Happy TravellerEnsenada is a city located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, in the Ensenada Municipality of Baja California. With a population of 279,765 in 2018, it is the third-largest city in Baja California. Ensenada is an important international trade center and home to the second-busiest port in Mexico, the Port of Ensenada. But Ensenada is not just a bustling economic hub; it is also a major tourist destination, known for its warm Mediterranean climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. In fact, Ensenada is commonly referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or The Cinderella of the Pacific.
Ensenada has a rich history that dates back to the arrival of the first European explorers in the region. The Yuman people, including the Kiliwa, Paipai, and Kumeyaay tribes, inhabited the area at the time. The city was founded on September 17, 1542, under the name San Mateo, by the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno renamed the city to Ensenada de Todos Santos while mapping the coast of the Californias in search of safe harbors for returning Spanish galleons from Manila to Acapulco. Ensenada means bay or cove.
Ensenada’s first permanent settlement was established by the Jesuits during the 17th or 18th century. After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768, the Dominicans took over the representation of Europe in what is now Ensenada. In 1805, José Manuel Ruiz Carillo obtained permission to establish himself in Ensenada, being appointed governor of Baja California and building in Ensenada a house that survived until the final part of that century, despite being briefly taken by William Walker, the self-declared president of the Republic of Lower California, in 1853–54. In 1882, Ensenada was designated the capital of Baja California, and attempts at developing the area were made by the English Mexican Land and Colonization Company. These were interrupted by the Mexican Revolution, which left the area devastated. In 1915, the capital was transferred to Mexicali, and in 1930, the population of Ensenada was only 5,000.
Ensenada’s reputation as a resort town was cemented by the 1950s and 1960s, which saw a construction boom and the city’s rise in international prominence outside of North America. Today, Ensenada is a major economic and cultural hub for Baja California. The city is home to numerous universities, like the Ensenada Institute of Technology and the Autonomous University of Baja California, Ensenada. Ensenada is an important biotechnology hub and is home to numerous research institutions, like the Ensenada Center for Scientific Research. The city is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Ensenada’s geography is unique and diverse, with many terrestrial or marine species inhabiting the surrounding Greater Ensenada area in the Baja California islands. Guadalupe Island, off the coast of the city, is one of the best places in the world for observing the great white shark. The island has been a wildlife sanctuary since 1975. The city’s offshore is host to an array of aquatic mammals including the gray whale, the Guadalupe fur seal, and California sea lion; terrestrial mammals include various squirrel species, otters, the ring-tailed cat, coyote, bobcat, and puma. Bird species include hawks, pelicans, roadrunners, and various waterfowl and oceangoing species. Fish include tilapia, rainbow trout, leopard shark, and the great white shark.
Ensenada has a mild semi-arid climate, much like the rest of northwestern Baja California. During the colder months from November to February, rainfall is scarce and temperatures average 13 °C (55 °F). On the other hand, the warmer months from June to September are the driest, and during this time maintain an average temperature of 21 °C (70 °F). For Ensenada’s warm summer coastal location, the city’s climate is greatly affected by the offshore cold California Current. Due to the current, the late summer and early fall seasons are typically the warmest periods for the city. Santa Ana winds – observed in much of Southern California as well – are responsible for temperature rises at any time of the year. During Santa Anas, wind direction changes and brings warm air from the interior to the coast. Snowfall is rare with the last recent one in January 2007, when the hills south of the city received small amounts of snowfall. Similar to the South Coast of California, Ensenada
