BajaNomad

Verdugo’s Los Barilles RV Park Review

Iflyfish - 11-7-2010 at 05:27 PM

I had the honor of meeting both Martin and Marisol Verdugo at their historic RV Park/Hotel in Los Barilles. Both are wonderful people who have managed a legacy RV Park in the middle of Los Barilles, Baja Sur, Mexico.

Verdugo’s sets in a premier location in the center of the beach area in Los Barilles. This charming Hotel, RVPpark has served many Baja Veterans with their launching pad for their eventual permanent residence in Los Barilles.

Verdugo’s has hotel accommodations as well as RV sites and sits right on the beach. There is both a pool and restaurant available for their clientele. I did not visit any of the hotel rooms so that remains for another visitor to review.

The small pool sits directly in front of the beach and is available during daylight hours to their guests. There is a nice patio area and outside bar, unmanned during our stay, which overlooks the beach below.

The restaurant is clearly designed to serve the Norte’s and their tastes with the standard American Breakfast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, omelets etc., the juice is not fresh. There are huevos rancheros on the menu and they are also as bland as the American breakfast. Don’t get me wrong, the Canadians and Americans consider this to be their top billing for breakfast in Los Barilles, I carry with me a Mexican palette and though I sometimes long for the Eggs Benedict, I must admit that the stack of pancakes, eggs and bacon have long ago lost their appeal.

The RV Park sits behind the hotel/restaurant/pool and there is easy access to all of them. The spaces are small and easy to access with our 24’ motor home. There seems to be ample space for larger units and they are in evidence. See the Church’s excellent book on Camping Mexico’s Baja for reviews of RV Parks of the Baja for more details.

We parked in our space that has a 30 amp service. We have an onboard surge protector to 50 amps and a welding clamp attached to a 15 foot cable that we use in Mexico for grounding our rig. Our experience in Mexico is that the power often is irregular and surges. This unfortunately was the case at Verdugo’s. The power went on and off like a hot teen date. Just when we settled into a comfortable zone of A/C, off it went and left me sweltering in the Baja heat. My CPAP machine of course died during these episodes and I am certain that I fried sufficient brain cells to man a good size starfish, the worst of it was the disturbance of Mrsfish, who was, and dare I say, less than pleased with this turn of events.

Bugs, if there are there entomologists among us, would find your Mecca, sorry for the illusion, as the bugs are prolific, varied and invasive. Among the most egregious of these bugs are some sort of sand flea that leaves the ankles craving morphine.

As if the bugs were not bad enough, and the power outages not so irritating, there were other Hieronymus Boschian Garden of Delights awaiting Mr and Mrsfish as night fell.

I now know why we Americans are not allowed to carry arms here in Mexico. If we were allowed carry weapons I fear that Iflyfish may well have gone Postal and wiped out a significant population of the howling dogs of Los Barilles. These animals are apparently used to ruling the night and they do!! I am very glad that I was not armed as I found that the supposed cause was the wandering cows that trigger the reflexive bays of the canine horde. In some ways this is good news because the first person that goes truly Berserko with this will need to expend way less lead by just going after the cows.

gnukid - 11-7-2010 at 05:49 PM

Verdugos Magical Campground of 100 Dogs and 100 water pumps!

Come and Enjoy Arguing with Gringos about Weather and Coffee!

High Prices and Low Service from the Anti-Hosts!

Quad Runs through Camp and the Hotel at 5am by Fat Gringos driving 50 feet!

Come visit Verdugos Gringolandia!

sanquintinsince73 - 11-7-2010 at 06:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Verdugos Magical Campground of 100 Dogs and 100 water pumps!

Come and Enjoy Arguing with Gringos about Weather and Coffee!

High Prices and Low Service from the Anti-Hosts!

Quad Runs through Camp and the Hotel at 5am by Fat Gringos driving 50 feet!

Come visit Verdugos Gringolandia!

Say Huh???

drarroyo - 11-7-2010 at 06:30 PM

This is the perect locale for 99% of Baja Nomads! ie Raisin Nirvana!!
Younger set ... do yourself a favor and don't even think about it.

Skipjack Joe - 11-7-2010 at 07:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Iflyfish

...The power went on and off like a hot teen date....



Wow. You're starting to reach osprey's writing abilities.

Barry A. - 11-7-2010 at 07:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by drarroyo
This is the perect locale for 99% of Baja Nomads! ie Raisin Nirvana!!
Younger set ... do yourself a favor and don't even think about it.


Wow, now THAT'S a gross generalization if I ever heard one. Take me for instance-----I am 72, and it does not sound like 'my kind of place' at all!!! When I go to Mexico, I want MEXICAN, or wild lonely beaches & canyons----period-----and I don't bring no stinkin MoHo, either. :lol:

Barry

edited to correct some of the gross spelling

[Edited on 11-8-2010 by Barry A.]

drarroyo - 11-7-2010 at 08:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.

