More than 700 riders and 50 walkers take part in Rosarito’s traditional cross-border heritage ride
By Juan Pablo Sebastián
With the participation of more than 700 riders and 50 walkers, the Rosarito Historical Society, with support from the Rosarito Press Club and the City of Rosarito, held the 37th annual Fiesta de las Fronteras Horseback Ride on Sunday, October 5.
Despite new restrictions imposed by Ejido Primo Tapia limiting horseback passage through Cerro Coronel, the event proceeded smoothly with the assistance of Rosarito Municipal Police.
At the Mojonera de Palou — a historic marker symbolizing the division between Alta and Baja California during the mission era — Father Udiel Díaz Carrillo, from the Missionary Guadalupans of the Blessed Sacrament, led a religious ceremony and blessed the participating riders.
The civic ceremony was headed by the mounted honor guard of the Rosarito City Government, under the direction of Daniel García Porras.
As part of the celebration, six saddles donated by sponsors were raffled off, and a new queen of the horseback pilgrimage was crowned.
The event also paid tribute to riders who have recently passed away, including Juan Fiscal “El Cachano,” Saúl Tapia López “El Peligro,” Nandi Meza, Lucina Machado Crosthwaite, Néstor Machado Estrada, Juana Guadalupe Crosthwaite Machado, Benjamín Ames, and Jorge Mendiola Machado, among others.
Once again, the captain of the horseback caravan was Norberto “El Palomo” Gilbert.
The route was accompanied by a municipal patrol unit requested by organizers to ensure safety and order throughout the event.
After departing from Mojonera de Palou under the new route restrictions, participants arrived at Rancho San Patricio in Cañón Rosarito, where a festive gathering and artistic program awaited them.
Although the religious and civic ceremony drew a modest crowd, more riders joined along the way and at rest stops throughout the journey.
Notably absent was Ejido Primo Tapia president Erick Castellanos Sánchez, who had previously announced new measures prohibiting alcohol sales at Cerro Coronel.
City historian Juvenal Arias, a longtime chronicler of Rosarito, reminded attendees that the event commemorates the historic “inter-mission” division of Alta and Baja California in 1773.
“The division of the Californias was established here in 1773,” Arias explained. “We call it the Mojonera de Palou because Friar Francisco Palou, president of the missions at the time, was entrusted with defining the boundary after the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico. The Franciscans and Dominicans later arrived to administer the missions. The division was agreed, and that’s why we have gathered to celebrate this important part of our regional history.”
