We Are Back

We are back and I thought I would post the review we did on TripAdvisor:


Let me start by letting you know that I hesitate to write this review in fear that others will "discover" this little piece of heaven and make it more difficult to book here ... but that would be selfish and everybody should know about Playa Escondida!  We stayed 11 nights.

This is not your typical resort hotel with all inclusive meals and drinks and air conditioning and fighting for a beach/pool chair in the morning ... Playa Escondida is like you have arrived on a remote tropical island hideaway with a restaurant, bar and electricity.

On our arrival, we were greeted by guest services and welcomed with a tour of the property and complimentary drinks in the bar.  We were then shown to our "jungle" room - Golondrina. The rooms in Bird Canyon are the jungle rooms.  We took the supplied golf cart for a 3 minute ride (it would be about a 15 minute walk) to our room and found it very enchanting.  It was definitely in the jungle with the accompanying sounds of wildlife.  It was magical.  As note in other reviews, there are no glass windows, only shutters, we chose to leave open at all times.  We stayed 4 nights in Golondrina and loved it.  For your information though, driving to and from the room at night on the winding cobblestone road armed with only a flashlight was interesting - it was pitch black out!  The only other comment about staying in Bird Canyon was that we felt we needed to pack up for the day to go the the main property being the beach and pool.

We then moved to Luna Allegre for the remainder of our stay.  This beachfront room with outdoor bathroom and shower was magical.  The "outdoor" part may scare some people but it is covered with a palapa roof and only accessible from the room.  Amazing views of the ocean and beach from the shower and bathroom.  The bed has a netting around it and so we left our patio doors and windows open all night to hear the crashing of the waves.  The bed was very comfortable.

The beach is secluded and very often empty.  We never had to "fight" for beach chairs - an all to often occurrence at the resorts.  if you want even more secluded, 5 minute walk will take you to a beach with nobody else on it.

The restaurant is really good.  Before the trip, we thought we would venture into Sayulita for many meals, but after discovering the charm of this place, we ate all but 1 meal at the resort.  Prices are reasonable (not cheap but not expensive) and the selection is superb.  Our waiters in the restaurant were great - Joel, "Gordonhood", Noe, Rosalia, SImon and Tomas:  Thank You.

It should also be noted that this resort is not all inclusive which tends to be the norm at the resorts in Mexico.  We treated our holiday as all inclusive and found that our bill at the end of our stay was less than we normally pay for the all inclusive feature at some of the resorts.

We must say though that the Bar staff made our holiday one of the best ever.  Juan, Jose and Jorge worked 12 hours days while we were there and had a smile on their face the entire time.  From the moment they met us, they remembered our names.  They introduced us to other guests, told stories and made us feel like family.  It was actually sad to say goodbye, but we will see them again.  Their mixologist skills are outstanding - my standing drink order became: Surprise me!

It was our most relaxing holiday ever!  WE WILL BE BACK!

Not Coming Home ...

We have had the most incredible holiday.  The people we have met are amazing.  Everyone knows your name.  There are only about 8 maybe 10 people on the beach each day, but everyone stops to ask how you are and if you know a way that they(we) can stay here indefinitely.  We have been the first to the beach everyday. There is a beach bar that everyone gathers at during the day. Drinks, food, games and plenty of laughs are what happens there. At sunset we are up to the terrace bar for happy hour(s).  The food has been outstanding.  Everything they make is so fresh.  The staff (really our friends) are so caring,  happy and funny.  They all work so hard. They have invited us to meet their 107 year old Grandma and come for the registration of their new baby.  Each day they share stories about their evening with their families. At night our doors and shutters stay open.  The ocean is the only sound that you hear (and once in awhile the snores from a very relaxed and tanned BOB).  The biggest decisions we have each day are where to sit, what to eat and drink. The only thing that could make this vacation better is having our girls, Nana and our friends here at the this little piece of heaven on earth. Hey wait a minute, I believe in 37 days that is going to be happening.  Can't wait for the wedding!

