Need family-friendly excursions and activities in Ensenada or things to do near the cruise port with kids? Ensenada may not be as squeaky clean as Catalina Island, but it is safe with quirky fun for families.
Check my general excursion advice in #1 and 2-7 walk around for free stuff near Cruiseport (my 2-7 items), or do both. A one or two activity excursion takes about half a day, so you have hour or two to explore downtown.
Disclaimer: I am expat carnival cruiser and own the TripAdvisor #1 Ensenada Excursions so I have seen the private excursions and have included links to my business. I don’t have deep knowledge of ship-sponsored excursions. Clients tell me the have few options for young kids and often book up, besides being at higher price point.
1) Kid Friendly Excursions
Cruise Excursions (Zipline, ATV, Horseback, Pai pai) can be kid-friendly things to do:
Most excursions can be family-friendly, especially if booked with a private local so you can have a bit more control of the situation, emergency stops for bathrooms, car seats / booster seats / room for stollers, private pickup, a conversation with a local guide, and personalized pickup signs (for example “Happy Birthday Connor”) are a fun memory.
Private excursions give a bit more time one on one attention.
Horseback Riding:
Excursion operators can take kids with adult supervision. For horseback riding on beach or mountain rides, the horses are well-trained in some places, but not in all.
The mountain route at Echo Canyon Las Canadas has good riding instruction and safety equipment.
If kids are small, or if under 6, they can share a saddle with someone bigger.
5 years old to ride solo, or double up.
There are many local providers including TripAdvisor like ours here, but it is 28% more on tripadvisor than booking direct.
ATV/Rzr Excursions:
There are several ATV options in Ensenada, I think the adventure park ATV off-road option is the safest. There, the youngest age to drive is 16 as a solo rider, or double up with an adult and get a discount. Younger kids can go as long as parents sign a waiver. The track is fun, and there are a few cliffs. So for most safety, I suggest a UTV or Razor. A bit more expensive, but a more shared experience.
If you have more kids than drivers 16 and older, just go for the RZR/UTV option so you can fit 2 or three passengers.
Some ATV operators encourage Tequila drinking after the tour, so that would not be kid-friendly. Since I live here, I also see lots of ATVs on the streets. I recommend the off-road track.
The Hot Springs ATV Adventure, and rides through town on the streets are not
I don’t suggest just renting an ATV without a guide. These are available just off the ship, and you can ride through the streets. I encourage guided tours off road.
The Valle de Guadalupe ATV Options mostly include wine so probably a no go for families.
16 years old to drive alone or double up with an adult and get a discount.
Surf lessons:
With a private operator for more one-on-one time, the youngest age is 5 years, and is a highly recommended activity here in Ensenada because of the great beach conditions. The waters are chilly from December through March, but you get a wet suit to stay warm. Lessons are on the local beach Playa Hermosa with an easy beach break and shallow waters. Riptides are seldom.
The beach break at Playa Hermosa is great place to learn, and shallow waters, so super safe for kids. Too far to walk, and not great clean public bathrooms, so a private pick up and excursion to surf lessons is the best idea. Go to San Miguel if you are already an intermediate surfer.
Ensenada Surfing Lessons is one thing that Ensenada offers that Catalina Island does not. My team offers this and you can combine with a city tour or other activity.
Sporty kids may love kayaking too. Kayaking to the Bufadora on the ocean side of the peninsula is a fun option for sporty kids 10 and older, perhaps choosing a double-seater kayak. For younger kids under 10, kayaking on the estuary side of the peninsula with calm waters is nice outdoor experience.
First Massage for kids?:
Although it may not be obvious, this could be a good chance for first massage or facials, or just great massage and facials at a decent price (much cheaper than Carnival Cloud 9) For some, their first massage or facial is best with family so they feel comfortable.
Ensenada Massage we have a huge room where parents can get a massage and kids can receive a massage or facial on another side of the divider, close enough to keep an eye on but just far enough to relax.
Our therapists can do
regular massage, on skin with lotion
over clothes massage
head/ hands/ feet
shortened 30min massage
We also have wifi if they want time on a tablet.
Massage is available with $15 discounts for kids under 16, (use code KIDS15) so you can sneak in a massage for everyone. And nice opportunity to introduce them to their 1st massage, facial, or manicure.
We also get a lot of families that split up; some come for massages and facials and others go for an excursion.
No age minimum if accompanied by an adult.
Zipline and Canopy Tour at Las Canadas:
at Las Canadas is a pretty awesome park with pools, ATV, zip lines. About a 45 min ride from the cruise port and best with a customized tour with a local driver. (Uber won’t come there to pick you up on the way back!). The 5 ziplines and canopy bridges are fun, safe, and professionally done. Age minimum is 4 to zip alone, or just be in the arms of an adult. If some don’t want to Zipline or ATV, a $25 day pass will get you into the pools with paddle boat, kiddie slides, and restaurant and walking paths.
4 years old or 4.5 feet to zipline alone or go in the arms of adult (separate harness)
If you go on your own they charge you for a day pass to get in. Local Zipline tour companies can take you and just do the activity you choose like zipline or ATV or horseback at echo canyon
Pai Pai Animal Park Tiger:
My excursion choice for kids is probably Pai Pai Animal Park Excursion for young kids and the zip line/ canopy tour for teens. Pai Pai is an eco animal with barn animals for petting, and exotic animals for tiger cub petting, adult tiger feeding, lemur/monkey interaction, eagles, barn animals, cultural dances and such. Their website is a bit confusing, but packages are from 35 for one activity- $135 for the biggest package. You can piece together what you want, but it might add up quickly. And to repurchase tickets are non-refundable in case the cruise changes port days, cancels or does not let you off.
