Short stay at Hotel Maru, Sta. Rosalillita

Took an extra-long President Day weekend trip south to visit whales and friends.

I left Thursday 2/12, but only got as far as Santa Rosalillita on the Pacific coast. I had a late start, and arrived after dark after dodging livestock on the road-- not smart, and I don't recommend it.

Here's what I would have seen if I had arrived in daylight:


I approached the town via the road to Escalera Nautica, which is easier to navigate after dark, then drove thru the dirt back to the hotel. The steep concrete road leading into town is hard to see at night- it's very dark out there!

On the bright side: the stars are amazing!

I realized the next morning, the hotel color is hard to miss!


I parked alongside the local's trucks and lobster traps. Never met the owners- their teenage son (?) and his friend took my pesos and helped me into the room.

Here's the Maru room I stayed in- small, reasonably clean, but no hot water while I was there. (I left early, so didn't ask if this was normal or...?)




I was up at dawn with the fishermen and continued south after chatting with a couple of locals about the local fishing "cooperativo" and the empty/non-functional Escalera.


Small church next to abarrotes store.


Road up the hill, out of town- would be a tight squeeze for more than 1 vehicle.


Made it out to Hyw. 1, thru the Pta. Prieta military checkpoint, gas at Jesus Maria, bug spray at 28th parallel, and out to the lagoon in time for breakfast on the patio of the interpretive center, with the group going out on the boat to see whales.

(Note: apparently, telling the guys at military checkpoint and agriculture station you are from Sta. Rosalillita means you get to go thru immediately- no checking my truck, no request to pay 2 pesos for bug spray...)

All in all, I would stay here again. The hotel is simple, quiet, inexpensive, and it's nice to wake up right on the water.

However, I was not able to meet the owners, so wasn't able to ask about dinner (BajaBlanca had mentioned they would be willing to cook/prep a meal). So be prepared to prep your own meals, and/or get some basic food at the abarrote store next to the church.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

As you were south of Punta Prieta and drove on south, I think the military checkpoint you came to was the one at El Tomatal turnoff (between Santa Rosalillita and Villa Jesus Maria)? I had never seen a checkpoint near Punta Prieta, but I was last there in 2012.

Quote: Originally posted by bajafam

when we stayed there, we had to ask for them to turn on the water heater. Cozy room, nice folks, would stay again in a heartbeat.

Quote: Originally posted by Marc

You had to ASK them to turn on the hot water heater?

Marc,
Yes, that is not an unusual practice for some places....keeps costs down....and only takes about 20-30 minutes to get hot water.

In 1994 I stayed at an inexpensive hospedaje beside the Equipales restaurant in Mulege (3 rooms) and the water heater for the communal shower was a small cast metal tank heated by a little fire underneath.....you had to start and maintain the fire for a while.....for a short shower ....I kinda liked the experience

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Took an extra-long President Day weekend trip south to visit whales and friends. I left Thursday 2/12, but only got as far as Santa Rosalillita on the Pacific coast. I had a late start, and arrived after dark after dodging livestock on the road-- not smart, and I don't recommend it. Here's what I would have seen if I had arrived in daylight: I approached the town via the road to Escalera Nautica, which is easier to navigate after dark, then drove thru the dirt back to the hotel. The steep concrete road leading into town is hard to see at night- it's very dark out there! On the bright side: the stars are amazing! I realized the next morning, the hotel color is hard to miss! I parked alongside the local's trucks and lobster traps. Never met the owners- their teenage son (?) and his friend took my pesos and helped me into the room. Here's the Maru room I stayed in- small, reasonably clean, but no hot water while I was there. (I left early, so didn't ask if this was normal or...?) I was up at dawn with the fishermen and continued south after chatting with a couple of locals about the local fishing "cooperativo" and the empty/non-functional Escalera. Small church next to abarrotes store. Road up the hill, out of town- would be a tight squeeze for more than 1 vehicle. Made it out to Hyw. 1, thru the Pta. Prieta military checkpoint, gas at Jesus Maria, bug spray at 28th parallel, and out to the lagoon in time for breakfast on the patio of the interpretive center, with the group going out on the boat to see whales. (Note: apparently, telling the guys at military checkpoint and agriculture station you are from Sta. Rosalillita means you get to go thru immediately- no checking my truck, no request to pay 2 pesos for bug spray...) All in all, I would stay here again. The hotel is simple, quiet, inexpensive, and it's nice to wake up right on the water. However, I was not able to meet the owners, so wasn't able to ask about dinner (BajaBlanca had mentioned they would be willing to cook/prep a meal). So be prepared to prep your own meals, and/or get some basic food at the abarrote store next to the church.

