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City in Baja California, Mexico
Photo: matt.h.wade, Gabriel Flores Romero, cesar bojorquez, Tomás Castelazo, 08OceanBeach SD, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ensenada (Spanish: Ensenada De Todos Santos) is the city seat of the largest municipality in Baja California, Mexico on the Pacific Coast south of Tijuana. It is locally referred to as La Bella Cenicienta del Pacífico (Spanish:The Beautiful Cinderella of the Pacific). It is a popular weekend destination for people in southern California and is a busy cruise ship port, visited by many of the cruise lines that operate "Mexican Riviera" cruises out of Long Beach (and other ports).
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Regional History Museum
Small museum in a former prison. Exhibits show the history of Baja California from the time of ancient indigenous civilizations dwelling in caves through the era of Colonial Mexico with the missionaries and early settlers through today. Occasional temporary exhibits on special topics.
Caracol Science Museum
Modern science museum with spectacular ocean views from its myriad floor-to-ceiling windows. Permanent galleries focus on the heavens, earth, and the sea. The museum has a large planetarium. The museum has special seasonal exhibits as well as special events like nature walks, skywatching, etc.
Cathedral
Roman Catholic Cathedral in Spanish Colonial style. Dress modestly (no short shorts, must cover your shoulders). Candles and Mass by donation (ofrenda).
blow-hole
The road from Ensenada, especially in the area close to the Bufadora, offers beautiful views over the sea and cliffs. The narrow main street leading to the viewing area is crowded with tourist-trap shops selling curios, take-away food, and prescription medicines, but the Bufadora is a rather remarkable natural sea vent. However, you cannot see the blow hole from most parts of the viewing area due to the angle of the cliff face; the impressive columns of water that shoot up are visible. On busy days, local Mexican tourists in the hundreds cram the viewing area. The local cove offers camping, swimming, kayaking and scuba, including a small dive shop with rentals; the cove is especially cold water. Locals report that sea lions are sometimes seen swimming about. Locals eat at Celia's, also available are the Bufadora, Pancho's, and Habana Banana restaurants.
Bufadora tours from Carnival Cruise lines cost more than anywhere else, but will pick you up and drop you off from the cruise ship port.
This tour company runs the shuttle buses between the Carnival cruise ships and Ensenada. The stop in Ensenada is right by their tour booth where you can buy a discounted Bufadora tour. They prefer US dollars.
The city of Ensenada is on the Ensenada Harbor, so you'll have to drive south or north to get to a local beach. Private beaches like Estero Beach and Mona Lisa have resort accommodations and facilities, but public ones like San Miguel and El Punto are free for anyone who wishes to walk by the sea.
Ensenada area has several celebrated surfing spots, such as San Miguel Beach, California Trailer Park, Stacks and 3 M's (Spanish:Tres Emes), which are located in the north coast of the city. Todos Santos Island a small island west of Ensenada (about 2 hours by boat), and a world-famous surfing spot. The Billabong XXL surfing contest has been held at Todos Santos Island several times. Wave faces can reach above 18 m (60) feet on the island. Brad Gerlach, 2006 winner of Big XXL, surfed a wave of 20 m (68 feet) in December 2006.
A small rocky beach that offers a great night view of the city. Great for camping and drinking, locals favor it for its relaxed nature and private nature which means you won't be disturbed unless you make a lot of noise.
It's a beautiful canyon, excellent for rock climbing, rappel and hiking; and in rain season you can view a spectacular waterfall that is over 30 m (100 ft). You can find it at KM 76 in the Tijuana - Ensenada Libre Highway. Camping Facilities.
Every first Sunday of the month, locals hike through this 10-km hike. It's free and you can find many people. It takes about 3½ hours at good pace and it's of moderate difficulty. At the end of the hike, you can take the bus back to Ensenada for about US$1.
Aguas Termales
Features pipe-fed hot pools, cold pool, and mud pool as well as cabins, showers and camping, is popular with the locals, despite a 16-km rocky dirt road with 13 (or so) shallow water crossings; medium-clearance vehicles are recommended.
