Museums
Riviera Del Pacifico Cultural Center. In June 1928, the hotel-resort of Agua Caliente opened for business in Tijuana. The lavish resort featured a casino, hot springs spa, championship golf and tennis facilities, its own airstrip and lots of entertainment. Since drinking, gambling and horse racing were illegal in the neighboring U.S., many wealthy Americans and Hollywood celebrities flocked south of the boarder for some fun.
The smashing success of Agua Caliente led entrepreneurs to develop other resort properties that would cater to Americans looking for booze and gambling. This was the impetus for the building of the Hotel Playa de Ensenada, later to be named the Hotel Riviera del Pacifico.
The hotel was inaugurated on Halloween night, 1930. The opening night was an event, featuring Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, and the Hollywood stars and other beautiful people crowded the resort. But the Hotel Riviera del Pacifico was the star of the evening.
The hotel's Spanish interiors were plush and elegant. The ornamentation had been purchased from around the world: the wrought iron grills came from old buildings in colonial Havana, the roofs were made with Florida wormwood cypress, and the chandeliers and lamps were made in Spain. Persian rugs covered the tiled floors, and the furniture was crafted in Spain. Tapestries hung on the walls, and a grand piano dominated the huge lobby that had the Pacific Ocean for a front yard.
The ceilings and many walls were painted with murals by Alfredo Ramos Martinez, a fine Mexican artist whose work caused great admiration. The motifs were varied and eloquent: beautiful women, mythological themes, social themes, and a great variety of eclectic decorations which ranged from Pompeiian to Renaissance to Mudejar. The total cost, during the depths of the Depression, was $2 million.
People did come to the 66-room hotel by car, air and sea; however, the facility was never able to match the success of the Agua Caliente. Ultimately, it was the Depression, the repeal of Prohibition in 1935 and the abolition of gambling in Mexico that spelled the hotel's doom. The hotel finally closed in 1938.
By the 1950's, the hotel had been renamed Hotel Riviera del Pacifico. Ensenada had seen a tremendous growth in its population, from 5,000 in 1930 to 20,000 by 1950. The hotel served as a grand setting for the main events of the city and of the state. International conventions were often held at the Riviera's monumental ballroom, and the Presidents of Mexico were always received at the hotel. The hotel was a cultural and social center for the people of Ensenada, hosting concerts, literary gatherings and the famous "Black and White Ball," organized every year in the month of August by the wives of the Rotarians. But once again the hotel fell on bad times.
The government took over the property and managed the hotel off and on from the late 1950s until January 1964, when it was closed forever. In 1965, the hotel was completely destroyed. The facility was rebuilt by the summer of 1981 as Ensenada's cultural center.
Today, the building also houses Ensenada's Museum of History, featuring artifacts of Baja's earliest days.
Located on Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas (Costero) near Ave. Club Rotario, just two blocks from the Cruise Terminal. The grounds are open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm in the summer, and from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm during the rest of the year. Museum admission is around $10 pesos.
Regional History Museum. Housed in the oldest public building in Baja California, the facility was built in 1886. At one time it was a prison, and the cell blocks and the towers remain to this day. The museum's exhibits focus on the city's history.
Located on Ave. Gastelum, just west of Ave. Lopez Mateos.
Open: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is around $3.00 US. Tel: +52 (646) 178-3692
ATV Excursions
Tours by Johann and Sandra offer a Pacific Beach ATV Tour on a single- or double-rider ATV. This 2½-hour tour takes place on the beautiful Pacific beaches of Ensenada. These beaches are rarely crowded, so you have lots of room to roam and play. The Sierra San Pedro Martir mountains form a beautiful backdrop for your day of fun at the beach. The price of the tour is $59 for a single-rider ATV, or $72 for a double-rider ATV, and includes complimentary pickup at the Cruise Ship Pier, an English-speaking guide, instruction and safety equipment.
