Ensenada Beaches for Cruise Excursion and Day Trips
You may want to get some beach time on your cruise shore day, or after your massage excursion with my team. There ain’t much like the energy of the ocean; I moved to Ensenada beach Playa Hermosa with my dogs so I could be there almost daily. Here is my fair assessment, so you can find the best option for your shore excursion day or weekend trip.
Is Playa Hermosa Open?
Updated 3/2024, Playa Hermosa is open and cleared for swimming. The pipe leaks have been fixed and waters have been tested.
Keep in mind, that Ensenada is an hour south of Tiajuana and not affected the by treatment problems they are having in 2024, causing closures of those beaches and Imperial Beach, California.
Ensenada Surfing lessons have resumed at Playa Hermosa!
11/2023 Playa Hermosa closed for while city repairs sewage pipe leaks.
As of 4/9/22 authorities are closing the city beach, Playa Hermosa. This affects beachgoers close to the ship and surf lessons. Beaches further away for horseback riding, kayak to la Bufadora are quite a distance away and not affected.
For a cleaner beach, not too far from town, I suggest trip to Playa Pacifica or Estero Beach Resort. Estero is private with just a parking fee, and has sun shades, a restaurant nearby, and bathrooms.
Playa Pacifica is close to an Oxxo, but no facilities.
Is there a beach in Ensenada, Mexico?
Yes, there are several great beaches in Ensenada near the cruise port or downtown, and a short distance away. There are a couple for sunbathing, surf options, and many great ones for just walking and enjoying the energy of the ocean and sun. Waters are generally cool along the Baja, until down to Todos Santos and Cabo.
What are the Best Ensenada Mexico Beaches?
According to Yelp, La Bufadora Beach, Playa Hermosa, Punta Banda and San Miguel, and La Jolla Beach near Bufadora and Estero. For cruise boat visitors, I don’t agree. La Bufadora beaches are hidden down cliffs and are not easily accessible on a day trip unless you want to go down a rope over cliffs.
San Miguel is an awesome surf break and campground, with a volcanic rock shore that cuts your feet - no sand.
My personal list based on living here is Playa Pacifica, Playa Hermosa, Estero Beach, La Jolla in that order.
Which Ensenada Beach is closest to downtown?
Playa Hermosa (number 1 in the map below) is the beach closest to the Cruise Port and downtown. It is the beginning of a 2 mile stretch of beach, with easy access and some visitors nearest in town, then fewer as you walk away. You can see the ships at all times from this beach. Here is where our surf excursions happen, and locals come to watch the sunset and have beers on the concrete ramp and steps at the far end, just before my quiet place.
If you are coming into town and want a hotel in front of the beach, the very new MarVista is best on Playa Hermosa. And the second-story bar patio is a nice stop when you are walking. They have great margaritas;) My other fav place for the best margaritas is Bar Andaluz I profiled here:
If you are comparing to other cruiseport, it is much larger than a beach excursion at Catalina Island
Playa Hermosa is closest to Centro and Cruisport. Currently underconstruction. And ‘closed’ but not really. . .
Here is gps link here to the far end for walking. It’s pretty obvious, just leave the cruiseport, and go left along the divided road:
Playa Hermosa Beach construction finished in 2023 and is now open.
The ramps infrastructure construction is all finished, so it is open to all.
Public Bathrooms were rebuilt in 2023, and are sometimes open, and sometimes clean.
Pacifica Beach is essentially just another 3/4 mile down from the beginning of Playa Hermosa. Because there is a nature reserve and estuary between, they have separate car entrances, but you can walk along the beach between. Pacifica Beach is in front of a luxury condo building and has only one convenience store.
Playa Pacifica Beach in Ensenada Great excursion for the beach, or explore estuary & dunes, then a long beach walk back to cruise port or town.
In the picture above, Playa Hermosa, cruise port, and downtown are in the distance, about 2 miles to cruise port. You can see ship when they are in port. So if you were adventerous, you could take uber to Playa Pacifica, walk 3/4 mile on beach, grab taco or beer and walk the sidewalk last 3/4 mile to port.
If you want a quiet beach experience, not too far from the cruise port and downtown, I recommend private tour or uber to Playa Pacifica. Uber works okay, but give them 20min to arrive. Service has steadily declined in the last year. Otherwise private tours and transportation are good options. Ensenada Excursions and Tours offers these beach, taco, and margarita tours.
