This historic building is walking distance from the cruise port and free to explore! We noticed…read moremany tour buses and excursion groups arrive in waves. We entered through the courtyard where several small vendors sold souvenirs. It was convenient for me to pick up a few gifts for friends in a low-key setting compared to the crowded shopping spots around Ensenada. Walking around the building, there is a mural highlighting missions along the coast, various rooms with historic artwork and preserved architecture. I especially liked this circular room that had art on the ceiling. We made our way to the bar where they gave samples of margaritas and Mexican coke. We ordered a Tamarindo Margarita to enjoy in the courtyard. It provided a light buzz and was only $9. https://yelp.to/yvJyIxstTB Towards the front of the building is a small coffee shop. This exits to the outdoor area where many people relaxed on the lawn. Cool spot! We spent roughly an hour here. I would come back for another margarita. Maybe get the mango next time :)

The historic Hotel Riviera del Pacifico in Ensenada was first opened in 1930! It is impressive how…read morewell this monument has been preserved for nearly 100 years. The locals refer to it as Ex-hotel Riviera. It is now used by the Mexican government to manage different types of municipal business. I drove from Sacramento to Ensenada as part of the dual citizenship campaign that happens once a year. I've been working diligently to get dual citizenship for my children as I am dual citizen, myself of Mexico and the USA. They could not have chosen a better location to perform such a ceremony. There is a restaurant on site, but I did not get an opportunity to try the food. If you appreciate history of Mexico, this might be a neat site to walk-through.

Libromar was a great place to sit down, look at some books, and catch my breath after running…read morearound Ensenada. While my Spanish isn't great, the shopkeeper, Ivan, was able to find something for me at a level I could actually read and understand. When you go up the stairs, you will be surprised at how spacious the store is, and while the selection isn't vast, you're bound to find something of interest. And in case you need help, there are blackboards upon which past customers have written their recommendations. All in all, a nice place to spend some time and pesos.

An enjoyable place to read and drink a coffee with a sea view. Is there anything else we could…read moredesire?

This museum is huuuuuge. It's a bit confusing for a tourist who doesn't speak the language. I first…read moreentered the building, which I thought was the main building and started wondering around trying to find the ticketing area, but there was none. I found myself in a gallery until a security guard told me that this is a ticketed area and told me to get a ticket from the gift shop. I went to the gift shop and bought my ticket and then they directed to a separate building where the museum actually was. While I walked there, I passed by an aquarium and walked in and it turned out that you need a separate ticket for it! I left the aquarium and continued my quest to find the museum. I passed by a garden with various statues, pretty cool and the museum and right behind that. Went into the museum building and walked in to what I thought was part of the exhibit and it turned out to be the back part of it and I was directed to go to the other end. Yes! I finally found it! They took my ticket and I entered the museum exhibit area. It's a gallery of the history of Mexico from ancient times to almost current day. I love that for most of the articles, there's an English translation below it as well. Definitely recommend checking out this museum. Don't get lost!

Though I've been to this plaza a dozen times I never actually went in to enjoy the museum. It was a…read morenice place to get respite from the sun and heat after enjoying the outside event. The museum is very well thought out, interesting and well designed. It gives a history focusing on the Baja California region of Mexico. It was very informative and helped to learn a lot about the area, its indigenous people and how it came to be the Baja we know today. I enjoyed it immensely though do wish there was more emphasis on the indigenous communities and their contributions to the culture and not so heavy on the impact of the Spanish especially the priests and monks. They do history a disservice by not mentioning the atrocities that transpired against the native people by the conquerers both religious and otherwise in the name of religion and "gentrification". We need to be honest, so that these crimes against humanity are not soon repeated.

Was very nice. Little museum in honor of the chicanos. Loved the murals outside the parkread more

Visited the park today and it never gets old. The culture is rich and the park is beautiful. I only…read morewish it was cleaner. It's sad to see such a beautiful place get so grimy and full of spider webs and weeds. However it is always being used and I love to see people outdoors enjoying time with family and friends. This park's atmosphere makes that easy. For those with little kids 3hrs and under this is one of my favorite parks of all time for them. The area is on top of the hill separated so it's not easy for them to get away. The structures are great even for newer walkers and there's a big wall for sitting parents as well as close trash cans and some benches. 4 swings and 3 slides, all in all a really great park and normally the little kids are left out but not here. It's not super shady so depending on the time it can be full sun and get quite hot but the breeze from the freeways and whatnot is usually nice.

