Sailing to Ensenada

Table Of Content

• Hit the Beach
• Don't forget to explore America's Finest City before you depart on your San Diego cruise!
• Top Food and Drink Spots Near the Ensenada Cruise Port
• Top Things to Do and Events in San Diego
• Top San Diego Cruise Destinations Departing 2024
• Golf by the ocean in Bajamar
• What is the best time of year to visit Ensenada?
• Night Mexican Riviera & Sea Of CortezDetails

Ensenada is one of the best places to get a glimpse of the beautiful Mexican culture as well as eat tasty seafood tacos, drink refreshing margaritas and experience exciting excursions. If the beach is on your priority list, one of the closest options to port is Malecon de Playa Hermosa. A short 9 minute taxi ride away, you’ll have a great time here snorkeling, learning how to surf, or just relaxing in the sun. Taxis and Uber will be your best bet for getting around beyond Ensenada downtown. If you want to head to farther away excursions like La Bufadora, wineries and Las Canadas adventure park you can easily grab a taxi or Uber.

Hit the Beach

This excursion offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch and feed wild animals like big cats. Pai Pai offers 40 activities built around ecological and sustainable tourism. The biggest attractions here are wild animal feeding and interactions, but you can also participate in zip lining, tequila tasting, off-road Rzr driving, and Go-Kart Racing.

Don't forget to explore America's Finest City before you depart on your San Diego cruise!

This coastal city is located about 80 miles from San Diego in the northern part of the Mexican state of Baja California. Waves breaking against the bottom of a cliff shoot water into the air up to 65 feet. Kayak excursions to La Bufadora blowhole are well reviewed.

Top Food and Drink Spots Near the Ensenada Cruise Port

Located a short distance south of Ensenada, this laidback beach town is perfect for sunbathing or doing water sports like surfing, bodyboarding, and kitesurfing. The main downtown area of Ensenada is an easy 15 minute walk from the cruise port. There are many taxis near the port area if you want to catch a ride and save your legs for walking downtown. The market has multiple restaurants and street vendors serving up delicious mariscos including shrimp and fish tacos, ceviche, tostadas, whole fried fish and shrimp or mixed seafood cocktails.

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Posted: Sun, 12 Dec 2021 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Top Things to Do and Events in San Diego

This makes perfect sense once you lose all track of time watching the waves roll endlessly from the deep of the Pacific Ocean. ABC buses run from Ensenada to Tijuana every hour and cost about $10 per person. ABC offers nice busses and typically show movies during your travel – a nice mindless distraction to pass the time. There are a couple of places to pick up these busses in Ensenada, so be sure to plan your route to the bus station and give yourself enough time before departure.

Top San Diego Cruise Destinations Departing 2024

This video is a 3-minute introduction to the sights of Baja California and Ensenada. These cruises are selling out fast, get them while you can. Hashtag your cruise photos #carnival and #ensenada— you may see them right here.

Old Town San Diego is the perfect destination for celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style! This charming neighborhood is steeped in history and culture, with brightly colored buildings, lively street... The drive is along the coast most of the way with endless ocean views from the cliffs above. Much of this coastline had been heavily developed in recent years.

What is the best time of year to visit Ensenada?

The “Banderas Monumentales Project” flag pole is over 300 feet tall and the flag measures 50 meters (164 feet)  long by 28 meters (92 feet) wide. The bar serves large bags of peanuts to patrons, resulting in a unique peanut shell floor. Enjoy their famous margarita, listen to a Mexican band, or watch your favorite sporting event on the cantina’s big screens. The official language spoken in Ensenada, Mexico is Spanish. However, many locals also speak English (at least enough to communicate with tourists).

Night Mexican Riviera & Sea Of CortezDetails

San Diego is home to a variety of cruise options, from the Mexican Riviera's sunny beaches and Hawaii's picturesque landscapes to voyages through the renowned Panama Canal. You’ll also find a market selling souvenirs right by the cruise pier, along with a liquor store and pharmacy. Experience the culture of Ensenada on a visit to the Riviera Center, which is located in a former hotel and casino. The building features stunning architecture with ornate detailing on its impressive woodwork and beautiful tiles.

If you're looking for the best 2024 Mexico cruises, consider departing from San Diego. Cruising around the Mexican Riviera from San Diego is a fantastic way to explore culture, history, and adventure while visiting stunning places like Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. For that classic reminder of Old Town San Diego, try taking your trip from late November until February when there's more sunshine. The official currency in Ensenada is the Mexican Peso, though many businesses will accept the U.S.

Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. As we mentioned earlier in this post, you can’t miss the giant Mexican Flag in Ensenada.

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There's also a Five Star parking lot directly across the street from the terminal. For more information on parking, check-in and security, visit San Diego Cruise Ship Resources. If you don’t want to walk to town (which is roughly a mile away from the pier), simply hop on one of the many shuttle buses that run between the cruise pier and downtown Ensenada.

Traversing along the San Diego River from Ocean Beach to Sea World, this bike route includes two paths plus connections to the Mission Bay Bike Route. Along the way view estuary habitats, one of San Diego's dog beaches, places to eat and the Ocean Beach pier. From a ship that sits on dry land to an otherworldly canyon trail to a park that reaches far back into fascinating history, here are seven of San Diego’s most surprising and inspiring sights. Having not been to Ensenada for a number of years, I was surprised to see how much the city had changed. The coastline just north of the city has significantly more development than I remember and we stumbled upon some amazing restaurants.

