After arriving in El Fuerte we grabbed our heavily packed knapsacs (jammed full of enough clothing for the cool mountain air at the top of the Canyon) and hailed a taxi to take us to a hotel recommended to us by our friends from Borboleta. Five minutes later we arrived at our Hotel... in fact our hotel ended up being so close to the bus station we think our taxi driver toured around the city square before dropping us off to make the trip worthwhile!
After our long overnight trip we were SO happy to finally arrive at Posada Del Hidalgo (our hotel in El Fuerte). Conveniently located just off the city square, it is an historic building appointed in an upscale, yet authentic Spanish/Mexican manner, with 5 star service - we LOVED it!
Zorro Lives!!
Posada Del Hidalgo was built around a much smaller, more modest building in which Zorro is reported to have been born. In fact one of the hotel atriums pays homage to him with a life-sized sculpture of him posing in one of his sword-wielding exploits.
Zorro magically arrived during 'Happy Hour' at the Palapa Bar by the pool, welcoming us. Along with other Canadian tourists. (The complimentary margaritas were VERY good... so we can't be completely sure that his appearance wasn't just in our imagination!)
See El Fuerte photo gallery...
After Happy Hour Miguel, the Maître d'Hôtel (who looked conspicuously like El Zorro), provided us with a range of guided tour options. The next morning Miguel (a.k.a. 'Jack Of All Trades' at the Hotel), took us on a river cruise/bird watching tour, and inland excursion to see ancient petroglyphs. It was a beautiful way to begin the day and ease ourselves into our inland adventure.
See river cruise photo gallery...