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Desert Inn

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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

  • Highlights 1. Cenotes at Cuzamá - horse drawn cart through countryside to reach them 2. Celestun - flamingoes, lobster and ceviche on the beach 3. Uxmal Ruins- less people than…

    VRR, Sittingbourne Jan 2019
  • "Many highlights: The views at Uxmal. Waking up with a view of the observatory at Chichen Itza from our hotel bed. The excellent guides. The friendliness of the staff (and…

    TR, Farnham Jan 2015
  • My sister summed it up by saying that there was nothing that she would have changed, the holiday was perfect.  Mexico was a delight, we had never been before, the…

    RN, Ascot May 2026
  • Swimming in the cenotes, chichen itza, Mexican food

    VH, Chorley Nov 2016
  • "All of it was great so hard to pick out one thing. We had a lovely mix of ancient sites, modern art, great museums and time to relax. The Day…

    FA, Edinburgh Nov 2014
  • All of the tour guide experiences were memorable and we loved Mexico city. There was so much to see and do in such a short week. I would love to…

    JR, Castle Douglas May 2010
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Our Expert's Opinion

Mary
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

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  • 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.

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    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

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    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

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    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

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