Ensenada is a coastal city in Baja, about two hours south of San Diego. It’s the third-largest city in Baja and is an important commercial, fishing and tourist port. The harbor of Ensenada welcomes multiple cruise ships a week and tourism is an important part of the local economy. With beautiful resorts, large beaches, surf spots, great diving, fishing, nightlife and shops full of artisan crafts, there’s something for the entire family to enjoy, whether you’re just stopping in for the day or you’re planning a weekend escape.
The nearby Ruta del Vino (wine route) leads you from Ensenada into the nearby Valle de Guadalupe, Guadalue Valley wine region where 90% of the wines from Mexico come from. Or stay in town and check out some of the wine tasting rooms, craft beer bars or top-rated gourmet restaurants, tacos stands or food carts. With all of the things to do and see, Ensenada is great for a week of family fun, a spa getaway with girlfriends or a romantic couples weekend.
Things to do in Ensenada Checklist:
-Head south of town to the famous blowhole spot, La Bufadora where you can watch the ocean and rock formations create a natural geyser that shoots water up to 100 feet in the air.
-Have a cerveza at the historic Hussong’s Cantina where they’ve been serving up drinks for over 100 years to celebrities like Bing Crosby, Steve McQueen, John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe.
-Go for a stroll along the harbor and Plaza Civica with the famous three giant gold busts of Benito Juarez, Miguel Hidalgo and Venustiano Carranza.
-Spend a morning at Los Globos market where you’ll find fresh produce and meats as well as antiques and swap meet items.
-Take a day trip along the Ruta del Vino (Wine Route) into the Valle de Guadalupe to check out some of the 50 plus wineries the region has to offer.
-Check out the Mercado Mariscos fish market, once known as the “Black Market”
-Often called the most famous streetcart in the world, don’t miss the seafood tostadas or ceviche at La Guerrerense, a foodcart beloved by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern.
–Shop for leather goods or Mexican artisan crafts at the stores along Av. López Mateos/First Street.
-Tempt yourself with the famous pastries from El Rey Sol, a highly-acclaimed French restaurant.
-Surfers won’t want to miss San Miguel and the Bahía de Todos Santos – a newly dedicated World Surfing Reserve spot.
-Walk around the beautiful Riviera del Pacifico – once a glamorous hotel and now a social, civic and cultural center.
Restaurants/Activities:
There are so many places to eat and things to do in Ensenada from visiting the famous La Bufadora blowhole, to visiting hot springs just south of town. To read more about what Ensenada has to offer and our recommendations on places to eat and things to see, check out the DBTC Blog.
Tourism Resources:
Office of Proturismo de Ensenada
Bouelvard Costero 540
Zona Centro, Centro
22800 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
www.proturismoensenada.org.mx
011-52-646-178-3317
GPS: 31.862151, -116.629026
Baja’s Board of Tourism has some good information about Ensenada as does www.enjoyensenada.com
Hotels & Campsites:
From beautiful large resorts to campsites on the beach, Ensenada has lots of options when it comes to where to stay. Check out our Ensenada Hotels page for some of our recommendations, as well as places where Discover Baja members get a discount.