Wow, now THAT'S a gross generalization if I ever heard one. Take me for instance-----I am 72, and it does not sound like 'my kind of place' at all!!! When I go to Mexico, I want MEXICAN, or wild lonely beaches & canyons----period-----and I don't bring no stinkin MoHo, either. :lol:

Barry

edited to correct some of the gross spelling

[Edited on 11-8-2010 by Barry A.] [/quot

yea I hear ya ... I was referencing the age group at the 'camp ground'
my bad

dtbushpilot - 11-7-2010 at 08:55 PM

I like Verdugo's. I especially like the family, they are friendly, hard working, accommodating folks. Their place isn't a "high zoot" resort, they aren't trying to be. Their prices are fair for what you get, their fishing packages are the best value in the area (IMHO), their captains are hard working and knowledgeable and the boats and are dependable. The palapa bar opens at around 2:30, the beer and drinks are cheaper than most anywhere else in town and it's a great place to sit in the shade and watch the boats return in the afternoon. The restaurant opens early and closes around noon and is geared towards getting the fishermen fed and out to their boat in time. It's mainly there for the guests of the hotel, they don't have a sign out front or try to compete for the local breakfast crowd. That's probably why the menu is simple.

The bugs, sand fleas and no seeums have been really bad lately everywhere in the Los Barriles area. The noseeums are so big you can see um. We have had to have our meal packaged "to go" a couple of times lately after sitting at our table for a few minutes because the gnats were so bad (other restaurants, not Verdugo's). Anywhere that has dirt or sand has the same problem.

Verdugo's doesn't have cows or an excessive amount of dogs but Los Barriles does and Verdugo's is right in the middle of town. One of the charming things about our little part of the world is seeing cattle walk down the middle of the street, munch on your shrubbery, knock over your trash cans, rummage around in the trash and leave their calling cards in the middle of the sidewalk (where there is one).

I don't know what is to blame for the power issues. Verdugo's underground lines were probably put in a while back and that may or may not have something to do with it. They get their power from CFE like the rest of us. I've had, and heard of many others that have had appliances, ceiling fans and electronic devices that are power sensitive ruined by the inconsistent local power delivery.

Please don't misunderstand Iflyfish, I'm not disagreeing with anything that you have reported, it all seems accurate and that's what these reports are supposed to provide, an accurate assessment of the current conditions.

Like I said at the beginning, I like it there and I like the Verdugo family. It's a great location with a laid back friendly atmosphere and they have the coldest beer in town at the bar. It's not for everybody but then again, nowhere is.....dt

windgrrl - 11-7-2010 at 10:30 PM

Good description, dt and fits with what I have seen.

Suppose I'll be packin' this year...headphones, bug spray and citronella candles that is! Lord knows, there's always a dog that needs to bark and thank goodness they do.

gnukid - 11-8-2010 at 07:34 AM

Verdugos was once the center for fishing and watersports on the east cape.

It's very unfortunate that Martin and Marisol worse have such a negative attitude toward people and generally doesn't understand the customer or the idea of customer service, worse he treats his employees worse than anyone I have ever known. Ask why the best employee they had, the only one who understood that when people asked to be served together, not 30 minutes apart, they meant it, or that cream is not white paint, or that most people do not eat eggs with a spoon, ask why he was fired when he asked for raise from $6/day after ten years or ask why their best bartender that everyone here knows was only allowed to earn tips for all his efforts? he was the heart of Verdgugs but was never paid a penny? That is very sad indeed. And inexcusable for such a financially successful location.

Verdugos is/was a great location, but the failure of Martin to consider his customers as a high priority has made the place unbearable, more like living in a parking lot behind a 24 hour laundry mat. For those of us who have enjoyed in the past, lets say 20 years ago and more its very sad to see what it has become due to Martin.

Or there is the time when a friend of mine arrived after his wife and child, Martin hadn't been introduced and the fellow just arrived to his camp and jumped in the shower, Martin put him in jail for theft when he assumed he stole a shower and wouldn't listen. And that incident took hours to resolve.

Most people I know, seniors and so forth who have gone there for years vowed never to return this year, but being seniors they are afraid to try something new or actually visit mexico outside of Gringolandia, but why not especially when there are other camp grounds nearby that are so nice and the hosts so accommodating.

I wonder if anyone can talk to Martin, though we have tried for years and let him know that his water pumps, the constant running and the design is very unpleasant, or that service is appreciated and that the constant dog barking at night makes sleeping impossible, by day three you are so frazzled that you can't think straight. Or that allowing quads to rev all early morning back and forth through the hotel entrance with the sound echoing like a racetrack is idiotic. People could leave the quads in a covered section on the beachfront with security and this would avoid making the hotel into a retiree racetrack. But no, not Martin.

To have seen such a wonderful place go so wrong is one of the saddest things I have seen in Baja and as far as I can tell it is entirely due to the managements lack of concern for the customer.