You can sit peacefully there, and see the ship in the distance. When you are ready, walk the mile back toward the ship along the beach. You will come to Playa Hermosa, with convenience stores, a hotel bar, and sidewalks. Grab food if you like.
If you are super energetic, walk the mile back to the ship on the sidewalk along the road. It's an obvious direction and easy, just not super beautiful. After the marine base and concrete plant, there are restaurants and local stuff. And a couple of great mariscos (seafood) street corner stands across the street (on the inland side of the divided road). As a local’s tip, I suggest getting ‘Especial’ an Ensenada original mix of a bunch of seafood ceviche.
Best Ensenada Beach Map: 1= Playa Hermosa/Pacifica 2=Playa La Jolla Punta Banda 3= La Bufadora 4= San Miguel surf break 5= Estero Resort Beach. Source Yelp
I recommend taking your towel and catching a cab or uber to Pacifica Beach, you can see the ship, the beach is quiet and next to an estuary, and for walking as well. There is a convenience store, Oxxo, but not much else. For more security, we can arrange a timed pickup and drop-off. Walk back to Playa Hermosa where there are cabs passing, or all the way to the ship, or arrange for a ride.
Playa Punta Banda or Playa La Jolla is a great beach, but hidden in a residential area and far from town, number 4 in the image. To get there, you definitely need private driver transportation for the day. Uber cars won’t be available to pick you up there (out of range). The beach is quite long and the waves are soft. Almost no one is there.
Address: La Bufadora, La Joya Kilómetro 12, 22897 Ensenada, B.C., México
Are there hot springs in Ensenada Beaches?
Yes, Playa La Jolla has hot springs. On this beach, you will need to dig into the sand that is in the water to feel the warm water. However, access to heated water depends on the tide level. When the tide is high, the warm water quickly mixes with ocean water and isn’t so awesome. Many friends have visited and enjoyed the adventure but remarked that the beach was great, the hot springs a bit hard to find and appreciate.
Estero Resort Beach is a small, secure beach inside a resort, with a rock wall on each side. This is perfect if you would rather go to a resort with pools and hot tub, and have some kids or group members that want to hang a secure, small, private beach. They sell day passes. Again, private transport is recommended since uber won’t reach out there to pick you up at the end of day.
Pre Covid Carnival sold a tour here, but now Carnival has made a deal with Hotel Coral and Marina for the Resort Excursion (link here), so that nice resort hotel is now closed to day passes, even for locals like me;(
The beach is mostly protected from waves, so it’s very calm. The resort will have towels, a restaurant, and a bar if that’s your style. There is a fee upon entrance, but it’s reasonable and you get a credit at the bar.
Estero Beach of Ensenada Mexico is secure, small, protected from heavy waves
Is there an Ensenada Beach Excursion from the Cruise Ship?
There are surf lessons and rentals, but no ship sponsored group excursion I have seen.
When I was on my cruise in 2019 on the Carnival Inspiration (yes, I really cruised to my own town!) I was over the crowds and waiting - just the kind of independent guy I am. So I prefer my own driver which is affordable in Mexico. Kind of a treat for me, just like when I went to Bangladesh found a private driver very affordable.
If you are on cruise ship think the best way to access the beaches is with private transportation - a local driver for the day. You can find some outside the cruise port depending on the day, haggle a price, and find someone with a clean cab, vaccinated, that speaks enough English so you feel comfortable. Uber sometimes works, but pick-up outside of downtown was taking me 25 min in December 2021, so not super reliable. And make sure you have data in Mexico of course.
Or, reserve a private driver that is bilingual through Ensenada Excursions and Tours. Full disclosure as is in my bio, I built their website and answer email quotes for them when I am not at the Spa.
Does Uber work in Ensenada?
Yes, we have Uber and Uber Valle in Valle de Guadalupe. Uber was great and cheap four years ago, and now seems to take much longer and prices have doubled. Didi is cheaper but at about the same speed. Where I live near Playa Hermosa, was taking 25 min for a pick up since drivers kept canceling. Of course, be sure you have some data and cash. Weirdly, Ensenada businesses usually can’t make changes for large bills USD or pesos.
