San Pancho

 Attractions, San Pancho  No Responses »
Aug 062011
 

A Song for San Pancho

San Pancho Beach

Maybe you haven’t heard of the Mexican town called San Francisco, Nayarit, affectionately nicknamed ‘San Pancho,’ but the popular Mexican rock band Café Tacuba feature a video about this lovely beach town accompanied by their song, “El Aparato” (on YouTube).

If it’s worthy of a professional video and song, it’s also worth a visit.  Located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the Riviera Nayarit, San Pancho is a quaint town with pristine beaches, tropical nature, and a tranquil lifestyle.

Just a 15-minute drive north of Sayulita, a popular surf spot, and 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, its charm and beauty will steal your heart away.

San Pancho Summary

San Pancho Sunset

Only 40 years ago, this town was just a sleepy fishing village consisting of four extended Mexican families totaling about 100 residents.  When it became an official town in 1975 by founding father and former Mexican President, Luis Echeverria, it began to grow, attracting nationals and foreigners to its shores, eventually reaching the current population of nearly 2,000, many who are relatives of the original families.

More than a few things make this town special:  its secluded location alongside the deep blue Pacific Ocean with sparkling gold beaches surrounded by tropical rainforests and fruit orchards in the peaks and valleys of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains; fresh fish and seafood caught by local fishermen; colorful sunsets melting into the ocean; and the friendly local characters telling fascinating stories about the town and their lives.

San Pancho’s hidden location in the tropics of Mexico and its natural lifestyle lend themselves best to nature activities both on land and by sea, such as hiking, mountain biking, four wheeling, and horseback riding across the rolling hills and lush jungles; and water activities such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, and some of the best snorkeling, diving, and surfing at nearby beaches.

Multicultural Community

San Pancho Girl

Thanks to its diverse community and increasing foreign population, this little authentic Mexican town has some big entertainment of its own, such as a 9-hole golf course centered amid fruit orchards (Las Huertas Golf & Beach Club) and a polo field (La Patrona Polo Club) with an art gallery, restaurant and lounge with music and is the place where social events and equestrian shows are held.

Community is what defines this peaceful beach town, and with an increasingly growing international population of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, this brings with it increased employment and education opportunities for the locals.

In addition to the opening of shops, restaurants, and bars in town, the EntreAmigos Community Center teaches new skills to local families so they can achieve success in their evolving town.

San Pancho deserves the attention of the tourism industry for its attributes and contributions to the splendor of the Riviera Nayarit and for creating new opportunities for its Mexican residents.  Over 200 Canadians and Americans have discovered its charm and tranquility for themselves by investing in second homes and vacation homes, while travelers are just starting to catch on.  Why not discover it for yourself?

You too can Sing About San Pancho after visiting the beach town of San Pancho (San Francisco), Mexico, in the Riviera Nayarit.

 Posted by Cat at 2:45 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why the Riviera Nayarit?

 Attractions  No Responses »
Jul 292011
 

Reasons to Visit the Riviera Nayarit

Lo de Marcos Beach

The Riviera Nayarit is the place of fairytales – a natural wonderland on the Pacific Coast of Mexico spanning 200 miles (322 kilometers) of rolling jungle hills scattered with small beach towns lining the deep blue sea.  Although the region is not yet well-known, you may have heard of some of the more popular towns, such as Nuevo Vallarta, Sayulita, Punta de Mita, and San Blas.

The region is just gaining recognition worldwide as a preferred tourist destination with many natural wonders, cultural attractions, land and water activities.  Recent statistics indicate there are over 12,840 hotel rooms in the region, 60% of which are 4-star rated and higher.  More vacation rentals are being developed, but most are smaller, traditional villa or cabana styles to complement the traditional architecture of the region instead of building high-rise mega resorts.

Attractions & Activities

One of the main attractions of the Riviera Nayarit is this part of the Pacific Ocean.  Forty-two miles (68 kilometers), from the state of Jalisco into Nayarit, is Bahia Banderas Bay, Mexico’s largest natural bay flourishing with fish and marine life, and is the primary breeding site for Humpback whales.  Water activities include whale watching (mid-December through mid-March), swimming with dolphins, and sport fishing year round, plus sailing, boating, kiteboarding, surfing, snorkeling, and diving.

There are also plenty of land activities offering nature tours and sightseeing opportunities,  such as hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, four wheeling, and zip lining through the jungle.  The tropical rainforests, lush jungles and valleys of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the thriving wetlands and mangroves have established Nayarit as an important ecological reserve.

Ecotourism & Wildlife

La Tovara Wetlands

Nature conservation makes this a wonderful place for sustainable tourism (ecotourism or environmentally friendly tourism) which provides options to help preserve the world’s precious ecosystems and maintain the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.  Nayarit is home to the historic Aztec Indians, such as the Cora and Huichol tribes, featuring a variety of cultural attractions such as archaeological sites like the Altavista Petroglyphs and Los Toriles (Ixtlán del Rio) Ruins, or tours like the Huichol Indian Encounter.

Another of Riviera Nayarit’s ecological contributions is its endangered sea turtle conservation programs.  The region is home to the Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Leatherback, and Green sea turtles which nest on its golden sand beaches certain times of the year. Their fragile eggs and hatchlings require protection from predators, which have resulted in turtle sanctuaries, farms, and rescue programs that provide opportunities for travelers to observe them in their natural habitat and participate in baby turtle release programs into the ocean.

Not only are the oceans flourishing with fish and marine life, but Nayarit’s rainforests, wetlands, and mangroves are also a refuge for wildlife, including 500 animal species and 200 plant species. The marshes and beaches of Bahia Banderas Bay and Bahia Jaltemba Bay, just north, are a natural habitat for migratory birds, making birding and bird watching another popular activity.  In fact, 80% of the migratory birds along the Pacific Coast make their homes in the towns of La Tovara, Singaita, Isla Isabel, and San Blas, the latter which is home to 300 bird species.

Beach at Punta de Mita

So the next time you begin vacation planning, consider visiting one of the lovely beach towns in the Riviera Nayarit:  Nuevo Vallarta, Flamingos, Bucerias, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Destiladeras, Punta de Mita, Litibu, Sayulita, San Pancho (San Francisco), Lo de Marcos, Punta Raza, Los Ayala, Rincon de Guayabitos, La Penita de Jaltemba, El Capomo, Chacala, Boca de Chila, Punta Custodia, Matanchen, and San Blas, although there are still more.

 

Vacation in Sayulita, Punta de Mita, or one of the many charming beach towns in this tropical paradise known as the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

 Posted by Cat at 1:57 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discovering the Petroglyphs in Alta Vista, Mexico

 Attractions  No Responses »
Jul 212011
 

The Journey to the Petroglyphs

Owen and I started our on our journey, not having a lot of directions other than knowing that the petroglyphs were in Alta Vista on the Riviera Nayarit in beautiful Mexico.  If you are heading north, the Alta Vista town sign is just past kilometer 82 on the Mexico Hwy 200. You will want to turn right there. After that you will want to make the first left, which takes you to Senior Gonzales place, where the trail head starts. He charges 20 pesos (about 2 bucks) per person.

The Town of Alta Vista

The dirt road was very well taken care of and seemed to be well traveled. We stayed on the main road and went all of the way into the small town of Alta Vista, which is literally carved out of the hillside, thinking that it was where the trail head to the petroglyphs were located, but it was not.

The town was very small, with only a couple of roads carved off of the main street. Chickens were running around, as I comically like to refer to the chickens of Mexico “free range chickens” and the roosters were hanging out together loving their free range lives as well, eating the bugs and whatever else free range chickens and roosters eat, leaving me to wonder where all of the eggs are laid, and how they find them.

Alta Vista is a huge farming community that grows mangoes, bananas, papayas and guanavano’s down below the village.  Guanavano’s are a really cool looking fruit with thick green skin with soft spikes all over it. I had not had the chance to see one yet, or taste one until that day. The flesh of a guanavano is white and fleshy and a little bit viscous, but it tastes incredibly delicious! The natives say that it has properties that cure cancer, but I have not checked that information out for myself yet.

It did not take long to discover the town, but we did not see any signs about petroglyphs. So we turned around. As we were turning around, a four wheeler was coming by, so we asked about the petroglyphs. He knew what we were talking about, and told us to follow him. And so we did. He went to find another man to help us and his name was Oscar. Oscar owns a lot of the farm land below. He spoke some English, which was good for us, (as we are still learning Spanish) so Oscar hopped into the jeep and off we went back down the road out of the town.

Finally on the Path to the Petroglyhps

Oscar directed us to turn where there was a gate leading into the orchards. We ended up going through 4 gates. All along the way there was an abundance of mango’s and papayas. It was incredibly beautiful. The dirt road was muddy in spots, and it was good that we had the 4 wheel drive jeep. We stopped and got out and walked about 10 minutes to the river, under a fence, across the river and onto the trail where the petroglyphs were located. The scenic tour indeed!

The Petroglyphs

All I can say is wow! I have seen many petroglyphs, and these are some of the most amazing petroglyphs I that have seen, as well as there were so many of them. There were spirals, which I believe were the sun, people, aboriginal dots and there were also two flat large beds that seemed to be where they had sacrificial killings for the gods.  The trail was well worn and  easy to hike, and it was fun with the river flowing down on the right. We were hiking in the middle of the jungle! We took about 130 pictures. It was truly amazing. It took about 45 minutes to walk the trail and check out the petroglyphs, ending at a large pool and a small waterfall where the native Indians held their ceremonies, and still do to this day. This picture to the left looks like rain coming down on a person to me.

Finding a Guide

It was really great to have Oscar as our guide, but you won’t need one. Here is Oscar and I reading one of the many posted informational signs, which by the way are in English and Spanish. But, if you do, just about any tour guide outfitter will be able to help you, and there are many tour guide companies to choose from that will be happy to bring you to the petroglyphs.

Or if you have a car and are looking for more adventure,  you may choose to go on up to Alta Vista after 2:00 pm and look for the first big white house on the left as you come into the town. Or, just ask around for Oscar and you can get the same scenic tour like we did…but you better have a 4 wheel drive for that excursion!

Another really great thing about visiting the petroglyphs is the fact that it doesn’t have to take up your entire day. Plan for about three to four hours for the trip. And, you will still have plenty of time to get in some snorkeling, or get a massage in the afternoon. And, its great for the entire family!

So, when you come to the Riviera Nayarit, remember to visit the petroglyphs, which are only about 15 minutes away from Chacala.

 

 Posted by Cat at 7:49 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Chacala Surprise

 Chacala  No Responses »
Jul 122011
 

Surprising Chacala, Mexico

Charming Chacala

You may not have heard of it yet, but the quaint beach town of Chacala is starting to catch on as an enjoyable vacation spot in the Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.  Just a 45-minute drive north of Sayulita, Chacala is growing in popularity. This is largely due to the construction of a paved road in 1998, which made the town much easier to find.

Before the road was built, Chacala was just a sleepy fishing village, where fishing and selling fish were the locals’ only livelihood.  The town was especially known for the large shrimp caught to the north of town in Chacalilla Bay, although it has been suggested these were actually lobsters which were once abundant here.  In fact, the word ‘Chacala’ derives from the Náhuatl (pronounced “now what”) language, meaning “place of the shrimp” or “large shrimp.”

After the road was built, it attracted the growth of new tourism businesses, increasing work opportunities for its residents.  Now the town includes a few hotels, shops, restaurants and popular beach activities, such as sport fishing, snorkeling in Las Cuevas cove’s underwater volcanic caves, expert surfing on Caleta Bay, turtle watching year round, and Humpback whale watching between December and March.

Cultural Attractions

View of Chacala Beach

With 52 indigenous languages, Mexican culture is equally diverse.  Náhuatl, the language of a dominant ethnic group, the Nahuan, includes the Aztecs, Toltecs, and other indigenous cultures.  The nearby town of Altavista was inhabited by the Tecoxquin (Tequectequi) group, which includes the Cora and Huichol indians who still inhabit Nayarit. Containing 800 petroglyphs (rock engravings) dating back to 2300 BCE, this small archaeological site is still considered sacred by the Huicholes.

An interesting cultural and language twist is on the terms Chac Mool, Chac, and Chacala. The words sound similar but are not even related.  Chac Mool (meaning “thundering paw”) is a statue of Toltec origin, a Mesoamerican civilization who invaded the Maya, and the statue only received its Mayan name from the archaeologist who excavated it.  Chac (also Chaak or Chaahk) is the Mayan god of thunder, lightening, and rain.  Interestingly, the Maya were an empire in southern Mexico and Central America far from Nayarit.

Appropriately, Chacala is a native Náhuatl word of Aztec origin and is befitting of the delightful fishing village that carries its name.

Delight in the Chacala Surprise of Chacala, Mexico in the Riviera Nayarit.

 Posted by Cat at 2:19 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Super Sayulita Lodging

 Sayulita  1 Response »
Jul 072011
 

Sayulita Lodging for Everyone

The New Hostel in Sayulita

Whale-watching season is just around the corner and whether you enjoy surfing, sailing, or sightseeing, the golden sand beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit are waiting.  Once you’ve decided to vacation here, the first question is where to stay.  Whether you’d rather ‘rough it’ or prefer to be pampered, you’ll find just the right Sayulita lodging that fits your style.

The eclectic style of this beach town is what makes Sayulita so popular among tourists, retirees, and locals.  Travelers can opt to stay anywhere ranging from youth hostels, tents, or beach bungalows to ocean view hotels, condos, or luxury villas containing one or more bedrooms with kitchens or kitchenettes.  You can choose lodging fit for king or camp on the beach like a sand crab.

Lodging Services

If you select one of Sayulita’s luxury hotels, you can expect to receive a full range of services from housekeeping, room service, restaurants, bars, spas, pools, Jacuzzis, Internet access, money exchanges, gift shops, tour coordination, laundry, and more depending on the hotel selected.  Of course, if you choose basic accommodations like a hostel or bungalow, you’ll need to fend for yourself (which can also be fun in its own right).

Camp Grounds in Sayulita

The Riviera Nayarit is not just sand and surf.  No matter where you stay, you can be sure to soak up the sun and breathe in fresh tropical air. As a mountainous jungle region, its rolling hills are decorated with vibrant palms, lush bushes, colorful flowers, tropical fruits, and exotic wildlife.  In similar fashion, the Pacific Ocean is etched with sparkling gold beaches and brimming with tropical fish and rare sea life.

From Banderas Bay to Jaltemba Bay and all the way up to San Blas, Nayarit’s Pacific Coast offers hundreds of beach coves with fluctuating ocean conditions suited for various water sports activities, such as surfing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, fishing, or just plain swimming and sunbathing. No matter what you enjoy, you’ll find something magical about the region whether your Sayulita lodging is simple or elegant.

Select Sayulita Lodging that fits your style in Sayulita, Mexico, on the Riviera Nayarit.

 Posted by Cat at 4:15 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

San Pancho Offers Authentic Mexico Traditions

 San Pancho  1 Response »
Jul 042011
 

San Pancho / San Francisco Mexico

Mexico is a nation overflowing with remarkable natural wonders, pristine jungles and mountain forests, and a virtually endless supply of beautiful relaxing beaches. The tides and culture of the Gulf and the Caribbean play against the eastern coast, while the Pacific San Pancho MuralOcean swells in from the west. The mainland area of Mexico narrows significantly as you travel south from the United States, and eventually the distance between the coasts – and their distinct cultural influences – becomes much smaller. In the tiny village of San Francisco – better known as San Pancho – in the state of Nayarit, Mexico, those influences have mixed in a special way, creating a local environment that is at once wholly traditional while being distinctly unique.

Not only do the denizens of San Francisco carry on their age-old traditions, but they carry on their respect and gratitude of their natural surroundings. Mexicans know the area San Francisco/San Pancho is nestled into as the Riviera Nayarit – a fifty or so mile long stretch of spectacular Pacific coastline tucked against the Sierra Madres and their rainforests and jungles. The area around San Francisco is entirely sub-tropical, spawning an immensely rich diversity of life in the waters, on land, and in the air.

The people of the area treasure this rich diversity, as it reflects the broad diversity of their population and its varied artistic, cultural, and ethnic influences. They are fiercely protective of the ecology and wildlife of the area, and despite the small size of the village, San Francisco boasts the support of a tremendous eco-community that is highly active. For nearly twenty years, the San Francisco-based Costa Verde Ecological Group has funded and led efforts to increase the critically low sea turtle population. Despite continuously diminishing numbers around the world, the non-profit group has been able to increase the sea turtle population off the coast of little San Pancho, Mexico by ten-fold since 1992. Recently, several locals halted the cutting down of hundreds of trees and the destruction of the town’s permeable stone streets by staging a spontaneous sit-in to protest.

Despite attempts to heavily develop San Francisco, aka San Pancho, into a resort spot, natives and ex-patriates from the United States have made a concerted effort to maintain natural state of the region. Over 500 species of birds live and migrate through the vast array of trees in the mountains and jungles. Scores of different mammals, reptiles and ocean life are actively protected and managed by the broad diversity of people who lovingly call San Pancho home.

 Posted by Cat at 12:21 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Find the Perfect Sayulita Rental

 Sayulita  No Responses »
Jun 302011
 

Beachfront Surf Shops & Restaurants in Sayulita

The spice of life is variety, and Sayulita is the ‘spice’ of Mexico life. A vacation in this hip beach town provides plenty of variety, whether you’re looking for a Sayulita rental, restaurant, bar, shop, or activity.  (The most popular activity is surfing.)  There are many charming small Mexican towns in the Riviera Nayarit, but Sayulita has a unique character all its own with plenty of options.

Selecting a Sayulita Rental

The most well-known rental is a hotel, and the town offers various options to suit traveler preferences.   Every tourist is unique and may travel to the same destination for different reasons.  Surfers may accept simple accommodations like a beach cabana, bungalow, or tent whereas a couple may prefer a finer room with modern amenities and excellent service.  This diverse town offers both.

Hotel La Casona in Sayulita

A lesser known Sayulita rental, but also a great option, is a house or condo that offers a choice of rooms – ideal for a group or family vacation. House and condo rentals provide one, two, three, four or more rooms; one, two, or more bathrooms; a kitchenette or full kitchen, including appliances, pots and pans, dishes, and silverware; one or more swimming pools and Jacuzzi; air conditioning; and housekeeping services.

Choosing a Rental Location

Once you decide on the type of Sayulita rental you prefer, you need to choose the rental location.  Although it is a beach town, not every hotel or house is on the beach, but being a small town, most vacation rentals are within easy walking distance of the beach. An ocean view room may be more your style than a beachfront unit or maybe a house surrounded by tropical gardens instead of the sound of Pacific Ocean waves lapping ashore.

Hillside Sayulita Rental

Since residents and travelers range in age from young to retired, different parts of town are better suited for differing lifestyles.  The younger crowd may prefer to stay in town or on the main beach where all the action is: restaurants, bars, and beach parties.  Couples, families, and retirees may rather stay in a more remote area on the hillside, outlying sections of the beach, or the outskirts of town, all of which are viable alternatives.

The choice is yours.

Consider a Sayulita Rental that’s right for you in Sayulita, Mexico, on the Riviera Nayarit.

