La Bufadora Ensenada: Is it Worth a Visit?
La Bufadora is Ensenada’s iconic outdoor attraction, and it has changed in recent years.
Travelers complain is a tourist nightmare with aggressive vendors, construction traffic, price gouging, a wimpy geyser, and dirty bathrooms. Many people most people still love the visit. So is it still worth including in your Ensenada visit?
Here is my 2 pesos of advice and let you decide. And tips on
how to avoid the bad parts and
how to get the best experience at this unique place.
Read (summary at the end) or watch me spout advice like a blowhole!
In my 14 years here as an Expat working with travels in my massage and excursions businesses, I have been to Bufadora a dozen times and our excursion team goes about 5 times a week with - couples, bachelorette parties, families with kids, cruise ships or after a massage in our spa.
What is the Blow Hole tour like?
Pick up downtown or cruise port
40-65 min scenic transportation to Blowhole area
2 hours to Explore or guided walk through vendors and the food/ restaurants -
Blowhole viewing from the platform - pictures, snacks
Walk back to the market entrance - drive back to the city or next tour
Cruiseport Pick up and Drive:
From the cruise port downtown, the scenic drive is about 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes is in the city of Ensenada, to see city life in a small Mexican city.
In the middle begins a long straight stretch with a current construction to improve safety. It was nicknamed ‘Tramo de la Muerte’ before, because of the numerous fatal accidents.
On this stretch, a multi-year construction project can back up at peak times to a 30-minute wait, and on a hot dusty day is not fun. Smaller vehicles and private tours often find shortcuts, which vary with the time of day and construction progress.
As of 2024 wait times are 30min or less on busy days.
The last 20 minutes is through some beautiful farmland (soy, buckwheat), the Maneadero suburb before a hard left out and along the Punta Banda Estuary tiny town of Cantu, and the Punta Banda peninsula, finally over the rocky hills out to the other side (open ocean side) of the Penninsula, where the Bufadora marine geyser is located.
Get a seat on the right on the way out, and on the left on the way back for best views. There is a huge, beautiful estuary where many of the expats live, some scattered shops along the road, and then the windy hills to cross the peninsula and descend into the Bufadora site. Our horseback excursion on that estuary and crosses to the ocean side.
Once across the hills and peninsula on a windy road with no shoulder, you will descend to La Bufadora, you will park in a dusty parking lot for about $5. (With a semi-arid climate here, everything is a bit dusty).
And walk past some bathrooms, and the Oxxo convenience store, through the archway.
Vendor Gauntlet Walk for Shopping
Passing the archway, you begin a ¼ mile of vendors, shops, and restaurants. Walking this “vendor gauntlet” is the only way to get to the Blowhole, through a street that is lined on both sides with vendors of all kinds. Buildings are mostly open-air, we call it a flea market and it is a true gauntlet of tourism.
Souvenirs range from local Mexican trinkets, hats, and t-shirts, to some of the weirdest stuff, velvet Elvis, names on rice, and statues of the Terminator, to funny mugs with boobs and stuffed penises. Overall, the souvenirs are low quality, so buy them for fun and cheap gifts.
Almost nothing is original, so buyer beware! I recommend buying snacks, but not anything of value.
The Bufadora is a privately owned vendor there is a kind of Mafia, and no guides want to offend them and point out the price or quality issues in front of them. (Anyone speaking poorly could lose their right to enter.)
If you do buy, buy on the way back from the viewing platform. Vendors tend to offer lower prices when you are leaving.
Check my haggling tips and Ensenada shopping guide.
So, this part depends on your perspective.
Some people love it like a rummage sale/ flea market/county fair atmosphere.
Others feel like these are invasive sellers preying on vacationers.
And the vendors don’t just stay in the store, they will speak with you, offer you samples, make jokes, and invite you in. They are truly hustling for a living. That is to say, they are creative to get your attention, and your US buck and may seem aggressive, pushy, and annoying.
You might find that interesting, or you might find that attention annoying and kind of harassing.
As a tip, I suggest not buying anything claiming to be silver or leather. Although some are authentic, not all are in this place. So, avoid disappointment and buy your silver, leather, vanilla, and Cuban cigars on La Primera.
