2023 - Visited San Pancho - Sue & Joel Niles

Subtitle:

A first visit from Puerto Vallarta that turned into a lasting connection through return trips and shared experiences with friends.

Excerpt:

Sue and Joel’s first trip to San Pancho in 2023 began as a short getaway from Puerto Vallarta—but the town’s peaceful beach, vibrant dining, and later time spent with friends turned it into a place they now return to again and again.

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Our first visit to San Pancho was in February 2023. Sue and I came up from Puerto Vallarta, where we had been staying, taking a taxi to this small coastal town we had heard so much about. We stayed a few nights in a hotel close to the beach—close enough to hear the ocean and quickly settle into the rhythm of the town.

When we arrived, we immediately felt something different. San Pancho had a small, welcoming feel, with an eclectic mix of local businesses and inviting restaurants. It didn’t feel overly developed or commercial—it felt authentic and relaxed, which is exactly what we were looking for.

The beach quickly became one of our favorite places. It was beautiful, open, and peaceful—never crowded, just naturally calming. There was something about the atmosphere of San Pancho that slowed us down. People were friendly, the pace was easy, and it felt effortless to enjoy each moment.

Many of our favorite experiences came from the simple things. The sunsets were unforgettable—each evening brought a different display of color over the ocean. We also loved exploring the restaurants, each one offering something unique and delicious. Dining outside along the main street added to the charm, especially with the joyful entertainers nearby. The music and energy created a lively but still relaxed atmosphere that made every evening feel special.

What made San Pancho stand out to us was its calming effect. It’s the kind of place where you naturally unwind. The combination of the beach, sunsets, and great food created a rhythm that felt both peaceful and fulfilling. We also enjoyed the unique shopping—small, upscale shops where we found special items to bring home, little reminders of our time in San Pancho that we still enjoy back in Colorado.

One of our favorite memories from that first trip was sitting at a beachside restaurant, enjoying a Modelo Negro with fresh chips, salsa, and guacamole. It was a simple moment, but it captured everything we loved about being there.

Would we come back? Absolutely.

We returned in 2024, once again staying in a small hotel and continuing to discover more about what makes San Pancho special.

Then in 2025, we had a completely different experience—we stayed as guests of Don and Marylou in their new home. It was exciting to see their house and to experience San Pancho from a resident’s perspective. Their home gave us a much deeper feel for daily life in the town, and it was clear how different—and even better—this experience was compared to their previous condo in Puerto Vallarta.

Spending time in San Pancho with Don and Marylou made this visit especially meaningful. They introduced us to some of their favorite small, local restaurants, and we experienced the town in a much more personal way—less as visitors and more as part of their day-to-day life.

Each visit has built on the last. What began as a short getaway has turned into an ongoing connection to a place we truly enjoy returning to.

San Pancho is no longer just somewhere we visited—it’s somewhere we now feel connected to.