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History

The San Nicolas Hotel is a family owned business that started in 1968 by Nico Saad. After completing his water skiing career as a show skier participating in many international and world events at the age of 24, he decided to enter the world of business and tourism. The hotel was his lifetime goal. He began with the help of his mother to build the smallest yet most exclusive hotel in Ensenada.

The San Nicolas Hotel opened in June 13, 1968 with 21 rooms. Shortly after the opening of the hotel Nico was appointed by the Governor of Baja California as the Federal and State director of tourism, where he was able to learn more about the industry and meet many interesting people in the hospitality industry worldwide.

By 1993 the hotel became the largest hotel in Ensenada with 150 rooms and 7 suites. And today this vintage hotel is still known for its old traditions, welcoming new guests to live and enjoy their experience in Ensenada and Baja California.

Murals

A HISTORY OF MEXICO IN OUR MURALS A touch of Mexico's history is brought to you at the Hotel San Nicolás in the form of mural-sized paintings on the walls and ceilings between the first, second and third floors. The murals were painted in 1969, soon after the San Nicolás was constructed, and are in the original section of the hotel.

The artist, Alfredo Rodríguez, was a former assistant to the famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera, whos history appeared in the academy award winning movie Frida. These beautiful and fascinating murals represent Rodriguez' artistic interpretation of the history of Mexico, starting with the early Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Toltec and Aztec civilizations and concluding with Hidalgo's cry for Mexican independence in 1810