Ensenada is a vibrant coastal city located in the Mexican state of Baja California. Situated along the Pacific Ocean, it’s known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and thriving tourism industry. Ensenada is located approximately 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the U.S.-Mexico border, making it a popular destination for travelers from both Mexico and the United States.
Ensenada enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, relatively wet winters. The region’s climate, combined with its fertile soil, makes it ideal for agriculture, particularly wine production. Ensenada is situated near the Valle de Guadalupe, one of Mexico’s most renowned wine regions. Wine tasting tours are popular activities for visitors to Ensenada.
One of Ensenada’s most famous natural attractions is La Bufadora, a marine geyser located along the coastline. It’s formed by ocean waves crashing into an underwater cave, causing water to shoot upwards in a spectacular display. Ensenada is renowned for its delicious seafood cuisine, particularly fish tacos and ceviche. Overall, Ensenada offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and recreational opportunities, making it a popular destination for travelers seeking an authentic Mexican experience.
- Sample Street Food: Enjoy Ensenada’s delicious street food scene, especially fish tacos and ceviche. There were so many yummy places that we wanted to try. The tacos were amazing!
- Wine Tasting: Explore the nearby Valle de Guadalupe wine region and indulge in wine tasting at one of the many vineyards. There were a few tours we looked at but I am not a huge drinker so we opted to explore the city.
- Take a Blowhole Tour: Join a guided tour to La Bufadora and other scenic spots around Ensenada.There are several tours through the cruise ship, it is about 30 minutes from port.
- Shopping at Mercado Negro: Browse through the local market for souvenirs, handicrafts, and fresh seafood. The streets were lined with vendors selling all kinds of items. Please watch your belongings in busy areas.
- Cultural Exploration: Visit the Riviera Cultural Center to learn about the history and culture of Ensenada through exhibits and performances.
- Visit a Brewery: Explore Ensenada’s burgeoning craft beer scene by visiting a local brewery and sampling their unique brews. We also found a few just walking around close to port.
- Whale Watching: If visiting during the winter months, embark on a whale watching tour to spot migrating gray whales. Next time I hope to visit during the winter months to go on a whale watching tour. They are such amazing animals.
- Explore La Lobera: Visit this scenic spot known for its sea lion colony and stunning ocean views, perfect for photography enthusiasts. At the port we got to experience several sea lions that were putting on quite a show. We enjoyed watching them from the ship.
If we got to do this port again one day, one of the things I would change would be the time we got off the ship. We are pretty early risers and were one of the first groups off the ship. You can walk about a mile into the shopping district. When we got off the ship it was a quick walk and we were able to see another ship coming into port for the day. Since we got off in the morning there were some shops and restaurants that were not yet open.
We were able to explore with not a lot of people which was nice. Next time I may spend some time on the ship in the morning and get off around lunch time to get a few amazing tacos. There were plenty of places to try.
There is a shuttle that will take you into the main shopping area for a few dollars if you can’t or don’t want to walk. You can also catch the bus back to the port as well. When we got back on the ship the views were quite beautiful. If my kids had been with me I would have opted for the tour of the Blowhole. I enjoyed our day at Ensanda and would love to go back some time.
