Ensenada Port Area

[CruisnDeb]

We have a cruise next month that stops in Ensenada and I'm at a loss of what to do here.  Is it like the caribbean ports where you have vendors selling tours when you walk off the ship?  Is there much to do in the port area?  TIA

[floinnc]

We just booked a tour there using tours by locals dot com. We have used them in many places around the world and always pleased.

[cacruisin]

Yes, there will be people selling tours and excursions right off the ship, but IMO Ensenada doesn't have a great deal to do as far as that goes...there is the La Bufadora that is popular but it's kind of far it's definitely crowded and IMO only about 5 minutes' worth of interesting.  The last time our ship stopped in Ensenada we only walked around and go something to eat and even that only entertained us for like 2 hours.  It's my least favorite stop.

[CruisnDeb]

17 minutes ago, cacruisin said:

Yes, there will be people selling tours and excursions right off the ship, but IMO Ensenada doesn't have a great deal to do as far as that goes...there is the La Bufadora that is popular but it's kind of far it's definitely crowded and IMO only about 5 minutes' worth of interesting.  The last time our ship stopped in Ensenada we only walked around and go something to eat and even that only entertained us for like 2 hours.  It's my least favorite stop.

This is kind of what I figured....I've been researching this port and just haven't really found anything that jumps out at me.  I'm sure we will just walk around the port area for a bit and then head back to the ship.  I appreciate your response.  

[Mike45LC]

The Bufadora has a large tourist junk market you have to walk through to get to the observation area.

 

I don’t recall yours being sold right outside the cruise terminal. There is an inexpensive shuttle into town and that company sells a variety of tours.

 

My least favorite Mex Riv port!

[CruisnDeb]

1 minute ago, Mike45LC said:

My least favorite Mex Riv port!

I'm starting to think it's going to be my least favorite port ever lol

[IRMO12HD]

I think Ensenada is going to be what you make it.  As a solo female traveler, I make sure I do adequate research and planning before I start a journey, and that is what I did when I did my first B2B on Navigator of the Seas in December 2021/January 2022.  I'm interested in history, and like to walk/hike.  My first time in Ensenada I walked to the Riviera del Pacifico, a 1920s era hotel and casino that is now a cultural event center (in fact, most of the ship excursions that promote a "cultural experience" will probably end up there).  It's an easy 15 minute walk, with one street crossing (at a traffic light).  It is home to the Bar Andaluz, which claims to be the home of the first margarita.  I spent about 1/2 hour exploring the building, another 15 minutes exploring the grounds, and then another 3/4 hour cherishing and tasting my first "original" margarita. I then walked through a bit of the tourist area, and back to the ship for lunch.  Exciting? No.  Satisfying and somewhat entertaining?  Yes, for me -- of course YMMV.

The second time I went on a ship excursion to the Calafia Valley for some wine tours, as I wanted to see the countryside (and I like wine).  Upon returning to Ensenada, I walked around with some of my newfound friends from the wine tour; did some (targeted) shopping, and then went back to the ship.  Exciting?  Not particularly.  Satisfying and entertaining (and somewhat eye-opening)?  yes.

I'm going back in March on a 5-night cruise, and have booked a ship excursion involving kayaking and La Bufadora; definitely looking forward to it.

[Theosprey247]

When we visit Ensenada we usually just walk around eating and enjoying a few drinks. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

When I get off the ship, I usually head to the Mercado Negro and select fresh shrimp, crab, lobster,or whatever looks good, get it cooked up and have a few cerveza. See map below.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/kHnjKtWyJRSg5Gr47

 

There are good restaurants easily walkable from the dock and Downtown at the main shopping street there are more and that is a quick Uber ride.

[warthog2608]

We are wine lovers and enjoy touring the Valle de Guadalupe wineries a short drive from Ensenada. We've taken ship excursions as well as visiting the wineries on our own. We used to stay a week at a time in Ensenada when my wife's cousins were at the universities. Since then we've only visited on a few cruises. We find it to be an enjoyable port, not a lot of action but we like a quiet day strolling around town. My wife, who is Mexican from Mazatlan, enjoys shopping in town. One of our favorite seafood restaurants is there, Mariscos Bahia de Ensenada on Avenida Riveroll y Avenida Lopez Mateos.  

