Ensenada is strategically located some 120 kilometers south of the border with the United States via a four lane toll road MX-1D and a two lane free road, which makes it a natural destination for tourists on short vacations by car. Ensenada's proximity to California also makes it a destination for short cruise ship trips from the Los Angeles area. There are four ships that make weekly trips to Ensenada as of 2005.
There are many features which make Ensenada an attractive tourist destination, for instance:
A few minutes south of town on highway 1 is the largest of three known major marine geysers in the world. This one is known as "La Bufadora" ("The Blowhole").
Ensenada area has several celebrated surfing spots, such as San Miguel Beach, California Trailer Park, Stacks and 3 M's (Tres Emes in Spanish), which are located in the north coast of the city. The world famous surfing spot is Todos Santos Island (better known as 'Todos'), a small island located west of Ensenada (about 2 hours by boat). The Billabong XXL surfing contest has been held at Todos Santos Island several times. Wave faces can reach above 60 feet on the island. Brad Gerlach, 2006 winner of Big XXL, surfed a wave of 68 feet in December 2006.
Further south in the municipality are spots famous for their excellent windsurfing.
The world-renowned Baja 1000 off-road race is held in Ensenada every year in late November, while the Baja 500 race is held in early June. Off-road enthusiasts use Ensenada year-round as a starting point to explore Baja California.
The grey whale's annual migration from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California Sur between the months of December and March, and back in the months of April and May, can be seen from the coast of Ensenada. Sightseeing tours are available every day during migration season.
The nearby town of Guadalupe, Baja California, was founded by immigrant Russian Molokans in the late nineteenth century. Most of the molokan community re-migrated towards California's Central Valley in the mid-twentieth century, and there exists a Russian Museum commemorating their legacy in the region. The traditional economic activities in Guadalupe, Baja California are olive and wine production. Currently, about 90% of wine production in Mexico originates in the valleys of Guadalupe and adjacent Calafia. Many local wine producers offer tours and tastings.
Every year during the month of August, the beginning of wine harvest season is celebrated in the Guadalupe Valley and in the city of Ensenada with a two week long series of cultural and culinary events, all under the title banner of Fiestas de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival). This event attracts people from all over the world.
The Ensenada Carnival is one of the largest in Mexico, as thousands of people gather in the streets for six days and nights.
The San Pedro Mártir mountain range and National Park is located within the municipality of Ensenada, about 240 km SE of the city of Ensenada.
There is also a street in Ensenada called "la primera" (meaning the first in English). It's a classic tourism spot in Ensenada due to its many "Curios, Curiosidades" (Curiosity [trinquet and souvenir] Stores), restaurants, hotels, bars and popular clubs such as the Hussong's Cantina and Papas & Beer. There are plenty of things to buy and see as well as many places to go. La Primera is a very busy street, filled with tourists and locals. It is normal to go through a lot of traffic, especially at nighttime. La Primera is just one block away from Ventana al Mar (Window upon sea), a boardwalk/seawall avenue where an enormous Mexican flag is located.
