Ensenada Shore Excursion: wijn- en kaasreis met lunch in de Ojos Negros-vallei

Everything was wonderful. Our tour guide contacted us (via email and whatsapp) the day before to suggest a time change since it was Sunday. On the morning, we were a little confused where to meet, but we found them with a sign with my name (you walk all the way past the security gates and there is a small parking area near the bridge where they were waiting). Hazzel, our guide, and Arturo, our driver, were both wonderful. Hazzel gave us a ton of history of the city as we drove. The first place they suggested was swarmed by a large tour group coming off the cruise ship, so she offered to take us somewhere else if we didn't want to be with the crowds. We said yes, anywhere was fine, we just wanted good wine. So while we got a delicious cup of coffee, they called around and took us to an adorable tasting room just outside of the downtown, called Madera 5. The wine was very good, and we had the place to ourselves. Next we went to the cheese cave in Ojos Negros. Once we started into the mountains, Arturo pulled off the highway so we could see the city from the hilltop and take pictures. Our tour guide at the farm, Effrian, was very funny, and the farm was beautiful. We got to see the cows, pet the newborn calves, and taste homemade ice cream! The tasting in the cheese cave was beautiful: wine, bread, fig preserves, and six different cheeses. Lunch was outside on picnic tables (they did offer to seat us inside, but the weather was so nice). We do not eat meat, so we had pasta, quesadillas, and Portobello mushrooms. The pasta may have been the best pasta I've ever eaten in my life. Lunch also included another glass of wine or beer from a local brewery. We were absolutely stuffed. We let them know what time we had to be back on the ship, and they got us back right in time. It was a great experience that I highly recommend.

Rafael the tour owner and Arturo the driver were so welcoming and caring. Arturo the driver was exceptionally. He tried all the way to communicate in English with my husband. The entire drive was fun telling stories and experiences. He was awesome. We want to come back and hire him as our transaction. Now on the Cava de Quesos where we did the cheese tasting and the supposed lunch... was horrible experience. The first part of the tour I nicely mentioned the girl if she could please incorporate some English for my husband to understand and she didn't say yes or no she just walked away.... such an odd girl. The next part of the tour the girl was very friendly and sweet. No complaints about her. At the end of the tour our driver was waiting for us he mentioned now is good time. You guys can pick anything from the menu it's already included with the tour. We sat down at a table and soon a kid from Cheese place brought us menus and after that an hour later literally NOBODY not even the guy that kept checking the table next to us every 3 minutes.. nobody came to ask what we wanted to eat, drink nothing, 0 eye contact. I'm so disappointed that everyone in that place was taking care of right away expect us. I'm disgusted and disappointed about these people and I'm never coming back to Cava de Quesos or recommend it to anyone I know. Now we still got our lunch somewhere else. Arturo took good care of us and gave us many options to where to eat but we wanted to try to good quesatacos so he took us to CORA and it was amazing! I give 5 stars to the driver and the first winery we had the wine tasting and I give Cava de Quesos 0 stars. Again Thank you Arturo for a fantastic time.

The wine tasting was great. The staff was very knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. The cheese cave was something like we'd never seen before. The tour was fun and informative and the cheese was amazing. We would definitely go back. The most amazing part of the trip though had to have been our guide and driver. Fernando is likely the best host I've ever had on a tour. He was fun to talk to, provided a wealth of knowledge, and was willing to do whatever he could to make the excursion as enjoyable as possible. Our driver, Ricardo, was fantastic as well. Got us to the winery and cave safely and efficiently and also made the excursion fun for the whole family. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Ensenada. Don't be afraid to book outside of the cruise line. This was as safe as I have ever felt on an excursion and way more fun and customizable than the shore excursions that the cruise lines offer. Great value for the money as well.