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3-star hotels in Ensenada
A shortlist of the 3-star hotels in Ensenada, from the Zona Centro to the coast road and the golf country north of the bay. It is for travellers who want a straightforward base for the promenade, the seafood and the wine country without paying resort rates.
Staying in Ensenada
Ensenada is a port city on the Pacific coast of Baja California, where the Boulevard Costero runs along the water and the Zona Centro behind it holds the seafood stalls, bars and shops. Visitors come for the promenade and the fish tacos, and increasingly for the wine valley inland, which the site's own notes put 30-45 minutes away with no useful public transport. Most of these hotels sit in or beside the Zona Centro: addresses on Avenida López Mateos, Blancarte, Primera and Guadalupe, and Avenida Hidalgo put several within walking distance of the centre, while the Boulevard Costero addresses sit closer to the water. Couples on a short break fit the centre best; families have room choices nearly everywhere; the golf resort and the highway hotels serve drivers and business travellers.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Best Western El Cid
Avenida Lopez Mateos #993 Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Fitness Center
Why stay hereOn Avenida Lopez Mateos in central Ensenada, Best Western El Cid suits travelers who want to walk out into the city and come back to an outdoor pool and garden. Pets are allowed and parking is free, which helps road-trippers arriving by car. Guests rate it well, and the fitness center plus 24-hour front desk make it easy to keep to your own schedule, whether you are in town for business or a short leisure stay with family in one of the family rooms.
See Best Western El CidHacienda Bajamar Golf Resort
Km 77.5 Ensenada Tijuana Scenic Toll Rd
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereSet at Km 77.5 on the Ensenada–Tijuana scenic toll road, Hacienda Bajamar Golf Resort is built around its golf course and garden, with a jacuzzi for afterward. The beach is nearby. Kitchens and kitchenettes in the units suit longer stays and families who prefer to cook, and free parking and free wifi cover the practical side. It fits golfers and quiet getaways rather than a downtown base.
See Hacienda Bajamar Golf ResortCorona Hotel & Spa
Boulevard Costero 1442 Fraccionamiento Bahia Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Fitness Center
- Family rooms
Why stay hereCorona Hotel & Spa sits on Boulevard Costero in Fraccionamiento Bahia, giving guests a fitness center, jacuzzi and garden on site. Family rooms and kitchenettes make it workable for groups and longer visits, while the concierge and car rental service help you plan days out. A beauty salon and bar add convenience without leaving the property. It suits travelers who want spa-style facilities and a coastal boulevard address in Ensenada.
See Corona Hotel & SpaSan Nicolas Hotel and Casino
Primera & Guadalupe S N, Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereAt Primera and Guadalupe, San Nicolas Hotel and Casino pairs a casino and bars with a garden, and the beach is nearby. Family rooms, a business center and free parking make it practical for both leisure groups and work trips, and free wifi keeps you connected. A bar/snack café and breakfast are available on site. Guests looking for evening entertainment without leaving the hotel will find the casino the main draw here.
See San Nicolas Hotel and CasinoPosada El Rey Sol
Blancarte 130 Zona Centro, Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
Why stay herePosada El Rey Sol on Blancarte 130 in the Zona Centro pairs an outdoor pool with a jacuzzi and free wifi, and free car parking makes arriving simple. Breakfast is available and can be taken in the room, and pets are allowed. Its central address and concierge service suit travelers who want to explore on foot.
See Posada El Rey SolHotel Villa Marina
Adolfo López Mateos S N Zona Centro, Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Breakfast in room
Why stay hereHotel Villa Marina puts you in Zona Centro on Adolfo López Mateos, with an outdoor pool, restaurant and bar on site and a sea outlook. Breakfast in room, room service and free parking are all available, and lifts plus non-smoking rooms add comfort. It suits travelers who want to be in the center of Ensenada and still have a pool and dining at the hotel, including families booking the family rooms.
See Hotel Villa MarinaHotel Rose Ensenada
Ave Hidalgo No 450 Entre 4Ta Y 5Ta Colonia Obrera, Ensenada
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Air conditioning
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereOn Ave Hidalgo between 4ta and 5ta in Colonia Obrera, Hotel Rose Ensenada is a compact, straightforward base with a restaurant on site and free parking. Air conditioning, a desk and a safe in the rooms, plus a 24-hour front desk and laundry service, cover the essentials for short city stays. Non-smoking rooms and housekeeping keep things simple. It fits guests who want a central, no-frills place to sleep in Ensenada.
See Hotel Rose EnsenadaCity Express Plus by Marriott Ensenada
Carretera Tijuana Ensenada Col. El Sauzal Km 104
Best for: Drivers · Pool and spa
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Bar/Snack/Café
Why stay hereCity Express Plus by Marriott Ensenada stands at Km 104 on the Tijuana–Ensenada road in Col. El Sauzal, with an outdoor pool, pool bar and fitness center. A restaurant, lounge and bar/snack café mean you can eat without driving, and free parking and free wifi are included. Business travelers get a business center, while families and couples get non-smoking rooms and room service. It suits guests who prefer a modern chain hotel on the approach to the city.
See City Express Plus by Marriott EnsenadaCity Express by Marriott Ensenada
Boulevard Costero B1 A2 Manzana 29, Ensenada
Best for: Drivers · Pool and spa
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereOn Boulevard Costero B1 A2, City Express by Marriott Ensenada has an outdoor pool and fitness center, with the beach nearby. Breakfast is served and pets are allowed, and free parking plus free wifi keep the stay easy. Rooms include a minibar and microwave, and a sofa bed helps families. It suits travelers who want a coastal boulevard address, a pool and reliable chain-hotel basics, whether for a short break or a work stay.