You can find transport there or packages of transport and entrance.
My sister company Ensenada Excursions and Tours does Pai Pai Ensenada transport and packages with 5 activities that fit well into a shore day since they take about 2-2.5 hours.
tiger cub interaction
adult tiger feeding
lemur/monkey interaction
surprise animal
tequila sampling (for adults!)
They have short zipline and pony rides as well, designed for kids. Teens should go to Las Canadas.
Plan to stay for 2-3 on a shore day.
No age minimum. Pai pai supposedly doesn’t charge for 1 and 2 year olds, but uneven application of this discount, so don’t count on it.
Under 4 younger ride free with our sister company for all excursions.
Packages start at $30 for entrance and they have many activities and levels of animal interaction to choose from. It is very clean and well-run. The animals seem to be well cared for. The corporate story is that they adopt the tiger cubs as rescue animals, and then when they are adults the tigers/lions are placed in zoos.
Uber works fine in town, but not recommended to try and wing it on your transportation since Uber doesn’t arrive (no cars available) to faraway places like Las Canadas, Bufadora, or Valle de Guadalupe or Pai Pai. Look for online TripAdvisor or Google reviews and a back-to-ship guarantee.
Is La Bufadora Kid Friendly?
Yes, like a county fair. Lots of people, vendors, food, and a cool water blowhole at the end. After a 40-minute ride from the cruise port. So, I only recommend it after an activity. By itself, kind of long 45min ride for what it is.
—Read my long rant: La Bufadora Ensenada: Is it Worth it?
There are many options for Blowhole Tour with my team or just add it onto something else. It makes a good place to walk and eat after zipline or horseback or pai pai as the main activity.. There are bigger bus tours if you want to save and go with larger group. You can find these downtown when you get off the shuttle.
Zip lining at Las Canadas is pretty awesome!
In summary, the best ensenada excursions for kids:
kids 5 and under Pai Pai and Bufadora:
teens: Zipline ATV and horseback great for teens
sporty families: surf lessons and kayaking
less active kids city tour, bufadora
Ensenada Excursions offers car seats/boosters, free transportation for kids 3 and under, discounts for the activities the kids or parents sit out, personalized pick up signs, custom excursion itineraries, and a back-to-ship guarantee.
2) Ensenada’s Water Show Near Cruiseport to Let Kids Play
Like mini vegas, Ensenada waterfront now has water show with shooting water, lights, and music. At night is super cool, but still fun during the day. 1pm there is show, sometimes varies based on weather conditions. Rowdy kids can play in water. Right in front of huge flag (or pole if no flag). Times vary so you will have to take a chance to catch this one.
From the ship, just walk off past port security, turn left across the foot bridge, and walk along the harbor. You will see water fountains, then sounvenirs, then raw fish market. From there it is easy to cross to the far end of La Primear Papas and Beer, walking back toward the ship three blocks, ending at La Riviera Cultural Center.
Watershow at big flag plaza
3) Waterfront Playground and Train!
In Parque de Bandera, is a pretty decent playground. Built within last two years and on the water front! Weekends after three a kiddy train is running, leaving from the park on a route around town.
There are often other kid activities on the weekend.
Playground near Ensenada cruiseport
4) Gemstone hunting on La Primera
Gems and Fossils on La Primera
There are two gem/rock stores near cruiseport. If your kids like gems, huge rocks and fossils, consider a visit to Mar and Tierra on La Primera. I loved the fossils and gems with labels. A chance to learn origins and see cool colors and stones. Just don’t break, or you buy;(. . . .
Shopping Lucha Libre Masks on La Primera fun thing to do?
5) Silly Souvenirs on La Primera:
Vendors on the first street have fun stuff including bracelets with your name, get your name on a piece of rice, Lucha libre mask, little musical instruments, tiny Mexican cooking utensils . . . like the stores often say: curiosities. Just walk along La Primera and you will see many places. . children may love it. If you prefer to just walk around downtown my local, expat recommendations on places are here:
A silly adventure like my own dad would have led would be to take us to restaurant El Corralito where you can tape a US dollar bill to the wall, and write your name. If you ever come back . . . look for it!
Or just down the street make a fake driver’s license Mexifornia to remember your Ensenada adventure.
History Museum Across from Cruiseport $3
6) Caracol Science Museum for Kids
Just outside the cruise port is a science museum that was completed just before covid, taking 10 years to build. Space, sea, and Baja’s animals are the main features. Most exhibits are in English.
You pretty much have to pass it if you walk out of the port. Also easy to do after a morning excursion when we drop you off here to return to the ship.
Entrance is less than 7 usd,
Only open Thursday to Sunday 10am-5pm.
Worth a walk and short visit. The exhibits are interactive and decent.
7) Ensenada History and Art Museum
Just of the boat, directly across street in the Riviera, the CEARTE museum is small, but nice with focus on regional history and the indigenous people that lived here. Very different the from Aztec or Mayan cultures in the south. Only a couple of bucks, so nice quick stop for families walking. 10am-5pm. Across the street from the La Riviera is CEARTE Regional Art Museum. Not too big. Not geared toward young kids.
At the other end of La Primera, housed in old jail is Regional Historic Museum. Free, and just a few rooms large.
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Pet A tiger cub with us! Click For Pai Pai a Quote!
Jesse is a US ex-pat living in Ensenada for 15 years, an occasional Carnival cruiser, and owner at Ensenada Massage and Ensenada Excursions and Tours.
Both businesses are He also recently started offering excursions and massage packages with private all-day transportation. Although a dog dad and an uncle, he really has no idea of the trials of raising little humans! He congratulates those brave souls doing so.