The famous Hotel California: Mith or Truth?

Tour to Todos Santos Pueblo Magico Hundreds of tourists come every day to Todos Santos "Magical Town", to fine art galleries and of course to visit the famous Hotel California. Many come looking for the legend of the Eagles and the connection with the song. What they find here is probably the inspiration for the song, but most important is that they find here a really magical town and the real Mexico.

Todos Santos is an oasis in the desert, crossing the Tropic of Cancer, distinguished in all "Baja" for its mild climate and fertile land where they proliferate palm trees and crops of mango, papaya, avocado and recently many organic farms.

It was founded by the Jesuits in 1724, before it was occupied by the Pericúes and Guaycuras Indians, however epidemics such as gallic, smallpox and measles, brought by the galleons coming from Asia, finished with more than three-quarters of the indigenous population the rest migrated to Santiago.

In 1842 there was a redistribution of land and was when Todos Santos lived the most important economic period whith eight sugar mills, and other industries such as flowers.

Colonial buildings were built, and two theaters. Todos Santos became a place of artists and has been since then a cradle of painters, sculptors, craftsmen, poets and intellectuals. In late 1990, the site was chosen by painters and writers of American origin as a resting place, and many of them have established their residence there. Currently it has a variety of art galleries and sculpture, as well as numerous craft shops. In 2006, the town received the recognition of magical town by the Mexican Ministry of Tourism.

It has numerous cultural activities like Music Festival in January, The Art Festival (concerts, dance and exhibitions) in February, Todos Santos Film Festival, The Wine Festival in May. Mango Festival in August and its festivities on 12 October.

The Famous Hotel California: The construction of the Hotel California started in 1947 by Mr. Wong, but it was not until February 5, 1950 that opened. Mr. Wong had Asian nationality but always wanted people to see him as Mexican, so he decided to change his name to Antonio Tabasco, better known as "El Chino Tabasco". He lived with his wife and seven daughters in the small hotel with 16 rooms; He had a grosery store called "La Popular" and also a bar and restaurant. The Chinese was a visionary ahead of his time; It was the first to bring ice from the city of La Paz and sell the only cold beer in the town; It was also the first to have a gas station in Todos Santos. When he died, his family decided to sell the hotel to a villager who will quickly change the name. But the change did not last long because a little after the hotel was sold to an American who will immediately return the name of Hotel California.

In the late 90's the "Hotel California" was closed and put on sale. It was empty for about 4 years until finally a Canadian couple, John and Debbie Stewart, bought it in 2001. When they acquired it, was pretty run down and had to remodel it. For its reopening in 2002, the hotel had 11 rooms, a restaurant and bar. The area where was originally a gas station became the now famous Emporio store. In the ten years since the Hotel reopened, it has been reborn as a beautiful boutique hotel. The restaurant "La Coronela" was created by renowned Canadian chef Dany Lamote, and is well known for its Mexican / Mediterranean cuisine. The Hotel has its own brand of tequila "Tequila Hotel California," which has already been exported to the United States, Canada and Europe.

And most recently, the "Santo Vino" (Holy Wine) Restaurant, an eclectic bistro and wine bar. And as an addition to the hotel's history, "La Popular" reopens as a gourmet shop and bakery.

Truth or Myth? During the 1960s and 1970s, the precise details of the history of the hotel are a bit "dim" which is not uncommon in the culture of that particular era ... There are numerous stories. Whether fact or myth, nobody knows for sure. However, a rumor, made in the 1990s by someone unrelated to any of hotel owners, states that the Eagles were once owners of it, a fact that is clearly false. Many of the other legends are less ambiguous and continue to fascinate the public. Although the current owners of the hotel have no relationship with the Eagles, nor promote any association, many visitors are captivated by the "coincidences" between the letter of the song and the physical appearance of the hotel and its surroundings.

¿Coincidences? Hotel California is reached by driving through a long desert road either from Los Cabos to the south or from La Paz to the east. The Mission of the Church of Pilar is located right next to the hotel and mission bells are heard daily. Since the Church is so close they sound as if they were almost inside the hotel sometimes. There are countless stories and firsthand witnesses related to spirits and ghosts in the hotel courtyard. During the "Age Hippie" of the 1960s and 1970s, it was common for people to grow their own marijuana in their gardens, since ​​Todos Santos is an extremely fertile ground, then they rolled up in "Colitas" which is a Mexican slang term for marijuana cigarette. And the simple fact that the California Hotel in Todos Santos was built in 1947, which was of course long before "Hippie" and "Classic Rock" years.

So next time you travel to Los Cabos or La Paz, You can not miss our tour to Todos Santos and visit this wonderful magical town and its famous Hotel California! Post a comment, recommend us and we will send you information and prices about the tour or go to: https://www.ekinoxtravel.com/mexico/los-cabos/tours-and-excursions/tour-to-todos-santos-magical-town/