Ensenada is one of Mexico’s popular cruise destinations on the West Coast. If you are on a cruise to Mexico, the Ensenada Mexico Cruise Port will likely be one of your stops. You might be wondering what is there to do at the Ensenada Cruise Port. Stopping at the Port of Ensenada is fun and exciting. There are many places to shop and many sightseeing tours to explore Ensenada and the surrounding region. One of Ensenada’s most amazing natural wonders and popular tourist spots is La Bufadora, Ensenada’s famous blowhole. The Ensenada cruise port is also close to the Guadalupe Valley, Mexico’s wine region with over a hundred wineries to visit. There are many things to do on your one-day Ensenada Mexico Cruise stop. Whether you are a new cruiser or an avid cruiser, continue reading to learn more about this popular Mexican cruise destination.
Which Cruises Stop at the Ensenada Cruise Port
There are many major cruise lines that stop in Ensenada. If you are going on a 3, 4, 5, 6, or 14-day cruise out of the Port of Long Beach or Los Angeles, you will most likely be visiting Ensenada as well as other popular cruise port destinations such as Catalina Island or Cabo San Lucas. A 14-day Trans-Pacific cruise to Hawaii is a popular west coast option. As an added bonus, they also stop in Ensenada before heading back to Los Angeles. Also, some cruise lines might include a stop in Ensenada or La Paz on a 7 or 8-day Mexican Riviera Cruise. One of the main cruise ships that frequently ports in Ensenada is the Carnival Radiance.
Whether you cruise on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, or Disney Cruise Lines from California, you are likely to stop in Ensenada when you cruise to the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico or the Mexican Riviera.
The Port of Ensenada Mexico Cruise Terminal
One of the best things about stopping at the Port of Ensenada, Mexico, is that it is a deep-water port, in fact, it is Baja California’s only deep-water port. Thus, the Ensenada cruise port is not a tender port. Unlike cruise stops in Catalina Island and Cabo San Lucas, you will not need to get on a water shuttle to get to shore. Cruise ships stopping in Ensenada will dock at the industrial port terminal, which can accommodate two cruise ships at a time. You will either be the only ship in port or one of two cruise ships when in Ensenada. Getting off the ship is relatively quick, allowing your Mexican adventure to start sooner rather than later.
What to Expect in Ensenada’s Cruise Port Area
When you exit the ship, you will find people at the cruise port area offering excursions at a table or small kiosk, but these are not excursions set up by the cruise line. If you do purchase one of these excursions, you will want to make sure you are back to your cruise ship by the all aboard time.
When you get off your cruise ship, there will be people at the port to help guide you to the port exit so you can explore Ensenada or go on your excursion. If you like getting pictures with letter signs, you can find an Ensenada letter sign outside the cruise terminal. This is a very Instagrammable photo stop. You will see many cruisers, including us, stopping to take a photo here.
Getting to Your Cruise-Offered Ensenada Excursion
If you purchased an excursion through the cruise line, you will likely be one of the first people off the ship. Each cruise line has its own way of handling disembarking passengers for their excursions. If you booked your excursion prior to the start of your cruise, your tickets will be delivered to your stateroom. If you do not receive your tickets before the port day, you can stop by the excursion desk to ask about your tickets. Your tickets will have a meeting place and time imprinted, most likely the theater or a lounge on the ship, where you will meet before exiting the ship. Depending on the cruise line’s process, the crew will likely lead you towards the gangway to get off the ship based on the order of the excursions they call.
Once you are off the ship, crew and excursion workers work together to make sure everyone gets to the correct excursion bus. Those who work for the excursion company will most likely be the ones holding signs with the name of the excursion they are leading. Once you are grouped with your excursion leader, you will provide them with your tickets and get on the bus for your excursion. The tour guide you have and the bus you get on for your excursion will be the same throughout the tour.
Exploring Ensenada on Your Own
Exploring Ensenada on your own is easy. There is a shuttle service available from the cruise port to the main shopping area in downtown Ensenada. The shuttle service offers one-way and round-trip services for a small fee. The site where the shuttle drops you off in town will be the same place you catch the shuttle to go back to the ship. If you get a round-trip ticket, hold on to your ticket, as you will need it to get back on the shuttle that takes you back to your cruise ship.
