Back

Desert Inn

  • MEX_BajaCalifornia_DesertInn (1)
  • MEX_BajaCalifornia_DesertInn (2)
  • MEX_BajaCalifornia_DesertInn (3)
0 1 2

A simple hotel with pool catering well for visitors to the whale watching town San Ignacio in Baja California. 

The Desert Inn is a five minute walk from San Ignacio’s pretty tree-shaded plaza which hosts the little town’s ornate and imposing Jesuit mission church. The economy here is dedicated to whale-watching but there’s also a palm-defined green lagoon with good bird spotting opportunities.

The mission-style accommodation is mostly on one level with rooms connected by an arched terrace, and is set beside lawns in extensive grounds studded with a fountain and dazzling bougainvillea among other tropical foliage.  Most of the guest rooms face a decent-sized, lounger-fringed swimming pool , good for splashing around in rather than swimming. The fairly basic rooms are spacious and airy and although the décor is unremarkable the hotel serves its purpose as a comfortable, friendly option in a good location. Some guest rooms are intentionally dark to keep them cool, a respite in the fierce Baja heat. There’s also a large restaurant on site.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • There were many highlights: the beautiful beach on our first morning in Cancun, the boat ride among the flamingos at Celestun, the sight of the Magicians Pyramid at Uxmal and…

    AF, Merriot Feb 2019
  • Highlights: Boat trip to Yaxchilan - jungle and ruins were great.  Gardens and pool at Hacienda Chichen were lovely. Cuernavaca was a lovely town and we enjoyed Robert Brady museum….San…

    CW, London Oct 2026
  • Most memorable aspects were all the archaeological sites, which we enjoyed immensely. On the whole, we found local people very kind and helpful. 

    DC Nottingham Oct 2015
  • Highlights?: The church in San Juan Chamula Visiting Tonina en route from San Cristobal to Palenque. A beautiful setting, only a handful of other visitors and complete freedom to roam.

    DW, Stone Dec 2017
  • Highlights: Palenque site. The beach at Tulum

    JB, Leatherhead Feb 2016
  • Most memorable experiences: "Visiting our parents' house in Lomas de Chapultepec. Francisco persuaded the owners that we were genuine, which was quite an achievement. In sightseeing terms it is difficult…

    HG, Sherborne Mar 2015
0 1 2 3 4 5

Our Expert's Opinion

Sallly
Sally Watkins - Travel Expert

A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Sallly
    Sally Watkins - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • JLA
    Julia Golden - Travel Expert

    Julia’s passion for Latin America was sparked during an unforgettable year-long journey that began in Brazil and continued all the way to Mexico. Along the way, she experienced the continent in many different ways, from vibrant cities and remote villages to breathtaking landscapes and hidden natural wonders. Exploring such a diverse range of destinations gave her a deep appreciation for the region’s cultures, people and scenery, and inspired her love of creating memorable travel experiences for others.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

0 1 2 3 4 5