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

I was in the hood the day 15 ready mix trucks showed up with dry loads looking for a place to add water, mix their batches and start pouring that concrete hill into town. I have a picture on my home 'puter. [Edited on 2-27-2015 by woody with a view]

being a construction guy i had no interest in seeing the mud go down, much less watching it cure! what really got me was seeing all those trucks rolling into town. early Jan, 2011.

Internet at Hotel in Sta. Rosalilita

There should be a good sushi stand in town by then.....

pollo del mar!

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

yes, depends on how many people are grabbing a signal! FYI, i spoke to Maru a few days ago and she said all of her rooms are now rented by the month, so don't expect to roll in and have 5 rooms to choose from! she's planning on expanding as the Japanese have bought the rights to sardines along this stretch of coast and are planning to use the marina to ship dead sardines in trucks to the tuna pens off Ensenada. once the operation is up and running she said the town will need to provide housing for 400 additional workers!!!!! i only speak Pueblo so the details might be fuzzy!

Hotel Maru status

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

I do enjoy Maru and stay there sometimes. The other hotel in Rosarito spells out Baja Cactus on the wall. Woody turned me onto their Lobster burritos, outstanding!!! Both places are great!

Quote: Originally posted by DirkEXC

Hey Mike, Thanks for resurrecting this thread. It looks like your question got lost on everyone reading the other fun stuff. Does anyone know if they rent the rooms by the day or are they still all rented by the month to the fishermen ?? Reply: I was camping at Alejandro's camp (Pta Andreas) last week. went by the Yellowtail Fish Farm to see their progress (they have been working on it close to 2 years now?) Anyways, they are just now lining the huge football field reservoirs with concrete that will hold the fish and have completed the lines to the coast that will eventually bring in the fresh seawater. Bottom line is that it doesn't look like anytime soon there will be rooms open as the workers will be using them Alan from San Diego [Edited on 10-25-2016 by DawnPatrol] [Edited on 10-25-2016 by DawnPatrol]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Udo, the "Cactus Motel" in Rosarito is not the Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario... which is next door to Mama Espinoza's (who has the crab soup). They are talking about Mauricio's Restaurant, in Rosarito (the one between Punta Prieta and Villa Jesus Maria).

Quote:

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol   Quote: Originally posted by DirkEXC   Hey Mike, Thanks for resurrecting this thread. It looks like your question got lost on everyone reading the other fun stuff. Does anyone know if they rent the rooms by the day or are they still all rented by the month to the fishermen ?? Reply: I was camping at Alejandro's camp (Pta Andreas) last week. went by the Yellowtail Fish Farm to see their progress (they have been working on it close to 2 years now?) Anyways, they are just now lining the huge football field reservoirs with concrete that will hold the fish and have completed the lines to the coast that will eventually bring in the fresh seawater. Bottom line is that it doesn't look like anytime soon there will be rooms open as the workers will be using them Alan from San Diego To DawnPatrol, I am guessing you edited to try and have your reply sit outside of the quoted box? I see this often on Nomad where folks reply to a quoted post and their reply remains inside the other Nomad's quote. What is happening is that you begin typing a reply too soon, and did not scroll down until you passed the [ /quote] tag. If you accidently deleted that tag, you can simply add it back in at the end of the other Nomad's quote.... as I have (and deleted the extra edit notices)...

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol

yea David... I got it. Knew what happened as soon as I posted oh well