Ensenada?

My teenage daughter and I are going on the Carnival Paradise in April. Is there something fun we could do in Ensenada? She's interested in horse back riding, but not the one that goes up into the hills. Is there one available on a beach?

What's the shopping like in Ensenada? Is is easy to walk there from the ship?

How about the blowhole? Is it worth a trip to do that?

Thanks for the advice!

The two most popular shore excursions currently in Mexico are the "Don't get shot by the drug cartel" and "Don't get kidnapped by the Mexican Mafia". :p

Seriously, it's been more than a few years since I was in Ensenada, but it is not a true blow hole. It's a narrow crevice where water comes up. As opposed to a hole where the water shoots through it.

The best thing about being in Ensenada is the opportunity to be on and stay on the ship, and to NOT be in Ensenada. Do you value your children?

If you do go ashore, take a substantial weapon for defense.

Beagle2 :eek:

My teenage daughter and I are going on the Carnival Paradise in April. Is there something fun we could do in Ensenada? She's interested in horse back riding, but not the one that goes up into the hills. Is there one available on a beach?

 

What's the shopping like in Ensenada? Is is easy to walk there from the ship?

 

How about the blowhole? Is it worth a trip to do that?

 

Thanks for the advice!

There is a bus to town, they charge 3 dollars for a round trip or 2 for a one way. The shopping is just like every other tourist Mexican town. If you like that kind of shopping then you will like Ensenada. You can walk there and back if you dont want to pay.

I've done the winery tour and the ATV tour thru the ship. Both fun, never done the horses, I weight too much, would be horse abuse..:/

If you take the bus to town, they will try to sell you a ticket to La Bufadora it is cheaper then the ship tour. The day we went there was no waves so no Bufadora then you have to walk back thru the "open air market" same stuff as in town BUT the vendors are VERY aggresive, kinda frightened me, and I am NOT easily frightened.

Cathy

The best thing about being in Ensenada is the opportunity to be on and stay on the ship, and to NOT be in Ensenada. Do you value your children?

 

If you do go ashore, take a substantial weapon for defense.

 

Beagle2 :eek:

Was there last month and will be there in April, I felt comfortable there except at La Bufadora cuz the vendors were too aggresive.

Cathy

The two most popular shore excursions currently in Mexico are the "Don't get shot by the drug cartel" and "Don't get kidnapped by the Mexican Mafia". :p

The best thing about being in Ensenada is the opportunity to be on and stay on the ship, and to NOT be in Ensenada. Do you value your children?

 

If you do go ashore, take a substantial weapon for defense.

 

Beagle2 :eek:

Both very accurate descriptions of the current situation in Mexican towns close to the border :mad: . . . I'd stay on the ship (it only stops there to fulfill the Jones Act requirements anyway).:)

we have been to the blow hole 3 times......DW just loves the shopping there. not the tour with the city tour....did that 1 once, we just like the straight blow hole and shopping tour.

I am going on the Elation to Ensenada in about two weeks with 20 of my closest girlfriends. Should I be concerned about the drug wars there? We have already talked about going back on the ship when the sun sets. I figure that Ensenada is far enough away from the border and is tourist-y enough that we should be fine. Should I be genuinenly concerned about the day time? We are all college seniors and will be traveling in groups of at least five. Do you have any tips? Can we bring pepper spray?:(

I've been ther, but it has been years. I did hear Ensenada was one of the hotbeds of violence. It is so sad, some of these places really need our tourist dollars.

I am going on the Elation to Ensenada in about two weeks with 20 of my closest girlfriends. Should I be concerned about the drug wars there? We have already talked about going back on the ship when the sun sets. I figure that Ensenada is far enough away from the border and is tourist-y enough that we should be fine. Should I be genuinenly concerned about the day time? We are all college seniors and will be traveling in groups of at least five. Do you have any tips? Can we bring pepper spray?:(

I was there last month did not see any problems, I would not be out after dark and 5 ppl together is a good idea, I dont think you can bring pepper spray that might get you in trouble with the police.

Cathy

I was there last month and took the the shuttle bus to town and then walked several blocks into town. I went way past the tourist section to a couple different grocery stores. I was looking for a particular product I can only get down there. I was not bothered by anyone and found the towns people very gracious. None of the cashiers spoke english and seemed almost apologetic that they didn't. I felt very safe and was only bothered by vendors when I got back to the tourist part of town.

Ensenada is not a resort town. It is a working class town. They had a lot of revenue disappear when RCCL stopped docking there. They are feeling the crunch like everyone else. If you put your hand up and say no to them they will leave you alone. Do not shop at the place right at the port. It is WAY expensive. I priced an item there at $12. In the tourist part of town I got 2 for $9. I probably could have done better but felt it was a fair price.

With all that said. I did only go to town for a couple hours to buy what I wanted and then went back and enjoyed the ship.

Michelle

The violence in Ensenada is ridiculous hype. I am in regular contact with people who live there (Americans) and follow the real news very closely (partially because I have oversight for 50+ teens/adults that travel there yearly over spring break for mission work) and the violence has NOT involved tourists or random innocent people. Furthermore, Ensenada has had much LESS violent crime than "safe" cities in the USA. Its not a particularly great port, but have fun, you'll be safe.

PS...whatever you do don't visit Chicago, Detroit, Oakland/SF, or any other number of US cities....talk about violent!

It depends on what you consider fun. My DDs enjoyed the horse ride in the hills. The hills are just like the ones at home.

Stay in the tourist areas and you will be fine. Be aware of your surroundings. We have been there in Jan and Feb on the Paradise and are going back in a few weeks on the Elation. We speak enough Spanish to get around, but never had a problem. I have gone with just my Mom and sister and will be going back with my mom and teenage daughter.

We walk a five mile loop in town.