Sunset January 10,  2013

Another Great Day

We had another great day today.  Beached it most of the day.  In the late afternoon, we walked south along the beach as far was we could go - this is a great isolated wide beach with black sand portions - kinda reminded us of the movies.  We then swam in the ocean (Jan's first attempt at this during this trip), swam in the pool and the hot tub.  We had a great dinner at the restaurant and Jan gave a bunch of clothes to Tomas, one of our waiters, who is involved with a church group who will give these clothes to those much in need.  Tomas also told us about his 107 year old grandmother who is the "Queen" of the State of Jalisco because she is the oldest person here. She has 2 people close on her heels at 102 and 105 years old.  Tomas has asked if we want to go meet and visit with her.   After dinner, we met Clinton and Mary at the bar for Mary's birthday.  Adios,

On the Beach near Sayulita

Jan's Footprint in the Black Sand Beach

Quiet Day Yesterday

It was a cloudy day yesterday so we took the opportunity to walk into Sayulita.  We walked along the beach, traversing some major boulders, then up through the jungle, through the cemetery, past Los Muertos beach (the beach of the dead which is actually part way through the cemetery) and then into Sayulita.  It was about a 30 minute walk.  We had breakfast at Choco Banana and shopped a little bit.  We then came back to the resort and sat around on the beach.  I went for a massage.  Then, guess what? Happy hour.  Tried some top notch tequila and it was very smooth.  Had dinner with Tracy (Wedding Planner) and Attila (Oak Wine Barrel Sales) from Napa in the Terraza Bar.  Another great day ...

In the Terraza Bar during Happy Hour

Our beachfront room is amazing ...

We are literally hanging over the ocean.  The sound of the waves is so loud (I know pretty rough huh). Jan did yoga on the beach yesterday and then we sat around on the beach all day until Happy Hour.  Went to the Terraza Bar for happy hour and the sunset (we do this every day).  Had dinner with a lovely couple (Ron and Carmella) from San Francisco/Puerto Vallarta - they live here 7 months of the year.  Interesting that they chose to come to Playa Escondida for a few days even though they live here (a real testatment to how special this place is).  Ron said his friends hassle him about having to take a vacation from his vacation.

I have figured out how to post some pictures:

Morning Coffee at Golondrina (our jungle room)

The Beach

Black Sand Beach a short walk away

Infinity Pool overlooking the ocean

Sunset from the Terraza Bar

View from Luna Allegre - our new oceanfront room

Whales ...

Saw whales swimming in front of the resort yesterday afternoon! Lots of them. It was really cool to see them spouting at sunset. Last night was our last night staying in the jungle. Today we move to a beachfront room - Luna Allegre.  Hopefully I can figure out how to post some pictures soon...

Still in Sayulita

Arrived at the beach at 8:30 this morning. Maybe 10 people on the beach all day. In nearby Sayulita yesterday there were about 500 people. Spending the day eating, drinking, sunning ... This could be a pretty boring blog over the next couple of days ;)

We have arrived at Playa Escondida in Sayulita ...

January 2.  We have arrived in Playa Escondida in Sayulita, Mexico (about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta).  This place is on an isolated stretch of beach and is amazing!  We are staying in Bird Canyon which is a 15 minute walk from the resort itself and is in the jungle ... and I mean the jungle! Pictures will not upload so you will have to wait for those.

January 3.  We spent the day at the beach.  Ate, drank and sat in the sun.  We have a golf cart to take us to our villa and at night it is pitch black. They gave us a flashlight to see the cobblestone road. It is quite the adventure.

January 4.  We got up and walked along the beach. Not far is a black sand beach.  We then walked into Sayulita.  It is about a 1/2 hour walk. We walked around town.  Went to a farmers market which had numerous food choices but I resisted - it all looked so good.  Bought a few groceries (ok beer, rum and wine), had a chocolate covered frozen banana from the famous Choco Banana (owned by Jamie Willis' mom and sister for those who know him) and walked back to Playa Escondida.  Spent the rest of the day on the beach.