See City Express by Marriott EnsenadaHoliday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG
Av. Blancarte No. 151, Ensenada
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Outdoor pool
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereHoliday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG on Av. Blancarte 151 offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center and breakfast, with free car parking and free wifi. Express check in, a business center and family rooms make it work for both short city visits and longer family stays, and a market covers the essentials.
See Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Parking | Breakfast | Pool or spa | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Western El Cid | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| Hacienda Bajamar Golf Resort | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Corona Hotel & Spa | ★★★ | Yes | – | – | – |
| San Nicolas Hotel and Casino | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Posada El Rey Sol | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hotel Villa Marina | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Hotel Rose Ensenada | ★★★ | Yes | – | – | – |
| City Express Plus by Marriott Ensenada | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes | – |
| City Express by Marriott Ensenada | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For the centre on foot
These five sit on Ensenada addresses in the middle of things: Best Western El Cid on Avenida López Mateos, San Nicolas at Primera & Guadalupe, Posada El Rey Sol on Blancarte, Hotel Villa Marina on Adolfo López Mateos and Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Av. Blancarte. All have family rooms, and all but San Nicolas have an outdoor pool.
Best Western El Cid · San Nicolas Hotel and Casino · Posada El Rey Sol · Hotel Villa Marina · Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG
For drivers
Hacienda Bajamar sits on the Ensenada-Tijuana scenic toll road with a golf course, while City Express Plus is at El Sauzal on the Tijuana-Ensenada highway and City Express is on Boulevard Costero.
Hacienda Bajamar Golf Resort · City Express Plus by Marriott Ensenada · City Express by Marriott Ensenada
For families
Family rooms are listed at Best Western El Cid, San Nicolas, Posada El Rey Sol, Hotel Villa Marina, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and City Express by Marriott. Pools at most of them, plus the garden at San Nicolas and the casino there, give children something to do between outings.
Best Western El Cid · San Nicolas Hotel and Casino · Posada El Rey Sol · Hotel Villa Marina · Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ensenada Centro by IHG · City Express by Marriott Ensenada
Where to stay in Ensenada
Zona Centro
This is the part of Ensenada to pick if you want everything on foot. Hotels along López Mateos and the Boulevard Costero put you minutes from the promenade, the seafood and the bars. Posada El Rey Sol on Blancarte, Hotel Villa Marina on Adolfo López Mateos and Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Av. Blancarte all sit here.
Our picks here: Posada El Rey Sol · Hotel Villa Marina
Boulevard Costero
The coast road runs along the water, and the site notes it as the other half of the walkable centre: minutes from the promenade, the seafood and the bars. Corona Hotel & Spa is at number 1442 in Fraccionamiento Bahia, and City Express by Marriott Ensenada is on the same boulevard.
Our picks here: Corona Hotel & Spa · City Express by Marriott Ensenada
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
The site's guidance is blunt: the Valle de Guadalupe is 30-45 minutes out and the wineries are scattered along dirt roads with no useful public transport, so a day tour or a hired driver is the practical answer, which also solves the problem of tasting wine and driving back. Going independently, book your visits, because many wineries take appointments only and several close midweek. Within the city, staying in the Zona Centro means everything on foot, while the bay south towards Ejido Chapultepec works for quiet and a long stretch of sand but only with a car.
When to go
Midweek, almost always. Ensenada runs on the Californian weekend: Friday to Sunday everything rises, Tuesday to Thursday it settles. The quiet stretch is December to March, with occasional rain and cold nights. The peak is August, during the wine harvest festivities, plus off-road race weekends and US long weekends, when the small hotel stock sells out.
Questions, answered
Which hotels are within walking distance of the Ensenada promenade?
The Zona Centro addresses are the ones to look at: Posada El Rey Sol on Blancarte, Hotel Villa Marina on Adolfo López Mateos and Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Av. Blancarte. Corona Hotel & Spa and City Express by Marriott sit on the Boulevard Costero, on the coast road itself.
Do any of these hotels have a pool?
An outdoor pool is listed at Best Western El Cid, Posada El Rey Sol, Hotel Villa Marina, City Express Plus, City Express by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Hacienda Bajamar, Corona Hotel & Spa, San Nicolas and Hotel Rose do not list one.
Can I stay here without a car?
In the Zona Centro, yes: the site advises that hotels along López Mateos and the Boulevard Costero put you minutes from the promenade, the seafood and the bars. For the Valle de Guadalupe, book a day tour or a hired driver, since public transport there is not useful.
Which hotels are good for families?
Family rooms are listed at Best Western El Cid, San Nicolas Hotel and Casino, Posada El Rey Sol, Hotel Villa Marina, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and City Express by Marriott Ensenada. Several of them also have outdoor pools.
Is there a hotel with a golf course?
Yes, Hacienda Bajamar Golf Resort lists a golf course, along with a garden, jacuzzi, kitchen and kitchenette. It sits on the Ensenada-Tijuana scenic toll road at Km 77.5, away from the city centre.
Which hotels have a fitness centre?
Best Western El Cid, Corona Hotel & Spa, City Express Plus, City Express by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express & Suites all list a fitness centre. The first three of those also list a business centre alongside it.
Do the hotels offer free parking?
Free car parking is listed at every hotel on this shortlist, from Best Western El Cid in the centre to Hacienda Bajamar on the toll road and the City Express properties. Hotel Villa Marina also lists a garage.
When is the busiest time in Ensenada?
August, during the wine harvest festivities, plus off-road race weekends and US long weekends, when the small hotel stock sells out. Friday to Sunday is busy every week; Tuesday to Thursday is calmer, and December to March is the quiet stretch.