El Fuerte Hotels

Our Members Say

pabertra
Reviews: 539

5 out of 5 stars User Rating

El Posada del Hidalgo: The Neatest Hotel I've Ever Stayed At

Posada del Hidalgo is a beautiful colonial mansion. This attractive structure was built in 1890 by Don Rafael Almada, a wealthy and influential "alcalde" (mayor) who spent five years and 100,000 gold pesos on its construction. The wooden trim was made from 285 Canadian red pine beams.

Don Rafael's mansion was the largest and most beautiful in El Fuerte. It was built just below the old fort, and has four layers of brick and adobe construction. The iron work was brought from Mazatlan.

The "Casa Vieja" section has 12 beautiful rooms with thorough modern amenities in the colonial design, surrounding tropical garden and a beautiful ramada. Casa Vieja is believed to have been the original site of "El Zorro's" house [AKA Don Diego de la Vega]. The newer style rooms face the spacious and breathtaking garden, typical of the old tropical colonial houses.

Unique Quality: This is by far the neatest hotel I've ever stayed in. It is like the Secret Garden, everywhere you turn you stumble upon something unexpected. The hotel is mostly open air with several lush gardens inside that have beautiful fountains enshrouded with flowers. The restaurant's ceiling is adorned charmingly with beautiful handmade paper flowers and although I didn't get to see it, they also offer a Zorro perfomance in the early evening that is supposed to be a crowd pleaser.

The pool area is charming and if you wander up in the morning before catching El Chepe you will see hummingbirds darting from feeder to feeder and perhaps catch a view of a mountaintop peeking through the heavy clouds. This hotel is so fun to explore...like a mix of a museum and the secret graden all in one! The staff is very friendly and speak English in case your espanol isn't so good. :) I couldn't recommend this hotel highly enough!

Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
Website: http://www.hotelposadadelhidalgo.com/
Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Trains, Backpacking
Written January 26, 2009

An lovely inner courtyard with a Zorro sculpture

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plannersis
Reviews: 36

3 out of 5 stars User Rating

Rio VIsta Lodge: Best view of the town and river

Our stay at the Rio Vista Lodge was part of our tour booked with Canyon Travel. When we arrived, the owner Chal showed us several rooms to take our pick - he's built the place willy-nilly and some rooms are quite large and some looked like he'd skipped the design phase and had a few beers and went for it - Mexican construction often makes you shake your head - their standards and methods are lacking if not completely elusive, so we just shrugged and went with it....

Unique Quality: No pool but there was a small pond that might one day have a fountain or something like that. We had rooms adjoining the nice upstairs balcony but when we wandered around, we found other wings of the Lodge that included other balconies, so there you have it. One thing we experienced was lots of animals doing their thing all throughout the nights - cats and dogs and chickens and roosters fighting, carousing and just making as much noise as they can, as close to the rooms as they can....it seems there are no ordinances or common sense applied to these disturbances, and certainly there is no neutering or spaying of animals (they can't afford it and frankly their machismo attidude doesn't lend itself to altering an animal).

Opinion of Price: about average
Address: unknown, just look for the Fort high above the town and then up the alley on the right
Phone: 698-893-0413
Related to: Trains, Birdwatching, Adventure Travel
Written November 30, 2008

Cactus at the Rio Vista Lodge

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SenoraSusan
Reviews: 37

3 out of 5 stars User Rating

2.5 out of 5 stars Helpfulness

Hotel El Fuerte: Fasinating Mexican decorations

This very interesting motel is made from the true love of everything Mexican. From the beautiful, lush plants to the tile details. You can never be bored staying here. The small heated pool was a delight for my son. The playful geckos at night were thrilling.
This is the tourist stop over for the train trips and they cater only to them. we were able to book a tour through the front desk.
Our room was little and the beds were hard and located above the office.

Unique Quality: Remodled 250 plus year old Hacienda.

Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
Address: Hotel is in the prime historic district at the corner of 5 de Mayo and Montesclaros streets. It is adjecent to the Old Fort site, one half block from the Church of the Sacred Heart, City Hall, El Fuer
Phone: (52)698 8930226
Website: http://www.hotelelfuerte.com.mx/
Related to: Historical Travel
Written March 4, 2007

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susanpingu
Reviews: 98

4 out of 5 stars User Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars Helpfulness

Hotel Guerrero: Hotel across from bus stop

The price for our room (without a/c, 250 pesos) came with 8 AM breakfast (coffee/tea, toast, jam & omelet) and bottled water. This hotel is family-run and the owners are very helpful and friendly.

If you need to take the bus to the train station, your host can tell you what time and which bus. In our case, it was the 9 AM bus (local old blue bus with the sign "Estacion") going to the train station to catch the second-class Chepe train; bus ride about 15 mins)

Unique Quality: They even have an old-fashioned laundry area where you can wash your clothes on the sloping cement block and sun dry on lines provided. Of course, we asked and were graciously given permission to use the facilities (see pic).