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Another one off of my bucket list !! Spent the day in Ensenada and the weather was amazing in December Come to find out the Bufadora is a must see natural experience Every few minutes the Bufadora is giving lol A waterfall experience Before you get to end of the Bufadora there is a street you need to walk through and tons to vendors that cat call you We got suckered into some awesome drinks and a good pregame LOL ANYWAYS experiencing the visuals of the Bufadora is awesome and definitely a MUST DO ON TO MY NEXT BOOOMARK
Saturday, September 7 Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas 76°F / 83% Humidity This "geyser" (blowhole) is one of the main tourist attractions in Ensenada. There's also a bustling flea market, with more than 150 shopping stalls. You have several ways to get here: 1. Purchase a ship-sponsored excursion directly with your cruise ($42 - $59 per person): The most expensive option, but you can depend on them to bring you back to the ship if the tour runs late. The ship will either wait until you come back, or they'll transport you to the next port. 2. Private driver/tour guide: Allows for flexibility, and you can visit other destinations along the way as well. Negotiate prices upfront and never pay until the trip is over. Rideshare is also available, an Uber will set you back about 490 pesos one way. 3. Independent/Local bus tour: This was the option we ended up choosing. Once you exit the terminal, there are buses outside offering $4 USD round trip rides to "downtown". Don't take this bus if you're actually going into town because they drive you to the Las Dunas Tour office at Plaza Pueblo Antiguo. It's a little out of the way, they're a bit shady for not disclosing that. Cash only, but they accept US dollars. The tour was $30 per person, which dropped to $25 since we were given coupons during the bus ride there. You can add other activities like horseback riding. They gave us stickers and then we were corralled onto another bus with other tourists. Communication is great, all guides speak English. During the 40 minute drive to La Bufadora, they'll give advice on what you can't bring back on the ship and how to haggle with the vendors. Avoid Cuban cigars and pharmaceuticals, these products are almost always counterfeit. Get tequilas from the reputable shops and ask for an acid test if you're buying anything made of silver. You walk through the market on the way to the blowhole. Lots of apparel, jewelry stalls, fake luxury bags, decorative plates, candies, souvenirs, beverages, and more. The vendors are aggressive and relentless, offering samples and pressuring you to purchase their items. Stick with the group, say no thank you politely, and continue walking purposefully. Buy on the way back. The guides will stop at a few of the stalls to highlight a few products, though keep in mind they most likely receive a commission if you end up purchasing something. I got a few candied almonds from one of the vendors, which was nice to snack on. The blowhole spouts water several meters into the air every minute or so. Quite a sight to see during high tide, not that impressive during low tide. You might have to wait around a bit for that picture-perfect moment. It gets pretty crowded, especially if there is more than one cruise ship at port. We had about 90 minutes to shop and eat. Our group got back on the bus and left La Bufadora at 1:00 PM. There was some traffic on the way back, but we arrived 2 hours before our 4:30 PM boarding deadline. You can take the bus back to the cruise terminal (already paid for since it's $4 round trip). I ended up leaving the plaza to stop at a few other destinations that I bookmarked. The walk back to the cruise ship from the fish market to the terminal took about 25 minutes. Worth visiting just once, especially for first-timers. The ocean views are great, lot of nice photo opts. It's nice that we saved some money compared to directing booking the tour offered by Royal Caribbean. I liked that I still had time to explore the rest of Ensenada and get back onto the ship. The super annoying vendors ruin the experience.
Stopped by La Bufadora on our cruise and had a great time. The market was lively and filled with good food and drinks. The view was also spectacular. We got scammed a couple times, so make sure to check what the merchants are putting in their card readers before you swipe! Great experience and my group all walked away full and happy.
Thanks to the kayak tour Orlando, Beatriz and another individual guided us through the ocean and we got to see the natural blow hole of La bufadora! It was super nice to see in a sunny day. Tides were pretty gentle and a couple of waves. One per person fell off their kayak but was helped quickly by Orlando! We got to be really close to the water hole and felt bery safe with the guides. Thanks Valeria hiding the bus tour I highly recommend this to friend and more. We parked and walked down to shore with two person kayaks. Water bottle was given after and the bathroom was great!
