The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
One of my most memorable Mexico experiences came in the vineyards of Ensenada, sipping on a glass of nebbiolo with the wind gently breezing through my hair. Most people think of the likes of Mendoza (Argentina) or Portugal’s Douro Valley as elite wine regions, but Ensenada is something of a hidden gem!
Nestled between the mountains of Baja California and the Pacific Ocean, it’s a small city with a pleasant climate. It also offers beautiful beaches in the area, which are more secluded than you would expect from larger resort towns. And there’s great seafood!
This guide combines some of our favourite spots to stay. Whether you’re here for wine, beaches, or laid-back cultural attractions, we’ve got you covered.
Vamonos!
Ensenada Neighborhood Guide – Places to Stay in Ensenada
Zona Centro
As the name suggests, Zona Centro is right in the heart of the city. This is where you’ll find many of the best cultural attractions, as well as the only nightlife worth visiting. If you want a livelier experience, you should definitely keep Zona Centro as your base.
Valle de Guadalupe
The Ensenada Region is often regarded as the best wine region in Mexico, with Valle de Guadalupe the epicentre of viticulture. Guadalupe is the main town, but if you can, you should totally drive right up the valley.
Playa
Playa Ensenada and neighboring Bahia Ensenada are a little more laid-back than Zona Centro. This makes them a must-visit for those seeking a typical beach vacation.
My Top 3 Neighborhoods to Stay in Ensenada
Ensenada might be small, but each neighborhood has something different to offer. If you’re backpacking Mexico and you’re in the area, make sure to stop over and explore the city.
Keep reading for our tips on the best places to stay, plus accommodation and activity suggestions for each.
1. Zona Centro – Overall Best Place to Stay
As the name suggests, Zona Centro is right in the heart of the city. This is where you’ll find many of the best cultural attractions, as well as the only nightlife worth visiting. If you want a livelier experience, you should definitely make this your base. There are plenty of local attractions in this area, as well as a few boat trips from the harbour.
Speaking of boat trips, you’ll also find some great tour operators in the area. Ensenada is quite small, but well placed for taking day trips elsewhere in Baja California, especially if you visit during high season. For first time visitors, Zona Centro is the place to be – especially if you don’t have your own car.
Top Things to Do
- Learn about local design, linoleum cut processing, and make your own print to take home in this fantastic two-hour workshop in the heart of the city.
- No night out in Zona Centro is complete without a trip to Hussong’s Cantina, the oldest bar in Baja California and the supposed historic home of the margarita.
- Ventana al Mar is a small park hugging the city centre coastline that regularly hosts live events and has some scenic cycle lanes.
- Sample some laid-back local cuisine at the many cantinas hiding around the back streets – we love Casa Marcelo in particular.
- Ensenada is famous as the birthplace of fish tacos; by far the best place to try these is the local fish market, Mercado Negro.
Best Hotel: Hotel Cortez
This is an excellent hotel for those that want to kick back and relax with minimal fuss. Rated four stars, it is nevertheless well priced, so you definitely won’t break the bank with a short stay at Hotel Cortez. The outdoor pool area comes with plenty of sun loungers and a nearby bar offering a wide range of cocktails.
I came here with my partner and absolutely loved it! For solo travellers it’s a little on the pricy side, but for couples, it’s great value for money.
Best Budget Hotel: Hotel del Valle
Ensenada isn’t the cheapest place in Mexico, which is why I loved this hotel so much. On top of the great price, they also had free coffee all day which was a nice touch.
The rooms all have air con, private bathrooms, and nice balconies. It felt safe here, and I found the staff to be helpful whenever I interacted with them. With free parking it was also easy to reach with my rental car.
Best Airbnb: Tourist Room
This spot is bang in the middle of the tourist area, hence the name! It’s a private room with a balcony, so you can lap up some cracking views whilst you sip on a Modelo or two.
Geraldo is a great host who even left snacks for our arrival. There’s coffee and filtered water here too, which is much-needed with tap water generally being undrinkable in Mexico. There was also a small table in the room, where I was able to work on some great travel intel to help you fellow broke backpackers experience the world on a budget!
2. Valle de Guadalupe – Best Place to Stay for Wine
The Ensenada Region is often regarded as the best wine region in Mexico, with Valle de Guadalupe the epicentre of viticulture. Guadalupe is the main town, but if you can, you should totally drive right up the valley. It isn’t just about the wine; it’s also home to some gorgeous, unspoiled scenery.
The vineyards make this a firm favourite with couples, but we also reckon solo travellers will relish the unique experience that Valle de Guadalupe has to offer. Locals have refused to let tourism change the neighbourhood, so you’ll find local boutiques and cantinas lining the streets in Guadalupe.
Top Things to Do
- Always fancied yourself a bit of a viticulturist? You can try designing your own wine to take home to friends and family in this unique experience.
- Get back to basics with this wood-fired cooking experience on a working farm – you don’t get more locally-sourced than that!
- Museo Comunitario Ruso is the only museum about the Guadalupe neighborhood and is a quirky insight into the local culture.
- More about tasting wine than seeing how it’s made? We get it – Viñedos de la Reina offer some excellent experiences, with unbeatable views to boot.
- Speaking of gorgeous views, Almadraba Tapas Bar is only a short drive away and is the perfect spot for a date night feast.
- Visit Vinicola JC Bravo, which is an excellent winery, especially if you want some great photos to remember your trip with.
