Positioned along the coast of Mexico, about a two and a half hour drive south of San Diego lies the charming city of Ensenada. Home to one of the oldest cities in Baja California, Ensenada is noted for its tourism areas, cruise port, fishing and more. Whether your cruising into the port of Ensenada, Mexico to spend the day with locals or staying the weekend to explore this lively city — there are many things to do in Ensenada.
Being almost native to California, I’ve visited Ensenada countless times. In fact, often times you’ll find it easier for Californians to travel to Mexico rather than the East Coast, visiting big cities like New York City or New Orleans.
The biggest reason…
It’s cheaper, closer and you get to explore a new country. Sounds like all pros to me!
Most recently, I spent the day in Ensenada after cruising on the Royal Caribbean and found a multitude of things to do for the day. From devouring platters of fresh guacamole to finding the best sombreros and chatting with locals, Ensenada has much to offer.
In this post, you’ll find the best things to do in Ensenada for the day. Whether you’re looking for travel tips for a glorious weekend in the city or if you’re short on time and only have a couple hours to spare — keep reading on.
If it’s your first time traveling abroad, here are some popular posts to help you navigate those new exciting waters!
Feel free to jump ahead!
Free things to do in Ensenada
Head to the downtown area to find loads of shops, stores, eateries and more. It’s a little touristy in my opinion, but there are great free activities to do and friendly locals to chat with. Scroll on to find out what.
Walk around Avenida Lopez Mateos
This avenue is where you’ll find most of the shopping within the city. It’s a pretty long street lined with various stores selling bags, clothing items, hats and the famous Mexican vanilla extract. You’ll also find stalls selling handcrafted jewelry and a plethora of restaurants.
Avenida Lopez Mateos is about a 5-7 minute drive from the cruise port. It’s quite touristy since it’s close to the port, but if you only have a day or a couple hours away from your cruise ships, it’s a nice stop to get a small feel for the city.
Take a stroll down First Street
This is one of the top things to do in Ensenada, that are both free and great when you’re short on time.
Similar to Avenida Lopez Mateos, First Street is a popular street for shopping, drinking and grabbing some tasty tacos. You’ll likely score some cheap deals here and find some beautiful artisanal crafts made by locals.
Window shopping or a go shopping spree
The best places to shop in downtown Ensenada are First Street and Avenida Lopez Mateos. Prices aren’t listed, so you’ll have to ask the shop keeper about the cost. Additionally because prices are listed, you’re allowed to bargain for a good deal if you’re comfortable with it.
My mother-in-law did this on our day at port after cruising on the Royal Caribbean and she bought an awesome sombrero because of it.
Indulging in some retail therapy while on vacation is an easy thing to do in Ensenada or really in any country. It’s a great way to support local businesses and establishments (slow traveling is another excellent option for supporting locals and the land), while also spoiling yourself and loved ones.
Food related things to do in Ensenada
Below you’ll find some of the best activities that require your taste buds and stomach muscles. Try as much as you can and enjoy!
Grub on some delicious tacos
Can we vote that tacos should be a food group?
Seriously it’s one of the best food inventions on the planet and the tacos here won’t disappoint. They’re excellent for gluten-free foodies since most of the tortillas are prepared with corn. Always double check though, because some restaurants do prefer to use flour instead. My advice is to download travel apps that support travelers with allergies.
If you’re buying tacos on First Street or Avenida Lopez Mateos, keep in mind these area touristy areas and the tacos may be a bit more expensive than other places.
Visit the oldest winery in Mexico
Did you know Ensenada is home to one of the oldest wineries and vineyards in Mexico? Well, Bodega de Santo Tomas is over 130 years old, holding the record of being the oldest operating winery. It was founded in late 1880s and offers an remarkable wine tasting experience.
Here you’ll also find bread and fine cheeses to pair with your wine.
Devour the best guacamole
Mexico is home to best guacamole you’ll ever find. While there are numerous ways to prepare it, the essence of this concoction forever remains the same — mashed avocados mixed with spices. Avocados originated in South Central Mexico as early as 7,000 and 5,000 B.C, with Aztecs being the first to prepare the delightful dish “guacamole”.
Keep in mind, while guacamole is the same word in both English and Spanish, this does not apply to avocado. Avocado in Spanish is aguacate, pronounced “AH-gua-CAH-te”.
Go on a wine tour
Love drinking wine? Then one of the best things to do in Ensenada is to go wine tasting. There are various wine tours and tasting throughout the city offering private tours and group tours.
Many of them are located in Valle de Guadalupe and require a minimum of 6 hours, so if you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise or another cruise-line, plan accordingly!
Adventurous things to do in Ensenada
Here are some fun activities in Ensenada to get your blood pumping or activities that request your presence outdoors — either way adventure awaits around the corner.
Take a tour to the Bufadora
About 17 miles away south of Ensenada lies a gorgeous blowhole called the La Bufadora. It’s a hot spot and a top attraction for outdoor novices.
If you’re looking to be inspired by nature, I highly recommend adding this to your Ensenada bucketlist. I wasn’t able to visit this on previous trip to Ensenada with my mother-in-law since we left the cruise ship later than expected, but this was definitely on my bucket list. The photos are incredible!
Related post: Beautiful Waterfall Quotes
Go zip lining at Las Canadas Ecopark
Another way to experience the stunning La Bufadora is to take a guided tour to Las Canadas Ecopark. The tour offers guided exploration through the ecopark, zip lining and a visit to the blowhole. Inside the ecotourism park there are five zip lining courses and five swinging bridges.
Rent an ATV
Renting an ATV is by far one of the best things to do in Mexico and in any city for that matter. I’m obsessed! ATVs are both thrilling and exciting by nature which makes for an unforgettable experience.
My advice if you’re cruising and adding this to your itinerary — make sure to plan ahead of time. It can be quite stressful trying to plan your excursion day of.
Go horseback riding
This is another one of my favorite things to do in Mexico! Horseback riding offers a different way to view the landscape and is an exciting way to explore the outdoors. There are several tours offering horseback riding in Ensenada. Some excursions take you riding to the view the powerful Bufadora, while others offers scenic rides in La Mision.
Museums to explore in Ensenada
If you’re a history buff, consider adding one of the museums below to your trip itinerary. Each museum is unique and swarming with past events ranging from the history of the city to the buildings accounts.
Regional Historical Museum
Formerly known as the local prison, this space has been eloquently transformed into the Regional Historical Museum. It’s one of the oldest building in the city and offers a unique perspective of the history of the city. Additionally you’ll find various fossils and artifacts illustrating the history of the entire Baja Peninsula.
Ensenada Museum of History
The Ensenada Musuem of History is part of a larger cultural center, The Riviera Cultural Center. Inside you’ll find a myriad of history about Ensenada and the Baja Peninsula. In particular, the missionaries within the area, local and native communities, and various explorers. These stories are told through a variety of mediums including words, photo libraries, gift shop and more.
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