Hotel Santa Elena

Hotel Santa Elena, in the heart of El Fuerte, is one of those classic iconic Mexican places to stay. It’s actually an old house of the area, renovated into a series of rooms around an interior courtyard. Think high ceilings in the rooms, a single window to the street in a 1-2 foot thick brick or adobe wall. Add in a bathroom with plenty of hot water, great air conditioning and even a closet where you can hang your clothes, and you’ve got a perfect place to rest up before or after a trip on El Chepe. But the hotel comes with a couple of caveats. The rooms up front nearest the town square can be noisy, so ask for a room in the back. There are also no elevators if you get an upstairs room. And, if you are paying with a credit card, as opposed to pesos, you’ll pay a steep uncharge for that privilege. There are lots of food options nearby and even a restaurant connected to the hotel, so you’re covered there. The mercado is only a couple of blocks away, and in El Fuerte, that means some great birria and great tacos are always nearby. Would I stay here again? Of course, because it’s safe, centrally located and a great value.