[Milhouse]

Had our first visit to Ensenada last Nov 2022. Enjoyed it as a new place but don't think it would be appealing going back regularly.

None of the shopping really appealed to us.  But kind of enjoyed hitting up a number of food carts.  Hoofed it out to Tacos Corona and Tacos Fenix for some tasty fish and shrimp tacos.  Enjoyed La Guerrerense.  It's kind of overhyped but glad we ate there.  Bought some churros along the street which kind of hit the spot but could have been tastier.  

[Rejjie]

We visited Ensenada in May 2022 on the Carnival Miracle.  
We hired a private driver for the two of us for the day, lunch included. He took us to Las Canadas to zipline and to La Bufadora to see the blowhole. (If you don't like suspension bridges that are set up in non-conventional ways, the zip lining may not be for you.)
Having this tour guide helped us when we walked the gauntlet at La Bufadora.  The vendors left us alone for the most part.  When it came to food (it smelled delicious), he also recommended which vendors to try and which ones to stay away from.  We ordered up a huge stuffed clam at one of them, and he had a gentleman come and serenade us with his guitar while we ate.
Lunch was 3 tacos (they were huge) of our choice and a soft drink.  Being in Ensenada, the birthplace of fish tacos, we had to try them.  They didn't disappoint.  
After lunch, we asked him to play tour guide.  Show us his favourite parts of his home town.  We were full, and not in a hurry to get back to the ship.  He came to life. He was so excited to take us to his favourite store to get tequila at non-inflated prices.  He brought us to his favourite restaurant (another taco joint) for a mid-afternoon snack.  
The tour was booked on viator, and the name was "Las Canadas ecopark and Bufadora private tour". Ask for Eric!

[tootsiescurly]

There are some great wine tours to the Guadalupe Valley if you like wine. We did one several years ago with a private operator. It was delightful. Here is an operator who gets rave reviews. https://bajavino.com/cruiseship/

[CoW mAn]

There's a boardwalk with WiFi and shopping and food and a water fountain show all right by the ship - also a huge Mexican flag

[pinto18]

On 6/19/2023 at 12:47 PM, CoW mAn said:

There's a boardwalk with WiFi and shopping and food and a water fountain show all right by the ship - also a huge Mexican flag

We were there last week...no flag! Also...the water shut off on the fountains...

[CoW mAn]

3 hours ago, pinto18 said:

We were there last week...no flag! Also...the water shut off on the fountains...

Man, that flag is almost always out for repairs these days

[SelectSys]

On 2/17/2023 at 9:01 PM, IRMO12HD said:

It is home to the Bar Andaluz, which claims to be the home of the first margarita. 

The other Ensenada establishment that makes this claim is Hussong's Cantina.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussong's

 

I tend to support the Bar Andaluz claim just based on the feel of both.  Hussong's can be good and loud to here Marachi although somewhat more at night.

 

On 2/17/2023 at 9:01 PM, IRMO12HD said:

The second time I went on a ship excursion to the Calafia Valley for some wine tours,

Interesting, I have never heard anyone referring to wine country as the "Calafia Valley."  To me, Calafia is the name of an old resort complex south of Rosarito Beach.  It was super fun way back when I was young including a pirate ship dance floor and cheap margaritas.

 

On 2/17/2023 at 9:01 PM, IRMO12HD said:

I think Ensenada is going to be what you make it.

I totally agree with this.  I am a big fan of the whole corridor from Tijuana to Ensenada.  It is such an escape from the norm of Southern California with lots to do and see. 

 

Just two weeks ago, we went to "Vinedos en Flor" (Vineyards in Bloom) and it was an amazing festival of local wine and food.  The best think was that it was so laid back compared to something similar in the US - and a quite a bit cheaper as well.