La Bufadora has continued down a path I didn't want it to take since I last visited. My first visit was an excursion not associated with the cruise ship my family & I came in on... the most recent experience occurred on the afternoon of July 17, 2022. Overall, though, if you can get past the cons, this is quite a unique natural phenomenon to visit. It's gotten more crowded - more tourists. More vendors. More heckling. Longer wait times at the restrooms. Bring at least $10 pesos per person and your own toilet paper (just in case) to use said restrooms. More cars driving through the walk way. Less fun times. Getting a good view of La Bufadora, a blowhole near Enseneda, Mexico, can take a while with the crowd. Getting a photo with the Ensenada sign without other folks was not possible. Way too crowded! Be prepared to get splashed if you are curious about watching the rush of waves come in. Disabled people, senior citizens, and small children need to be careful with the steps, slopes and slippery areas.
This is a tourist must if you're in Ensenada . While walking to the buffadora it feels like you're walking in a little town in Mexico extremely colorful and filled with vendors hawking their goods . It's quite charming .(warning don't settle for first price they give you - haggle haggle haggle it's part of the culture and if they see that you're American they inflate prices so be ready ) . The buffadora itself is a hot or miss sometimes there's water splashing all over the place a great site . Other times nothing at all . So be ready for either one don't want you to be disappointed
If you are looking for a tourist trap, La Bufadora is a perfect destination for that. The vendors here PREY on tourists to ensure that they are ripped off. I've never been so accosted in my life with overtures of either people trying to sell me stuff I don't need, or delusional prices for items such as tequila. The first rip off was the piña colada. My friends didn't want to buy because they were afraid of the ice but I wanted to support the local economy. Unfortunately, the vendor tried to pull a bait and switch saying that the price posted ($5) did not include alcohol. It was double the price with alcohol and after the fact, it did not taste as though there was any alcohol. What kind of Piña Colada doesn't include alcohol? The second rip off was the toilet. Luckily I didn't use it but my friend used it. It was $0.75 but according to him, it wasn't worth it as the toilets were not kept up. What are they doing with the money? The third rip off was the tequila tasting. I'm not going to pay for a bottle that costs more than Patrón, especially when the bottles appear to have a general homemade label on there. Just because you may say you have gold doesn't mean you have gold. The final rip off was the attraction itself. The 45 minute ride to and from the cruise port each way was not worth seeing this. There is more excitement in the bedroom if you wanted to see a blowhole eruption. In fact, all the viagra that they are selling at the farmacia can help one achieve that blowhole eruption.
We were disappointed with our visit to this landmark. The ocean views were nice but it was actually hard to see the blow hole from above. The sellers you walk through to get to the blow hole were very aggressive. I appreciate that they are making a living but unfortunately it did take away from the overall experience.
Pre-Covid review.. May 2019. It was definitely a must see if you are in Ensenada. There are mini shops/vendors for souvenirs, drinks and food along your stroll and becareful it is wet wet wet once you get close that it is slippery and makes falling easy. It is definitely a sight to see and so cool to watch and listen! People from all over come to see this little magically blow hole to take pictures! I know I took some videos as not every wave up reaches the upward walls. Definitely a must see!
