Ensenada Shore Excursion: Wine, Food & Cantina Culture
The margarita was born at Riviera Casino, and you'll taste the history.
This Ensenada shore excursion combines food tastings, winery access and cultural stops built around the port's most recognizable landmarks. You'll watch tortillas made from scratch, eat a fish taco at the waterfront, visit Bodegas de Santo Tomás, and step into the cantina where northern Mexican music plays while you order a beer. The tour runs three to five hours and is timed so cruise passengers can return to their ship; a live guide in English or Spanish leads the route and knows the owners of each stop personally.
3h–5h
Step-by-step itinerary
Ensenada shore excursion highlights
- Observe local fish and seafood
- Enjoy typical Ensenada fish taco
- Visit famous cantina with live music
- Watch tortilla production process
- Make a tortilla taco with salt
- Have lunch at La Morocha or Muelle 3
- Visit Riviera Casino for margarita
The Experience
The tour starts at the waterfront, where you'll see the fish and seafood the boats bring in and order a fish taco if you want one. From there the route moves through the places Ensenada locals actually eat and drink—not the tourist version of them. You'll walk into a tortilla factory and watch the corn move through the cooking vat and out of the machine hot, then make a tortilla taco with just salt. The guide knows the people running these places; that matters because it means you're not standing outside looking in.
Bodegas de Santo Tomás is the winery stop, and lunch happens at one of two restaurants—La Morocha or Muelle 3—both known for Bajamed-style cooking. If the group wants to keep going, the route can end at Riviera Casino for a margarita. The casino has a strange history: during Prohibition, planes and yachts brought American gangsters and influential figures to gamble and drink there illegally. The margarita itself was born in that room. It's tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and salt over crushed ice, and the story behind it is older than most cocktails in America.
The whole thing is built for cruise schedules—the guide times the return so you're back at the ship without rushing. Depending on how many people book, a driver may come along with the guide. Bottled water and the two tacos are included; lunch, beer and margaritas are not. If you have food allergies or restrictions, let them know before you go.
What’s included
- Bottled water.
- fish taco at the waterfront.
- tortilla-making demonstration with a taco you make yourself.
- Bodegas de Santo Tomás winery access.
- live guide in English or Spanish.
Operated by MexGeo Tours by Lizette Rolland
Is this one for you?This tour fits a three- to five-hour window, which leaves room for other activities before or after your ship departs, but rules out a full day inland. If you want to taste the food and see the landmarks Ensenada locals actually use without building an itinerary yourself, the guide's personal connections to each stop—and the timing locked to your ship's schedule—are what make it work.
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Top questions
What exactly is a fish taco, and where do you eat it on this tour?
A fish taco is a Ensenada staple—fresh local fish, typically fried, served on a tortilla with simple toppings. You'll have one at the waterfront at the start of the tour, where you can see the boats that brought the catch in that morning.
Does the tour include lunch, or do I need to budget for that separately?
Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll stop at either La Morocha or Muelle 3, both award-winning Bajamed-style restaurants, and you pay for what you order there. The two tacos—the fish taco and the tortilla taco you make yourself—are included.
What is Bodegas de Santo Tomás, and what happens during the winery stop?
Bodegas de Santo Tomás is Ensenada's most famous winery. The tour includes access to the winery, though the specific activities and tastings depend on the day and the group size; ask when you book if you want details on what the visit includes.
Will I have time to get back to my cruise ship before it leaves?
Yes—the tour is timed specifically for cruise passengers. The guide plans the return so you're back at the port with time to spare. Border crossing back to San Diego can take longer on busy days, so factor that in if you're cutting it close.
Can I skip the cantina stop or the margarita at Riviera Casino?
The cantina and Riviera Casino are optional add-ons, not required stops. If you want to skip them and head back to the ship earlier, the guide can arrange that. Let them know your preference when you book or at the start of the tour.
What language does the guide speak?
The guide is live and speaks both English and Spanish. Let the operator know which language you prefer when you book.
Ensenada Shore Excursion: Wine, Food & Cantina Culture
3h–5h · EN · ES
from US$ 44 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.8520 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
