Ensenada Cruise Port Guide 2026 | What to Do, Best Food & Excursions (Ruby Princess)

Planning a stop in Ensenada, Mexico on a Mexican Riviera cruise? In this Ensenada Cruise Port Guide 2026, we show you exactly what to do when your ship docks — from the walk into town to the best fish tacos, excursions, and tips for navigating the port. Whether you're sailing on Ruby Princess, Discovery Princess, Carnival Panorama, Navigator of the Seas, or another Mexican Riviera cruise, this guide shows you how to explore Ensenada safely, easily, and without missing the highlights. In this Ensenada Cruise Port Guide, we cover: ✅ The Walk to Town – How to get from the cruise pier to Avenida López Mateos ✅ Must-Eat Food – Finding the legendary Baja fish tacos near Mercado Negro ✅ Top Excursions – Valle de Guadalupe wine country and La Bufadora (the blowhole) ✅ Port Logistics – Shuttle options, the agricultural security dogs, and safety tips ✅ Returning to the Ship – The Mariachi welcome back and Ruby Princess sailaway views Ensenada is one of the most common Mexican Riviera cruise ports for ships sailing from Los Angeles (San Pedro), Long Beach, and San Francisco, yet many cruisers stay onboard. Don’t make that mistake — this port offers authentic culture, incredible food, and easy walkable exploration. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Ensenada Cruise Port Guide 2026 01:00 Arriving In Ensenada 02:13 Port Security, The Sniffer Dog & Re-Entry 03:23 Is Ensenada Walkable? 04:14 What To Do Near The Port 06:19 Excursion Ideas 07:32 Money & Practical Tips 08:06 Timing Your Day 08:35 Returning To The Ship 08:57 The Mariachi Welcome 09:33 Who Is Ensenada Best For? 10:11 Final Thoughts 📍 JOIN THE DEBATE If you only had 4 hours in Ensenada, would you: 🌮 Do a taco crawl in town 🍷 Visit Valle de Guadalupe wine country Tell us in the comments! 🚢 CRUISE RESOURCES: Watch our full Ruby Princess Cruise Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzYEp6eOW5gW42hojKUxAtBEM1URk9Us3 Everything you need for your Mexican Riviera Packing List: [Link to your blog/affiliate if applicable] 🌊 SUBSCRIBE TO CALM SEA CRUISE Join Pat and Kathy for real cruise experiences to help you cruise smarter 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@CalmSeaCruise 🍪 LOVE CRUISE FOOD Watch Calm Sea Cooks 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@CalmSeaCooks 🧳 CRUISE ESSENTIALS & PACKING LISTS Shop the gear we actually use for packing, filming, and living life at sea. 🛍️ Start here 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/calmseacruise 🎒 Packing & Travel Gear 👉 https://amzn.to/4p9JbCv 🪶 Cruise Essentials 👉 https://amzn.to/45QcTVA As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. 📄 FREE CRUISE PACKING CHECKLIST 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_A7u6wHQMUnO_zLO2ZLSUKWxcoRD0ScZ/view 💬 STAY CONNECTED 📸Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/calmseacruise 📱TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@calmseacruise 🎓 CREATOR & RETIREMENT RESOURCES Thinking about sharing your own travel experiences or planning your next chapter? These are the resources we’ve personally used: ▶️ YouTube After 40 Build Your Channel 👉 https://groundedlife.thinkific.com/courses/youtube-after-40?ref=8ea664 ▶️ Retirement Travel Jumpstart 👉 https://groundedlife.thinkific.com/courses/retirement-travel-jumpstart?ref=8ea664 #ensenada #ensenadacruiseport #rubyprincess #mexicanriviera #princesscruises