Cruise Diva Goes Ashore on the
Mexican Riviera
Sights to see & things to do
Ensenada, Mexico
Overlooking beautiful Bahía de Todos Santos, Ensenada is a congenial blend of fishing port, tourist center, and industrial development.
Diversions
Coming ashore, you can reach town only on buses. Going back you can take a cab for about half the fare charged by the bus company (which is licensed to take passengers from the pier to town). Although at just a few dollars, transportation can hardly be termed expensive. The bus will drop you about a half-block from Ensenada’s main street. Turning left on the main street will take you to the old shopping area, the infamous Hussongs and Pappas and Beer cantinas, and the old city prison that houses a museum. If you simply wish to wander around town, a visit to the old city prison is worth a stop. The museum displays Aztec artifacts and a look around the old cells reinforces that Mexican jails were an unpleasant place to be a prisoner.
Another worthwhile stop on your walking tour is the Riviera Pacifica. Beautifully restored and used as a community center, it is all that remains of a luxurious resort hotel and gambling casino popular with movie stars and millionaires in the 1920s.
If walking the malecon or touring the city by horse drawn carriage isn’t exciting enough, other activities range from sport fishing, diving, and other water sports to golf, tennis, and even horseback riding. Tours are offered to the Valle de Guadalupe, noted for its vast vineyards and source of the very best Mexican wines.
Shore excursions usually include La Bufadora on the south side of Punta Banda Peninsula. La Bufadora is famous for its magnificent cliffs, where the force of strong waves produces a spectacular crashing sound and the world’s highest natural geyser.
In winter, Ensenada Bay provides a truly awe-inspiring spectacle—gray whale watching.
Shopping
Aside from local wines and an array of handicrafts in the market, Ensenada doesn’t offer much in the way of shopping. Next door to Hussongs is a wine shop owned by Domecq Winery, producers of excellent local wines.
Beaches
West of Ensenada and on the south side of the Bay of Todos los Santos, Punta Banda Peninsula is a paradise with spectacular beaches. Seals and sea lions are often seen nearby, sunning themselves on the rocks in the ocean.
Back to Mexican Riviera Ports of Call
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