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About Ensenada
Where is Ensenada Baja California?
Ensenada (sometimes shortened to "Ensenada, B. C.") is the third-largest city in
the Mexican state of Baja California. It is located 116 km (about 70 miles) south
of Tijuana, at 31°47?N, 116°36?W. The city had a 2005 census population of 460,075.
Ensenada is also the municipal seat of Ensenada Municipality, one of the five into
which the state is divided. Ensenada is locally referred as La Bella Cenicienta
del Pacífico (The Cinderella of the Pacific).
Located in the Bahía de Todos Santos ? an inlet of the Pacific Ocean ? Ensenada
is an important commercial and fishing port as well as a cruise ship stop. There
is also a navy base, an army base and a military airfield, which functions as an
airport of entry into Mexico.
Commerce
Ensenada is the only deep water port in Baja California and is part of standard
shipping routes that directly link it with the Mexican cities of La Paz, Manzanillo,
Mazatlán, Acapulco and Lázaro Cárdenas, as well as the U.S. cities of San Diego,
Long Beach and Los Angeles, the Guatemalan city of Puerto Quetzal, the Chilean city
of Valparaíso, the Japanese city of Yokohama and the Chinese city of Hong Kong.Ensenada
is not part of any rail transport grid, although there are plans to build a rail
line to the United States border in the short to mid-term future.
Tourism
Ensenada is conveniently located some 120 kilometers south of the border with the
United States, connected 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.
A few minutes south of town on highway 1 is the second-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. Todos Santos Island (better known as 'Todos') is a small
island located west of Ensenada (about 2 hours by boat), and a world famous surfing
spot. 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, 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 a Russian Museum commemorating
their legacy in the region has been established. The traditional economic activities
in Guadalupe 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 Carnaval is one of the country's largest, as thousands of people gather
in the streets for six days and nights.
The Sierra 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 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" (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.La bufadora or the blowhole, its
the second biggest marine geyser in the world. It is located at the end of a long
strip of shopping and markets.
Sport Fishing
Ensenada Baja California has been known for sport fishing over fifty years. Each
year hundreds of anglers head for Ensenada to go fishing and take advantage of the
shorter distances needed to travel by sea to get to the big catch. The short range
day trips are good for cranking in Bass, Bonita, Barracuda, Cod and Yellowtail,
while the long range trips pull in Tuna, Albacore, Dorado.
Source: Wikipedia - More about Ensenada here
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About Hostels
What are hostels?
The quickest answer I can give to you is that hostels are budget accommodations
where you share a room with other travelers. To be more specific though and to give
you a better idea of what to expect I will say that a hostel room is like a hotel
room but instead of being just one bed there are a couple (or a few) bunk beds.
There are also (gasp!) other people. People you do not know! These other people
are travelers who are most likely very much like you in the sense that they are
exploring and traveling and doing it as absolutely cheaply as possible. Hostels
are a cheaper way of staying in a city where you do not live.
Are hostels safe?
Many people are apprehensive about hostels because they are worried if they are
safe. Hostels are safe and used by tens of thousands of people every day. The main
question that most people have is that because the rooms are shared with other travelers,
won't someone steal your stuff?
The answer I give to that is this. There is always a risk of your things being stolen
wherever you are but you will be surprised at how respectful people are with your
stuff. You are not visiting the hostel to steal stuff, neither are the other people
there to do so either. Often while traveling your backpack is filled with your dirty
stinky clothes and other such undesirable things.
As for your passport and money. It is important to keep those with you in hostels
or anywhere else you are. In general theft is not a big problem in hostels. You
are most likely going to meet some of the nicest people you have ever met on your
travels and there is no better group of people than young people exploring the Earth
to se it. As far as your physical safety goes, there is very little to worry about.
Hostels are establishments with rules and enforcement of those rules.
In the odd case that something bad is going on the same thing will happen in a hostel
that happens in a hotel. Security or the police will come. Hostels have no problem
with kicking people out if they act inappropriately or not in standing with the
rules.
Women travelers and hostels?
Virtually every hostel has women's only dorm rooms.
This is a room where no
boys are allowed day or night. Hostels are very interested in your enjoyment and
your comfort, if you feel uncomfortable about anything you should talk to the hostel
staff. They will respond.
Many people have many different definitions of what is safe and what is not safe.
Some women will hitch hike some won't. Some women feel comfortable traveling alone,
others do not. As far as women and hostels go, whether you are a boy, girl, dog,
or turtle, hostels are places for travelers to rest and enjoy and overall hostels
do a fabulous job at being fun and safe places to be.
Why haven't I heard of hostels until now?
Depending on where you are from, hostels can be a completely new thing to you. In
America for example more people have probably heard about hostels from the horror
film than have heard about them otherwise. However you have learned about them,
we are glad you did and welcome to a very fun community.
Why would anyone want to share a room with others?
This is a very important question. It is actually the same question as "What does
travel mean to me?" because if you think about it most travelers are looking to
explore, to see and meet other people and places that are different from themselves
and that are foreign to their experiences.
There is no better way to do this than staying at a hostel. You will meet lots of
people from lots of places. If you stay in a hotel you are less likely to meet anyone
in a real sense. This is fine for some people. The people in hostels are travelers
and travelers are good people to meet.
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Do you have couples or group discounts?
Yes, please send us an email to let us know how many are you and how long do you
plan to stay to get a good price discount.
Do you have Internet for free?
Yes, you can use your laptop to access the Internet throughout the hostel or at
one of our computers.
Can I pay with a credit card?
No. For the moment we only accept cash.
How can I get to Ensenada from the San Ysidro Trolley Station?
The easiest way to catch a bus from the border station at the passing the taxi stands
on your left, follow the sidewalk until you come to a crosswalk street crossing.
Look to your left and you will see the small bus station.The bus station (Tel: 664-178-6680)
in Ensenada is located at Riveroll and Calle 10. You can grab a taxi to come here
or give us a call and we will meet you on your arrival.
Driving to Ensenada?
Driving to Ensenada is easy. Crossing the international border or coming from Tijuana
in the North, take the Playas de Tijuana exit or Rosarito/Ensenada Toll Road exit.
The Playas de Tijuana road turns into the Tijuana-Ensenada Toll Road. After a 70
minute scenic route overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean, you'll arrive in Ensenada.
Be prepared to pay the toll (currently in the $2.35 per toll) which also doubles
for insurance while on the toll road (however, you are still required to have insurance
by Mexican law). There are three toll stations on your way.
There is also a "Free Road" or Carretera Libre which runs from downtown Tijuana
to Ensenada avoiding all tolls. The route is longer, but is also a nice scenic drive.
You can even drive part of the way on the toll road & part of the way on the free
road.
Do I need a passport?
Foreigners require tourist cards for visits to Baja California exceeding 72 hours,
or for travel more than 100 kilometers south of the border. Cards must be validated
by Immigration ( Migracion) at the border or in Ensenada. Proof of citizenship (birth
certificate or passport) is required.
Stop at your port of entry to Mexico and obtain a tourist card, if you don't do
that and you want to obtain the tourist card in Ensenada you will have to pay a
fine of $6 USD aprox.
Tax?
Baja California?s Added Value Tax (IVA) is 10%: hotels and RV parks charge an additional
2% Lodging Tax. Taxes are usually included in quoted prices but if in doubt, ask.
Is it safe to walk the streets in Ensenada?
Absolutely. The streets are safe to walk. The sidewalks are even safer.
Is there surfing in Ensenada?
Yes. There is surfing at Playa San Miguel which is about 4 miles north of Ensenada.
There are many famous breaks along the Baja coast both north and south of Ensenada.
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