Uber cannot enter into the cruise port, so you need to walk out to port security, like 4 min from ship exit.
Can I take a taxi in Ensenada?
Yes, a taxi is an option in Ensenada for the beach or around town. The large yellow cabs are often parked outside the cruise port. At least early there are a few. You can walk to them, past security, and they are lined up in the morning. Ask a price if you like, see who speaks English, check out the cleanliness of the taxi, and in these times, ask about covid vaccination. You may want to ask if they are insured too.
If you are not excited about a mile walk through town both ways, I think the best way to access the beaches is with private transportation - Uber one direction and walk back, or a local driver for the day that will be there for pick up, or take you where ever you want if you change your mind and want flexibility. You can find some outside the cruise port depending on the day, haggle a price and find someone with a clean cab, vaccinated, that speaks enough English so you feel comfortable.
Or, reserve a private driver that is bilingual, vaccinated, and insured through Ensenada Excursions and Tours. Full disclosure as is in my bio, I built their website and answer email quotes for them when I am not at the Spa.
Reserve private tour driver to reduce uncertainty of Uber or street taxi.
For a Walk on urban beach Malecon for local’s vibe, walk/taxi/uber about 3/4 mile, to Playa Hermosa Malecon. The beach starts there (after the cement factory and marine base) and keeps going. Near town, there are cafes, convenience stores. You can easily sit, walk, and distract yourself with coffee and some sushi. There aren’t many souvenir stores here. You will find a surf and boogie board rental place (Spot Surfo). There are a few palapas for shade. Hotel MarVista is the nicest place and has a 2nd-floor bar with drinks. yes, you can just get beers at the convenience store if that’s your vib.
Ensenada Beach Temperatures. Wet Suit most of the year.
Are Ensenada Beaches Safe and Clean?
There are only lifeguards in the summer months, so you are on your own. Ensenada waters have occasional rip tides, but they are often flagged, and signs indicate those areas.
On Playa Hermosa, there are homeless wanderers that are happy to find unattended items. When I camped in a more remote area, I did have a plastic bin of extra stuff stolen in the night from outside my tent. I have never felt unsafe from people or muggings or anything like that.
Further Beaches like La Jolla are within a gated community. This is 40 mins from the city and on the way to Bufadora. To access here, you will need a private driver. Beach is empty, calm waters since it is in a bay, and hot springs that are hard to find;) Residential area with no shops around.
The beaches I profile here are generally clean with little trash, no glass and just some seaweed and the occasional deceased animal.
What is Water Temperature in Ensenada Beaches?
We have many beaches, typical of Southern California sand, generally cool to cold waters and waves great for surfing. Not the white sand of Cancun or calm waters of the Mexican Riviera.
Playa Hermosa has a beach break where you can swim and play in the water. Other than October, and November, rent a wetsuit so you are not freezing cold. Even my body that grew up in Wisconsin has adjusted and finds the water temps cold most of the year.
Are Ensenada Beaches Good?
Yes, they are good. Playa Hermosa, Pacifica, La Jolla, and Estero are clean and safe. The sand is tan, coarse sand with shells, some seaweed. Waters are cold pacific waters with waves and wind. Ensenada is not like the Caribbean Beaches. Also if you are on a cruise stopping in Cabo, you will find those beaches are cleaner, and more commercialized. Catalina Island has a small city beach that is easily accessible as well. Catalina has better options for water sports of snorkel, parasailing, jet skis.
Ensenada has good kayaking options, and horseback on the beach as well. Only snorkel activity is out to Todos Santos Island. The exercisions team can set that up upon request.
They are pretty clean. Playa Hermosa and Playa Pacifica are combed almost daily (more often than the streets!) So there is no trash or much glass. There is some seaweed that accumulates, but not much. The water is fresh ocean water.
There was a serious black water leak in summer 2020, however this affected beaches further from town mostly. Of course, after rain urban beach swimming is not recommended due to runoff from the city.
In short, Ensenada has some decent beaches that are clean and safe. Water temps are cool, so beach walking and sunbathing when not too windy is the best bet. Getting access for the shore day is best from private transportation since I haven’t seen an excursion tour. Be creative with taxis and uber, or reserve a private driver for a bit more peace of mind.
Let me know additional questions in the comments.
Breathe Deeply and Travel Slowly,
Jesse A, MA bio
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