SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1473600
THE MAGIC OF TECATE, A PLACE TO FALL IN LOVE Tecate is one of the seven municipalities of Baja California. It is home to the only Magical Town on the border since 2012, a paradise that brings together nature landscapes, tradition, delicious cuisine and emblematic cultural areas, such as the towns and living vestiges of the Kumiai culture, spas, ranches, among others. This magical town is characterized by its colonial style and its picturesque views full of cafes, artisan bread, haute cuisine proposals, etc. It is surrounded by clear skies, and a wild landscape that alternates plains with mountains, rock with oak, and a collection of ranches, cabins and spas. It is considered a special place to disconnect from the big cities and to immerse yourself in the nature’s best spas. Gastronomic One of the main reasons why Tecate is popular is because of its incredible gastronomy. It’s young cuisine is created by promising generations, a variety of restaurants, bakeries, cafes and bars, unique thanks to local ingredients. Some of the most recommended are Restaurante Amores by Chef Marcelo Hisaki, Lugar de Nos by Chef Mariela Manzano, La Reina Victoria Panadería or “The best bread in Tecate” to enjoy traditional Tecate bread; Bar Diana, one of the most emblematic of the entity; Vinoteca Tecate Restaurant-Bar, a mixology wine experience, craft beer; or try Acento Coffee Roasters. Tecate is also home to the world famous Tecate Beer, in addition to having talented creators of award-winning craft beer in various national competitions. Likewise, it is the “North Gate” of the Wine Route, where you can visit the cellars and enjoy a glass of the oldest vineyards in the nation such as Valle de Tanamá, Viñedo Rosa de Castilla, the vineyards of Don Juan or Viñas Valentine. Unique Hosting Experiences The municipality of Tecate is the state’s favorite place to live with more than 30 ranches and spas, surrounded by green areas, clear skies, landscapes of granite rocks, and a family atmosphere. It’s a place suitable for enjoying a dip in the water, camping, experiencing in organic fields and do stargazing or relax in one of the best spas in luxurious or country-style facilities. One of the most outstanding spaces is Rancho La Puerta, recognized as the “Best Destination Spa” in the world for more than four consecutive years. It has also been recognized as “the number one destination spa in the world”, in different years by International Travel & Leisure Magazine and Condé Nast Traveler. This place offers programs of harmony and tranquility to its visitors based on a lodging experience and activities that involve coexistence with nature studies, walks to Cerro Cuchumá, meditation, massages, acupuncture, individual and group conversations, sound healing alternatives, holistic therapy, exfoliations, yoga classes, HIIT training, hydro-fit, cycling, salsa classes, Pilates, tennis, water sports, singing, painting. With each of these programs, there are professionals in each discipline to instruct you, in addition to experiencing cooking classes by the talented Chef Denise Roa. Nature and Ancient Vestiges Among its most relevant natural paradises, Tecate has the Cerro del Cuchumá, a refuge area for the Kumiai community that functioned as a ceremonial center for shamanic initiation. Here you can charge yourself with energy and go hiking among the sub-mountainous chaparral ecosystem, oaks and wildlife. Another of the most important sites is La Rumorosa, a mountainous area that lures because of its rarity, since it is a landscape of ocher-colored granite rock formations of various sizes, through which the wind passes and generates a phenomenon that resembles the sound of a whisper. This is a great place for capturing landscapes, pink sunsets, rappelling with an experienced tour operator or visiting one of its viewpoints such as La Casa de Piedra, a surprising construction built into the rock that has magnificent angles at sunset and ocher stones. To get closer to the Kumiai culture, one of the most relevant native peoples in Mexico, there is the experience of the Kumiai Community Museum, a space to learn about their artistic expressions such as singing, gastronomy, dance, as well as the possibility of practice Piak, a typical ball game. This exhibit is divided into three parts; the Prehistory and History of the Kumiai, the Era of Ranchos, and Tecate in Modern times. Another option to visit is the Vallecitos Museum, a site that hides cave paintings with geometric, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures made with mineral pigments that, during the astronomical phenomenon of the winter solstice, visually light up naturally. However, they are not the only ancient pictorial remains since there are the Cave Paintings of Rancho San José, pieces that are embodied in a large granite rock and are the representation of various human and animal figures. The figure of a man approximately 5m tall with a kind of headdress or hat that resembles horns and with a cross in his right hand stands out. Both sites are located near the Tecate-La Rumorosa highway. These are just some of the places that you can get to know during your visit to Tecate, a land of good weather and fantastic offers for travelers of all ages, an authentic place to connect with nature and your beloved on. SJ