San Pancho
San Pancho
4.5
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4.5
44 reviews
Excellent
30
Very good
9
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
marsh1957
Colorado47 contributions
Jan 2022
We love this area and visit 3-4 times a year as we decide if we want to own a home here. At the moment it's a love/hate relationship. We love almost everything local/ We're not liking the foreigners, hippies, yogies starting to change the place.
When coming to Mexico please consider the country you're visiting. Please don't attempt to Americanize it. Enjoy their local culture, listen to their music instead of loud disco rap, don't be obnoxious. Our Mexican friends who we visit here are saying the locals are starting not to care for the foreign visitors because they are changing their culture. Remember, you're a visitor. Have respect. As a Mexican American, please forgive me for saying: if you believe in white privilege, leave it behind. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Like another posted here, there is a lot of loud music coming from the Polo Club, the Polo Spa and a few restaurants. The deafening, continual rap beat is horrible and disrespectful not only for the guests but the residents nearby.
The reason we all come here is because of its charm - good and not so good. Please keep it this way. And please, remember your personal hygiene. Many of the locals complain that the "American hippies stink". Pay attention to the way they look at you. If it's with disdain, take note of your appearance, your behavior, your hair.
Please don't be ugly Foreigners. You're a visitor, please remember this and leave Mexico with it's proud culture and ambiance.
When coming to Mexico please consider the country you're visiting. Please don't attempt to Americanize it. Enjoy their local culture, listen to their music instead of loud disco rap, don't be obnoxious. Our Mexican friends who we visit here are saying the locals are starting not to care for the foreign visitors because they are changing their culture. Remember, you're a visitor. Have respect. As a Mexican American, please forgive me for saying: if you believe in white privilege, leave it behind. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Like another posted here, there is a lot of loud music coming from the Polo Club, the Polo Spa and a few restaurants. The deafening, continual rap beat is horrible and disrespectful not only for the guests but the residents nearby.
The reason we all come here is because of its charm - good and not so good. Please keep it this way. And please, remember your personal hygiene. Many of the locals complain that the "American hippies stink". Pay attention to the way they look at you. If it's with disdain, take note of your appearance, your behavior, your hair.
Please don't be ugly Foreigners. You're a visitor, please remember this and leave Mexico with it's proud culture and ambiance.
Written 26 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honest19
Victoria, Canada28 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
Nice place for a day trip or to visit the market for handmade artisan items. The town has a unique charm with a "hippie" vibe. They are not real hippies lol. Just younger people who all dress the same in their boho clothing and often unkempt grungy look. You won't see your typical Grey hairs that partyand drink like it's 1994 haha. Nice stores that sell unique items and clothing. Good coffee shops. Taxi cost us 300 pesos from our point of origin. Return cost 400 pesos, typical of the Mexican to rip the gringo off. The taxi's didn't even seem to want to take us back to our town....I found them to be indifferent to us. Almost rude and only it for the extra cash to line their pockets. We weren't impressed. So the good and bad. Probably wouldn't go back.
Written 22 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett K
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico39 contributions
Feb 2021
This is still pretty much a one horse town, unlike Sayulita to the South. For me, the only glaring downside is that no matter at which restaurant you eat , you will be subject to incredibly mediocre and over amplified musicians in the evening, drowning out any attempt at adult conversation.
On the plus side, for an animal lover, most of the residents seem to have extremely friendly and well kept dogs.
On the plus side, for an animal lover, most of the residents seem to have extremely friendly and well kept dogs.
Written 1 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jared B
Washington46 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
We did enjoy San Pancho, but when we first arrived, I was extremely frustrating. Our boutique hotel was on the cold Isaac straight at the end of the main calle. There was zero parking, but a spot opened straight in front of me on my second attempt while looking for the hotel. I parked offloaded and moments afterwards I was blocked in on all sides "the driver of the pickup truck behind vanished for a long period of time. I consulted our front desk and at that time it was okay until the spot she reserved for us was available. It's hard to explain but, I had two tall vehicles on both sides of me which blocked the "no standing signs". Because I was block on all sides, I didn't have a choice. About an hour went by and I was still blocked in. We decided to enjoy the beach. I hadn't check again for about an hour. That was too long, I came back with a ticket and my license plate removed. The enforcement officers were still there but they were not having any explanations. I had to drive to close to Bucerias which we were heading that way. The staff at the infraction office were lovely. I'm not sure if I will ever return to San pancho but as a town it didn't leave me worm and fuzzes.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry W
Halifax, Canada12 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
San Pancho is a nice beach town for both short and longer-term visits. It has a wide range of restaurants in price and food type. The hotels also vary in price and amenities.
