Native Residence in Rosarito

Located in a beautiful town known as Rosarito, is a vacation “home” that’ll leave you feeling refreshed and well-rested. I say “home” because Native Residence is not exactly your average hotel or vacation rental. There are 5 casas on-site (with one more being added right now), each with a unique layout, a common kitchen area, and the sweetest dog you’ll ever meet — Poncho.

Getting there from LA: It was our first time driving across the border and I honestly regret not doing so sooner because it was so easy. We left Los Angeles around 11AM and arrived in Rosarito a little after 3PM. Trey from Native Residence was kind enough to send over a Google map to follow.

We didn’t have to show our passports going into Mexico, but you need it to get back into San Diego. (Note: depending on what day you drive across the border will determine your wait time). We did have a dog with us and only had to show her vaccination record, as health certificates are no longer required.

Note: if you follow the Google map, there are toll roads you’ll be taking once you pass the border so be sure to have cash on hand.

Leaving Rosarito: As for getting back, it did take longer since it was a Friday afternoon but the process was also a breeze. They asked us a few questions about the purposes of our visit, checked our passports, and asked if we had anything to declare.

Note: there are vendors all along the way to the border that are selling snacks, drinks, trinkets so you’ll be pretty entertained if you do have to wait long.

So why Rosarito? The same reasons why we go to Cabo (San Lucas and San Jose), La Paz, Punta Mita, Sayulita, Todos Santos — to get away for a few days with good food, hospitality, and specifically to reconnect with ourselves again. If you read my previous post, you know that last month was a heavy one for us so we’ve been looking forward to this trip. I discovered Native Residence on Instagram and fell in love with its interior styling. I was even more impressed at the fact that each casa is made from repurposed shipping containers, and yes, each casa has a private bathroom with a waterfall shower, projector, bamboo sheets, and the views will take your breath away.

The Room: Casa 6

We stayed in Casa 6 for two nights and woke up each morning to catch the sunrise, which is actually prettier than the sunsets (in my opinion). Casa 6 has a beautiful bathtub that I took advantage of and a living room area, with a comfy leather couch that faces the view. The balcony area is huge and completely private, there is even a gate that separates the common area from the room. I loved how they chose to decorate this casa, and the bed was extremely comfortable, making it easy to fall asleep every night.

The Property

Native Residence is tucked away in a residential area. Drive carefully up and down the area, as there are dogs roaming around freely. Parking is free and right in front of the property. Be prepared for the walk up though, as there are quite a few steps and you can count that as your daily workout. When we reached the top, we were greeted by the property’s friendliest dog, Poncho. He may be big but he is gentle and loved following us around the property. By the way, pets are allowed so bring yours along to play with Poncho.

There is no formal check-in area. You will be emailed your code for gaining access to your casa. Casa 6 has a physical key for access though, which was left for us. There is always someone on the property to help you with any issues or you can contact the staff directly via text/call.

The property is gorgeous, clean, and well-kept. I love that they use natural materials and repurposed the shipping containers into these casas. The walkway up to the property is also a shipping container, vertically placed to create the stairway.

Native Residence currently has 5 casas for booking, with a 6th one slated to open in August/September of this year (it’s located under Casa 6). We got to take a look at it while we were there and I cannot wait to see it in person once it’s completed. It’s going to look amazing!

P.S. You also have the option to book the entire property as well.

Located on the same floor as Casa 6 is the kitchen and common area, which offers breakfast items for purchase in the mornings. Do not skip out on their smoothies or the chilaquiles, so good! The view from this area is just as beautiful too. You can enjoy some quiet time on the hammocks or bring out your yoga mat for a good stretch.

Treat Yourself

Massage: We booked a couples massage upon arrival, which was the perfect welcome activity to kickstart our little getaway. All massages are offered in-room and we loved ours. You can book a massage through their customer portal, after you’ve secured your stay.

What to eat: They also provide a list of recommended restaurants to eat and things to do. Since the kitchen only serves breakfast, you will have to cook your own lunch/dinner or head into town for a bite. See the list of places we ate at below!

• Colectivo Surf - brewery + sushi with table games, do I need to say more? Everything here was so fresh and delicious. The staff was super friendly as well! Credit cards are accepted.

• Surf Taco - there’s no menu, they only serve carne asada, and they don’t speak English but if you want the best tacos in town, this is it. Mouthwatering tacos that will make you want to come back for more. Bring cash.

• La Casa del Pescador - if you’re looking for lobster and shrimp at a really affordable price, and offers an ocean view, come here. We came right when the sun was about to set and it was absolutely beautiful. The lobster comes in several sizes, served with rice and tortillas, and I would recommend getting the flan for dessert. Credit cards are accepted but tip in cash.

Activities: Rosarito Beach is popular and there are vendors that walk by every 15-20 minutes with everything you would need (sunglasses, hats, snacks, fruits, etc.) Horseback riding is offered at the beach as well. We spent an hour chilling on the beach and then roller skated around the area. Papa and Beer is really popular there as well, and is known for their annual beach festival.

Overall Rosarito is a chill town, where most people come to relax, eat, and spend some time on the beach so there isn’t a lot to do. We came with the intention to disconnect and had the best time doing just that.