San Francisco

San Francisco (also called San Pancho) is a seaside village in Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is a very tranquil place with no big businesses. Referred to as a "surfer beach", San Pancho is very welcoming to anyone looking for a quiet beach well away from the crowds of mega-resort areas just a short distance south. The village maintains a local, unspoiled character that contrasts sharply with the developed tourism zones of Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas.

Everything in town is within easy walking distance. Walking is better than using a bike because the streets are cobblestone. Nothing is more than about a kilometer or two away. The main street (Av. Tercer Mundo) goes from the highway to the beach. Mini-buses (colectivos) pass by on the highway and can be used to visit neighboring beach towns or to go to Puerto Vallarta.

Accommodation in San Pancho ranges from budget hostels to upscale boutique hotels. Hostal San Pancho offers dorms and private rooms from M$500, located about 1.5 km from the beach on Tercer Mundo. For camping, Camping San Pancho at La Criba 3 charges M$400 per night with shared community kitchen facilities near the river. Mid-range options include Hotel Casa San Pancho (10 rooms, M$2400) with swimming pool, 4 blocks from the beach. Upscale choices include Maraica eco-hotel (M$4000, palapa-style buildings on the beach edge) and Agua de Luna boutique hotel (M$4000, rooftop jacuzzis, cable TV, air conditioning).

Av. Tercer Mundo is the main dining strip with varied options. Su Pancha Madre at the corner of C.Mexico serves famous sopes with Pacifico beer in an outdoor patio setting, open daily 08:00-22:00 with a 14:00-15:00 break. Maria Bonita (Tercer Mundo 14, closed Wednesdays) offers traditional and nouveau Mexican cuisine with high chairs and changing tables for families, open 16:00-23:00. Vegetarian-friendly Heaven's Kitchen serves Indian cuisine at the town entrance on Tercer Mundo 458. San Pancho Marino (Tercer Mundo 12, M$200, daily 11:00-23:00) combines seafood, Mexican, Indonesian, and vegetarian dishes. For nightlife, El Gallo (Tercer Mundo 38) draws a young crowd with DJs most nights and live music on weekends, open Tu-Su 09:00-01:00. Cerveceria Artesanal San Pancho (Calle América Latina #80, M$200, daily 17:00-00:00) features house-brewed beers including IPA and stout, artesanal mezcals, creative mezcal cocktails, and acclaimed burgers.

Playa San Pancho offers beautiful wide, long sandy beaches ideal for sunbathing or swimming. Umbrellas and lounge chairs rent for about M$200 per day. The beach has good waves for surfers, though waves can be overwhelming for casual swimmers. La Patrona Polo Club (Africa s/n) hosts polo matches November through May on Sunday afternoons and November through July on Saturday evenings, with upscale dining, equestrian lessons, and polo instruction available. The club's hours are Tu-Su 09:00-20:00.

Banking and shopping facilities are limited but functional. At the intersection of Africa/China roads is a Banorte ATM. Along the main street are Multiva ATMs. At the highway is an Oxxo convenience store, and in the center a Super Kiosko.

San Pancho serves as a base for exploring the Riviera Nayarit region. Sayulita lies 7 km southwest with hiking into the jungle and shallow beach water. Bucerias is 25 km southeast with a long uninterrupted white sand beach. Punta Mita is 25 km southwest. Tepic, the capital of Nayarit, is 125 km northeast. Puerto Vallarta offers larger city amenities and international flights. Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city and capital of Jalisco, is 290 km east (near the town of Tequila). For Mazatlán, a flight is recommended for both arrival and departure.