Ensenada, Mexico is a small town on Baha California, the peninsula of land belonging to Mexico, just south of the state of California. It is a popular destination for cruise ships and it has a bustling tourist shopping center.
The cruise ships dock at a pier about a half mile outside of the main shopping district. The cruise terminal is pretty basic, a small building with restroom facilities, a parking lot, and a few picnic tables. There were booths for the local offerings, although during our port stop we did not see any vendors selling excursions, handicrafts, or food here.
The shoreline in this area is quite rocky and very industrial – BP Oil has a production facility nearby – so there were no water activities close to the ship. But it is a popular spot for sea lions! We heard them barking as soon as we pulled in to the bay. I spotted a dozen or so sea lions sleeping on a dock a few hundred yards away from the ship. There was also one massive fellow who climbed onto the front of our cruise ship’s keel and spen the afternoon sunning himself there.
After disembarking the ship, there are local shuttle buses that will drop you off in Ensenada’s central shopping district if you’d prefer not to walk. It costs $4 per person roundtrip . There was no waiting for a bus; they leave for the town or vice versa as soon as they have passengers ready to go.
The buses drop passengers off at the public park. Remember this location, as it is where you must catch the return trip back to the cruise ship. From here there are shops along the malecon (boardwalk) and along Avenida Prolongacion Castillo running parallel to the waterfront. You can also cross the main highway and walk along Calles Primera and Segunda. There are dozens of small shops here selling Mexican crafts. Many of the stores are selling very similar items, so if you don’t see the exact color or size option you were hoping for, keep walking. There are a few unique shops that we especially enjoyed. There is an art studio featuring the works of seven local artist. Some of the pieces were quite good, and there was a nice mixture of styles and materials. We also found a cut-glass studio with many intricate figurines and stained glass hangings. The craftsman had a workshop set up in the back of the store and it was fun to see some of the pieces he was currently working on.
For those that prefer a hike, there is a large hill and public park on the western side of Ensenada overlooking the town and the sea. It is a two mile walk from the cruise terminal or one mile from the shuttle bus stop. There are about three miles of trails with the highest point being 360 feet above the town.
If you would like to have some authentic Mexican food while you are off the ship, there is no shortage of choices. We saw several restuarants lining the streets offering tacos. We chose Ghirabaldi’s, located on the western end of Calle Primera. They served tacos on your choice of flour or corn handmade tortillas. The price was about what you’d expect at a nicer restauarant in the USA – $16 for a plate of three tacos, served with chips and salsa. The guacamole was an extra $10, but worth it as it was some of the best I’ve ever had.
Overall, we found Ensenada to be a typical cruise port town. The locals are aware of the cruise ships’ schedule and cater towards tourists. When a ship is in town, vendors line the streets, restaurants are in full gear, and hawkers beckon you from every corner. But we had the impression that once the cruise ship leaves, the town returns to its sleepy routine to await the next ship. For adventures outside of town, you can book the typical shore excursions: ziplining, wine touring, horseback riding, or a local food tour.
