stand alone modern pods gives you privacy, and a spectacular view of Orien’s belt. The rooms best showcase the raw beauty of the Valle. Everywhere you look, there’s beauty that you’ll never forget. The organic, local restaurant here is also a favorite. The motto here is, “From soil we live, drink, eat and enjoy”.

Name: Encuentro Valle de Guadalupe

Website: http://www.grupoencuentro.com.mx/english/

Book Here: https://booki.ng/2LJMTnz

 

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