The Best Things to do in Ensenada Port…according to me
If I'm being brutally honest, I did not love Ensenada when we first met. My first exposure to Ensenada was a long, party-heavy street lined with endless tourist restaurants, loud bars, and pharmacies. And while that is a very real part of this Baja California hotspot, I quickly learned that there is much more to Ensenada, and I found myself truly loving the destination.
A bit of backstory: David and I were on a mission to drive the entire Baja peninsula from Los Cabos up to Tijuana. We made it up as far as Rosarito, before Hurricane Kay tore through the center of the peninsula and cut off the highways, preventing us from being able to return home. So for five days we camped out in Ensenada, growing to learn more about the city and, eventually, falling in love with it.
From the top things to do in Ensenada port, to the best restaurants in Ensenada, and top Ensenada hotels, there are many reasons to love this seafront city.
So let's go on a little journey, shall we? I'm ready to show you the best things to do in Ensenada port, and why this northern Baja city will always have a piece of my heart.
How to Get to Ensenada
The easiest way to get to Ensenada is *not* the way we got there. You do not need to make the 20+-hour drive from Los Cabos. Instead, you can just fly into Tijuana and either take a taxi, shuttle, or rent a car and drive the less-than-two-hour trip south along the coast.
There is a toll road that runs along the coastline from Tijuana to Ensenada, but you can also take the free road, which is slightly longer and a little less scenic.
You can also take the ABC bus service from Tijuana to Ensenada, which has multiple departures a day.
Is Ensenada Safe?
Ensenada is a very calm and safe city with low crime. That said, if you go looking for trouble in *any* city around the world, you are sure to find it. Be smart about how you travel in general. Don't buy drugs. Don't get too drunk. And don't wander around being obnoxious.
Best Things to Do in Ensenada Port
Ensenada was founded in the late 19th century as a port city on the Bahia de Todos Santos. It quickly rose to become a top tourist destination, known for its beaches, mountains, and attractions. Today it is a thriving tourist hotspot, both among U.S. and Canadian travelers, as well as domestic travelers from Mexico. One of the things that made me fall in love with Ensenada is that there does not seem to be division between gringo tourists and residents. I love a destination in Mexico where everyone hangs together, and that is definitely Ensenada.
Stroll Avenida Lopez Mateos
This is the main tourist street in Ensenada, known for its party bars, restaurants, and high energy. At first, this avenue is what I liked least about Ensenada, but as I spent more time there and saw how much there was to do around this main avenue, I started to like it a lot more.
I also found that people in Ensenada were among some of the friendliest I've ever met anywhere in my travels. We felt so welcome in this coastal city, and it was wonderful to meet both people who lived there and travelers from California and beyond.
Play in the Ventana al Mar Fountains
The Ventana al Mar is the waterfront plaza underneath the massive, swaying Mexican flag. We happened to be strolling the Malecon when the plaza's in-ground fountains started erupting to music. The synchronized water and light show was really entertaining, and it was fun to watch kids running through the water to cool off on an exceptionally warm day.
Learn the History
Ensenada used to be a hotspot for gambling in Mexico, until it became outlawed in the 1930s. In fact, the Riviera del Pacifico used to be called Hotel Playa Ensenada and was a former casino, allegedly frequented by Al Capone. Today it's the cultural center and a museum.
Visit Valle de Guadalupe
One of my most favorite party tricks is telling people all about Mexican wine. It's delicious. And Mexico has some of the best wineries in the world. Valle de Guadalupe is probably the most famous of Mexico's wine regions, and it's about a 30 minute drive from Ensenada.
We had the opportunity to spend two nights at the luxurious El Cielo winery, drinking its fabulous constellation-inspired wines, swimming in the pool, and luxuriating in our spacious villa. This winery is absolutely a must when visiting Ensenada, but the entire wine region has hundreds of farm-to-table restaurants, boutique hotels, and many vineyards to explore.
Drink at the Oldest Cantina
Ensenada has its fair share of bars, but Hussong's Cantina is definitely worth a stop because it is the oldest cantina in Baja. Founded in 1892, the bar still retains its historic vibe with a long wooden bar, peanut shells on the floor, and, allegedly, the place where the margarita was created in the 1940s.
Drive to Rosarito
I also really loved our excursion to Rosarito, which, in my opinion, has better beaches than Ensenada. On the way back, pop into Puerto Nuevo to sample the fresh, juicy lobsters, which are wildly affordable and fresh.
Best Restaurants in Ensenada
One thing Ensenada does incredibly well is its restaurants. We ate exceptionally well in Ensenada, and we barely scratched the surface with what this city has to offer. But here are a few of my highlights.
Tacos Fenix
Probably the best fish and shrimp tacos I've ever had. This humble street cart is popping by 9am, dishing out, fresh, crispy battered fish and shrimp, wrapped in fluffy flour tortillas. You fix the tacos yourself with whatever toppings you want, from cabbage and pickled onions to lettuce, chipotle crema, and a squeeze of lime. In my opinion, these are the best tacos in Ensenada.
Il Massimo
This cozy, casual Italian Ensenada restaurant is helmed by a chef straight out of Rome. And you can tell. His Cacio e Pepe was next level. We also ordered the tagliatelle bolognese and it was fantastic.
Tacos El Chente
This super casual taco spot has fantastic tacos al pastor and tacos arrachera. Prices are cheap, sodas are in glass bottles, and service is fast.
La Cevicheria Oyster Bar
Located in the new Villa shopping plaza, La Cevicheria Oyster Bar has delicious fresh ceviche and tostadas. They also have some of the best micheladas in town. It’s a wonderful Ensenada restaurant option.
La Guerrerense
Home to both a restaurant and a cart, these seafood tostadas are next level. Skip the restaurant and go straight to the cart, but go early because they run out fast.
Ensenada Hotels
We had the opportunity to stay at several hotels in Ensenada as we were hiding out waiting for it to become safe to head back down the peninsula. Here were a few of our favorites.
Hotel Coral y Marina
Probably one of the best resorts in Ensenada, Mexico, Hotel Coral y Marina is a waterfront hotel has spacious rooms, fantastic dining, and lots of great facilities. It’s a little bit outside of downtown along the main highway and has wonderful views over the marina.
Best Western El Cid
A modest, but comfortable, hotel, the Best Western El Cid is directly on Avenida Lopez Mateos. Our room was comfortable and quiet and we loved the location, which was walking distance to most restaurants and bars. It’s a great option if you’re looking for cheap hotels in Ensenada.
El Cielo
This gorgeous, five-star resort sits amid rolling hills and expansive vineyards. El Cielo has serious Tuscany vibes here, with individual villas, dusty dirt paths, ponds, and pools. The food here is incredible, and the wine is some of the best you can drink in the region.