Natural wonder meets crafty bizarre and great eats! Tucked away approx. 40 mins from the central zone of Ensenada on the very tip of the southern peninsula is this gem that has a little bit of everything for everyone. You can take a tour from the city or drive in on a scenic coastal route to this beautiful destination that has restaurants and shops lined along the avenue leading to the bufadora (natural blow hole). I recommend stopping by Gordos Cantina for some Mexican American eats and great drinks. You can also grab a souvenir mug filled with your choice of cocktail but I prefer an ice cold Michelada to walk the 1/4 mile to the bufadora from the entry point. You only pay for parking and viewing the bufadora is free to everyone. I also recommend you stop at the restaurante Blanquita for their famous baked shellfish / large clams that are fully prepared. The people are friendly and it is a fun place for whole family. This is a must go to spot whenever you are in Ensenada! read more
Easy to drive to. Park your car at a large parking lot the. Walk through the shops and restaurants before arriving at La Bufadora. I recommend shopping and eating or snacking on your way back to the car. Beautiful scenery and great place to visit on a hot day! You will get wet if you stand close. Bring coins to use the public restroom, they aren't free nor is there toilet paper, so bring your own or some wipes. read more
10 months ago
This is one of Ensenada's most popular tourist attractions. Parking is just a few dollars, and from there, you'll walk down a path lined with vendors and food stalls leading to the main highlight: a natural blowhole that lets out a loud hum as it shoots water into the air. During the summer, it gets pretty crowded, and prices for food and souvenirs tend to be on the higher side. Still, it's a fun and unique experience worth visiting at least once just to say you've seen it. Tip: Be mindful of the vendors who try to pull you into their shops for food or drinks. If you're not interested, it's best to politely keep walking to avoid getting sidetracked along the way. read more
Gorgeous views on the drive up and at the top. Blowhole activity is based on the tides so time your visit during a high tide for the larger water spouts. Pay to use toilets. Lots of markets stalls with a little of everything. Cash is king. read more
Great experience, but wish the shops weren't so aggressive. This market was the first stop on our tour. Lots of tapas to eat going down the street but beware, you will get overwhelmed with sellers. We got to eat tacos afterwards and tasted really good. read more
Another one off of my bucket list !! Spent the day in Ensenada and the weather was amazing in December Come to find out the Bufadora is a must see natural experience Every few minutes the Bufadora is giving lol A waterfall experience Before you get to end of the Bufadora there is a street you need to walk through and tons to vendors that cat call you We got suckered into some awesome drinks and a good pregame LOL ANYWAYS experiencing the visuals of the Bufadora is awesome and definitely a MUST DO ON TO MY NEXT BOOOMARK read more
Saturday, September 7 Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas 76°F / 83% Humidity This "geyser" (blowhole) is one of the main tourist attractions in Ensenada. There's also a bustling flea market, with more than 150 shopping stalls. You have several ways to get here: 1. Purchase a ship-sponsored excursion directly with your cruise ($42 - $59 per person): The most expensive option, but you can depend on them to bring you back to the ship if the tour runs late. The ship will either wait until you come back, or they'll transport you to the next port. 2. Private driver/tour guide: Allows for flexibility, and you can visit other destinations along the way as well. Negotiate prices upfront and never pay until the trip is over. Rideshare is also available, an Uber will set you back about 490 pesos one way. 3. Independent/Local bus tour: This was the option we ended up choosing. Once you exit the terminal, there are buses outside offering $4 USD round trip rides to "downtown". Don't take this bus if you're actually going into town because they drive you to the Las Dunas Tour office at Plaza Pueblo Antiguo. It's a little out of the way, they're a bit shady for not disclosing that. Cash only, but they accept US dollars. The tour was $30 per person, which dropped to $25 since we were given coupons during the bus ride there. You can add other activities like horseback riding. They gave us stickers and then we were corralled onto another bus with other tourists. Communication is great, all guides speak English. During the 40 minute drive to La Bufadora, they'll give advice on what you can't bring back on the ship and how to haggle with the vendors. Avoid Cuban cigars and pharmaceuticals, these products are almost always counterfeit. Get tequilas from the reputable shops and ask for an acid test if you're buying anything made of silver. You walk through the market on the way to the blowhole. Lots of apparel, jewelry stalls, fake luxury bags, decorative