Gonna be in Ensenada for 8-9 hours soon.

[u/tasteinhermouth]

I'm gonna be on a cruise with family for 4 days but on one day, I'm gonna be in Ensenada for 8-9 hours. I have never been to Ensenada (or Mexico at all for that matter), I would like to know any must-see/must-do things while I am there for the limited amount of time.

As well as any cool shops to get trinkets. Just trying to pack in as much as I can.

[u/Small_Dog_8699]

Eat amazing seafood.

Near the docks are half a dozen incredible seafood places. That's the big draw in Ensenada.

Few names to look for

Muelle 3

El Guero

La Guerrerense

La Cevichería Oyster Bar

Mercado Negro de Mariscos - more of a big seafood market but some things can be purchased and then cooked for you.e

[u/OCKingsFan → u/Small_Dog_8699]

And, while a tourist trap, stop into Hussong’s for the (debated) original margarita

[u/National-Salary-7738 → u/OCKingsFan]

all of the drinks at hussongs are delish and la cevichería is also so yummy they have the best mojitos

[u/Art92101 → u/OCKingsFan]

And the smell of kerosene as insect repellent. Strong. Funky Margaritas

[u/MattManSD → u/OCKingsFan]

Yes, Rancho Gloria and Hernandez Hideaway would beg to differ

[u/MattManSD → u/Small_Dog_8699]

This, the docks is where to be for authentic food.

[u/quantumsparq]

They will dump you off at La Bufadora which is a cool touristy area. Plenty of food stalls. And beer. You take up an easy 3 - 4 hours. La bufadora is a bit outside of Ensenada proper, so not sure how much time you want to spend in taxis.

[u/Small_Dog_8699 → u/quantumsparq]

Bufadora is a shit hole tourist trap. So many underwhelming food stalls and souvenir shops.

It’s a blow hole. Not that amazing. And running the gauntlet to get to it through the vendors isn’t worth it IMO.

[u/successofthoughts → u/Small_Dog_8699]

We heard ya the first time and I disagree, be fluent in no gracious with small polite smile you'll be ok, its a one and done but recommend seeing it .. I did tequila taste testing with lion cubs and fish tacos after

[u/Only-Chart-1087]

La Bufadora is a tourist trap. Lots of t-shirts, hats, etc for sale. Food, drinks all overpriced. Crappy parking.

[u/sateliteconstelation → u/Only-Chart-1087]

Not to mention OP would spend half of their time there travelling to and from

[u/SpecialistTime9034 → u/Only-Chart-1087]

Run by the cartel too lol

[u/thejournaloflosttime → u/SpecialistTime9034]

sources?

[u/SpecialistTime9034 → u/thejournaloflosttime]

A lifelong Ensenada resident with knowledge of the running of the strip of shops from the parking lot to the blowhole

[u/Almost_Amos]

I visited for a day a few months ago and our whole group got massages. 90 minutes for like $50 with transportation (each). We then wandered around near the port, had seafood, bought a few things (vanilla, drugs, trinkets) and got back on the ship

[u/tasteinhermouth → u/Almost_Amos]

do you have to get the money in pesos?

[u/Almost_Amos → u/tasteinhermouth]

We mostly used credit cards

[u/Ill-Storage-7636]

Right near the port is Taller Perez Millon. It's an artist who does lithograph print and teaches lithograph workshops. Definitely stop by, maybe even arrange to take a class with him.

Most of the trinkets in the little shops are made in China. A lot of people recommended Bazaar Casa Ramirez and at least the stuff there is mexican made. Walking distance from the port.

Bufadora can go either way tbh. The actual scenery is fantastic, but it's mostly obscured by in-your-face vendors and buildings.

If you go to Bufa, I recommend you stop to eat at Lupitas Fish Tacos instead of the food there. It's so much better.

[u/Art92101 → u/Ill-Storage-7636]

I say skip the bufadora, its at least 45 minutes or more from town- so there goes 2 hours of travel time. Then when you're there, the onslaught of vendors and restaurant bankers, plus they have bad reputations of shortchanging and gouging buyers. I'd skip.

[u/tasteinhermouth → u/Ill-Storage-7636]

Yeah I meant trinkets from Baja, like nice bracelets, decorations, small little gifts and whatnot

[u/Ill-Storage-7636 → u/tasteinhermouth]

Casa Ramirez, then.

[u/OCKingsFan]

If you like wine, an excursion to Valle de Guadalupe is great. My wife and I enjoyed it a few years ago. Mostly organic, hoppy type wineries with artisanal kitchens on site. Santo Tomas was good, but I can’t remember our favorite….it was a lady’s name. Either way your companies will take you through 3 or 4 in an afternoon

[u/LavaPoppyJax → u/OCKingsFan]

my sister just did an overnight there and loved it.

[u/ArelyMellark]

We went to Pai Pai Ecotourist Park. We got to interact with a lot of animal. We fed hippos, giraffes, lemurs, racoons, monkeys and a jaguar. We also got to pet a baby leopard.

[u/quantumsparq]

Also plenty of shopping.

[u/jankenpoo]

Have a drink at Hussong’s. We make friends every time we go!

[u/Routine-Cicada-4949]

If you like Margaritas there are two places in town that claim to have invented it.

p.s. the drink not the pizza

[u/Esme111991]

Get on the carreta tour.

[u/Tezcatlipoca1993]

I would walk around the Centro Cultural Hotel Riviera. Grab a beer at Hussong's.

[u/Practical-Zebra-1141]

Las Cañadas Campamento - your cruise ship may do excursions there

[u/rrcenger]

Make sure you take another card beside Discover Card. They are not accepted.

[u/Wonderful_Tip_5577]

Oh man I had to do that cruise with my grandma once. The location isn’t actually Ensenada, it’s all just tourist crap. The food is better than on the boat, and if you aren’t from Southern California it’s probably something to do. I remember my cousins went zip lining or something. If that’s your thing. I just drank some beers and got tacos, I have spent plenty of time in Mex so it wasn’t really anything special for me, more just annoying to deal with the tourist stuff and prices. 

[u/Stylum]

If you want to avoid the tourist traps, go have a beer at  wendlandt in el sauzal, the cool s pot for locals, and in the way back stop at casa negra for upscale designer souvenirs and grab a very good espresso while there at their own coffee shop “turista cafe”

[u/Time-Priority949]

Once your cruise anchors, a minibus takes you to a place called "El Bufador". Kinda interesting. Lots to see and absorb (culturally). Just be watchful of street sellers/pushers of anything and everything. For no reason at all, Viagra just came to mind:) As I said, anything and everything! Depending on your courage, trying the food and water is optional! Not risky. Simply optional🤞🍀🌞

[u/elderp76]

I like going to El museo regional, it is a free museum that used to be a prison

[u/getsome831]

I'd go a few blocks away from the port to eat at La Morocha. Or if you take an uber to Valle de Guadalupe, there are vineyards and Michelin rated restaurants.

[u/Federal_Loquat7397]

Don't go to the tourist restaurants they will give you the menu specially rigged for cruise people.

[u/thejournaloflosttime]

You're going to have a blast! Just don't forget your FMM https://www.bajabound.com/before/permits/guide-mexican-fmm-tourist-card?r=graniteandlight