Comments from Visitors to La Posada del Rio Sonora

#1) - I was amazed at the little paradise Bill and Irma, the proprietors, have created for themselves and guests. Banamichi is a peaceful, quaint town that is exactly what I imagined an old town in Sonora would be like. La Posada is right on the town's main square, and immediately stands out from the surrounding buildings and homes as the "happening place". The courtyard and interiors are rustic, to be sure, but have a clean modern and airy feel. If you look in Bill's photo album, that shows before and after pictures of the place, your jaw will drop. I had a couple of tremendous massages from their well-trained staff, cycled through the countryside, swam in a spring fed pool and enjoyed the fantastic home made meals served in the best (only) bar/restaurant in town. Irma's flan is to-die-for. I've stayed in hotels and B & B's all over the US and Europe and I can honestly say La Posada rates up there with the best. I give them 5 stars!

# 2) - Beautiful landscape, beautiful people, great food, rest and relaxation. Unlocked doors, a friendly wave from every one you pass or that passes you on foot, by car or on horseback. A feeling of being in the safety of home, among friends and family. Banamichi, Sonora, Mexico is only 4 hours south of Nogales, AZ. Banamichi destroys the myths of the “dangers” of Mexico. La Posada del Rio Sonora offers all this and more. If you are looking for the excitement of the big city, (along with the high prices, and unsafe areas,) this is not the place to go. If you are looking for the gracious hospitality of old Mexico, with authentic home cooking, and the best margarita you have ever tasted, don’t miss this wonderfully restored 200 year old hotel located on the central plaza of Banamichi. Natural hot spring pools, a short 30 minute drive away will top off your visit.

# 3 ) - WOW, is a great way to start. The hotel has the feel of a home and the charm of old mexico. The courtyard is so lush and welcoming, i enjoyed reading and drinking there everyday. I only went indoors to eat and sleep, and both are first class. The food is fresh and generous. I ate better than i do at home. The bed was so comfortable, i overslept the first morning. I live in tucson so a 4 hour drive is easy for a quick getaway. Thanks to Robert for keeping me active between meals and showing me the town and the people.

# 4 ) - A BB hotel that can be described as gorgeous, beautiful, quaint, eclectic, asthetically appealing and breath taking. Great Service-attentive, friendly, and approachable staff. The food was exquisite. The scenic route is worth every minute. So much to do...horseback riding, biking, hiking, long walks, scenic views are incredible. Just a wonderful location on earth. A must see for anyone looking for a little piece of heaven on earth. We had the greatest experience in Banamichi enjoy the locally made Bacanora and the hotsprings in nearby Achonchi.

# 5 ) - La Posada is already a draw to the village of Banamichi. It is a beautifully restored old house directly across from the main plaza. The use of bright colors and tile, accented with potted palms and cacti throughout the property, make it a very attractive place to stay. The decor and the attention to artisanal touches raise the hotel well above cookie-cutter level.

Rooms are furnished in, shall we say, an eccentric manner. Big, rustic wooden armoires share space with gold-leafed, Rococo tables and lamps. Bedsteads could be tree branches bolted together, or hand-forged iron spirals. The mattresses are big and comfy, but inexplicably covered in heavy vinyl covers that crackle each time you move. I took mine off the bed the next morning and hid it in the armoire for the remainder of my stay.

The staff are pleasant and willing to help make your stay pleasant. A staff member went out to buy us our preference for beer the first night. One guest with car problems was attended to by a local mechanic arranged by the staff, with another local called over to translate. If manager Vicki is not there, you will need to speak Spanish.

Menu items are limited; the caldo con queso was excellent, though a meal in itself. The other menu items are average, and a chicken cutlet was fried to shoe leather. Coffee was served to us at the upstairs patio without being asked for, though if you like coffee before 7:30 or 8 a.m. you might want to bring your own.

The village, while quite clean and friendly, was surprisingly noisy. A neighbor's dog barked incessantly during the night. A young woman in a big SUV tooled around with woofers on full blast. The tortilla seller cruises up and down the streets honking his horn each morning, which in a village that small can be heard from anywhere in the hotel or town for quite a long time.

Banamichi is not a place to come expecting a Disney-fied, Cancun type of Mexican experience. This is the real deal. There are no souvenirs to buy; the Posada Web site even mentions "no t-shirt shops." Restaurant choices are extremely limited. There is no gas station in the town; filling up requires a detour either north or south to another village. So why come? For just the reasons stated in the first sentence of this paragraph. There is some fine birding to be had early in the morning just down the hill, or even, for the less ambitious, the upstairs terrace, which puts you tree level with a grand parade of species. There are numerous places to plant yourself with a good book within and without the hotel.

One major caveat: The Web site advises travel from Tucson to Banamichi by way of Nogales-Cananea-Arizpe. A sedan might have problems with this route as it involves a couple of riverbed crossings. A long stretch of road near Cananea is under construction and one lane. Best to travel from Nogales to Magdalena, turn east to Imuris-Sinoquipe, then south to Banamichi. The road was decent, and we got there in four hours from southern Arizona.

#6 ) - Stopped here during a motorcycle trip with a buddy and it was the highlight of the week! The owners (Bill and Irma) were there to hand us a much appreciated cold beer as we got off of the bikes. The entire staff was friendly and couteous. The food was plentiful, authentic and very tasty. The entire property was very clean and tastefully decorated with an eclectic collection of local and global art.

I would recommend this to couples looking for a romantic getaway or explorers looking for a base of operations. ALL of the people we encountered during our trip through Mexico were friendly and helpful. Please don't let CNN or any other media keep you from visiting here with their sensationalized reporting. Mexico is safe and a ton of fun!