How Safe is Rosarito Beach, Mexico?

Baja123.com Mexico Real Estate

- By Andrae Estes

Walking down the sidewalks of Boulevard Benito Juarez, the main street that runs for four miles down the center of Rosarito Beach, all you see are happy, friendly people enjoying the beautiful day, people of all nationalities gathering together for meals in open-air restaurants and cafes, shopping, banking and doing all the things people do in the daily course of their lives, anywhere in the world. The well-dressed mariachis roam from one restaurant to the next to play for customers, and there is always music in the air. The traffic moves slowly but steadily (stop signs appear to be optional) and everyone seems to be active in this tranquil Mexican beach town.

So, what violence is it that the United States media rails against so often that people are afraid to come to Baja Mexico?

My husband, William, and I moved here from San Diego a few months ago and we live in a castle on the beach (no, really, it's an old castle). We had traveled to Rosarito Beach many times over the years for holidays and to offer a hand in support of the local Red Cross Clinic through Rotary International. Before moving here, we conducted our own research regarding the 'violence' in Mexico. Now, let me preface this by saying that William and I don't frequent the clubs and nightlife in Tijuana or Rosarito Beach and we're generally in bed by 10:00 P.M., plus, we don't know any drug dealers, which may give us a jaded view of the situation, but I think NOT. A recent report by the Major, Hugo Torres, stated, "Crime in Rosarito DECLINED by 21% from the previous year, the biggest drop in Baja and a five-year low for the city."

Mayor Hugo Torres of Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico, has lived here since he was seven-years old, and has been the mayor twice since 1995. He is also the owner of Rosarito Beach Hotel, the largest resort hotel in the area. Mayor Torres is a local hero to the 130,000 citizens of Rosarito Beach because of all the reforms he has worked diligently to accomplish in the city in the past three years.

Rosarito Beach is the fastest growing city in Baja and has become a retirement and tourist destination for visitors from all over the world who come here for the moderate climate, surfing, fishing, medical tourism, local culture, shopping, golf, vacation homes and miles of sandy beaches. The city has attracted 14,000 expats who now live here full time, or part time, and are very active in the city with 'clubs, groups and organizations' ranging from theater groups, business clubs, art communities, and social welfare groups that offer medical outreach to the needy in the area.

One of Mayor Torres' regrets is that the reports of scattered drug violence in Mexico have distorted reality and hurt business and tourism in the area. By working with State and Federal authorities in Mexico, he has been able to produce amazing results including:

21% decline in crime in one year, creating a five-year low in crime for the city.

Crime has declined 13% through May 2010, and is again leading the state in crime reduction.

He has replaced more than half of the police force with well-trained officers and increased the size of the police from 150 to 230 officers.

A special tourist police force has been created primarily to assist visitors to the city. The new tourist police for Rosarito Beach are trained in the San Diego Law-Enforcement Training Center in a cross-border cooperative effort.

The city has increased youth programs and education efforts to prevent delinquency.

Rosarito Beach is safe or 14,000 expats would not live here. So, come to Rosarito Beach and see for yourself that this growing, progressive and peaceful paradise offers a great place to retire, to live, and to play and you are only 25 miles south of the US Border. Contact us today!

If moving to Mexico is a new idea for you and you want to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions, click on the link below to find out information about Living in Mexico, these are only some of the topics you can find there:

�Purchasing Property in Mexico    �Why Mexico?    �Things to do while in Mexico
�You and your Car in Mexico    �Transportation in Mexico    �Taxes in Mexico
�Banking in Mexico �Schools in Mexico   �Mail Service in Mexico

"Mexico Living and Resources"

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