Roadtrip to see the Day of the Dead in Baja?

October 31, 2014 8:04 AM

This Halloween weekend, I would like to surprise my wife with a daytrip to Mexico to see a traditional Día de Muertos observance (we live in San Diego county). I would like your help, MetaFilter. What are some good places, within a couple hours drive, for us to do so, and is there a specific time that would be best? Is this even an appropriate thing to visit as (visibly non-mexican) tourists? Help me plan this.
posted by anonymous to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

I wouldn't drive in Mexico. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs. When I was in Acapulco, I personally witnessed three accidents. My dad drove us into Sonora when I was a kid. It was pretty scary, and when we had car trouble...it was unfun in the extreme.

Rosarito would be a good place to check out.

There are busses, and I'd recommend them. Another trick is to park right at the boarder and walk into Tijuana and take a bus to the coast from there.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:29 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

For a weekend trip into Mexico, you're mostly looking at Baja and Sonora, right? From my limited knowledge as a Tucsonan, the most spectacular Day of the Dead celebrations are found in southern Mexico.

Here's an article on top 7 Day of the Dead festivals.

This article does say that Alamos has Day of the Dead festivals. And going on my grandpa's pictures of the place, Alamos is a beautiful town all around.
posted by Squeak Attack at 9:25 AM on October 31, 2014

I've heard that the Day of the Dead celebrations in Baja are more of family events than big celebrations...I'm not sure you're close enough to drive to the bigger festivals.
posted by three_red_balloons at 9:28 AM on October 31, 2014

Why not go to one in San Diego county? It would seem less like questionable cultural-appropriation tourism if you at least remained in your own country.

Here's a link.
posted by shvaughn at 1:12 PM on October 31, 2014 [2 favorites]