THE 25 BEST Cruises to Ensenada 2024 with Prices Ensenada Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic

Table Of Content

• Best Cruise Lines Departing from San Diego in 2024
• Celebrity Cruises
• Try Famous Local Dishes at La Guerrerense
• Whale Watching Tour
• Mexican Wine Tasting
• Fish Tacos at Mercado de Mariscos/Mercado Negro
• Disney Cruises to Ensenada

Many Ensenada attractions including excellent souvenir shopping, food and museums are within comfortable walking distance of the cruise ship terminal. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do in Ensenada on a cruise, including shore excursions and inexpensive or free activities. You’ll also learn everything you need to know about visiting the Ensenada cruise port for the day and get answers to commonly asked questions. Ensenada is a city of more than 500,000 people located in Baja California, Mexico’s west coast. It’s a charming Mexican city with great food and plenty of nightlife, but it’s also a cruise ship destination and a focal point for the Valle de Guadalupe, its nearby wine region. For a luxurious and unforgettable journey, choose to take one of the Panama Canal cruises offered by Holland America.

Best Cruise Lines Departing from San Diego in 2024

Mercado de Mariscos (also called Ensenada Mercado Negro) is located next door to the large seafood market on the waterfront. Ensenada is known as the birthplace of fish tacos, so you won’t want to miss the chance to sample the famous local fare. There are food stands throughout Ensenada, but this street food stand, in particular, has the Anthony Bourdain seal of approval. There are several different packages for animal experiences, so be sure you purchase the correct ticket for the animal experience you want to have. You can book a package from Pai Pai that includes transportation from the cruise terminal, but be prepared that it takes minutes to get here.

Celebrity Cruises

Considered to be the country's wine capital, Ensenada has more than 25,000 acres of vineyards and is responsible for 90% of Mexico's wine production. With mild weather year-round, more than 70 miles of pristine beaches, world-class attractions, captivating arts and entertainment, and endless dining and shopping options, there’s plenty to see and do. Plus, the proximity of the cruise ship terminal, located on the Port of San Diego's dynamic waterfront, means that you’re within minutes of a host of great activities sure to please the entire family. San Diego offers a unique and extremely convenient airport-to-seaport experience. The San Diego International Airport is only three scenic miles northwest of the cruise ship terminal and the historic Santa Fe Depot is within walking distance for those arriving by train. Many hotels and businesses offer deals specifically for cruise passengers.

Try Famous Local Dishes at La Guerrerense

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. 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. Among the highlights are fresh seafood, cantinas, crafts shopping, sport fishing and winter whale watching. This fishing town, just south of the border on the Baja California Peninsula, has become a primary port of call for three- and four-day cruises to Mexico.

Whale Watching Tour

We all gravitate towards the activities that help us disconnect from the stresses of life. Before you leave on your fabulous cruise, make sure to take some time to explore San Diego. The city is full of world class attractions like the San Diego Zoo (one of the best zoos in the country), Balboa Park, the LEGOLAND California.

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. Sailing to Ensenada is a fun, all-day sail from San Diego.

In addition to souvenirs, there's a pharmacy and liquor store. One of the top things to try in Ensenada is the Baja fish taco, which consists of deep-fried fish placed within a corn tortilla and topped with a tangy white sauce and a heap of cabbage. The secret to this simple yet delicious dish is in the white sauce.

Experience a taste of what it is like to be a Mexican cowboy at Rancho Los Bandidos. This excursion has amazing reviews and is located a short 20 minute ride from the cruise port. The best way to experience wine country is to take a full-day wine tour.

Disney Cruises to Ensenada

Beautiful historic neighborhoods like Gaslamp Quarter offer the perfect place to grab an excellent meal or a cocktail and some live music during your stay. Enjoying the streets of downtown Ensenada is a great way to spend time in this port. You can enjoy the atmosphere and spend as many (or few!) pesos as you’d like. If you love chocolate, come learn about the superfood for the ancient Mayans at the “Bean to Belly” workshop. For $35 for adults and $17.50 for children under 12 years, during this delicious excursion you can learn the history and origins of chocolate from cacao trees to beans to tasty treat. You’ll also get to make your own healthy dark chocolate drink.

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Most of the exhibits are in Spanish but tour guides are great at offering English explanations and hands-on learning opportunities. Entrance fees to Caracol are inexpensive (less than $5 per person, around 60 pesos). As anyone who’s been to Ensenada will tell you, one of the more memorable sights of the city is the enormous Mexican flag that flies near the harbor.

For those arriving by boat, Ensenada has two main marinas, Marina Coral and Cruiseport Village Marina. While we’ve enjoyed Marina Coral in the past, this time to Ensenada, we chose to stay at Cruiseport Village. Marina Coral is just north of Ensenada attached to a wonderful hotel with all the amenities of a resort. Cruiseport Village is inside Ensenada’s harbor right in the middle of town. This central location provides the ability to walk into town and explore the city just a few minutes away from your boat. If you’re looking for a beach experience during your time in Ensenada, Rosarito Beach is a great one to visit.

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A wide variety of shore excursions are offered in Ensenada. You will be able to see the port and the cruise ship from the interstate. Traveling From the North- Take Interstate 1 (I-1) Southbound. Sailing provides the time and space for reflection that we often struggle to find in our lives.

Like many Mexican towns, you can find just about anything by asking around for it. But in Ensenada’s case, you feel less like a tourist target walking around town. You are always invited in to just about every place you pass, but never feel dragged in or pestered. If you’re up for an active excursion, you’ll find plenty of adventure about 30 minutes south of downtown Ensenada.