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.

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

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Hussong's Cantina 45m
2. Bodegas de Santo Tomás 1h
3. Centro Social, Civico y Cultural Riviera de Ensenada 30m

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.

Times

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• Every day 10:00

Information

Ensenada shore excursion with Bodegas de Santo Tomás winery, fish taco at the waterfront, tortilla-making demo.

Group Up to 15

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 to 95 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Pets welcome Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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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.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

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.

Operated by MexGeo Tours by Lizette Rolland. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago