San Pancho, Mexico - October 2012

Casa Pacifica courtyard and dipping pool

A group of friends stayed at Casa Pacifica in 2009 for one week. At the end of our stay, we couldn't wait to return. We've talked with so many people about this being one of A our most memorable vacations EVER! We finally returned in October 2012 and stayed for two weeks--still not long enough. First of all, the villa was fully remodeled and the changes were fresh and clean. The home was great the first time--even better this time. One of the best things about this property are the private guest rooms--no bedroom wall touches another room and each has it's own bathroom. Another is that is this villa is right on the beach. You walk into the entry, through the house, into a lovely courtyard (where we spent hours reading, playing cribbage, and relaxing), past the dipping pool, onto the sand, and into the water. Spectacular place to watch amazing sunsets!

Our upstairs master with king-size bed and en suite
private bath

This donkey greeted us the first night by hanging his
head over the courtyard railing and braying. We later
learned she escaped from the local hotel.

view from Casa Pacifica's courtyard

There are no washer/dryers on site for renters use, so we dropped of our laundry in town in the morning. By early afternoon it was washed, folded, and bagged--all for a very reasonable price.

Sunset from Casa Pacifica's courtyard

one of the downtown roads in
San Pancho

My husband and I generally walk into town every morning--about one and a half miles by beach or road. We like to hang out and enjoy the restaurants, the people, the town's charm. Often, we walk back to town again in the evening. During one sunset stroll on the beach, we came upon a group releasing hundreds of sea turtles into the ocean. Passersby were encouraged to pick one up, name it, then watch it scuttle toward the ocean. A powerful experience. We later learned San Pancho Turtles-a non-profit organization--rescues eggs after they are laid, puts them in incubators until they hatch, then release these amazing tiny creatures every evening during the hatching season (July-Dec). On our final night, I watched a mama lay 115 eggs in the sand, cover the nest, disguise it, and head back into the sea. I could write forever about this, but it's better if you experience it yourself.

turtles hatching

hatched turtles waiting to be released

baby turtles heading toward the ocean

holding a baby

Check out this video of the turtles moving toward the Pacific.

Horses walking through town

It is not uncommon to be walking into town and see horses being led down cobblestone roads or a pick-up filled with fresh fruits being sold by a local. 

fruit delivered in back of truck

artwork in San Pancho

lounge chairs in front of one of the
beach restaurants

Linda and John at a restaurant on the La Playa
beach restaurant

fresh salsa on the beach

advertisement painted on the side of a San Pancho building

entrance to the town's golf course

vibrant flowers everywhere

The first time we visited San Pancho in 2007, we stayed only one week and never left the little village. Since our stay this time would be for two weeks, we felt we could spend a day exploring San Blas with Manny* (Jose Manuel Venegas). On the way to San Blas (about a two and a half hour drive from the villa), we stopped at the jungle boat ride at LaTovara Wildlife Refuge and boarded a boat that motored through miles of mangroves. Birds, crocodiles, and other wildlife were around every turn. At the end of the mangrove, we stopped for drinks at a restaurant hidden in the trees, then re-boarded our boat and returned back to the dock. After the wildlife refuge, we headed to Restaurant Alicia in San Blas--right on the beach. Everyone chose seafood. My prawns were fresh and huge. Lunch took a long time to be served--close to two hours--longer than our group would have liked. But then again, it's Mexico. What's the hurry? After lunch, we drove through San Blas, stopped and took photos in the plaza of the church, then ended up at the ruins on the hill overlooking the town.

San Blas town square

view from the jungle boat ride through LaTovara Wildlife
Refuge

crocodile at the LaTovara Wildlife Refuge

birds (baby to right) at wildlife refuge

motoring through the mangroves at the wildlife refuge

Ruins above San Blas

door in Bucerias

Another day, our group took a taxi into Bucerias--a much larger town than San Pancho. There are many places to stay, eat, and shop. We spent the morning looking at local artwork, then headed toward the beach to dine at The Fat Boy Seafood Restaurant. Food here was excellent and we wish we would have had time to return to Bucerias one more time before the end of our trip.

lunch at Fat Boy on the beach at Bucerias

fresh fish at The Fat Boy Seafood Restaurant

Bucerias artwork

banana tree in Sayulita

Sayulita beach

more art in San Pancho

dinner at the La Patrona Polo Club in San Pancho

sunset from the Costa Azul Hotel

Final sunset in San Pancho

We enjoyed many exceptional meals on this trip and drank many tasty adult beverages (my favorite was the mango daiquiri at La Ola Rica's main restaurant and their second establishment that just opened on the beach). We had the best shrimp tacos I've ever eaten at Baja Takeria. My husband fell in love with their food--we went back four times! On our last Saturday in town, we went to the La Patrona Polo Club to watch a match and eat dinner. I'm not a huge sports fan, but it was an experience that I can now cross off my list. Tripadvisor reviews of this place are good. Yet my experience was mixed. On Friday night, we were invited for complimentary cocktails and appetizers to introduce tourists to the club. Great service. Great food. Marginal drinks. When we returned the following night I was disappointed with the food, drink, and service. We did receive a front row seat (as promised when we made the reservations) but the food varied in quality, and although our server assured us it would not be a problem to receive separate checks, the final bill came as one. The setting is pretty and roaming musicians entertain the guests. I'm not sorry I went La Patrona, but I doubt if I'd go back when we return in the future.

One morning/early afternoon we took a taxi to Sayulita-the little community closest to San Pancho. It is known for surfing and boating. Swimming might be a bit easier from this beach--although no one in our group tried. Sayulita is much more touristy than San Pancho. It's a fun place to see/visit, but we like San Pancho better.

One of the best parts of staying in Casa Pacifica are the gorgeous sunsets. Every night the sunsets captured our hearts. We felt completely safe at this villa and traveling throughout this area of Mexico. This town depends on tourists. I hope you go. Go and fall in love with this villa and this town.

*Manny also does roundtrip transfers from the airport to the villa. He took two people in our group on a day trip to Puerto Vallarta. Manny was a wonderful find (and he speaks very good English) and we'd definitely use him again. What a treat to meet him!