If you want to save some money, you can walk over to the main shopping area of Ensenada. The walk is not long and takes about 15 minutes.
Walking to the Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos Shopping Area
The walk to the main shopping area on Avenida Lopez Mateos and Primera or First Street is about a 15-minute walk. One of the easiest ways to walk over to the shopping area on Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos is to walk toward the large flag pole with the Mexican flag by the waterfront boardwalk, otherwise known as the Malecon. After you exit the main gate of the cruise port, you will turn left and walk across a bridge onto the Malecon. Once you reach the Mexican flag, you can walk straight into the city. You should be on Alvarado Street as you walk into the city.
You will need to cross the main road, which is Federal Hwy 1. There is a crosswalk and street lights, but we recommend using caution when crossing the road as it is a very busy road. Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos will be the next street, running parallel to the main road you cross. When you get to Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos, go left to get to the main shopping and dining area. As you continue walking down Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos, it becomes Primera or First Street. If you keep walking down this street, you will make it to Papas and Beer. Papas and Beer is a popular hang-out spot in Ensenada and approximately where the main tourist shopping area ends.
Walk Along the Malecon / Ensenada’s Waterfront Boardwalk
From the cruise port, you can easily make your way to the waterfront boardwalk, commonly known as the Ensenada Malecon. At the Malecon, you will find another Ensenada sign location. This sign is positioned in a way that the cruise ship should be in the background if you choose to get a picture here. If you continue walking the Malecon, you will reach the marina. As you walk the Malecon, you will come across several restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat and stores where you can buy souvenirs to take home.
Ensenada Cruise Port Shore Excursions
There are many things you can do when visiting Ensenada. Most Ensenada shore excursions are a few hours long, so you should make sure to plan accordingly to make it back to the ship before the all aboard time. If you are traveling with someone who has mobility issues, make sure to confirm the tour you choose is able to accommodate someone with limited mobility. Here are some of the popular Ensenada shore excursions you can find offered by the various cruise lines, excursion companies like Viator and Get Your Guide, and local vendors.
Visit La Bufadora Ensenada
La Bufadora is a water geyser, commonly known as a blowhole, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Punta Banda area of Ensenada. La Bufadora in Ensenada is considered to be the second-largest natural blowhole in the world. There are many tours to La Bufadora to choose from. The tours range from a few hours to a whole day. During your tour, you will have time to explore the shopping area at the Bufadora. You will be walking past the shopping area on your way to the Bufadora viewing area. You will also find a few taco restaurants and vendors offering free tequila tasting.
What Types of La Bufadora Excursions Are Available
When deciding on a tour, you will find many to choose from. You can choose one that only visits La Bufadora or one that includes a city highlights tour. A unique Ensenada shore excursion to La Bufadora is one where you can kayak over to La Bufadora. You view La Bufadora at a safe distance but it is an incredible sight to see from a kayak. No matter which tour you pick, a visit to La Bufadora is a great thing to do in Ensenada on a port day.
Tours to La Bufadora are very popular, do not be surprised by the crowds in the area when visiting La Bufadora. Tour companies do try to space out arriving at La Bufadora, but you will have crowds of people visiting on their own as well. The crowd size can also be affected by whether there are one or two cruise ships in port.
We have gone on two different types of tours to La Bufadora, one that only visited La Bufadora and included a taco lunch, and a longer tour that included a city tour. Both tour options are great. Doing a tour of only La Bufadora gave us extra time to walk around, eat tacos, and look at items locals were selling. Going on the tour that included a city tour was fun and we got to do a wine tasting and tour the historic casino and cultural center, Riviera Del Pacifico. This is a spot that was visited by Al Capone.
Get a Taste of Mexico’s Wine Country in Valle de Guadalupe
Valle de Guadalupe, or the Guadalupe Valley, is Mexico’s wine country. If you are a wine lover, consider booking a tour on your port day to Ensenada to visit the wineries of the Guadalupe Valley. The wineries are about a 25-minute drive north of the city of Ensenada. Tours to Guadalupe Valley will include transportation there and back to the cruise ship or your Ensenada pick-up location if you book the tour on your own.
