Baja California is emerging as one of the states with a distinctive tourism offering, encompassing beaches, desert, nature reserves, vineyards, and even medical services, positioning the state as a key destination for travelers visiting Mexico.
Los Cabos is one of the state’s most popular spots, but it’s not the only one. Within the state’s 71,450 square kilometers, the diverse range of destinations extends from the border city of Tijuana, to Ensenada, Rosarito, and San Quintín, which boosted the tourism GDP from 55.522 billion pesos in 2005 to 69.966 billion pesos last year, representing a 20.6% increase.
Amid Baja California’s development as a tourism hub, Baja Stays found an opportunity to launch a platform offering luxury experiences for tourists seeking them. Raúl Zazueta Nassif, the company’s director, explains that the platform manages vacation rental properties, offering options ranging from cabins, villas, houses, and apartments to accommodations in select boutique hotels.
Baja Stays doesn’t just manage and promote properties. To maintain a focus on high-value experiences, it provides support in designing an exclusive offering, right down to the linens. “Each property is meticulously designed and selected to offer the best not only in terms of luxury, but also in the training needed to host guests, and that’s what sets us apart from other platforms that connect owners and guests,” says the executive.
Currently, Baja Stays manages 130 properties between Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe, with plans to expand operations to Los Cabos and La Paz. The portfolio includes 57 houses and villas, as well as 73 rooms distributed among cabins, boutique hotels, country houses, and residential towers.
Its specialized offerings have allowed it to take a different path than other economic actors, where tax burdens, primarily, have led to the closure of around 800 businesses per day. However, tourists continue to visit the state, with average spending in December of last year reaching $103.88, according to the latest available data from the Baja California Tourism Observatory.
One of the advantages of companies that focus on offering services and products in the luxury market is their resilience to crises, since consumers don’t see the need to allocate their spending to basic goods. Therefore, these businesses tend to maintain growth even in situations such as business closures, job losses, and even economic crises.
Another advantage for Baja California is the increase in the number of international tourists, which rose from 1,376,322 in December 2018 to 2,004,876 in December 2024, according to the Baja California Tourism Observatory.
The Guadalupe Valley is more than just sun and vineyards; it’s the heart of Baja Stays’ operations. This destination is the wine and gastronomy hub of Baja California, driven by the collaborative efforts of its various wineries and hospitality industry experts.
The destination has successfully positioned itself among national and international tourists seeking experiences and luxury. It is here that the Baja Stays platform has the majority of its offerings, as well as its headquarters.
The platform’s growth comes amidst land disputes and water scarcity, pervasive challenges facing the Guadalupe Valley, compounded by drought and the pressure of urbanization, which are currently having a greater impact on the wine industry.
The platform began operations in this destination, although its founder is originally from Ensenada. “It was a business that grew very organically. My parents had a spare apartment, and I studied a lot about vacation rentals and trained myself to regulate that apartment, and that’s where the idea was born,” says Zazueta Nassif.
Now, Baja Stays aims to develop luxury lodging in La Paz and Loreto. “One of our greatest strengths is our presence on social media: we interview those who join the platform, publish blogs, and collaborate with others to share their stories,” says the company’s director.
Source: expansion