Tours by Johann and Sandra also offer a Mountain ATV Tour featuring single- or double-rider ATVs. This 2½-hour tour takes place in the Sierra San Pedro Martir mountains on the outskirts of Ensenada. From these dirt mountain roads and trails, you'll be afforded panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and city far below. Here the hard packed dirt trails seem built for ATVs. This excursion is fun for the whole family, as there is no age limit for riders, and kids 12 and up can drive; no driver's license is required. The price of the tour is $68 for a single-rider ATV, or $81 for a double-rider ATV, and includes complimentary pickup at the Cruise Ship Pier, an English-speaking guide, instruction and safety equipment.
Horseback Riding
Tours by Johann and Sandra offer an Ensenada Ranch Ride Tour that will take you to Rancho Los Bandidos in Ensenada. This 3-hour, 4-mile tour begins at a real working ranch--complete with cowboys--and takes you into the foothills of the Sierra San Pedro Martir mountain range. Your ride will take you high into the hills and above the pounding surf of San Miguel, where vistas of the Bay of Ensenada, the Todos Santos Islands and the magnificent Salsipuedes Bay abound. During the ride you'll stop for a taste of home-cooked eggs chorizo before heading back to the ranch. The price of the tour is $45, and includes complimentary pickup at the Cruise Ship Pier, an English-speaking guide, snacks and a cash bar.
Canopy Tour
Las Canadas, a campground and recreational center located about 30 minutes south of Ensenada, and about 10 minutes south of the road to La Bufadora, has built a challenging canopy tour at their facility. The canopy features 5 zip lines and 5 suspension bridges; the whole course is about 2 kilometers (1 miles) long, and takes about an hour. The suspension bridges are quite challenging, and include a traditional bridge, a Tibetan bridge, a barrel bridge and a challenging "bridge of islands." Each bridge will challenge your coordination and dexterity.
Located at Km. 31.5 Hwy 1
Tel: +52 (646) 153-1055 (from the US)
Scenic Tours
La Bufadora. Ensenada's Blowhole is located about 20 miles south of Ensenada. For lovers of odd ocean phenomena, this is a must see. Otherwise, the site around the Bufadora is filled with roving vendors selling souvenirs and trinkets, and a few nearby curio shops. For those who want to celebrate their experience at the Bufadora, there are a couple of bars nearby. The best and safest way to get to the Bufadora would be in a taxi.
Whale Watching
Sergio's Sport Fishing
Sergio's Sports Fishing offers 4-hour whale watching tours, taking place between December 26 and March 31. View the magnificent California gray whales as they migrate from the cold northern waters to the warm breeding grounds of Central Baja lagoons. Check-in time is at 11:15 am, and the daily trips depart at noon and return at 4:00 pm. Advance purchase is highly recommended, as tours and activities sell out well in advance. The cost is US$30.00 for adults, and US$20 for children 12 and under.
Sergio's is located at the Sports Fishing Piers at the northern end of the marina, near the Visitors Information Center and the Fish Market.
Wineries
Spending a day in the Guadalupe Valley wine country can be a very pleasant way to see the side of Ensenada that most people don't see. Most of the following wineries are located in the Guadalupe Valley; Bodegas de Santa Tomas has a facility in downtown Ensenada.
- Bodegas de Santa Tomas. Located in downtown Ensenada, on Ave. Miramar #666, at Calle 7. This is Baja California's oldest and largest winery, with roots stretching back to the Franciscan mission days. One hour guided tours of the facility, in English, are available daily at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. The cost is US $5 to $10.
Tel: +52 (646) 174-0836
- Casa Pedro Domecq.
Located a few miles north of the town of Guadalupe. Tours and tastings available Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Tel: +52 (646) 155-2249
- Chateau Camon. Located off Mex. 3 in the Guadalupe Valley. One hour tour includes lunch. Tours and tastings available Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and on Sunday, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Cost ranges from $5 to $40.
Tel: +52 (646) 177-3303
- L.A. Cetto Winery. Located on Mex. 3 at Km 73.5.
Tours and tastings available daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Tel: +52 (646) 177-2352
- Monte Xanic Winery. Located off Mex. 3 near the village of Francisco Zarco. Tours and tastings available Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Tel: +52 (646) 174-6155
|
|
|