Down the mainstreet past McDonalds (clean bathroom there:)), getting candy at the candy store, eating at the Hacienda (mesquite cooked chickens cooking in the window and handmade tortillas), turning past Hussongs to get paletas (popsicles) at the store with the yellow/orange Michoacan sign. Over to the department store and the Gigante market across the street. Back around thru to the fish market and back to the ship.

I guess we go there to eat. :p Never had an issue with any of the food there. We do not eat at the carts.

There are also clean bathrooms at the Los Castillo silver shop and at the department store.

The Bufadora is good if you get there after a storm, otherwise, eh. I heard that the vendors there have recently been getting more agressive than in town because of the lack of tourists.

The hardest thing is crossing the six lanes of traffic to get to the shopping district.

We were there last May. Didn't feel threatened or scared at all. We took the van to the main area, ate good fajitas with a free margarita. We didn't have an excursion planned was just playing it by ear. When we walked out of the restaurant a gentleman offered us a tour to La Buforda for $10 a person round trip. It took about 30-45 minutes to get there and he waited for us at the blowhole, as long as we wanted. The vendors were pretty pushy, but a stern no worked most of the time, and they had a $2 24oz Tecate. We then got back in the van and he dropped us off in the main area, we went to all the bars. Mahi Mahi, Papas and Beer and Hussongs(we were the only Americans there, very neat!) to name a few. The only think “scary” we saw was the army/police(which ever organization they were) in a turtleback humvee with rifles. No big deal to us.

I was there last month and took the the shuttle bus to town and then walked several blocks into town. I went way past the tourist section to a couple different grocery stores. I was looking for a particular product I can only get down there. Michelle

Did you find what you were looking for? Have you tried our local Librorio or Vallarta Stores for your product? Last time I was in Ensenada I bought small jars of mole and large jars of Betty Crocker sprinkles that I haven't found here. We bring back the strangest things.

Did you find what you were looking for? Have you tried our local Librorio or Vallarta Stores for your product? Last time I was in Ensenada I bought small jars of mole and large jars of Betty Crocker sprinkles that I haven't found here. We bring back the strangest things.

I sort of found what I was looking for. I wanted the mexican version of Crystal Light. It is called C-Light. It is made by Kraft just like Crystal Light but comes in different flavors down there than here in the states. I wanted the little tubes that go in a bottle of water but only found the packets that make a pitcher. I wanted lime, mandarin orange and jamaica. There was no jamaica (hybiscus flavor) but they had pineapple orange that I hadn't seen before. I can get the jamaica here at the Food 4 less but have to add my own splenda.

I enjoyed looking around the grocery stores that everyday people are shopping at. Besides the C-Light I bought some real vanilla. I had just run out from my last trip so that was good.

Did you go to the larger store, the one with the pet store in it? (I never remember if its now a Gigante or Sonoria).

The hardest thing is crossing the six lanes of traffic to get to the shopping district.

LOL... Now that is the truth!

My friend works on the Paradise and takes a run down the beach every Wed & Sat. He has not had a problem, nor has he heard of anyone that has. I think the media is making more of this than it really is.

Thanks to everyone offering advice!! I feel much better about the trip now. We will definitely be safe and look out for each other. I am so excited!!:)

Thanks to everyone offering advice!! I feel much better about the trip now. We will definitely be safe and look out for each other. I am so excited!!:)

Just make sure you do the buddy system when visiting the restrooms.....

The violence in Ensenada is ridiculous hype. I am in regular contact with people who live there (Americans) and follow the real news very closely (partially because I have oversight for 50+ teens/adults that travel there yearly over spring break for mission work) and the violence has NOT involved tourists or random innocent people. Furthermore, Ensenada has had much LESS violent crime than "safe" cities in the USA. Its not a particularly great port, but have fun, you'll be safe.

 

PS...whatever you do don't visit Chicago, Detroit, Oakland/SF, or any other number of US cities....talk about violent!

I'm the original poster of this thread, and I actually live in the Bay Area, so your last comment cracked me up!

Thanks, everyone for all of your advice! :D I think we'll at least take some time to walk through the tourist shopping area. We'll play it by ear.

~Terri

Did you go to the larger store, the one with the pet store in it? (I never remember if its now a Gigante or Sonoria).

I went to a small Soriana store. Then I went up the street to a Calimax. Then I went even farther up the street to a big Soriana store. I didn't see a pet store in it though.

We were there last August and going in April, there is nothing wrong with having fun, going off the ship , taking the 2 or 3$ bus that takes you within 2 blocks of the main street where there are all sorts of bars, stores, pharmacies; all very safe. Its like anywhere, you go ; stay on the main street ! if you go into a dark area not for tourists where there are drug deals and things going on youll find the trouble. The news releases are not exaggerated by any means. But things youre hearing/ are reading about are about people who went off the main tourist areas. We have family in Mexico City who have to go to work with body guards, due to thier financial positions, we know people who were kidnapped standing alone on streets there. Be careful always like any city you go to.Dont wear or flash jewlery or money..be smart. We do not recommend at this time taking excurisons far out, escorted or not. Dont be far from the ship whe it starts to get dark; Have fun!

We've been to Ensenada 5 times in the last 2 1/2 years and have never experienced anything that concerned us. We are going again in August.

We've been to La Bufadora twice (as mentioned above, buy your ticket in port, it is cheaper) and did the winery tour once. Other than that, we usually just walk into town to shop, eat fish tacos, and drink a few cold cervezas.

we will be in Ensenada for the 3rd time next month. There isnt as much to do as there is in some of the southern towns but just walking around and seeing the shops can be fun. I would stick to the beaten path and not travel on your own...all this needing a weapon and having to stay on board stuff is silly. Enjoy your self but be smart about it