Making the most of Ensenada
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships berth in an industrial harbour beside the world’s largest Mexican flag, raised on an enormous flagpole along Ensenada’s Malecon.
The cruise dock has a market with many vendors, plus a pharmacy and a liquor store alongside its souvenir stalls.
Avenida Lopez Mateos, the main shopping and dining area for tourists, is an easy walk from the cruise pier. Taxis and shuttles are also available at the dock for the short trip downtown, costing 3$ per person round trip.
Once a quiet fishing village, Ensenada has become one of Mexico’s most successful cities and a popular beach resort. This frequently visited Baja destination has many sides, from the waterfront promenade and stylish Avenida Primera shops to Bodega Santo Tomas, a winery founded by the Dominicans in 1888. Nearby La Bufadora, a natural sea geyser, makes a particularly dramatic spectacle.
Ensenada is Baja California’s third largest city, with a protected harbour and modern port facilities that make it the peninsula’s leading seaport. Sebastián Vizcaíno sailed into the bay in 1602 and, impressed by its beauty, named it Ensenada de Todos Los Santos, meaning inlet of all the saints. With its scenic setting, beaches, boutiques, restaurants, abundant accommodation and excellent fishing, it is one of the Baja peninsula’s leading resort and commercial centres.
Getting around
For visits to wineries, a ship tour may be worth considering as Guadalupe Valley is about 1/2 hour away.
Nearby places
La Bufadora is the world’s largest blowhole and can shoot more than 100 feet above sea level. A $15 per person tour can be bought at the bus station in town, although the experience can disappoint when sea conditions are not favourable.
Food and shopping
Avenida López Mateos is the principal shopping street, lined with shops, restaurants and bars. It is a good place for local handicrafts, Mexican food and Ensenada’s lively atmosphere.
Money
Mexico uses the peso (MXN). Its symbol is the same as that used for US dollars, which can be confusing; tourist-area dollar prices are marked “US$” or use an S with a double stroke. There are about 17 peso to 1US$.
US dollars are commonly accepted in the far north and tourist areas elsewhere.
Credit cards are less widely accepted than in Europe or the USA. Some businesses add a charge of around 5% for these transactions.
Staying connected
Spanish is the principal language, while English is widely spoken in border cities with the United States and at tourist destinations.
Ensenada cafés offering customers free WiFi are generally inexpensive, charging from $10 to $50 pesos per hour.
Opening Hours and
Big towns and cities: Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200; elsewhere in the country: Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600.