Centro Cultural de la Raza is one of my absolute favorite places in San Diego. I love it so much…read morethat I always bring anyone visiting from out of town here because there is always something happening. From art exhibits and pottery showcases to live performances and community events, this space is constantly alive with culture. Every third Sunday they host a tianguis that is truly special, sound baths, massage therapy, card readings, and small business vendors all in one place. It feels grounding, healing, and deeply rooted in community. With a diverse selection of dance classes, Centro truly welcomes everyone. Whether you arrive to uplift local artists, expand your creativity, or simply exist in a space filled with culture, you will always leave inspired. Centro Cultural de la Raza continues to pour into the community, offering a space rooted in expression, healing, and belonging. They also offer opportunities to volunteer, making it easy to get involved and truly connect with the space and the community around it. From helping in their garden to assisting with exhibit setup and events, there are so many ways to be part of what Centro offers.

This is a great place. I was able to see art from local artists. They have a cute store inside too…read more Would definitely recommend this place to anyone. This place is located in balboa park which has more museums.

A lot of artifacts and very nice facility. Very informational. I would like more time to read all…read morethe information available there. Will be back again

The Sycuan Cultural Center is a great way to learn about the culture, community and various…read moreorganizations. The land here is somewhat small despite some of the other tribes in other parts of the County. Yet, it's still beautiful reservation! Sycuan has sovereignty, like other nations. It's been open for the past eight years, but now open to the public and the knowledge of it growing. Inside is a museum and library. It's full of such rich culture. This is such a neat place with the oak tread, a natural garden outside etc. beautiful!!!! Found this on the internet: Source: Sycuan December 23, 2016 (Sycuan Indian Reservation) -- Initiated with traditional Kumeyaay Bird Singers and Dancers, native blessings and a traditional sage smudging purification, the Sycuan Tribe unveiled the Sycuan Cultural Resource Center and Museum to a large crowd and rave reviews earlier this month. The new facility centralizes and secures an enormous amount of ancient Kumeyaay artifacts, museum quality collections, and a vast array of scholarly research featuring the famous "Shipek Collection" of Kumeyaay archives. "The Sycuan Tribe is extremely proud to open to the public our new Cultural Resource Center and Museum," stated Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez. "The history and spirit of the village of Matamo courses through and infuses the facility, exhibits and programs that will be offered here. We encourage all Native Americans -- and all San Diegans -- to visit and learn about Kumeyaay history and culture through viewing of these ancient artifacts, accessing a comprehensive collection of scholarly research, and enjoying programs and services that will foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich Kumeyaay culture."

My kids love discovery and science museums--we've visited them in three countries now, and five US…read morestates. This was their first time traveling to Ensenada, so we decided to book a tour of this museum just outside the cruise port. We were picked up by bus and transported to the museum, and were given a walking tour of the full museum. What once was built for office space for the port just before the pandemic hit and then abandoned when the industry took a hit, was repurposed as a community natural history museum. While Caracol Museo de Ciencias is still growing, what they have done with the space so far is wonderful. Right now, they are focusing on quality over quantity...this museum is small and mighty, and is worthy of anyone interested in learning more about the natural history of Baja California. The exhibits are bilingual in Spanish and English, and masterfully incorporate technology and real samples, along with plenty for the senses and young at heart. There are small live creatures, interactive displays, sand pits to dig for fossils, animatronic dinosaurs, a planetarium show, and a gift shop. There is also a cute and stinky resident ferret. The guide was brilliant--her enthusiasm for the museum and the subjects she spoke about was infectious, and I appreciated how she kept us all engaged and kept us moving at a decent pace. I know there are several areas of the museum that are still growing, and I look forward to returning in a few years to see how much it has grown. Definitely worth a visit!

On Wednesday July 2 we docked in Ensenada on Carnival Firenze. We had an excursion booked (I don't…read moreremember the exact name...something like vintage model T tour or Ensenada something like that with a meeting time at noon at the Carscol Museum. We followed instructions (directions listed) and arrived at the museum 15-20 minutes early and walked around the museum and asked people in the box office and those walking out from the museum about the tour and nobody could help. We tried calling numbers on the ticket and all we got was a message in Spanish then disconnected. Another thing that didn't work was on the ticket it said to look for the msn wearing a white shirt, jeans and holding a sign "shore excursions group", never found this person or the tour. We looked for 45 minutes then went back to the ship. We got home on July 3 and it wasn't until around July 6 before we were able to reach shore excursions group, explained the situation and was given a refund. How can this be avoided in the future? Maybe have someone outside the cruise terminal matching description listed in a van to take customers to the site. Maybe letting the museum security know about the tour to direct guests where to meet the group or signs in the area. The museum is a big building with multiple entrances so that can be confusing for a tourist. And lastly maybe provide contact information with instructions how to call them because for us nothing worked Thanks And to add to this review, thinking back I don't know if the museum had anything to do with the excursion or if it was just the "staging" area to meet the guests. Regarding the museum, it's a nice building and I'm sure it's a nice place to explore