Introducing Ensenada
Ensenada, 108km south of the border, is hedonistic Tijuana’s cosmopolitan sister. The city has a quirky mix of just-off-the-boat cruise shippers, drive-by tourists from Cali, tourists from mainland Mexico and seen-it-all locals. In case you’ve forgotten you’re in Mexico (what with all those US dollars and the English menus) just look up: a Mexican flag so large it’s probably visible from space flutters proudly over the tourist zone. Wander here and you’ll find almost anything: ceramics, hammocks, textiles, jewelry…side by side with tasteless T-shirts, raunchy gifts and a host of items you definitely wouldn’t give grandma for the holidays. Some of Mexico’s best wines come from this region; if you’re an oenophile, don’t miss the Ruta del Vino and its vineyards and museums – lately this region has come to the attention of vintners world-wide.
Av López Mateos (Calle 1a), a landscaped, pedestrian-oriented artery, is lined with interesting shops, cafés, restaurants, sidewalk seating and many hotels, but outside the tourist zone the prices drop, food gets authentic and hotels become cheap. Singer Jim Morrison, of Doors fame, used to sip tequila and watch surfers just north at San Miguel.
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