Things to do in  Ensenada

With its thunderous crash and sky-high jet of water, La Bufadora blowhole—a grey whale turned to stone, according to local legend—is one of the world’s largest marine geysers and an easy trip from nearby Ensenada. Prepare to get drenched as you watch from the surrounding viewpoints as the saltwater squirts up to 100 feet (30 meters) into the air.

A short drive from Ensenada, Las Cañadas Campamento is a camping resort that offers accommodation options, a range of outdoor activities, and dining in one easy vacation-wrapped package. Without much planning, enjoy camp-like lodgings with plenty of fun things to do on-site, including all-terrain vehicle rides, a water park, ziplining, and pedal boating. It’s particularly great for families with children, as there’s plenty to keep kids entertained.

With roots dating back to the late 18th century, this winemaker is among the oldest in Baja California and North America. A venerable institution locally and internationally, Bodegas de Santo Tomás has won dozens of medals in recent decades, and you can visit not only the winery, but tasting rooms around the Ensenada area.

Among the cheesemakers in the Valle Ojos Negros east of Ensenada, La Cava de Marcelo is one of the few cheese farms that welcomes visitors for wine, craft beer, desserts, and naturally, cheese. A small family business that has been in operation for generations, La Cava de Marcelo produces a variety of homespun cheeses, which it serves with spices, butter, ricotta, and more.

From zebras to giraffes, birds and monkeys, Pai Pai Ecotourism Park not only lets you view an array of animals but you can interact with many creatures, too. In addition to promoting the welfare and protection of wildlife, the park offers a range of adventure activities including bungee jumping, climbing walls, and ziplines over animal habitats.

Plaza Civica—or Plaza Civica de la Patria—is Ensenada’s central square, a swath of grass and short walking paths flanked by the waterfront on one side and Federal Highway 1 on the other. A massive Mexican flag typically flies over the plaza, where you can see statues of Benito Juarez, Miguel Hidalgo, and Venustiano Carranza—some of Mexico's most important historical figures.