In this gauntlet, and on La Primera downtown, you will encounter tourist pricing (unlike most of Ensenada). You should expect to negotiate a price or pay a couple of bucks extra on stuff. This is not a cultural norm in many places, so the process may leave you feeling taken advantage of.
You will also get free samples of daiquiris, candied nuts, coconut candies, and even free tequila tasting if you know can find it in the maze. Be sure to ask our guide to accompany you or point it out.
Since they open up about 10 a.m., a private tour can get you there early before they are in full sales force.
Food at La Bufadora
Scattered through the vendors are various food carts and restaurants. Fish tacos, baked clams, sit-down places, and a few air-conditioned restaurants with amazing views. I love the baked clams and a variety of street foods, just like a county fair corn dogs, and funnel cakes.
It is a real treat to walk and sample and try fun flavors. In the tequila tasting and sampling, there is mango and chocolate tequila, or you might call them liqueurs they are so sweet.
Tasty street foods:
Churros fresh (without caramel is my fav)
Lobster or Fish Tacos at Lidia’s Taco
Grilled clams smoothered with cheese
Mexican Candies (I love coconut ones)
Margaritas or Concout Daqauris
Mango Tequila samples
Besides the street food, there are a several of formal restaurants with seating and great views. Pricing is a bit higher but not Cabo high!
These restaurants have upstairs dining areas with amazing window views of the ocean and rocks, so look for the upstairs seating area.
No longer monkey or tiger petting at La Bufadora. Pai Pai Eco Park moved their animals back to the main park.
Blowhole Platform
Once you have passed the vendors and the restaurants, you emerge into a concrete exhibit hall built about 80 feet directly above the sea cave with a beautiful view of the ocean with rocky cliffs, small islets, and waves.
Once through the gauntlet, you will emerge into the views and platform above the geyser.
The area is a concrete park, stairs with bathrooms, and a walkway down to the key spot where the geyser shoots up.
There you can watch while the Geyser shoots up and hear the thunderous sounds as the waves crash into the cave and explode back out.
Often the water shoots up 80 feet, above the standing area, so you get a spray!
This is the Blowhole experience!
Are the bathrooms Free?
No. Toilet paper is 50 cents at the bathrooms at the parking end and at the Blowhole site. In theory, the fee is to pay the cleaners, but they are not super clean. They are functional, not enjoyable public restrooms.
Restaurants have toilets for customers. A private blow hole tour guide will have places too.
Water spouts up with the wave crashes. The intensity of the spout depends on waves hitting the sea cave and depends on tide levels. When the tide is in is best when it is out is worst.
And you then have to return through the same vendors, and if on a big bus tour wait for the bus.
What is La Bufadora Ensenada?
La Bufadora is a marine geyser and the word means Blowhole. The waves hit a cave, pressurizing the water, and when waves recede, pressurized air shoots the water up in the air up to 65 feet! The sound is interesting to hear. And it varies with the tides and waves.
It is named after the sound of water exploding upwards.
Ensenada’s Blowhole is the 2nd largest in the world, after Hawaii’s Makapuu Point.
And, there is another Bufadora in Baja Sur! Of course, it is smaller. This and other Baja fun facts and travel community in the Talk Baja Facebook group.
Is La Bufadora Ensenada, worth it?
Yes, if you are in the mood, under the right circumstances, and if it’s the first time the Bufadora is worth it!
On the other hand, if you hate crowds, vendors, or rides in buses, get a private tour, make it part of a multi activity day, or just skip it altogther.
It is impressive and reminds me of rocky cliffs in Portugal, the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, and rocks in La Jolla, CA. Nature is awesome, and you have probably seen the ocean and similarly beautiful cliffs before.
I think nature is worth doing as much as possible, and as often as possible.
La Bufadora, Ensenada is unique, as it is the 2nd largest in the world and the largest in the Americas, and the water spouts up 80 feet on days when the tide is in with large waves.
La Bufadora can be:
A fun outing to a natural place to catch some amazing views, see some silly souvenirs and food and probably see a marine geyser and enjoy nature.
Or a long drive through construction and dust just to walk ½ km to be accosted by aggressive vendors and find dirty bathrooms to see some ocean views and a geyser that may not be happening.