The number of wineries you visit on the tour will depend on the tour you choose. Typically, wine tasting is included in at least one of the wineries you visit. Some wineries may also provide a tour of the grounds where you can learn about the wine-making process. Depending on the length of the tour, lunch may be included in your tour experience.
Explore Ensenada on a City Highlights Tour
A City Highlights Tour will take you to see key spots in Ensenada. Depending on who you book your City Highlights tour with, you will be driven around in an air-conditioned bus or van. Additionally, there are some city tours done in special vehicles like a tuk-tuk or Model T replica car or even a bike riding tour.
City tours will vary depending on the tour provider. You will typically stop at a few locations along your city tour. A couple of the key spots you may explore include Riviera Del Pacifico and Santo Tomas Winery. Some city tours may be more driving around the city with a stop on Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos for shopping. A private tour of the city will allow you to customize your tour based on points of interest you may have. Depending on the time and tour provider, you could have a city tour that will take you to a Tequila tasting.
I went on a city tour in a tuk-tuk with some friends, and it was a lot of fun. It was a different experience from being driven in a bus. Being driven in a tuk-tuk allowed us to go to areas where a bus would not be able to go. We were also able to stop at a local ceviche spot and First Street/Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateos to go shopping.
Be Adventurous, Go On a Zipline Adventure or ATV Tour
If you are looking for something adventurous to do on your port day in Ensenada, ziplining or riding an ATV might be the perfect adventure for you. There are several options for zipline and ATV tours on your visit to Ensenada. The zipline tours have about 5 ziplines to ride and some suspension bridges to cross. You may need to hike a little bit to get to the different zipline platforms. The amount of hiking can vary depending on where you zipline, as there is more than one place to zipline.
You can also ride an ATV during your visit to Ensenada. There are a few different places where you can go for an ATV adventure. For example, you can ride an ATV in the hills of the Guadalupe Valley and enjoy the scenic valley views or choose to visit Las Canadas. Whether you choose to do a zipline tour or an ATV tour, you will have great scenic views and an unforgettable experience.
Go On A Horseback Riding Tour
A unique way to experience Ensenada is to go on a horseback riding tour. Many of the tours in Ensenada take place on the beach, but there are also tours that go through the local hills. Most people can go on a horseback riding excursion, even those who do not have prior experience with horseback riding. Some excursions have combination tours that include a visit to La Bufadora or a city tour along with horseback rides on the beach. When deciding on the horseback riding excursion, read the descriptions of the tours so you can pick the one that best matches what you want to see.
Go Beer and Tequila Tasting in Ensenada
While in Ensenada you could also do a brewery and tequila tour. On a brewery tour, you will visit several breweries in the Ensenada area and get a bite to eat. If you are not interested in visiting breweries, you could do a bar hopping tour and spend time at different bars in Ensenada while enjoying a drink at each bar you visit. Whether you are interested in craft beers or want to visit a few popular bars in Ensenada, you cannot go wrong.
If tequila is more your speed, go on a tour that includes tequila tasting. You can find several Ensenada shore excursions that include tequila tasting. A popular spot to stop at for tequila tasting is Doña Engracia. Not all tours stop at Doña Engracia, but several do. On some of the tours with tequila tastings, you will get to try 3 types of tequila, whereas at Doña Engracia, you will taste 6 different tequilas. We have done a tequila tasting at Doña Engracia during a city tour and on our own. You can also do a Margarita tasting when visiting Doña Engracia. We highly recommend the Margarita tasting at Doña Engracia. The Margaritas are amazing. Adding a margarita tasting while visiting Doña Engracia is $10 USD per person.
Culinary Food Tours in Ensenada
If having a culinary experience during your visit to the port of Ensenada is something you are looking for, then sign up for a Mexican cooking class or a taco tour. You can learn to cook authentic Mexican Cuisine and enjoy time in the Guadalupe Valley while enjoying the best Margaritas in town. Ensenada is also a great place to do a taco tour, as it is well-known for shrimp and fish tacos.
There are several great taco places you can sample on a taco tour in Ensenada. Where you stop along the taco tour excursion will depend on the tour you choose. Some tours may be walking tours, have transportation by bus or van, or can be a bike riding tour with stops at various taco stands. Either way, we recommend getting some tacos during your visit to Ensenada. We never leave Ensenada without getting our taco fix.