Off-road adventure tours for people of all riding abilities. Everyone welcome: families, couples, friends, single riders, bachelor and corporate groups. Full day excursions or longer tours available also. Ride in the dunes and then enjoy a guided adventure into the surrounding mountain trails. Contact the office for reservations.
Whale Watching
The gray whales' annual migration from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California Sur between the months of December and March, and back in the months of April and May, can be seen from the coast of Ensenada. Sightseeing tours are available every day during migration season. Whale watching not guaranteed.
The Blowhole
La Bufadora is a marine geyser and the largest blowhole in the world, often shooting upwards more than 30 m (100 feet) above sea level. The exhibit hall roof top is approximately 25 m (80 feet) above sea level and the blowhole frequently sprays above it.
Ensenada Baja California has been known for sport fishing over fifty years. Each year hundreds of anglers head for Ensenada to go fishing and take advantage of the shorter distances needed to travel by sea to get to the big catch. The short range day trips are good for cranking in Bass, Bonita, Barracuda, Cod and Yellowtail, while the long range trips pull in Tuna, Albacore, Dorado.
The Longest International Off Road Race in the World
This important race held in November as well as the Baja 500 Off-Road race held in June start in Ensenada. While the Baja 500 almost always ends in Ensenada, the Baja 1000 ends in Ensenada in even-numbered years while in odd-numbered years ends at the tip of Baja, usually in Cabo San Lucas or La Paz. Amenities are extended during the days prior to the start. Race info including course map updated regularly at the website.
Fiestas De La Vendimia
Every year, before the end of spring and until the end of August, the wine harvest season is celebrated around the Guadalupe Valley and in the city of Ensenada with a series of events. These events range from private wine tastings and galas, to concerts of classical music and famous pop artists at the vineyards. The end of the harvest season is commemorated by a two-day free event at the Santo Tomas winery in Ensenada with a festival that is preferred by the locals. Be sure to check out the site for there is an event almost daily.
The Ensenada Carnaval is one of the country's largest, as thousands of people gather in the streets for six days and nights.
What better way to spend a summer evening in Mexico than enjoying "America's favorite pastime"...baseball! The Marineros are Ensenada's hometown team, playing in the semi-pro developmental league, Liga del Norte. The stadium is a fun, family-friendly place with great concessions at reasonable prices.
Open Air Fish Market
Baja's largest seafood market. Located near the oceanfront. Most of the market's open air stalls sell catches fresh off the fishing boats that dock nearby. This is also a great place to try a famous fish taco.
This local favorite serves delicious tacos, shrimp and fish.
Really good sandwiches with either pork, ham, carne asada, or all three, very delicious, kind of a little walk away from the tourist area, look for the counter with a big line of people on the main street just 1 block south of a Chinese buffet, it's about 2 blocks east from the main tourist area and about 10 blocks south on the widest big road with all the shops all the way along it.
Great street ceviche car that serves a huge variety of ceviches for US$1 each. It also has a huge variety of salsas ranging from light to super hot. Be careful with those and ask for assistance. Also serves cocktails. Located on 1st street and Alvarado
If you want to have the true Mexican taco experience, go to this place. Favored by locals, it offers US$1 tacos. Carne Asada, Adobada, Tripas and Cabeza are available as quesatacos, tortas, and huaraches. A must-taste that will scratch that Tex-Mex flavor you are used to. With everything.
This cheese shop is a gem, offering an astounding vaiety of artesanal cheeses from across Mexico, including Real de Castillo, a small town near Ensenada where 30 craft cheese makers produce everything from soft melting cheeses to hard grating cheeses.
Upscale restaurant serving authentic French cuisine. Great coffee in the mornings, perfect with French toast. Save room for dessert because they have their own in-house bakery producing a variety of classic French pastries.
High-end restaurant with an elegant dining room overlooking the ocean. International menu features Mexican, American, and European dishes. Extensive wine list featuring many outstanding vintages from local vineyards. Dress code enforced.