Factors that make La Bufadora worth it:
First time visiting Ensenada and it sounds like fun to you
You don’t live by the ocean, so anything ocean-related is awesome
You have a group needs an easy activity for kids or lower mobility folks
You enjoy the novelty of weird souvenirs and county fairs and want to see the Mexican version
You are with friends and it doesn’t matter what you do, you will have fun anyway and want an interesting experience
You checked tide chat, when the tide is in, it blows the most
You like seeing the city and countryside of Ensenada by bus or private tour
You may not Like La Bufadora if:
You love clean, orderly places
Are annoyed by crowds, and vendors invading your space (see it by Kayak instead of walking) or waiting for tacos
Are uncomfortable with negotiating prices
In December to June, it is chilly and windy most of the day until 12pm
Are annoyed by construction traffic
Are looking for upscale shopping (better La Primera)
Don’t want a 40-55 min ride each way
Are looking for an ‘authentic’ Mexican experience
You are on a two cruise ship day or holiday/summer weekend, very likely crowds. check Ensenada port schedule:
Make La Bufadora better by:
Go early to beat the crowd and traffic, private blowhole tours can leave 8:30, there are many
by going early the vendors are also still setting up
Take a lunch upstairs with a great view to relax from vendors
Do a combo with Horseback/ATV/Wine Tasting/Zipline so the transportation times are combined and you can leave early if you don’t like Bufadora
Make a game of price checking and negotiating, or get a local guide to help with this and avoid negotiating stress with the pro vendors. Buy only on way back.
Sample awesome street food and candies (no you won’t get sick)
Bring small US bills for vendors, only a few take cards
Bring your own toilet paper (according to fellow cruisers)
If you go on your own, look for a company with back to ship guarantee so you don’t stress about the timing
Go on a weekday
Avoid days when there 2 cruise ships in port see port schedule
Choose Kayak Tour if you really want the best view of Blowhole and avoid the crowd
Find cleaner bathrooms by buying a snack or drink in a restaurant. (Some will let you even if you don’t buy)
Alternatives to Bufadora:
If you have already done the Bufadora, or aren’t excited by what you read, some groups are now asking to go to Puerto Nuevo, North of Ensenada or Valle de Guadalupe.
Puerto Nuevo is just a bit further and no blowhole, but about the same time dive without the construction traffic.
Souvenir shopping is more relaxed and the famous lobster lunch is there too. You can get lobster lunch in many places, but Puerto Nuevo is the iconic Baja place for it. Lots of options. The drive is beautiful as well, the the option for an inland route and adding on a wine tasting (if you leave early).
Ask about Puerto Nuevo private driver here.
To avoid the construction traffic, go to Valle de Guadalupe, Northeast of town. Will be about the same time in transport, but no traffic gridlock. We also set up ATV and Horseback, and Wine Tasting Tours there. Granted there is no water spout, but the wine valley is a nice change from the ocean.
How to get to La Bufadora from Cruiseport?
Where is La Bufadora Ensenada?
La Bufadora is south of downtown Ensenada and Cruiseport, about 40 - 50 min drive, 20 miles, 36km in the dusty town of Maneadero.
Bus Tour/Private Tour off the ship
Uber or the local version called Didi ( both not recommended outside downtown since hard to get them to come out of town and pick you up for the return trip),
Public transportation if you know the bus schedule or have a lot of time to kill (no defined stops)
Drive in your own or a rented car (there are places near Cruiseport like this one)
If you are on a cruise take a tour, off the ship or a private tour. Ship tours range 30-50$, and a private blowhole tour is $37 if you have a group of 4.
To avoid the stress of driving in construction traffic, and get a local guide, consider a private tour, or go to Puerto nuevo or Valle de Guadalupe.
If you take an Uber or Didi, they normally don’t wait and Uber drivers don’t pick you up out there, so you may get stuck and have to hitch a ride back.
How far is La Bufadora from the Cruiseport?
About 40 minutes with no traffic time, to 75 min with traffic from construction. The distance is about 36km.
The route can be 40 minutes longer with construction traffic. Be sure to look for a back-to-ship guarantee for excursions with local companies.
Go early or on days with only one or no cruise ship to avoid traffic.
Legend of La Bufadora Ensenada
And there is a legend about the La Bufadora was formed.
Local Folklore says that a baby whale was trapped in a sea cave and spouted water to attract its pod.
Sadly, the baby whale turned to stone in loneliness.
Local culture values family and community, so the moral might be to stay with your family and friends!
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