| Cruising boaters know that Ensenada provides more | | | | sportfishing boat, a local crew will clean Jack's catch |
| than just free beer. I frequently sail boats (power and | | | | and wash down the boat. Downtown, Restaurante |
| sail) to Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, and I've always found | | | | Casa Mar will grill Jack's fish for lunch. |
| lots of cheap, fun and interesting adventures - from | | | | Meanwhile, Jill heads to the spa (Marina Coral) for a |
| red-hot sportfishing to tranquil spa treatments, from | | | | menu of hot mineral soaks and massages - from |
| sipping local wine and tequila to watching a movie | | | | deep tissue to fruit wraps. Invented by the Aztecs, the |
| being filmed. Best part? It's all in English. | | | | fabled "temetzcal" sauna is given at Uruapan Hot |
| We recreational boaters from Southern California | | | | Springs and most hotel spas in town. On her way to |
| (known as "yatistas" in Spanish) think of Ensenada as | | | | meet Jack for lunch downtown, Jill shops for silver |
| our foreign port right next door. Each fall, nearly 1,000 | | | | baubles and a Josefa fashion jacket on Mateos Blvd. |
| yachts head south, and Ensenada is the easiest place | | | | Afternoon Delights |
| to clear into Mexico. Each spring, more than 2,000 | | | | Summer is a great time to visit Ensenada by boat, |
| yachts cross the finish line for the Newport Beach to | | | | because the marinas are half empty. (They fill up by |
| Ensenada Race. Safely north of hurricane alley, | | | | November when thousands of U.S. cruising yachts |
| Ensenada is an ideal "hurricane hole" for yatistas on a | | | | begin cruising season in Mexico.) Local culture blooms |
| tight budget. And until California tax laws change, about | | | | all summer. |
| 500 newly purchased yachts join the theoretical | | | | In August, six indigenous tribes from Baja, Arizona, |
| "90-Day Yacht Club" each year. | | | | Sonora and California gather near Marina Baja Naval |
| Cruising to Ensenada via the Coronado Islands | | | | for a "Kiru Kiru" or traditional gourd dancing with songs, |
| Ensenada lies 75 nautical miles (n.m.) down the coast | | | | music, foods and native handicrafts. At the same time, |
| from Point Loma Light at San Diego, or 60 highway | | | | Ensenada's many vintners put on Fiestas de Vendimia |
| miles south of Tijuana. Either way, it's doable in a day. | | | | 2008, with free wine tasting tours. L.A. Cetto is my |
| Sailing down, you pass the Coronado Islands, owned | | | | favorite, but others are closer to marinas. |
| by Mexico. You can anchor to fish, dive or rest for the | | | | Ensenada Tequila Festival 2008 runs through October. |
| night, but you can't go ashore on this 4-island nature | | | | Sample mescals, tequilas and appetizers at the Riviera |
| preserve. Mexican Navy patrols based at Smugglers | | | | cultural center (near Cruiseport Village Marina) and see |
| Cove on Coronado del Norte are helpful to yatistas. | | | | "Culture of Agave and Mezcal" by Hugo D'Acosta. |
| My favorite anchorage is on Coronado del Sur. | | | | Gourmet dining features unique tequila recipes. |
| If you drive down towing a boat, buy Mexican auto | | | | Rosarito Beach |
| insurance at San Ysidro and take the toll road. The | | | | This beach enclave has no marina, but cruise ships |
| presence of new Tourist Patrols prevents security | | | | anchor off and shuttle folks ashore - it's that famous. |
| problems, and they help gringos in English. | | | | Since the 1930s, Hollywood celebrities have been |
| Ensenada Marinas | | | | sprinkling stardust at the venerable Rosarito Beach |
| Mexico has really developed its marinas lately: the | | | | Hotel and Spa. In 2008, stars still come here incognito |
| Ensenada region has 1,400 full-service slips catering to | | | | for wellness breaks, often bringing the whole family for |
| nautical tourists. In geographic order, they are Marina | | | | the water park, kids' sand-castle classes and |
| Puerto La Salina and Marina Coral (both north of | | | | world-class boutique shopping. Make reservations for |
| town), Cruiseport Village Marina, Marina Baja Naval, | | | | the hotel. |
| Sergio's Sportfishing and Bandito's Dock (inside | | | | But don't miss the movie! Remember "Pearl Harbor" |
| Ensenada harbor). Puerto Hussong and another marina | | | | and "Titanic" and "Master and Commander"? How |
| are in construction. | | | | about "Deep Blue Sea," "Tomorrow Never Dies" and |
| Anchor Freedom | | | | "In Dreams"? They were filmed at Baja Studios |
| The Port Captain installed new moorings in the harbor | | | | (originally Fox Hollywood Studios Baja). When "Titanic" |
| in 2008, but if you prefer to anchor for free, check out | | | | was filming on this beach, the set's smoke stacks |
| the coves at south Todos Santos Island or Punta | | | | were so realistic that the U.S. Coast Guard got |
| Banda. In calm weather, small boats can anchor off | | | | hundreds of reports that a cruise ship had run aground! |
| beautiful Playa Estero Beach and dinghy into the | | | | Xploration lets visitors go behind the scenes and |
| bird-watching estuary at high tide. | | | | interact with this working movie studio. Play with |
| Jack & Jill in Ensenada | | | | animation, camera lenses, lighting techniques and |
| Jack gets up early to join a half-day charter | | | | makeup. The Props & Wardrobe shop is filled with |
| sportfishing boat (found at Marina Coral, Cruiseport | | | | real costumes from movies past, present and future. |
| Village Marina or Sergio's) that's heading out to Bajo | | | | For tour times, visit the Xploration website. |
| San Miguel or the Todos Santos Islands for winter | | | | Next time you sail down to Ensenada, don't get stuck |
| bass or summer dorado and marlin. If Jack owns a | | | | on the boat. |