Cruises to Ensenada

408 Reviews
Ensenada (Photo:alysta/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Ensenada

Ensenada, known as Baja's "Love Boat" port, is no longer a sleepy resort town. Each year, some 4.5 million visitors descend on this seaside city 68 miles from the border, joining 325,000 residents. Fishing, processing and shipping have made Ensenada Mexico's second busiest port.



It's quite a change from 1542 when Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into the sheltered bay in his quest for the mythical Northwest Passage, or sixty years later, when Sebastian Vizcaino named the area Ensenada de Todos los Santos after All Saints' Day. Over the centuries, many have left their mark here, from Spanish missionaries and Russian settlers to gold miners and gamblers.



The result is eclectic mix -- from Mexico's oldest winery and Baja's first cantina to a plaza featuring statues of national heroes. In addition to expected attractions like the large tourist shopping area and fish market, Ensenada also offers the unexpected - an elegant Prohibition-era casino and a blowhole that spews water sixty feet into the air.

Ensenada is an informal city dependent on fishing, shipping and tourism. Among the highlights are fresh seafood, cantinas, crafts shopping, sport fishing and winter whale watching. Beaches are located north and south of the city.

  • More about Ensenada

  • Why Cruise to Ensenada?

  • Ensenada Cruise Port Facilities?

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Ensenada Cruise

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More about Ensenada

Why Cruise to Ensenada?

Pros:

Ensenada offers a killer food scene if you know where to look, from ceviche carts to margarita joints

Cons:

Be wary: If you get dropped off at a local beach away from town, you might be walking back

Bottom Line:

The port's main shopping and dining district is full of diversions, if you don't mind a hard sell

Ensenada Cruise Port Facilities?

Ensenada's cruise dock features a market with numerous vendors. In addition to souvenirs, there's a pharmacy and liquor store.

Getting Around?

The cruise ship pier is within easy walking distance of Avenida Lopez Mateos, the main tourist zone for shopping and dining. Alternatively, taxis and shuttles are available at the dock to take passengers on the short ride downtown. Taxis are also available at corner stands along Avenida Lopez Mateos.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Mexico's currency is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. In addition to the peso, US dollars are widely accepted in Baja, as are credit cards. ATM machines for withdrawing pesos are available in several downtown banks.

Language?

Spanish is the official language, with English spoken throughout the tourist areas.

Where You're Docked?

Cruise ships share an industrial harbor with commercial and sport fishing fleets, shipping containers and tankers.


Ensenada Cruise Reviews
We choose this Princess cruise because it went to San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada. We did a winery tour sponsored by the ship, in Ensenada and if was great. Our tour guide, Hilce, was phenomenal. We enjoyed tRead More
ikamm1
Ensenada was a great stop for shopping. We also had lunch at Mahi Mahi - fantastic seafood!Read More
DogGirl64
Ensenada was okay. Our guide was super dope. Zip line course was cool. Blow hole wasn’t worth the trip but the booze and food was good so, you know. It was what it was.Read More
HueyRRuckus
Having visited Ensenada, the blow hole, and surrounding area nearly a decade ago we have generally viewed Ensenada as a throw away port and remained on board...our mistake! One can simply walk into downtown EnseRead More
Raybit

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