Tucked along Mexico’s stunning Pacific coast, San Pancho—also known as San Francisco—is a hidden gem in the Riviera Nayarit that offers a perfect blend of laid-back beach vibes, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. Just an hour from Puerto Vallarta and a short drive from Sayulita, this charming coastal town is known for its lush tropical greenery, colorful architecture, and welcoming local community.
What truly sets San Pancho apart isn’t just its scenic beaches or jungle surroundings—it’s the genuine warmth of its people. Visitors are often greeted with a friendly “mucho gusto,” creating an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel at home almost instantly. With a population of just a few thousand, life moves at a slower pace here, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking relaxation, authentic Mexican culture, and a break from the crowds. Whether you’re exploring boutique hotels, enjoying fresh coastal cuisine, or unwinding on the beach, San Pancho delivers a unique and memorable travel experience.
With only three to four thousand people, time slows down here. In the morning, it takes time for people to come alive and in the middle of the day, the heat and moisture forces you to become unhurried. I spent many of my days clad in my swimming suit and coverlet, wandering through the shops, laying on the beach and walking through the jungle. Every afternoon, I found myself back in my room or by the pool to cool down and take an afternoon siesta to be followed by a marvelous dinner each night.
San Pancho is also called San Francisco de Azapan after Don Francisco Cortes de Buenaventura named it Azapan in 1524. The buildings are a blend of old and upgraded, providing vibrant colors. The interiors often contain beautiful courtyards with tropical plants, banana trees, coconut palms, hibiscus, ginger and bougainvillea.
There is one major resort located here, the Tierra Tropical Beach Club. We ate here one night and the food was fantastic along with the view but don’t discount the small hotel offerings as there are a number of small places that are pretty, less expensive and just a short walk from the water. I stayed at Hotel San Pancho. My room was large, offered a pool and a breakfast of fruit, juice, coffee, bread and homemade jam along with a different Mexican entrée each morning. It was just right for the lay back atmosphere I was looking for.
The first thing you should. Really know about San Pancho is the time. They are on Pacific Standard time while Puerta Vallarta is on Mountain Standard time. Initially, this cause me a lot of confusion as when I was here, we were still on Daylight Savings time. This means it an hour earlier but my phone was still pinging of a cell tower in Mountain Time. Okay if you’re by yourself but not good if your meeting someone. Eventually, you just get use to San Pancho time which is on its own timeframe all together. None of the travel blogs I read before going mentioned this.
Colors of San Pancho
Getting there
From Puerta Vallarta Airport, you can take a taxi. The cost was $125 or $2,500 pesos. If you want to pay be credit card, you can pay before you get into the taxi line. There are plenty of people asking you if you want a taxi and will take you to the booth to pay. If you want to pay cash, you can just get in the taxi line. You will stop on the way out of the airport and will need to pay then. Tips are encouraged. Uber and Lyft are now allowed on the airport but if you’re willing to walk, there is a bridge that will take you off the airport property.
Room Accommodations
As indicated, there is Tierra Tropical Beach Club with a more resort atmosphere but I prefer the smaller hotels. The place I said, Hotel San Pancho was quaint, had large airconditioned rooms, a small pool and breakfast each day. The staff was friendly and sweet. Some other places to consider are Hotel Palmar, Hotel Mari and Hotel Cielo Rojo, all of which are close to the downtown.
Restaurants
Surprising enough, Mexican food is not the main staple in San Pancho. One night, we had lasagna and another pizza. There are also some restaurants right on the beach to choose from. Consistently, my wine was not great with the exception of Tierra Tropical Beach Club, where both the food and drink was excellent. In the high season, you’ll need a reservation.
Beach
In San Pancho, surfing is a big thing along with swimming in the water. Surf lessons are available. When I was there in October, the waves and surge were strong. I went in to tip my toes but didn’t feel like I was a strong enough swimmer to do much more. For us sideliners, there are plenty of umbrellas to rent for the day that will also provide you food and drinks. Lastly, for sunset, everyone comes out to enjoy the final rays, so. Bring a towel and be prepared to clap when that last spec of sun disappears into the ocean.
Shopping
While there isn’t a lot of stores, there are enough. Most sell clothing and I didn’t find the prices less than what I could find at home. There are also street vendors ever where selling small touristy items.
Other Things to do
Circus
San Pancho is beneficiary to co-founder Giles Ste-Croix and his wife Monique Voyer who started Cirque Du Soleil a non-profit dedicated to helping children through circus arts. Circo de los Ninos has more than 140 children enrolled. They will present shows so it’s best to check out the schedule to see if you’re lucky enough to be there when there is a show.
Music
San Pancho also has large music scene and there are plenty of places to check out to see various locals play. There also a few art galleries that show local artist along with Huichol (Native Indian) handicrafts.
Polo
La Patrona Polo Club is located in San Pancho. You can learn to play polo, take a horseback ride or enjoy a polo match. Additionally, day passes can be purchased to take advantage of the pool and beach facilities. I wanted to watch a polo match but was there a week too early.
Turtle Releases
The one thing I will definably go back for is to participate in a turtle release. They are non-profits in both San Pancho and Sayulita. You need to follow them on Facebook to see when releases are happening. They will post something the day of the release.
Sayulita
Lastly, if you are feeling a little too laid back, a trip to Sayulita might be in order. You can take a taxi that takes about 20 minutes to get to the larger city of Sayulita. Its more touristy, and frankly, I enjoyed San Pancho so much, Sayulita felt too busy for me but if you want more of a party atmosphere and greater nightlife, this might be the place for you.