Eli - 11-8-2010 at 07:42 PM

Gosh, interesting thread. Must admit, Verdugos is not the most pleasant place I have visited on the East Cape. Sure is a great location though. Even so, I don't think I would stay there myself.
IFlyfish, I am sorry I wasn't in town to meet you, I would have liked that a lot.

Lee - 11-8-2010 at 08:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
.... the constant dog barking at night makes sleeping impossible, by day three you are so frazzled that you can't think straight.....


Dogs barking all night or roosters crowing most of the night is typical of barrios -- and this info is good for people who like to sleep at night, peacefully, and want to avoid scenarios like this.

While staying at a high end hacienda in Todos years back, I complained about the number of barking dogs, and specifically, the half dozen mutts on the other side of the wall where I slept.

The Owner said I should kill them and she wasn't joking.

Dogs and roosters have a short life span in some areas of Pescadero.

Eli - 11-9-2010 at 05:30 AM

Barking dogs and Church bells ringing and firecrackers hailing thru the night is fine with me, I learned years ago to sleep right thru it. I do suggest sensitive folks bring earplugs for a good nights rest.

Now, a completely unacceptable situation for me is; Ernesto Verdugo who lives between the tortilleria and the entrance to Martin's, he has a mean streak in him passed on to him by his father Negro Verdugo and that Ernesto has passed on to the Pit Bulls that he has raised and who love to sleep on the sidewalk in front of the tortilleria. These dogs don't bother people who pass by, but they have ganged up on other pups there on that street and down on the beach and broken a few backs in the process. Why no one has yet poisoned those dogs, I can't imagine. If One choose to stay at Martin's, and has a dog, that should be kept front and center of one's mind.
Also, North of town, Dona Mela, who has the goat farm right after the first Arroyo had poisoned plenty of folks dogs in those neighborhoods, (including one of mine). So, again, if one camps at North beach, they need to be aware of Mela's special hot dogs for their dogs.

tiotomasbcs - 11-9-2010 at 03:19 PM

I plan on visiting La Trinidad in La Ribera. Close to the beaches & doesn't sound crowded?! Verdugos is crowded/ compaqcted with too many people sharing a small space They have always been rude. North Beach Campground is open and nice with banos/showers or rough it in the 2nd arroyo! The beach and coast is beautiful especially early in the morning!! Seems everyone ridesa quad in LB and even on the beach. All said, I like LB because it still is a small pueblo and not loaded with Artist airheads. El Viejo, anyone?!! Tio

dtbushpilot - 11-9-2010 at 04:15 PM

La Trinidad is a great place, I highly recommend it, I've never camped there but I've eaten at the resturant on numerous occasions and I've had my share (and a few others) of adult beverages at the bar.

A great setting, first rate staff and Mike is a fine host.....not sure about chickens, cows or dogs.....dt

Howard - 11-9-2010 at 06:50 PM

A lot of people have jumped on thumbs down of Martin Verdugo's hotel, RV park, etc.

I find the place more than acceptable.

For the people who do not care for it, (you are certainly entitled to your opinion) please furnish me a place on the East Cape that is better that offers the following:

Clean but very basic rooms
On the water
Approximately $70 for ocean front rooms
Palapa bar on the beach over looking the ocean
Swimming pool
Walking distance to a number of good places to eat
Safe
etc., etc.,

Looking forward to finding a better place with the above criteria

bajafreaks - 11-9-2010 at 06:55 PM

If someone is still interested in staying in town (LB) I would highly recommend east cape rv resort it's just a little past Verdugos on the opposite side of the street.
Theresa Comber is the owner and a super lady, it's very clean, with nice sites, laundry, pool, and Theresa runs two fishing boats and also site seeing/boat trips.
I've never been a fan of Verdugos as mentioned some of the people that hang out there can be extremly rude, good location but thats about it.

Iflyfish - 11-9-2010 at 08:27 PM

Mrsfish and I are at La Trinidad at this moment. I recently reviewed both the RV Park and Restaurant.

The park is not crowded at all, there are three rigs here now in the park.

Since the review of the restaurant the veggies have improved and last time I ate there were served al dante. I saw the most massive chicken fried steak I have ever seen served there last week end. Mrsfish and I opted for the shrimp, which are very good here.

The only drawback to La Trinidad is the lack of shade, which has not been an issue for us and others have their sun shades out.

In defence of Verdugos the issue of bugs and dogs is endemic to the town. We also stayed at East Cape, down the street from Verdugo's and were attacked by insects there also, the internet only worked intermittantly (we both paid $15 for a week of internet there) and the power was off and on there also. The good news about East Cape is that there are trees between sites and that both provides shade and some buffer from the sound of the dogs. I will at a later point write a fuller review of East Cape.

dtbushpilot - 11-9-2010 at 09:56 PM

How much longer are you going to be there fish? I'll be back in BV on Friday, would like to meet you.....dt