Are you looking to explore Ensenada on your cruise? This guide will help you navigate the port, find exciting activities, and score great deals on souvenirs.
We went to Ensenada on the Carnival Miracle cruise https://www.carnival.com
I always start by asking—what kind of vacation do you want? Are you the early-bird, go-go’s, or a relaxed wanderer? Just a heads up: I’m 100% a go-go vacationer. So when you see my posts, know they’re gonna be a lot. That’s just how I roll.
Ensenada is a laid-back port city on the Pacific side of Baja California with ocean views, great food, and a chill vibe that’s easy to settle into. The waterfront Malecón is where it all happens—fishing boats coming in, street vendors, people-watching, and some of the best seafood tacos you’ll ever have.
One cool spot to check out is the Riviera de Ensenada. It used to be a fancy casino back in the day, and now it’s a cultural center with old-school architecture, pretty gardens, and a little local charm. It’s also said to be the real birthplace of the margarita. Yep—according to the story, a bartender whipped up a new drink for Margarita Henkel, the daughter of a German ambassador, and just like that, the iconic mix of tequila, lime, and triple sec was born. Whether or not that’s true, it’s a fun piece of cocktail history.
If you’re into local culture, there are a couple of small museums nearby that dive into the area’s past. And if you’re lucky enough to visit during the season, you might spot gray whales migrating just off the coast.
Ensenada is on the Pacific coast of Baja California, and boasts a rich past with the gold rush boom in the mid-19th century and turned it into a bustling port.
If you’re in Ensenada, you’ll know it—there’s a massive Mexican flagpole that marks the spot like a beacon. One of the main attractions is a quick bus ride out to La Bufadora, a natural blowhole that shoots ocean into the air. Just a heads up: the walkway leading there is packed with vendors who will definitely try to oversell you (and yes, it gets annoying). Beyond that, you’ve got options—pristine beaches, whale-watching tours, or you can head inland to the Valle de Guadalupe, where you’ll find everything from boutique wines to locally made olive oil.
Arriving at the Port
For me, I am always eager to explore, and disembark early. However, note that most shops open later and tours often have specific meeting times. We got off early and went through the security building to start exploring and realized the excursion we booked through Carnival was next to the boat and we had to go through security and get back next to the boat to wait for the director of our excursion.
If you are headed to town, skip the shuttle ride and enjoy a 10 minute walk past 2 Ensenada signs. It is only $4 for a round trip ride, but it is not a bad walk. You also get to walk by the giant flag pole that is visible from across the city and serves as a convenient meeting spot. Just down a little further is the fish market and the large boat statue with a woman and her child looking in the distance for the fishermen, that was created as a monument to the fishers who lost their lives. This route avoids the industrial areas and leads directly to the bustling downtown.
Shopping and Excursions
If you take the shuttle they drop you off at the heart of all the vendors selling their excursion. Remember their prices will almost always be cheaper than the cruise ship, but you have to be able to manage your time here as a lot of things are 45 minutes away by bus, taxi or van.
One of the most popular spots to check out just outside of Ensenada is La Bufadora—a natural blowhole where waves crash into the rocks and shoot water high into the air. It’s definitely something to see at least once. To get there, you’ll walk through a long stretch of vendors selling just about everything under the sun. It’s colorful and busy, but fair warning—they can be a little pushy.
We went, paid the small entrance fee, saw the blowhole, and for us, it was a one-and-done. That said, plenty of people love it and make it a regular stop. To each their own! Just sharing so you know what to expect. Oh—and yes, you’ll need to pay to use the bathroom and for toilet paper, so keep that in mind.
You can also spend the day at Las Canadas Campamento doing ziplinning, a ropes course and much more. It was a good distance from the cruise ship. But it was one of the best places I have been to for a ropes course and ziplinning and we have done it a lot.
If you choose to skip these longer excursions you can go to the downtown area that consists of many businesses that are selling t-shirts, food, hoodies, leather goods, magnets, and much more. Remember, bargaining is expected! You get a hoodie for $40, or if you talk them down we got them for $25. $40 for a cheap hoodie is outrageously expensive. Magnets are $5, but if you offer cash right then I had a few take $3. Tshirts are $20 and I got them down to $10. Now everyone is different, but this is just to share with you some ideas on what we found.
My favorite store was this cooking store that was selling tortilla presses, hand carved wooden spoons, and tortilla warmers. I just wish I would have remembered that most places here only wanted cash. So I had to get cash to pay them. They take Pessos or American Dollars.
I was also pretty determined to find horchata and churros. We found churros from street vendors that were walking around and selling little bags for 2/$5 for mini churros and they only took cash.
If you’re looking for a pharmacy, you’re in luck—there’s one on just about every corner. After you’ve grabbed your medicine essentials and spent about an hour shopping along First Street—officially known as Avenida Adolfo López Mateos—that’s when the real fun starts: take a tour. Honestly, doing two tours in Ensenada is totally worth it. Each one gave us a completely different experience, and together they made us really enjoy this port.
Our Segway tour was a fun way to cruise through the city, especially since we’re total Segway novices. We made several stops, including the local fish market, and one of the highlights was the Riviera de Ensenada—a historic building that used to be a fancy casino. Today, it’s a cultural center with old-school charm and beautiful grounds. That’s also where we got the quick version of the margarita origin story. If you saw my earlier post, you already know the drink might have been born right there. True or not, it’s a fun piece of local lore.
But the tour that really stole the show for us was the Biking and Tacos Tour.
The couple who ran it were amazing. They also introduced us to taco spots the locals actually eat at—places we never would’ve found just searching online. And when I say these were some of the best tacos I’ve ever had, I’m not exaggerating.
Our first stop was for fish tacos. Now listen—I don’t eat fish. I don’t like anything that lives in water. But the couple swore they were incredible, and since the tacos are included in the tour, I went for it. We had fish, shrimp, barbacoa, and carnitas tacos… and somehow, the fish ones were my favorite. I know. I’m still shocked.
We also stopped at a small coffee shop for a cold chocolate drink—think hot chocolate, but chilled. It was rich and refreshing and exactly what we needed after all the tacos. From there, we hit a tiny olive oil and wine shop where everything was sourced about an hour away. You can sample all the infused oils (which we definitely did), and yes, I brought home three bottles.
Now getting back to the ship was super easy. You pass through one checkpoint at the edge of the industrial area and then another security stop next to the boat. Both were quick, and we were back onboard without a hitch.
Whatever you do enjoy your Ensenada adventure!