Have Lobster in Puerto Nuevo and Visit Rosarito
A great excursion is a visit to the coastal city of Puerto Nuevo. Generally, if you visit Puerto Nuevo, you will also visit Rosarito. If you decide to go on an excursion to Puerto Nuevo and/or Rosarito, you will drive north of Ensenada for about an hour until you reach the Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo area of Baja California. Depending on the tour you book, you may go to Rosarito first to enjoy the town and go shopping. You will then be taken to the town of Puerto Nuevo for a lobster lunch. Puerto Nuevo is a fishing village in Baja, California, known for its unique way of preparing lobster.
If you purchase an excursion to Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo that is not affiliated with the cruise line you are on, be very aware of the time. Since Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo are about an hour’s drive from Ensenada, give yourself enough time to make it back to the ship. Depending on the time of day, you might end up driving in traffic on the way back to the ship.
Purchase an Excursion Through the Cruise Ship
There are many Ensenada shore excursions offered through the cruise lines. You can choose from a variety of city sightseeing tours, culinary experiences, adventure tours, and winery excursions. You can even do a day trip to the town of Rosarito. A plus to going on an excursion through the cruise line is that the ship will wait for you if there are issues with the tour getting back to the ship by the all aboard time. The cruise ship waiting for you to return is a courtesy that is only given to cruise line-affiliated excursions.
Purchase Excursions from Locals or Other Excursion Companies
Many of the excursions from local tour providers and third-party sites like Viator are similar to those you can purchase through the cruise lines. Keep in mind that if you go on an excursion not purchased through the cruise line, you are responsible for getting back to the ship by the all aboard time. Unlike cruise-offered excursions, the ship does not have to wait for you if you are not back by the all aboard time. Make sure your watch or phone is set to the ship’s time so you get back to the ship in time. This way, you avoid being a pier runner or, worse, missing the ship.
Visit Playa Hermosa
You might be wondering if there is a beach near the Ensenada Cruise Port. The quick answer is yes! Playa Hermosa is a nine-minute drive from the Ensenada Cruise Port. You can go on a quick taxi drive to Playa Hermosa and enjoy a beach day. You can sunbathe, snorkel, and also learn to surf. Playa Hermosa has public bathroom facilities. You will also find umbrellas and chairs available for rent. You can grab a snack or bite to eat as food vendors sell food items at the beach. If you are not a fan of buying street food, you can bring a snack to eat or have lunch at a local restaurant. You should bring plenty of water with you as Ensenada can get very hot during parts of the year.
Is it Safe to Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico?
Yes, it is safe to cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. Mexico does not always have the best safety reputation when it comes to traveling. However, Ensenada is a little bit different. It is very close to the US border, about 72 miles from San Diego. You will see many American expats living in the area, many Americans visiting Ensenada, and plenty of friendly locals. American tourism is very important in Ensenada.
As you tour around Ensenada, you will notice that Ensenada has tourist police. Tourist Police patrol the tourist areas and are there to keep the town safe for its tourists. They are also there to help tourists. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it. As with any town, you do need to be aware of your surroundings and be careful. It is a good idea to exercise common sense when it comes to your own safety. Don’t leave your personal bags unattended and be wary of pick pockets. Petty theft can happen in any large city.
What Currency is Used in Ensenada?
The currency used in Ensenada is the Mexican Peso, but US Dollars are widely accepted. It is better to have Mexican Pesos on hand when you are shopping or dining in Ensenada. Street Vendors and food vendors will set an exchange rate that is close to the actual exchange rate. However, the exchange rate that they set will benefit them. Unfortunately, it will cost you more money. If you can stop at an ATM and get Mexican Pesos, you will be better off when paying for items.
Credit cards are also widely accepted at many local shops and food stands. However, you should always have cash on hand just in case credit cards are not accepted.
Enjoy Your Port Day in Ensenada, Mexico!
We have been to Ensenada multiple times and have enjoyed all of our visits. We have gone on both cruise ship sponsored and non-cruise ship sponsored excursions and explored Ensenada on our own. Each time we have gone has been enjoyable and we have had a great time. Whether you explore Ensenada on your own or book an excursion, we hope you enjoy your day visiting the port of Ensenada, Mexico!
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