Best Budget Hotel: Cabaña R y A Valle de Guadalupe
This perfectly-located spot is very clean, the staff are welcoming, and the rooms are very stylish! I’m a fan. I came here when I did a wine tour, and couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay. It’s also very affordable by Ensenada standards, and it has a nice chilled garden spot where I was tempted to get stuck into a few more wines by the fireplace, but decided I’d had more than enough.
It’s in a beautiful location where you really feel like you’re on holiday.
Best Extravagant Hotel: El Cielo Winery & Resort
Every once in a while, it’s nice to treat yourself, so why not do so here?
Enjoy wine tastings, vineyard tours, and gorgeous scenery right on your doorstep at this beautiful hotel nestled among the mountains of Valle de Guadalupe. They also offer their own winemaking experience, so you’ll get to carry your own piece of paradise home with you to show off to your friends. Transportation to Ensenada and Tijuana is included in the price.
Best Airbnb: Porfirio Diaz Apartment
Now here at The Broke Backpacker, we LOVE a bargain. And if you’re looking for a cheap Airbnb in the valley, then this one hits the spot.
It’s in a good location, and the host always responds quickly, which hasn’t always been my experience from Airbnb. You can squeeze up to 4 people in here, so it works out at little more than $10 per person. It’s in a great area too! Don’t expect luxury, but for the price you pay and what you get in return, this is a bargain.
3. Playa – Coolest Place to Stay
Playa Ensenada and neighboring Bahia Ensenada are a little more laid-back than Zona Centro. This makes them a must-visit for those seeking a typical beach vacation. Families will love the relaxing vibes of Playa Ensenada, while couples travelling alone will prefer the upmarket vibes of Bahia Ensenada.
Other than some of Mexico’s best beaches, Playa Ensenada is where you’ll find many of the museums in the city, including the impressive Caracol Museo de Ciencias. Heading towards Bahia Ensenada, there are some great companies offering watersports and boat hire, as well as a few tour companies with trips to Valle de Guadalupe.
Top Things to Do
- Los Globos is the local flea market, home to quirky antiques, colourful bric-a-brac, and some local ingredients – you can even take a guided tour for some local tips.
- Hugging the Pacific Coast, Playa Ensenada is an epic spot for surfing, but make sure you take a few classes if you’re a beginner.
- Ensenada Cruiseport Village is the main dock for private yachts; however, you can also hire some boats and kayaks from the boat club.
- Centro Estatal de las Artes is the main art gallery showcasing local talent; they also have regular cultural events throughout the year.
- Visiting with the family? Broncos Steak House is a laid-back dining option with hearty portions and unbelievably good prices.
- Visit the science museum, Caracol Museo de Ciencias, it’s a great choice for rainy days.
Best Hotel: City Express by Marriott Ensenada
We’re far more used to $5 dorms full of cockroaches over luxury hotels, but along the pricy Playa, the Marriott is actually one of the cheaper options. Well, cheap compared to other places round here at least, compared to other Mexican spots it’s still a little on the steeper side.
There’s a large pool and great rooms with super comfy beds. But my favourite part is the breakfast. Wow! Gone are the crappy hostel brekkies consisting of two slices of bread and a cup of coffee. Instead they have a massive buffet full of hot foods, cold foods, cereals, fruits, meats, you name it. An unreal selection in my eyes!
Best Budget Hotel: Studio 112
Playa isn’t the cheapest spot to stay in, but here is an affordable option that feels more like a home than a hotel. It’s a whole apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen that includes items such as a tea/coffee maker and a toaster. It has a bedroom, bathroom and living room to maximise your comfort here.
There’s a massive TV, the bed is really soft, and it’s located close to several stores and restaurants. The host is great, and leaves clear instructions on how to get in. It’s not the sort of place where you’re greeted by staff on arrival.
Best Airbnb: Single Room
You get a private room and bathroom within a local’s home here. A great way to meet a local, and save some cash with a budget-friendly place to stay in a more premium location.
The hosts are happy for you to access the garden area and living room. They have a TV with Amazon Prime and Netflix among other things, so make yourself at home here. They also offer free coffee, and a luggage storage service when you arrive early/leave late. A great option for solo travellers and couples.
FAQ about Finding a Place to Stay in Ensenada
Here’s what people usually ask us about the areas of Ensenada and where to stay.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for Ensenada
It’s easy to have an accident on the beach, or whilst sinking too much wine. As a result, we strongly recommend getting good travel insurance to enjoy your stay without a nasty incident that you aren’t covered for.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Still Unsure Which Spot to Base Yourself in During Your Stay in Ensenada?
We really struggled to pick one neighborhood as our favourite, but Zona Centro is easily the best-connected part of the city. If this is your first trip to Ensenada, we recommend staying as close to the centre as possible so you can easily get to all the main attractions. Playa isn’t too far from here either.
That being said, it’s pretty compact, and the transport between the main tourist areas is good. But if we could recommend just one spot, with a focus on saving money, we’d say you should stay in Hotel del Valle. It will allow you to stay in the best place, whilst maximising spending money for fun water activities and wine tours.
Ensenada isn’t as well known as the Yucatan Peninsula and other parts of Mexico, but we loved our time here, and we’re sure you will too. Let’s put this spot on the map!
- Check out our ultimate guide backpacking around Mexico.
- Figured out where you wanna stay? Now it’s time to pick the perfect hostel in Mexico.
- Or… maybe you want to check out some Airbnbs in Mexico instead.
- Save yourself hassle and money and get an international sim card for Mexico.
- Swing by our super epic backpacking packing list to prep for your trip.
