🌊✨ Your Ultimate Weekend Guide to Ensenada, Mexico! ✨🌊

🌊✨ Your Ultimate Weekend Guide to Ensenada, Mexico! ✨🌊

Hey, guys, welcome! So, if you’re looking for a quick, cheap weekend getaway from the US, look no further than Ensenada, Mexico – you’ll enjoy your stay, explore, and indulge in the delicious food. You can go with friends, family, or even by yourself and have a great time. I’m sharing the best places to stay, eat, and have fun!

But wait—first, make sure you have Mexican auto insurance. U.S. car insurance coverage stops at the border, so if you’re headed to Ensenada, you’ll need Mexican car insurance. No problem, Mexican Insurance Store offers very affordable Mexican insurance with great customer service and it’s easy to obtain: you can quote online with no VIN in under a minute.

🏨 Best Places to Stay 🏨

The key to a good vacation is finding the right place to stay, and in Ensenada, there are lots of options. It all depends on your vibe. If you’re looking for luxury, well, there’s plenty of that.

1. Hotel Coral & Marina

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This is my favorite hotel in Ensenada, and it’s one of the best rated on TripAdvisor as well. It has great ocean views and fresh coastal breezes. Treat yourself to some dockside recreation with a walk along the tranquil marina or rent a boat. The outdoor pool area is perfect for those lazy afternoons, and why not treat yourself to some spa services to unwind after an exciting day in Ensenada? It’s close to downtown, too, so you’re not far from the nightlife and excitement, but you can still relax in a quiet atmosphere.

2. Torre Lucerna Hotel Ensenada

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If you prefer something a little more modern, Torre Lucerna is another great option. This hotel has sleek, modern rooms with beautiful ocean views. The pool area is great and they have a gym if you want to keep up with your workout routine on vacation. They also have an on-site restaurant in case you want to eat a nice dinner and not have to leave the property.

🍴 Best Places to Eat 🍴

A trip to Ensenada would not be complete without experiencing a taste of the local culinary scene. Known for its seafood, especially its shrimp, Ensenada boasts a variety of possibilities and will leave you wanting more. Try these two places to make your culinary trip there incredible:

1. La Guerrerense

If you haven’t heard of La Guerrerense, prepare to have one of the top street foods in Mexico. This unassuming food cart, featured by celebrity chefs and food shows all over the world, offers some of the best seafood tostadas and ceviche you’ll ever taste. Based in the downtown of Ensenada, Mexico, prices are well below $10 USD. Enjoy a seafood tostada of fresh fish, shrimp or sea urchin – yes, you read that right! – avid seafood lover. If you’re into savouring authentic Mexican flavours without the fancy frills, this cart is for you.

2. Manzanilla

Manzanilla – photo courtesy of the author’If you’re interested in a more refined meal, Manzanilla is a good option. Owned by the star chefs Benito Molina and Solange Muris, this restaurant serves an upscale version of regional dishes with a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean flavours. The seafood is fresh, well-cooked, and delicious. Try the grilled octopus or the house speciality, ceviche (basically raw fish and shellfish in a spicy citrus sauce), accompanied by a bottle of white wine from some nearby vineyards. Their small, intimate restaurant is ideal for a date night.

🎉 Best Things to Do in Ensenada 🎉

You might not be aware that Ensenada offers exquisite cuisine as well as stunning ocean vistas, not to mention a host of other natural and cultural diversions. So whether you’re an outdoors person, an urban explorer, a foodie or simply a culture vulture, here’s a list of the very best things to do in the area over a weekend.

1. Visit La Bufadora

You must go see La Bufadora, one of the largest marine geysers in the US and North America! It is a natural blowhole just 45 minutes from downtown Ensenada that sends water up to as high as 100 feet! You can walk around and enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean. The area around La Bufadora has cute local vendors selling to snacks to fresh coconuts! Bring your camera, because this is one the most photographed places!

2. Wine Tasting in Valle de Guadalupe

Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s premier wine region, is only a 30-minute drive from Ensenada and has more than 100 wineries. Spend the day meandering from place to place to sample the world-class wines and sit among the vines with spectacular views. Some of the top wineries in the region include Monte Xanic, Casa de Piedra and Decantos Vinicola. Many of the vineyards have tasting rooms and tours, and a handful offer farm-to-table restaurants on-site. You don’t need to be a wine expert to enjoy this experience – why not sample the vintages while snacking on local meats and cheeses?

3. Explore Downtown Ensenada

Take a stroll through downtown to see the colourful markets, shops and restaurants before heading to the waterfront and Ventana al Mar, a lovely waterfront park with a long boardwalk and views along the water. The nearby Riviera del Pacifico – a former glittering ’30s-era hotel and casino, and now a small cultural centre – is worth a visit for a glimpse of Ensenada’s history and perhaps local art shows or performances.

4. Go Whale Watching (Seasonal)

If your visit corresponds with December to April, catch it while you can, as it’s whale-watching season. Gray whales migrate up and down the coast of Baja California, and numerous tour companies offer whale watches during this time. Many will get you up close with these ocean behemoths, while others take you out farther to view them in their natural habitat. It’s a fantastic and educational experience – just don’t forget a pair of binoculars and a jacket, since it gets cold out on the water!

🛍️ Shopping and Souvenirs 🛍️

Surely no vacation would be complete without bringing back a few souvenirs. Ensenada boasts many shops where local crafts, jewellery, clothing and more are available.

Hussong’s Cantina: A historic bar primarily, but you also pick up offbeat souvenirs here, and get to boast that you’ve been inside the oldest cantina in Baja California (it opened in 1892!).

Mercado de Artesanías: This artisan market in downtown Ensenada has traditional handmade goods such as pottery, blankets and jewellery. It’s full of fun, varied items, and you’re sure to find a treasure to take home with you.

🚗 Getting Around 🚗

Ensenada is a walkable city if you’re staying downtown. You can walk to nearly all of the places listed in ‘Stay’ and get by with a taxi or short van ride to make it to La Bufadora or Valle de Guadalupe, although chances are you’ll end up renting a car or taking a guided tour. There are plenty of taxis and many hotels also shuttle to the major tourist sights. If you live in the US, you’re looking at 1.5 to 2 hours of driving south of the San Diego border. It’s the perfect distance for a weekend getaway.

🌞 Final Thoughts 🌞

Whether you’re a foodie, an adventurer, or just need to kick back and relax by the ocean, Ensenada is a great weekend spot with something for everyone – the people are nice, the food delicious, and the scenery is stunning. It’s a quick drive from the US and cheap too, a short break that won’t break the bank.

Pack your bags, grab your passport, because there’s gonna be a party in Ensenada! 🎊🌊

Don’t let anything slow you down—get your Mexican car insurance from Mexican Insurance Store today and hit the road with peace of mind!