plates, candies, souvenirs, beverages, and more. The vendors are aggressive and relentless, offering samples and pressuring you to purchase their items. Stick with the group, say no thank you politely, and continue walking purposefully. Buy on the way back. The guides will stop at a few of the stalls to highlight a few products, though keep in mind they most likely receive a commission if you end up purchasing something. I got a few candied almonds from one of the vendors, which was nice to snack on. The blowhole spouts water several meters into the air every minute or so. Quite a sight to see during high tide, not that impressive during low tide. You might have to wait around a bit for that picture-perfect moment. It gets pretty crowded, especially if there is more than one cruise ship at port. We had about 90 minutes to shop and eat. Our group got back on the bus and left La Bufadora at 1:00 PM. There was some traffic on the way back, but we arrived 2 hours before our 4:30 PM boarding deadline. You can take the bus back to the cruise terminal (already paid for since it's $4 round trip). I ended up leaving the plaza to stop at a few other destinations that I bookmarked. The walk back to the cruise ship from the fish market to the terminal took about 25 minutes. Worth visiting just once, especially for first-timers. The ocean views are great, lot of nice photo opts. It's nice that we saved some money compared to directing booking the tour offered by Royal Caribbean. I liked that I still had time to explore the rest of Ensenada and get back onto the ship. The super annoying vendors ruin the experience. read more
Stopped by La Bufadora on our cruise and had a great time. The market was lively and filled with good food and drinks. The view was also spectacular. We got scammed a couple times, so make sure to check what the merchants are putting in their card readers before you swipe! Great experience and my group all walked away full and happy. read more
3 years ago
Thanks to the kayak tour Orlando, Beatriz and another individual guided us through the ocean and we got to see the natural blow hole of La bufadora! It was super nice to see in a sunny day. Tides were pretty gentle and a couple of waves. One per person fell off their kayak but was helped quickly by Orlando! We got to be really close to the water hole and felt bery safe with the guides. Thanks Valeria hiding the bus tour I highly recommend this to friend and more. We parked and walked down to shore with two person kayaks. Water bottle was given after and the bathroom was great! read more
La Bufadora has continued down a path I didn't want it to take since I last visited. My first visit was an excursion not associated with the cruise ship my family & I came in on... the most recent experience occurred on the afternoon of July 17, 2022. Overall, though, if you can get past the cons, this is quite a unique natural phenomenon to visit. It's gotten more crowded - more tourists. More vendors. More heckling. Longer wait times at the restrooms. Bring at least $10 pesos per person and your own toilet paper (just in case) to use said restrooms. More cars driving through the walk way. Less fun times. Getting a good view of La Bufadora, a blowhole near Enseneda, Mexico, can take a while with the crowd. Getting a photo with the Ensenada sign without other folks was not possible. Way too crowded! Be prepared to get splashed if you are curious about watching the rush of waves come in. Disabled people, senior citizens, and small children need to be careful with the steps, slopes and slippery areas. read more
1 year ago
Was fine, the blowhole is neat. Be careful of sketchy businesses like the Zarape's. They fully take advantage of Americans with conversions and beverages. With so many options- avoid these guys :( read more
This is a tourist must if you're in Ensenada . While walking to the buffadora it feels like you're walking in a little town in Mexico extremely colorful and filled with vendors hawking their goods . It's quite charming .(warning don't settle for first price they give you - haggle haggle haggle it's part of the culture and if they see that you're American they inflate prices so be ready ) . The buffadora itself is a hot or miss sometimes there's water splashing all over the place a great site . Other times nothing at all . So be ready for either one don't want you to be disappointed read more
