. . .as it was closed when we arrived I can't tell you what it was like to stay at!

We had a 2 night confirmed pre-paid reservation through one of the biggest ground agents in Mexico, and set off in our hire car down the 5 hour road to get there. We arrived there at 1pm and everything was locked - chains and locks on the gates, no-one around. We went into the local town (Batopilas) to phone the travel agent and/or hotel, but the phone shop was shut until 3pm. We went back to the lodge at 3pm. Still shut. We went back to the village, and got hold of our travel agent who was unable to get hold of the owners. We went on a wild goose chase round the town and were finally told that the owners were probably out with their cows! At 4pm we had to make a decision whether to stay or go. The other hotels in the town were dreadful, and we didnt want to drive back up the road in the dark, so we set off back for Creel. A total of 10 hours in a car, on an unmade road, for no purpose. When we got back to Creel someone in their sister hotel told us that the manager had had to go somewhere else on an emergency and forgot to leave the key (or it seems any person) to meet us.

So, our only advice must be that you go with a tour or a guide, so that they can sort out any problems (like if the hotel is shut!) for you. We speak fluent Spanish, and are fairly resourceful, and can only imagine how others might feel getting there and finding it closed in a very remote and rural area of Mexico, with a 5 hour drive up the canyon side the only way out.

If you do decide to go it alone make sure:
1) You have an agreed arrival time
2) You have enough petrol to get back to Creel if you need to
3) You have a good command of Spanish to sort out what you need to
4) You have all relevant phone numbers in case of problems
5) You have enough cash to pay for other hotels, phones, petrol, etc.
6) And don't forget your sense of humour!!!