 Posted by Cat at 4:36 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Sayulita Hotels 101

 Sayulita  No Responses »
Jun 162011
 

Sayulita Hotels

View from Beachfront Hotel

So you’ve selected Sayulita, Mexico, as your next vacation destination, but where do you stay?  So many choices! There’s a place that’s right for everyone, from upscale beachfront hotels to budget beach bungalows and everything in between.  But there are some important things to consider before deciding on which of the Sayulita hotels to choose from that have more to do with lifestyle norms in Mexico that may not be top of mind.

Mexico Living

Life in Mexico can be wonderful, but certain things do need to be anticipated, since it’s a developing country and a different culture than our own.  Here, you’ll get exactly what you pay for so make sure you take these important considerations into account.  If the following amenities are not mentioned for your Sayulita hotel, assume they won’t be available.  So without further ado, let’s make sure you get what you want.

Hotel Amenities

Maybe you don’t need all of these conveniences, but you may discover not having them is a little uncomfortable.  Depending on your vacation plans and personal preferences, consider if your Sayulita hotel has:

  • Plumbing: Having running water – both hot and cold. Not every building has a hot water heater, since many Mexicans don’t see hot water as a necessity.
  • Electricity: Most buildings are wired for electricity and use the same 110-120 voltage as the USA and Canada, but many outlets are not grounded (two prongs) and require three-prong adapter plugs.
  • Air Conditioner/Window Screens: Not every Mexico hotel has air conditioning or screens on their windows. The average hotels and beach bungalows don’t.  Even though the ocean breeze can be refreshing, humidity sometimes runs high and without screens, you may become a mosquito buffet.
  • Internet Access: Most areas in Mexico have Internet capability, including wireless, but it’s not necessarily free or accessible in hotel rooms.
  • Room Essentials: Items such as coffee pots, hair dryers, toiletries, telephones, televisions, and room safes are not necessarily standard issue, depending on the hotel classification.

Hotels in Sayulita, Mexico

One of the many refreshing aspects of this beach town is that it caters to the tastes of many different travelers, not just young surfer dudes and dudettes.  Sayulita hotels range from Sayulita beach houses, beachfront villas, upscale hotels and bed-and-breakfasts to budget hotels, youth hostels, and beach bungalows.  The fancier beach hotels offer extra amenities and services for vacationers who prefer a little more pampering.  If you don’t mind roughing it, the town provides comfortable low-budget lodging too.  Sayulita is your oyster.  You decide.

Explore the wide variety of Sayulita Hotels in the Riviera Nayarit in Sayulita, Mexico!

 Posted by Cat at 1:41 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sayulita Mexico Secret Surfing Spot

 Sayulita  No Responses »
May 042011
 

If you are a surfer, chances are you have heard of Sayulita Mexico.  Some people claim it is one of the top 10 spots in the Pacific to catch good waves. Clearly, there are plenty of folks who believe this, even if you judge the attitude simply by the number of surf shops and surfing school in Sayulita that cater specifically to newbies wanting to learn how to surf.

Sayulita, on the Riviera Nayarit, is only one hour from the busy beach resort town of Puerto Vallarta.

Known for its surfing, Sayulita is really a hippy town with a feeling of throwback into the sixties.  These days, the older hippies have retired over to San Pancho, so Sayulita is full of the next generation “kid hippies”, those teen and twenty somethings with no money looking for an adventure.

So if you want a surfing Mexico Vacation, Sayulita on the Riviera Nayarit may be the choice for you!

 

 Posted by Cat at 11:44 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Come to Riviera Nayarit for Fun – Stay for Life

 News  No Responses »
May 012011
 

Welcome to the new Rivera Nayarit Fun website. our goal here is to help you find out more about the region just north of Puerto Vallarta, now being referred to by the Mexican Tourism Board as Riviera Nayarit.

Whether you come to Sayulita for the Surfing, Lo De Marcos for the fishing, or San Blas for the birding, there is plenty to do along the Pacific Coast of Mexico’s state called Nayarit.

Come Travel to Mexico for Vacation.

 Posted by Cat at 3:33 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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