If you are looking for a tourist trap, La Bufadora is a perfect destination for that. The vendors here PREY on tourists to ensure that they are ripped off. I've never been so accosted in my life with overtures of either people trying to sell me stuff I don't need, or delusional prices for items such as tequila. The first rip off was the piña colada. My friends didn't want to buy because they were afraid of the ice but I wanted to support the local economy. Unfortunately, the vendor tried to pull a bait and switch saying that the price posted ($5) did not include alcohol. It was double the price with alcohol and after the fact, it did not taste as though there was any alcohol. What kind of Piña Colada doesn't include alcohol? The second rip off was the toilet. Luckily I didn't use it but my friend used it. It was $0.75 but according to him, it wasn't worth it as the toilets were not kept up. What are they doing with the money? The third rip off was the tequila tasting. I'm not going to pay for a bottle that costs more than Patrón, especially when the bottles appear to have a general homemade label on there. Just because you may say you have gold doesn't mean you have gold. The final rip off was the attraction itself. The 45 minute ride to and from the cruise port each way was not worth seeing this. There is more excitement in the bedroom if you wanted to see a blowhole eruption. In fact, all the viagra that they are selling at the farmacia can help one achieve that blowhole eruption. read more
3 years ago
We were disappointed with our visit to this landmark. The ocean views were nice but it was actually hard to see the blow hole from above. The sellers you walk through to get to the blow hole were very aggressive. I appreciate that they are making a living but unfortunately it did take away from the overall experience. read more
5 years ago
Pre-Covid review.. May 2019. It was definitely a must see if you are in Ensenada. There are mini shops/vendors for souvenirs, drinks and food along your stroll and becareful it is wet wet wet once you get close that it is slippery and makes falling easy. It is definitely a sight to see and so cool to watch and listen! People from all over come to see this little magically blow hole to take pictures! I know I took some videos as not every wave up reaches the upward walls. Definitely a must see! read more
5 years ago
Always come here when I come down to Mexico!! The BEST foods around!! I ALWAYS come here for the clam shells!! The drinks are amazing and you definitely cannot go wrong with the views. Stop in here when you come to Mexico! It's a must! read more
La Bufadora is a cool tourist spot where a natural geyser (or a blowhole) shoots out water between the rocks and waves. It's pretty entertaining to watch the water get everyone wet and how high the water sprays. In order to get there, you pass a myriad of shops selling souvenirs, pina coladas, elote and churros. Every vendor will holla at you to come check out their shop or taste their almonds but up to you what you wanna try. I'd say it's worth to check out but you only need about an hour total to visit La Bufadora, take pics and try any snacks along the way there/back. read more
Off my bucket list. Probably will not come back. The drive was a mission however very interesting. Once we arrived it very crowded and overpriced. I will say that the smoked clams were worth it though. Everyone should at least come once. read more
4 years ago
Im a local to Ensenada so if your visiting this is a must see ... be warned this area is heavy on tourist traffic... my last visit with my husband was annoying.. the stands were very persistent to sell you their merchandise But as soon as you pass that hell you end up to a beautiful view.. we loved it and we will come and visit every time we are in the area. read more
5 years ago
Truly a beautiful site to see. Approximately a 50 minute drive from the ports, I would recommend going with a Tour company if possible so that you can ensure your ride back. It didn't look like there was taxis around to take people back to the city or the ports unless you asked your taxi to stick around and wait for you while you shopped and toured the area. There is a lot of shops and they are all selling the same thing. Negotiate pricing. read more
This was our first visit to Ensenada. We arrived via NCL Cruise Ship in March 2018. Our visit to La Bufadora was part of a shore excursion we booked with NCL. We traveled from the Ensenada ship terminal by air conditioned tour bus. A nice ride. At La Bufadora, we parked in a large dirt lot for buses, back behind the marketplace. As we walked to La Bufadora, we passed hundreds of vendors selling touristy stuff. At the end of the path, we arrived at La Bufadora. In summary, I have to say that the experience was "just okay". Unless you climb on the rocks where it's posted "no climbing", it's difficult to experience the full beauty of La Bufadora. I took pictures from the barrier wall and one of my travel mates climbed up the rocks to get some better pictures. What you will see at La Bufadora when it spouts/blows is a huge/tall spray of water. Sometimes larger, sometimes smaller. read more
7 years ago
Words and pictures cannot describe de feeling you get when the water ROARS through the rocks. It's a fantastic experience! Also if you are interested in native goodies there are lots of shops to choose from for clothing, shoes, bags, memorabilia, food and toys. Also the drive to The Buffadora has beautiful scenery. read more
Not what it used to be, lots of people leaving their trash behind, disrespecting the signs, overpriced drinks, michelada for 200 up to 300 pesos. 50 to 60 pesos just to park. Honestly, I dont think it's worth it to go anymore. Many other places in Ensenada worth viewing, not this place. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