The core is easily walkable with many shops and places for either a quick snack or nice sit-down meal. There is an open-air market Tuesday mornings.
San Pancho is accessible by bus from Puerto Vallarta, Bucerias or Sayulita. It’s much quieter and easier to get around than Sayulita, but still has that surfer/bohemian vibe.
The core is easily walkable with many shops and places for either a quick snack or nice sit-down meal. There is an open-air market Tuesday mornings.
San Pancho is accessible by bus from Puerto Vallarta, Bucerias or Sayulita. It’s much quieter and easier to get around than Sayulita, but still has that surfer/bohemian vibe.
Written 24 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bsmithslo
Shell Beach, CA20 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Perfect for 1-2 days. Avoid the bars of Sayulita. Find a boutique hotel and settle in. Stayed at Agua Luna Design Hotel, it was fantastic. Ate at Organic Bistro at Hotel Cielo Rojo (some of the best of our entire trip). Live music. Perfect to unwind. Definitely worth a short visit.
Written 8 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amandah M
10 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
A lovely little quaint beach town. Relaxed vibe not many vendors (although we are just starting the season here) Beautiful boutiques and many many many places to eat with what looks like great food. If you are staying near the area make a day trip for sure! If you are coming to this part of Nayarit maybe stay here.
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick Vollert
Panama City, Panama625 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
Enjoy a nice sunset walk around this colorful hippie town. Very relax and calm area with traditional restaurants and stores. You will find a lot of local people enjoying this spot. Great beach for surfing 🏄🏼
Written 14 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter
8 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
We’re a family of 5 with kids 10, 8 and 4. Haven’t been to Mexico in about 15 years. What a welcomed return!! We chose San Pancho as it seemed a little less busy than Sayulita and we were welcomed with a beach that boasted a great surf (bit sketchy for the kids so be wary) and so much beach space it was easy to forget there were others around us. The restaurant selection is great! We were here for 10 days and only ate at the same place once, and that was only because we loved it so much (La Ola Rica). We rented a home on Air BnB and got a car service to town from Puerto Vallarta. We will definitely be planning a trip back here and during that time will be able to give a 5 star rating. The only point right now is that San Pancho is a newer tourist place (again what we saw as a bonus) so it’s still a bit rough around the edges. So for those who are looking for a manicured holiday maybe just come here for a day trip. For those who are looking to speak Spanish (or in our case bumble through a few broken phrases), relax with barely anyone around, “live like a local”, have alone beach time, eat amazing food, hear great music, watch local shows, and sit in hot sun with no clouds allllll day long, then San Pancho is the place for you. A little research, some sense of adventure and flexible attitude and you’ll pleased as punch. Thank you San Pancho for a great vacation!
Written 26 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill-Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada148 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Silly tourists - we booked a "tour" that included San Pancho - tour bus took 3 hours to get there - a cab would of been 2 hours faster.
Anyways - we get there ... we see the beach and and a new condo building - Big Deal ... there is nothing to see or do - but I must admit the waves on the beach were fantastic.
Don't book the tours ... oh and the tours do not include lunch - even though its in writing - Warning we were asked to pay $30.00 US for a lunch when booking - we refused ... $30.00 US for lunch? Really - do we really look that stupid.
Anyways - we get there ... we see the beach and and a new condo building - Big Deal ... there is nothing to see or do - but I must admit the waves on the beach were fantastic.
Don't book the tours ... oh and the tours do not include lunch - even though its in writing - Warning we were asked to pay $30.00 US for a lunch when booking - we refused ... $30.00 US for lunch? Really - do we really look that stupid.
Written 20 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the cost of a taxi from Marina vallarta to San Panco
Written 31 January 2020
We went on the bus all the way to San Pancho
Written 31 January 2020
Is village safe and concerned about the safety of drive from PV to San Pancho?
Written 14 October 2018
I am looking for a way to get from PV airport to San Pancho. Is there reasonably priced transportation?
Written 10 November 2017
We used Diva Tours, located in San Pancho. $50 last week.
Written 15 November 2017
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