BajaNomad - EL MORRO MOTEL in Santa Rosalia

EL MORRO MOTEL in Santa Rosalia

Pompano - 3-25-2009 at 06:02 AM

I recently had to stay overnight in Santa Rosalia to help an amigo and it turned into an opportunity to see what changes had occurred at the El Morro Motel after a 35-year hiatus.

Plus it gave me something to do with my free time..taking photos and writing this motel report for Nomads.

This motel sits high on a bluff overlooking the Cortez, San Marcos/Tortuga islands, and the panga fleet heading out to sea at dawn.

It was a delightful surprise to find that it has stayed up-to-date and I would recommend it to anyone. Especially if you have pets. A pleasant cloistered affect with the walled courtyard and parking areas. Security and noiseless...2 of my personal criteria in picking a motel.

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The sea views are great! Probably the best view of any motel from here to the border. And certainly one I can relate to.. :yes:

I was tempted to do several hundred laps around the pool to work off a pastry I had comsumed earlier in the Boleo Bakery downtown..but judiciously refrained from such nonsense.

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I like motels that are well-maintained and have that freshly cleaned look.

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The rooms were more than adequate. Comfy mattress, AC if needed (but I did not), and a pleasing view of the garden out the patio doors. I slept like a baby.

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The motel dining room. My dinner was excellent...I had the Chile Rellenos and some nice vino rojo. Breakfast was a time to experiment away from my usual huevos rancheros and so I decided on a dish called Quesadillas del Cortes. My opinion? Yummm. Excuse the focus here, I was a little hungry and hurried.

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All in all, a good experience at the El Morro Motel.
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Footnotes: Just down the highway is another motel I will try whenever the next opportunity presents itself....The Little Houses..Las Casitas.
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And for the RVer looking to stay in Sta. Rosalia then this is the place just on the south part of town.

[Edited on 3-25-2009 by Pompano]

Bajaboy - 3-25-2009 at 07:49 AM

We've stayed at El Moro a few times. I would recommend an ocean view room if possible as the rooms are nicer (at least in the past). What are the current rates?

bill erhardt - 3-25-2009 at 07:50 AM

Pomp.......Good report. When I retired and moved to Baja in 2002, Santa Rosalia was one of my first stops. I spent a month or so at the El Moro and launched my boat daily at either the marina in town or at San Lucas cove to mine the 'tails' on the bajo north of Isla San Marcos. The stay at El Moro was very pleasant. For much of the time I was the only guest. I think that the daily rate for a room was then around $39 US. What is it now?

Pompano - 3-25-2009 at 08:03 AM

Bill and Bajaboy,

I think the room part of my card bill was around $50, but can't be sure right now. The total with food and bar for 3 of us was a goodly amount. :rolleyes:

If I find it was a lot more..or less.. I will report back.

Bill, how was the tail fishing off those seal rocks compared to where you are now?

[Edited on 3-26-2009 by Pompano]

Paula - 3-25-2009 at 08:04 AM

Roger, the El Moro looks beautiful-- it has that wonderful old Baja style and elegance, doesn't it?

Friends and I spent the night recently at the old hotel Frances up on the hill. It's a charming place, with turn of the century ambiance, and lots of interesting old SR mining photos. Alba, the gerente, is friendly, helpful, and full of information. There is a beautiful dining room. They only serve breakfast-- just coffee on Sunday, so we didn't get to try the food. The patio has a nice pool, and Gacho, the resident parrot is a character!

Being up there on the French hill was like being in a tropical Butte, MT-- tinted sepia by the years of mining, burnished, haunted, and earthy.

[Edited on 3-25-2009 by Paula]

BajaDove - 3-25-2009 at 08:06 AM

Excellent review and good pics. You didn't leave room for questions. Thanks.

Pompano - 3-25-2009 at 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paula
Roger, the El Moro looks beautiful-- it has that wonderful old Baja style and elegance, doesn't it?

Friends and I spent the night recently at the old hotel Frances up on the hill. It's a charming place, with turn of the century ambiance, and lots of interesting old SR mining photos. Alba, the gerente, is friendly, helpful, and full of information. There is a beautiful dining room. They only serve breakfast-- just coffee on Sunday, so we didn't get to try the food. The patio has a nice pool, and Gacho, the resident parrot is a character!

Being up there on the French hill was like being in a tropical Butte, MT-- tinted sepia by the years of mining, burnished, haunted, and earthy.

