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This extraordinarily nice city is located 70 miles South of the international Border (90 minutes drive from San Diego CA). Is Baja's third largest City; if you haven't been there, you should go. If you have, surely you'll enjoy a return visit.
Ensenada presents a big vacation package. There are excellent stores and restaurants, plus a lot of freebies like La Bufadora, the sea geyser at the end of Punta Banda, and the unsurpassed bay view from Chapultepec hill, the crowing jewel at the north end of town.
If you are kinda stingy with your pesos, you can take the free road to Ensenada. It can be a pleasurable drive, but the toll road more closely resembles U. S. highways. If you take the coast hugging toll road you are going to pass through three tollbooths. The fees keep changing, but you should be able to make the whole trip for a couple of dollars in tolls.
If you take the free road (and its been used for years by thousands) you'll have a beautiful drive, mostly along the coast although there are areas where it will take you inland somewhat and you even have to climb a mountain pass. Whichever road you take the trip can be divine.
HISTORY:
Ensenada, discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrilho and Sebastian Vizcaino in 1592, was named "Ensenada of Todos los Santos." The first mission was established in 1773 and some other ranches were settled along the coast and up into the mountains.
In the late 1800's the gold miners turned the area into a boomtown, but after the mines were depleted the area went back into an agriculture state. During this century, Ensenada has grown steadily up to be considered one of the most important seaports in Mexico, known as "The beauty Cinderella of the Pacific." Ensenada conserves a lot of historical atmosphere...
Its warm Mediterranean weather, friendly atmosphere and accessibility by land, air or sea, have made Ensenada a favorite tourist destination for many years and Mexico's second most-visited port for major cruise lines and pleasure boats.
Places to go:
BEACHES
For water watchers, Ensenada and the curvy coastline that precedes it can't be beat. If you enjoy quiet solitude, Estero Beach, six miles south of Ensenada on the road to La Paz, is the place. Or jump to the action in downtown Ensenada. The downtown area of Ensenada is blessed with several, small but nice beaches, ideal for horse-back ridding.
SHOPPING
Bargain hunting in Ensenada is easy. Ensenada is bustling with wide Avenues crammed with shoppers scrambling for Baja's famous bargains. Everybody has them. Just take a look at the shops along First Street. It's a colorful slice of Mexican curio life. Shops here abound in gift items in the "under $5.00" category. For items a cut above the curio class, take a meander down Avenida Ruiz. You'll find dazzling quality gifts for every description. Sidewalk cafes vie for your patronage... and there is nothing quite like a late afternoon lunch with a refreshing glass of wine or an icy cold beer at one of these establishments. The gentle sea breezes rustling through the leaves of the boulevard while you dine is an unforgettable experience. When you finish your shopping, take a timeout for a cool one at the famous Hussong's cantina. It's a raucous place but fun. A trip to Ensenada is not complete without a visit to Hussong's, cantina founded in 1892.
CONVENTION CENTER
Take a tour through the historic ex-casino Riviera del Pacifico. This is the heart of Ensenada's social and convention activities. It's a grand structure with its majestic ballrooms and former casino areas. There are exciting murals and simple breathtaking chandeliers.
There is an inscription on a drawing found in the Rivera del Pacifico that reads "this is the end of the trail of the house of your heart's desire". And so it is. This gleaming white architectural wonder is located at Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas and Av. Riviera in Ensenada.
WINERIES
Mexican wines, which have garnered numerous international awards over the past five years, are just beginning to capture the attention of an appreciative U.S. audience. Seven wineries, located in Baja's "Bordeaux Belt" of sheltered valleys near Ensenada, produce almost 90 percent of Mexico's wines.
A tour through Ensenada's Bodegas de Santo Tomas (winery) is certainly recommended. You'll marvel at the history contained in this old building. Eventually you'll wind up in the tasting room.
Inexpensive tastings and winery tours are offered six days a week by several of the Guadalupe Valley and Ensenada wineries. Others can be arranged by appointment. The L.A. Cetto winery also offers daily tours at its impressive facility in downtown Tijuana in addition to tours at its Guadalupe Valley vineyards. Baja California Tours of San Diego provides a variety of guided Baja winery tours that includes transportation to and from San Diego.
FISH TACOS & THE BLACK MARKET
If your taste runs to tacos - there are plenty of taco stands to choose from. You simply must experience one of Ensenada's famous fish tacos. The Fish Market (Called the "Black Market") was funded in 1956, since then is one of the typical places to visit because of the fresh seafood & taco stands. (Centrally located at downtown entrance).
DINNING & DANCING
And of course Ensenada is well blessed with fine dining establishments, cocktail lounges, and - oh, yes - discos! Like your music loud? Papas and Beer, Langostin & much more! Enjoy a flavored Margarita & Let's Rock'n Roll!!!
LA BUFADORA
La Bufadora is about thirty minutes from Ensenada, in a seemingly remote section of Pacific coastline. If you drive through Ensenada, staying on the main road through town, you'll see signs to La Bufadora. Just follow the signs through the countryside dotted with farms and campgrounds, along the rugged coastline, up, around and down until you reach the end of the road. There are several shops & restaurants. Also, you will find three observation decks and plenty of steps and short walls to sit on, safe from the Pacific 'rain'. If you like to get into the thick of things, though, go to the middle observation deck and hang over the wall with everyone else. From there you can look down about 45 feet into what looks like a rock crevice about 10 feet wide. The crevice, however, is actually the mouth of a cave. As the waves receed from the cave it fills with air. When the waves come back in, the water entering the cave compresses the air until it explodes, blowing the water as high as 90 feet into the air. Granted, that isn't a terribly scientific explanation, but it gives you an idea. How high the water shoots up depends on the tide conditions. You might wait five or six minutes between swells and if you're impatient you might give up and walk away just before the show starts.
WHALE WATCHING
Every year between he month of December and January the Wales begin to arrive proceeding from the cold waters of Alaska. The main objective for these enormous animals is to produce during winter in the warm and calm waters of the bays "Ojo de Liebre" and "San Ignacio" Located in Baja California "Sur" (South), returning North in the springtime.
To do this they have to travel 20,000 km, according to the experts it's the longest journey any mammal travels. Once installed in what will be their home for a few months, the whales begin their courtship and mating phase. After their calf's are born they begin to prepare them for their first great adventure, meaning the long trip back they will have to make to the cold and icy waters of Alaska.
The museum of Natural Science " Caracol " in Ensenada, organizes a whale watching program, called "Ballenas en la Bahia" ("Whales at the Bay"). They consist of guided tours on fishing or passenger boats, they are held mainly during the weekend (you do need reservations, (61) 78-71-92). The tour lasts approximately 4 hours, departure is around 8:30 to 9:00a.m from the sport fishing docks. The tours includes going around the islands of "Todos Santos"(all Saints) from there you can admire other whales migrating, you can also admire other species that are native to this area such as pelicans, sea gulls, dolphins and seals on the island. You also get to listen to one of thee museums oceanographer's or marine biologists narrate in detail about the whale's migration and the natural wildlife surrounding the area.
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