A wedding of two friends I went to college and studied abroad with took us to San Pancho (also known as San Francisco) in Nayarit, Mexico, just 5-10 minutes north of Sayulita and about an hour away from the airport in Puerto Vallarta. It’s a hidden gem - a small town in the midst of beach and jungle. With its cobblestone streets and lack of cell phone service, it felt quaint and intimate in comparison to Cabo.
While much of our few days there was spent catching up with friends and enjoying wedding festivities, I thought it was worth putting together some of the things we did and places we ate just in case you ever find yourself booking a short flight to get to this small beach town.
WHERE WE STAYED
Hotel Maraica: An eco-friendly hotel with large rooms, a community deck overlooking the ocean, and very limited wifi ;)
WHERE WE ATE
Mar Plata: An intimate rooftop restaurant just a couple minutes away by foot from our hotel. All the ingredients are locally sourced. Get the octopus risotto and the hibiscus tequila cocktail.
Marias: A casual breakfast spot with lots of inexpensive options and a very popular green juice.
Barracuda: A seafood spot located in both San Pancho and Sayulita. We over-ordered and were so glad we did. Order the barracuda ceviche, sopa de pulpo, and La Dama cocktail made with tequila and guava.
La Rustica: A breakfast and lunch spot is in Sayulita. The smoothies are a must. Skip the banana pancakes and get the chilaquiles verde.
WHAT WE DID
Rented a golf cart: My friends rented a golf cart that made it so fun (and easy) to see the town center and go back and forth between all of the wedding festivities.
Went to the beach: We laid out and relaxed, walked along the sand from the town center back to the hotel, and watched baby turtles hatch and crawl for the first time to get into the ocean.
Took a cab to Sayulita: The 10 minute cab ride was well worth the few hours spent in the more well-known town in Nayarit called Sayulita. The streets were so colorful and full of little shops and restaurants. We got breakfast at La Rustica, found matcha lattes at The Anchor, and discovered a cool little shop called Manyana.
Celebrated a wedding: The trip ended on a high note at the wedding of two friends of mine from college. The beautiful ceremony was held on the beach and the reception at the stunning La Patrona Beach Club.
Shoutout to Steff and JJ for introducing us to the beautiful town of San Pancho. I don’t think I would have ever found myself here if not for the both of you. Thank you for having us part of your special weekend. xx