Baja California · Mexico
Where to stay in Ensenada
Ensenada is a city in Baja California, Mexico, home to about 331,000 people.
- Best months
- all year
- Nearest airport
- TIJ83 km · General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Tijuana
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About Ensenada
Ensenada is a city in Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Located on Bahía de Todos Santos, the city had a population of 279,765 in 2018, making it the third-largest city in Baja California.
In the Bahía de Todos Santos — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean — Ensenada is an important commercial and fishing port as well as a cruise ship port of call. There is also a navy base, an army base and a military airfield. The city is backed by small mountain ranges. Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean latitude, the weather tends to be mild year-round.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Ensenada
See
- Museo Histórico Regional
- Caracol Museo de Ciencias
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- La Bufadora
- Carnival Tours
- Misioneros Tours
Do
The greatest experiences in Ensenada involve going out early to Bufadora, having ceviche at 1st street, drink at Hussong's, then go to a beach and end back in a club or bar. All of these require independent transportation so it would be wise to rent a car, and have a designated driver.
- Beaches
- San Miguel Beach
- El Salto
- Canon de Dona Petra Hike
- San Carlos Hot Springs
- California Motorsport Adventures
- Whale Pursuing
- La Bufadora
- Sports Fishing
- Baja 1000
- Wine Harvest Festival
- Carnaval
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Ensenada
3 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Riviera del Pacífico | 1930 | 1.2 km |
| CAPITAL OHotel Rose OYO Rooms | 0.8 km | |
| OYO Hotel CocoBeach OYO Rooms | 8.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Ensenada
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ensenada are all year. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; February is the wettest, with about 69 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Ensenada: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ), about 83 km from the city centre in a straight line; San Diego International Airport (SAN, 112 km) and Imperial County Airport (IPL, 146 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Take the bus from Tijuana. The ride is about 2 hours and ticket prices start at M$60 (US$3). ABC operates most buses on this route but ACN operates at least one bus daily and shuttle services and combis are also available.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
TIJ · General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport
SAN · San Diego International Airport
IPL · Imperial County Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ensenada
Eat
Seafood is ubiquitous in Ensenada, which has a large fishing fleet and a picturesque seafood market called Mercado Negro. Dining at the row of fish and shrimp taco eateries by the pier is an Ensenada must. The fish taco is said to have been born in Ensenada, and local cooks have their own variations, usually using white fish, shrimp, or a blend of both. Tacos are topped with mayonnaise (or a white sauce) and a shredded-cabbage topping, along with several salsas.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ensenada: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ensenada?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ensenada are all year. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; February is the wettest, with about 69 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ensenada?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ), about 83 km from the city centre in a straight line; San Diego International Airport (SAN, 112 km) and Imperial County Airport (IPL, 146 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Ensenada?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near Ensenada
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.