Paula, I have stayed at the Hotel Frances a few times, too. Years ago..I think around 1980 or so, I met an fellow who was the architect/builder for that hotel. He showed me all the fine woods they brought in from South America...teaks, mahogany, etc..some beautiful grained hardwoods for sure. I love the wood in that place and yes, it reminds me of fine early hotels in Montana and western North Dakato. (North Dakota ones were much better, of course..)

Here's an old Hotel Frances bar photo. A Great Falls, Mt resident and some 'dates' we had in the Hotel Frances a long, long time ago. How do you like those sunflower bell bottoms I have on? Shades of Sat. Night Fever.

bill erhardt - 3-25-2009 at 08:32 AM

Pomp.......There are more options out of Loreto where you might find yellowtail on a given day, but for a single spot I have never seen another as consistently productive as the area north of San Marcos Island in March, 2002. And, fresh from the East Coast, never having caught a yellowtail, and not having to report for work Monday morning, I thought that I had died and gone to heaven.

Bob H - 3-25-2009 at 09:02 AM

Roger, GREAT report and photos. If you stayed there 35 years ago - do you have any old photos of that? It would be interesting to see the changes.

The plants and palms all around this place are just beautiful and all matured. We would definately stay at this hotel, for sure.

Bob H

tripledigitken - 3-25-2009 at 09:18 AM

Good report and pictures.

We have stayed at El Morro several times and can recommend it also. Room for two, not ocean view was about $40 in 2007. Large parking area for those pulling boats!

Ken

makana.gabriel - 3-25-2009 at 10:04 AM

We have always liked El Morro and enjoy their aviary. Is Vanessa, the house cat, still greeting guests?

Pompano - 3-25-2009 at 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by makana.gabriel
We have always liked El Morro and enjoy their aviary. Is Vanessa, the house cat, still greeting guests?

Hi makana.gabriel,

I dont' recall seeing the house cat, but I did snap a photo of the lovebirds in the aviary. Nice music. Here you are:
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Mulegena - 3-25-2009 at 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by makana.gabriel
We have always liked El Morro and enjoy their aviary. Is Vanessa, the house cat, still greeting guests?

Yes, the aviary houses numerous colorful parakeets and there is a beautiful, sweet siamese cat who gently wanders the halls. She was recently spayed by Lorraine at her clinic in Mulege. Their owner is Ruben who runs the restaurant.

Bajahowodd - 3-25-2009 at 10:25 AM

Thanks for the fine photos, Roger. Last couple of times I was at El Morro, the pool was empty. Place looks good. You are right about the location and setting. If Santa Rosalia was a true destination resort town, that property would be hosting a five star. That brings me to an interesting note. Unless there's been a change in ownership recently, it had stunned me that the same people own the El Morro in Guerrero Negro. That place is a dump.

FYI, Las Casitas is a reletively new property operated by gringos. Rates much higher than El Morro.

Paula - 3-25-2009 at 12:16 PM

"North Dakota ones were so much better of course..."

SEZ YOU!

[Edited on 3-25-2009 by Paula]

makana.gabriel - 3-25-2009 at 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena

Quote:

Originally posted by makana.gabriel
We have always liked El Morro and enjoy their aviary. Is Vanessa, the house cat, still greeting guests?

Thanks Mulegena. The Siamese is Vanessa. My wife and I had the owner open up the aviary once so we could clean one of the parakeets feet that had been covered probably by feces while in the nest and was now a hard ball.

DianaT - 3-25-2009 at 01:01 PM

Thanks for the report. We really appreciate it and all the photos.

We stopped there recently just to talk to them about the dogs as we will need to spend a night in Santa Rosalia in June.

They were very friendly and it seemed like a really nice place!

Diane

marla - 3-25-2009 at 01:06 PM

We stayed there 2 years ago and liked it and my kids loved the aviary. Beautiful patio and view.

El Morro

hotairdon - 3-25-2009 at 08:15 PM

Stayed there two nights ago, always ask for room just right of reception (19?29?) as it is in wifi range of reception, view, queen bed, 650 pesos a night. Highly recommend.

osoflojo - 3-26-2009 at 11:57 PM

I am glad others have had the same experience as I at the El Morro. Spent a couple of days there in Jan 09 waiting for the Ferry. The owners even accomidated us with a "partial day rate" SO WE HAD A PLACE TO HANG OUT.

Bajahowodd - 3-27-2009 at 12:08 AM

And again, how is it that this place is so inviting, but their place in Guerrero Negro is the opposite?