Seniors Visit Tecate

What do you think of when you see or hear the name Tecate?  Beer naturally, but there is much more than beer in Tecate, so together let’s check out this neat Mexican village. This senior always figured that Tecate was somewhere down in the middle of Mexico. Wrong. It’s next door to southern California and as a major port of entry between the two countries, it is said to be The Most Visited City in the World with more than two million visitors monthly.

Long Beer History

Beer in Mexico has a long history. While Mesoamerican cultures knew of fermented alcoholic beverages, including a corn beer, long before the Spanish conquest, European style beer brewed with barley was introduced with the Spanish soon after Hernan Cortes’ arrival in 1519. Production of this beer here was limited during the colonial period due to the lack of materials and severe restrictions and taxes placed on the product by Spanish authorities.

The Cuauhtemoc Brewery where Tecate is produced offers guided tours and is what put the city of Tecate on the map.  Tecate beer is one of the most popular beers in Mexico and California and is typically drunk pouring lime and salt on top of the red can rather than a bottle.

Tecate (El Corazón de Baja California) was founded in 1892 and has a population of around 65,000.  It is located on the border with Tecate, California, so there are two cities with the same name. What’s especially cool about the town is that it is a border town that does not have the look or feel of a border town, but rather resembles a small village in the central part of Mexico. There is a small port of entry between the sister cities that serves as a calmer alternative to the bustling port of Tijuana. I found this link to be helpful as it has a colorful map showing precisely where Tecate is located.

Seniors Drawn To The Spa

Rancho La Puerta, a wellness center and all inclusive spa is said to be Northern America’s first and longest running health spa. Rancho La Puerta is total class and offers an amazing array of fitness activities, luxury spa amenities, superb accommodations, and entertainment. Their 3,000-acre property offers world-class landscaped gardens, an organic farm, and mountainsides or meadows of great hiking and walking experiences. Close behind that attraction is the Museo Comunitario Kumiai that is dedicated to fostering greater understanding of the cultural, historical and natural heritage of Tecate.

Seniors who know the area call it a “charming village” that is bustling with Things to Do and See. Let’s not forget the wineries in Tecate. Northern Baja, and especially the area south of Tecate, are the center of Mexico’s wine production. Enjoy the great country of Mexico, just south of the border. jeb