BAJA BEACH FEST 2024 DAY 2

After an electrifying first night filled with great music, dancing, singing, and the beautiful beach weather until 2 AM, you’d expect everyone to be exhausted—but it was the complete opposite. Fans were already outside the gates, eagerly waiting for doors to open so they could sprint across the beach, ready for another night of reggaeton. And of course, it made sense why fans would arrive hours early, long before the performers took the stage—Mexican superstar Peso Pluma was headlining Day 2. Fans wanted to be as close as possible to the stage, and what better way to secure a front-row spot than by grabbing your friends, drinks, and racing to the barricade? But before Peso Pluma took the stage, we were lucky to witness some of the biggest Latino artists perform throughout the day.

Rising stars like PaoPao, Elena Rose, Bellakath, and Latin Mafia kicked off Day 2, delivering some of their biggest tracks, including “En PR No Hace Frío” (PaoPao), “No Quiero Pelear” (Elena Rose), “Gatita” (Bellakath), and, of course, “Patadas de Ahogado” by Latin Mafia. These songs had fans going from tears to dancing, and the most amazing part? These performances happened while the sun was still high, with the party only getting started. But as the day went on and the sky grew darker, anticipation built—because that only meant the artists were about to get bigger and bigger.

Kicking off the nighttime performances was none other than Sech, a Panamanian artist with multiple hit songs and an incredible, unmistakable voice. Seeing Sech perform live is a rare opportunity, making his Baja Beach Fest appearance even more special. Fans had been waiting all day in the sun, waving Panama flags and holding up signs. The last time Sech performed live was on April 18, 2024, and before that, July 15, 2023—so this was a long-awaited moment.

As Sech’s set began, the music suddenly cut out, the lights went dark, and a massive screen lit up with a futuristic chrome robot addressing the crowd, asking if they were ready. As the graphic disappeared, dancers emerged on stage, and then—there he was. Sech, who had been out of the media spotlight for some time, made his way to the front of the stage, singing. I never thought I’d see Sech perform live, let alone at a beach in Mexico, but here we were. He played all his hits, including deep cuts for his day-one fans. But the standout moment? When the stage went silent, and a piano appeared at the center. Sech walked over, took a seat, and began playing the opening chords to his most iconic song, “Otro Trago,” singing the unforgettable lyrics: “Sigue aquí tomando otro trago…” The crowd erupted. And when the beat finally dropped, Sech pushed the piano aside and delivered the rest of the song with raw energy. It felt like he had never been gone.

After Sech’s unforgettable performance, the night was far from over. Up next was one of the biggest Puerto Rican artists of all time, Jhay Cortez—now known as Jhayco. With collaborations spanning the entire Latin music industry, from Peso Pluma and Bad Bunny to Tainy and Becky G, Jhayco is a powerhouse. Like Sech, he had also taken some time away from the spotlight, even postponing his tour to focus on his upcoming album. But the moment he took the stage, it felt like the headliner had arrived early. The crowd was massive. Jhayco performed his biggest hits, but the undeniable highlight was “DAKITI,” his chart-topping track with over two billion Spotify streams. Even though Bad Bunny wasn’t there to perform his part, the fans filled in every word, making it an unforgettable moment.

Following Jhayco, Becky G took the stage for what was arguably the festival’s most personal performance. She poured her heart into her set, not only singing for her fans but also paying tribute to her idol, Selena, with a heartfelt cover that had the entire crowd singing along. Throughout her performance, Becky G shared messages of gratitude and love, expressing how much it meant to her to be on that stage at Baja Beach Fest. As she wrapped up her set, she hinted that someone very special to her was about to take over and close the night. The anticipation hit its peak—it was finally time.

Peso Pluma’s performances in Mexico come with obstacles. Due to security concerns, he had taken a break from performing live in his home country, leading to speculation about whether he would even show up. This was possibly the biggest headliner Baja Beach Fest had ever booked—the kind of artist people buy an entire festival ticket just to see. As fans anxiously waited, suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Police sirens, helicopter sounds, drones buzzing, and security guards talking frantically into their walkie-talkies filled the air. It felt like a president was arriving. Then, it clicked—he was here. The lights went out, and the giant screens flickered to life with news broadcasts discussing Peso Pluma’s controversial rise through Narco Corridos. More visuals flashed, and then, bold letters filled the screen: “PE$O.” Fireworks erupted. Violins swelled. And there he was—Peso Pluma, sprinting to the front of the stage, doing his signature moves.

Peso Pluma kicked off the night strong, running through his biggest hits while bringing out several surprise guests. One of the most iconic moments was when he invited Junior H and Oscar Maydon to perform their global hit “Rompe el Dompe.” He also brought out Netp Vagon and Tito Doble P. But Peso Pluma’s ability to cross genres has set him apart in his career, which allowed him to bring out even more unexpected guests, like Jhayco, to perform their reggaeton hit “Ex-Special” and DJ Snake to drop their EDM collaboration, “Teka.”

Day 2 of Baja Beach Fest was truly one for the books. From incredible daytime performances to a night that ended with Peso Pluma, who defied uncertainty and delivered an unforgettable set, this festival made history. For me, this was by far the best Baja Beach Fest performance I’ve ever experienced. Peso Pluma lived up to the hype, and Baja Beach Fest pulled off something spectacular for its fans, creating a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Written by Joseph Hernandez Torrejon

Photos Taken by Joseph Hernandez Torrejon