Legendary and historic bar. Established in 1892 Hussongs is the oldest bar in the Californias, Hussong’s began as a stagecoach stop built by its German founder Johan Hussong. Some say that the city of Ensenada was built around this bar. Rumor has it that the Margarita was invented here.
El Papas
Another legendary and historic bar right across the street from Hussongs.
A place to dance to Caribbean and norteno rythms.
A rock-oriented bar that serves cheap drinks and good music with a metal mood.
Located on 1st Street (half a block away from McDonald's), the Tijuana Brewery Tavern offers award-winning draft beer in many varietals, ranging from light lagers to dark ales. This is a local favorite hangout for all sorts of people, and happy hour is available at least two nights a week.
Craft brewery producing overly light predictable styles for a mainstream market. Nothing innovative or exciting. Young crowd, decent burgers, inviting space to hang out with friends.
Popular craft brewery that's been in business since 2016. Large taproom and outdoor patio with Pacific ocean views. They brew both lagers and ales with their flagship pilsner being one of the best of the lagers and too many ubiquitous IPAs dominating the ale lineup. They also have some goses and seasonal specialties. Food is light pub grub, including burgers, tacos, and fries. Family friendly with a playground and both a brewery dog and a brewery cat.
Funky fun place with good food and beer, built out of re-purposed shipping containers. Beer lineup includes both lagers and ale styles (particularly the over-done IPA styles). The best beer is the Mantaraya, a full-flavored oatmeal stout redolent with roast malt flavors with a luxuriously smooth finish. Full menu available, heavy on the seafood with fresh oysters and some delicious ceviche.
Modern brewpub chain with a contemporary tasting room in downtown Ensenada. Has its main brewery in El Sauzal and additional tasting rooms in Tijuana and Mexicali. Beers are ales only with too many IPAs and not enough of anything interesting, other than a stout they call Foca Parlante which is fairly big at 5.5% alcohol. They also do a very low alcohol (3.8%) IPA called Perro del Mar.
A beautiful hotel with amazing bathrooms and views. Located on the main road between the end of the toll road and downtown. There's a marina for your yacht and many amenities. Shuttle service into town (4.8 km or 3 miles away), M$80 for a taxi.
Oceanfront hotel with spacious rooms and a large outdoor swimming pool with jacuzzi.
Coffee shop and wifi are part of this francophile-themed hotel.
Stylish hotel with spacious rooms complete with full kitchen. Furnishings could use a refurb, but its functional and comfortable. Large outdoor swimming pool. Views of the malecon and the ocean.
Moderate hotel in a conveniently walkable area, close to convenience stores and 1-1/2 block to the beach. Rooms are clean and basically furnished. No air conditioning or heating.
Modern hotel with spacious, well-furnished rooms. Outdoor swimming pool available. On-site restaurant available.
Moderate hotel with spacious rooms. Cable TV in room was hit or miss. Outdoor swimming pool with jacuzzi available. On-site restaurant available.
Budget hotel with clean, comfortable rooms. Flaky WiFi. Outdoor swimming pool available. Off-street parking in gated lot. Good restaurant across the street.
Comfortable, modern hotel with spacious, well-equipped rooms. Swimming pool available. On-site restaurant available plus more dining options within one block. Off-street parking available in two guarded lots.
Many regional art pieces for cheap can be found on 1st Street.
Mall with clothing and supermarket options. If you want to see a movie and don't mind Spanish subtitles, go to a Mexican movie theater. US$5 tickets is a steal compared to USA prices.
By car
Drive' across the border from San Ysidro.S.. Once in Tijuana, follow the signs to Rosarito and Ensenada on route 1. There will be three toll stops en route to Ensenada.
By bike
Coming from the US, if you want to avoid Tijuana's heavy traffic, you can try biking in from Tecate. As one blogger somewhere suggested, go on a Sunday, there's the fewest cars on the road.
By boat
Cruise ships: Ensenada has become a regular stop for several lines of cruise ships since the 1980s.
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Tijuana · International · TIJ
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