We liked it. So much to see and eat. For the most part some people were nice others pushy. Take pesos it's cheaper. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
DO NOT BUY drinks at tiki bar !! Ask the price before buying anything!! I didn't ask the price for drinks because I been there few times and every time prices similar not more than 5dlls They charged me 5 times the regular price from the other local businesses. Piña colada or margarita Saying it's best quality stuff and depending on the pineapples size it's all a FRAUD ! I complained about the price and other people there was complaining for the same reason too ! Piñada colada usually cost $30-60pesos/$2-4dlls They charge me $250pesos/ 15dlls ! I paid around 30dlls for 2 drinks !!!! Great time with my family playing games beautiful view good times !! A lot fun with the kids and family !! Totally recommend visit La Bufadora /ensenada .. ***************************************************** NO COMPRES bebidas en tiki bar !! Lo pasé muy bien con mi familia ... todos lo disfrutamos .. Niños y adultos .. jugamos algunos juegos, compramos algunas bebidas y recuerdos bonito lugar y la gente también. Buen fin de semana con la familia. NO COMPRES bebidas en TIKI BAR !! .. pregunta el precio primero !! No pregunté el precio porque e ido varias veces y los precios son 30-50 pesos no más de eso ! Pero tiki bar me Cobraron 5 veces el precio regular de los otros lugares locales. Piña colada o margarita Dicen que es la mejor calidad y dependiendo del tamaño de las piñas es todo es un FRAUDE! Me quejé del precio y otras personas se estaban quejando por la misma razón! Piña colada por lo general $30-60pesos/4-5dlls Me cobráron $250pesos / 15dlls pague alrededor de 30dlls/550pesos por 2 bebidas !!!! Es un robo!! read more
La Bufadora holds a special place in my heart. My grandfather took me many times as a child and I'm happy to share with my children. It is beautiful scenic drive with lots see- it is a very winding road. Once you arrive you are surrounded with lots of food and vendors. Best time to go is NOT holiday weekends or winter (November/ December) nice weather brings crowds of people Fact: there are only 3 known blowholes in the world. Hawaii, Australia and Mexico. It's definitely something to experience and knock off your bucket list. It's FREE but please do support local vendors read more
6 years ago
A bit of overrated. It took almost 2 hours round trip to see the attraction, and you have to walk through a busy street market to get there on foot. FYI, go bathroom before the trip coz the toilet in that area, I am told, is in less than acceptable condition. I used uber and I had to walk out of the terminal to get to the car which was ok and the local driver was quite informative. I used google translate for conversation which was useful and fun. Thumbs up for Google. Once I got to the site, I was underwhelmed. I would say I prefer Old Faith in Yellowstone. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
I've been to Ensenada a few times, but I took a Carnival Cruise and decided to do a shore excursion to La Bufadora for the first time. We had an awesome tour guide and driver who kept us laughing! The scenery is beautiful getting there and is about 25 miles from the ship's dock. Once you're there, you'll walk down a long hill through an open air market with many vendors trying to sell you mostly stuff you don't need. There are however, T shirts, ponchos, blankets, and other trinkets as well as a pharmacy and food and drinks to buy. To me, the "hassle and haggle" process is just like a lot of other places. (NY, LA, Bahamas, etc..) Some people were intimidated by it, but to me, it's all in good fun and bargaining. Never once did I feel unsafe despite there previously being drug cartel activity there. La Bufadora itself is just that. A blowhole with water shooting from between rocks in the ocean. It's very picturesque and postcard perfect! read more
6 years ago
We came in the off season, so keeping that in mind, I can close my eyes and imagine the charm during the summer time when the tide is high, the blow hole is active, and the streets are bustling. Around NYE however, it was quiet and chilly which felt a little anticlimactic and the street vendors trying to pursuant you to park and pay was over the top. My husband did indulge in the street vendor clams due to other elite yelp reviews which was flavorful and fun! I I enjoyed the quartz street vendor and left with a bracelet. I'm glad we checked it out but I would probably not recommend to family and friends. read more
7 years ago
Second time here within a year and still loving this place. Here with 11 cousins whom have never been. There's a market for souvenirs shopping, bomb seafood cooked outdoors and other restaurant dining options, lots of other authentic street vendor food, and some nature sightseeing. It's right next to the ocean and there's the world's largest natural blow hole. Perfect all-around touristy experience. read more
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2 years ago
