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 BUENA VISTA BEACH RESORT REVIEW: THIS FISHERMAN'S PARADISE ON BAJA'S EAST CAPE IS A FAMILY AFFAIR By Richard Chudy, Dolores Peralta Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort on the East Cape of Baja Sur has been family-owned and operated since its’ inception. Generations of dedication have made it the destination of choice for many and the focus here is on three things…FISHING, FISHING and FISHING!! Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. The author is unknown but the words ring true. Obviously the feeding referred to sustenance, of filling the empty place inside, of satisfying one's hunger. Perhaps it refers to something much, much deeper. Maybe, just maybe, the part of us being fed has nothing to do with our bellies. Fishing really isn't about quelling hunger. Fishing is about life. I believe that fishing feeds a part of us that can't be found on the pages of Gray's Anatomy. To me, fishing feeds the soul - and it's apparent to me that there are many out there that feel the same way. The good news is I've found them and I'll tell you where. The East Cape region of the Baja peninsula is a relatively unspoiled stretch of coastline where the real Mexico still lives and breathes. Old style Mexican charm combines with the picturesque landscape of desert, mountains and sea -the setting for what has been and will no doubt remain one of Baja's finest fishing destinations - Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort. If ever there was a place to feed one's fishing soul, this is it. I'm not sure if there is anything to the theories of past-lives, but if there is I think that I was once a Valdez - a member of a family so enchanted with the magic of the sea that they earn their living helping others experience the magic for themselves. The Valdez family is to East Cape fishing what peanut butter is to jelly... a perfect match. 
Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort did not start out as an angler's destination. In fact, the property where the hotel resides was originally a compound built for former General and Governor Augustine Olachea who, because of his importance, was given a garrison of soldiers to protect and serve him whenever he ventured away from his military and political duties. At that time, the property consisted of a main residence and several "barracks" - thirteen rooms where the soldiers assigned to Olachea would reside and attend to their duties - caretakers of the compound and raisers of the Mexican flag. The founder and patron of Hotel Buena Vista is Sr. Chuy Valdez - an ever-energetic soul who still to this day tends to his guests personally and constantly. Chuy purchased the property in 1981 after having leased the premises since 1976. His vision was to create the ultimate fishing paradise for those that shared his passion for all things marine. Slowly but surely, Chuy developed the property to it's present status - 60 rooms, an ocean front restaurant, pool, bar, conference facilities and grounds that truly look and feel like Mexico. 
While Chuy and his wife, Imelda, are still very active in the daily operation of the resort, it is his sons Esaul, Axel and Felipe that are charged with the lion's share of management duties. Esaul, the eldest son at 35 years of age, lives in Buena Vista and is the General Manager. Axel, 32, heads up the sales and marketing department and resides in Chula Vista, California where the resort has U.S. offices. Felipe, the youngest at age 25, is what is best called as a jack-of-all trades tending to guests and anglers on site with a constant smile on his face. Energy runs high with the trio of sons. They can be found at the crack of dawn busily organizing charter trips aboard Buena Vista fishing fleet boats and well into the evening hours visiting with guests in the restaurant and bar. Each one seems to have a never-ending supply of energy. The family connection doesn't end with the Valdez's. Many of the employees here have been with the family since the start including Esperanza, who, at one point, had eight of her brothers working at the hotel. The staff at Hotel Buena Vista is very friendly and they go out of their way to make guests feel welcome. I've never been one to remember names but the staff never failed to remember mine. ¿Cómo usted es, Richard? ¿Querría usted un cerveza? Do I want a beer? Silly question! 
At the forefront of the resort's offerings is the fishing fleet. Among the most experienced fleets in the East Cape region, there are 22 boats available to the avid angler. Super pangas - open-bow sport fishers powered by outboard motors - and cruisers up to 31 feet in length make up the fleet. Boarding the vessels is easy thanks to a pier constructed on the beach directly in front of the hotel. Captains and crewmembers are well trained and offer both conventional as well as fly-fishing trips. The area offers some incredible in-shore and off-shore fishing for a wide variety of species including; Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish, Pargo, Sierra, Roosterfish and many, many more. The Valdez family are avid supporters of "Catch and Release" when it comes to billfish and Chuy was one of the pioneers of the concept way back when the thought of releasing any fish was often sneered at. Today, Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort releases more than 1,300 billfish a year. Anglers who participate in catch and release are rewarded with a special patch signifying their support whenever a successful release is accomplished. I applaud each and every individual who practices catch and release as it is the future of billfishing, without it, the days of catching these awesome creatures will be gone forever. |
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