Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
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Verdugo’s Los Barilles RV Park Review
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.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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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!
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sanquintinsince73
Super Nomad
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| 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???
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drarroyo
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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.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
...The power went on and off like a hot teen date....
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Wow. You're starting to reach osprey's writing abilities.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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| 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. 
Barry
edited to correct some of the gross spelling
[Edited on 11-8-2010 by Barry A.]
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drarroyo
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| 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.
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 |
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
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Location: Buena Vista BCS
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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
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1335
Registered: 9-2-2006
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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.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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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.
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
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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.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
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Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| 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.....
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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.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Eli
Super Nomad
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Location: L.B. Baja Sur
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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.
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
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Location: El Pescadero
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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
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
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Location: Buena Vista BCS
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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
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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Howard
Super Nomad
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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
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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bajafreaks
Nomad
Posts: 404
Registered: 3-27-2007
Location: Gardnerville, NV./ Los Barriles BCS
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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.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 10-17-2006
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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.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
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Location: Buena Vista BCS
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How much longer are you going to be there fish? I'll be back in BV on Friday, would like to meet you.....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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