Price Band: $$
Tags: Beach, economical, family friendly, secluded
San Francisco, near Sayulita
San Francisco, near Sayulita
San Francisco, near Sayulita
San Francisco, near Sayulita
Price Band: $$
Tags: Beach, economical, family friendly, secluded
In a nutshell:
Family owned and managed, quiet location on the fringes of the town of San Francisco (San Pancho), car rental recommended. All units have kitchenettes and are ideal for long stays. Two pristine, quiet beaches reached by steps.
So you want to escape from the hassles of everyday life, far from the noise and pollution of the city, somewhere exotic, but peaceful and secluded? Here’s one solution – take a flight to Puerto Vallarta, head north along the coastline and past the colorful surfing town of Sayulita and then through the even quieter town of San Pancho. When the paved road runs out, continue a few miles on a bumpy but well signed trail until you arrive at a bluff above two beautiful, virgin beaches. You’ll see a collection of white buildings and a deep blue pool hugging the coastline. This is Bungalows Lydia.
It may be off the beaten track, but there’s everything you need to enjoy a simple beach vacation. Each room has a kitchenette, and it’s not far back into town to replenish your supplies. The swimming pool is inviting, and the breathtaking vistas over the Pacific will keep you entranced for hours. If enjoying a margarita on the terrace at sunset is more appealing to you than cavorting in the local night clubs, Bungalows Lydia is well worth considering.
The guest rooms include one and two bedroom suites, so the property is suitable for families as well as for couples. We reckon it would be the perfect place for a long stay vacation (wireless internet is available, so you can stay in touch with home or work too) but it’s also a good choice for just a few days of relaxation. We recommend having a rental car so that you can go into town easily, or explore the region at your own pace. Sayulita and Punta Mita are close by and are worth visiting, and you can also drive north to less visited beach towns.
Bungalows Lydia is owned and managed by two sisters who are on hand during the daytime and offer lots of good advice about the area. They’ll make you welcome and leave you to enjoy the tranquility of this privileged location.
At Bungalows Lydia the three courtyard suites and the Vista, Sunset and Panorama suites are located in the two story main building that is perched on the highest point of the bluff, commanding exception views over the coastline. The Sunset, Sunflower, Master and Heaven suites are located in three separate buildings. These suites also have wonderful ocean views.
The suites can accommodate from two to four people and each one has a fully equipped kitchenette. Each suites also has a fabulous terrace or balcony, with unforgettable ocean views.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Kitchenette with refrigerator, coffee maker, hob, eating and cooking utensils. Bottled water, at least one private patio or balcony with dining table and chairs, sun loungers.
Courtyard Suite
Main building, ground floor, one queen and one single bed
Vista Suite
Main building, second floor, one king and one single bed
Sunset Suite
Main building, ground floor, one queen bed
Panorama Suite
Main building, second floor, one queen bed
Sunflower Suite
Second floor. One king bed and one double bed in one large room
Blue Moon Suite
Second floor. One king bed, two terraces
Master Suite
Ground floor. King bed and single bed in same room
Heaven Suite
Second floor. Two bedrooms, one with a king bed and one with 2 twin beds, two bathrooms
The three courtyard suites are located in the main building and each one has a terrace to the rear that overlooks south beach, and also opens onto a large shared terrace that faces towards the swimming pool and north beach.
Each suite is furnished with a queen bed and a single bed. The en-suite bathroom has a shower and tiled vanity. There’s also a kitchenette stocked with useful utensils and cooking gear, so that you can easily prepare meals and enjoy them on the terrace. There’s a large refrigerator and a coffee maker too.
For a group of friends wishing to vacation together but still have some privacy, the Courtyard Suites are a great option. The three suites are adjacent, and whilst each suite has its own terrace and sun loungers, it’s easy to chat with your neighbors on the next terrace.
There’s no better way to enjoy your morning coffee than sitting on the terrace, admiring the vivid hues of the ocean, and the waves crashing on the south beach.
Even the bathroom has a sea view in the Vista Suite! This pretty suite is on the second floor of the main building, with a terrace to each side. It has a kitchenette similar to those in the Courtyard suites, as well as a king bed and a single bed. The balcony isn’t very safe for young children, but this would be a great room for parents with an older child, or for two or three friends sharing.
The main terrace overlooks beautiful south beach, and is furnished with sun loungers and a dining table for lazy lunches and lingering evening meals.
We know many people who like nothing better than to watch the sun set over the Ocean on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and this is the perfect suite for them. Perfectly positioned on the edge of the bluff, and on the ground floor of the main building, this suite has views of both north and south beach.
It’s a memorable experience to have dinner on the large terrace at sunset; and this suite has a kitchenette with a view too. During the daytime guests can relax on the sunloungers, taking advantage of the sea breezes for refreshment.
The Panorama Suite is located on the second floor of the main building,
above the Sunset Suite, and has arguably the best views of the property. It’s
one of the most private suites too, so we reckon it would be great choice
for honeymooners.
This suite has a king bed and a tiled bathroom with walk-in shower. The
large terrace is furnished with two sunloungers and a table and chairs. In this suite, the kitchenette is virtually outdoors – it has a roof above,
but most of the walls are open to the sea air. Sliding glass doors provide access between the bedroom and kitchenette. If you love to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean you can keep the doors open with the screen closed, although the surf can be fairly noisy here!
Even the simplest meal becomes a memorable occasion when served
on the terrace of the Panorama Suite. The views are mesmerizing!
The Sunflower Suite is an excellent choice for families. It makes up the entire second floor of a building adjacent to the swimming pool (there are no accommodations on the ground floor of the building). From the balcony, parents can watch their children in the pool and also enjoy the ocean views.
The bedroom is one large room in which two sleeping areas are connected by an archway. It has a king bed and a queen bed, with plenty of storage space. There’s a fan above each bed and a screened window behind each bed too, so the room keeps nice and cool, even in the summer.
The Sunflower Suite has one spacious bathroom, with a shower and plenty of natural light. It also has a kitchenette with a large refrigerator. There’s plenty of space for a family to dine on the terrace, and shade is provided by the overhanging roof.
The Blue Moon Suite is one of the newest and most indulgent of Bungalow Lydia’s suites. It has a spacious bedroom with a king bed, and double doors that lead out onto a jungle view terrace to the side of the suite.
To the front, and facing the ocean, is a second large terrace with dining furniture. The Blue Moon Suite has a kitchenette, and a large refrigerator that’s perfectly positioned for grabbing a cold beer whilst you’re enjoying the views.
This suite is on the second floor, accessed by a staircase.
The Master Suite is a spacious, light and airy suite that is another good choice for families. It is on the ground floor and has a king bed and a single bed in the same large bedroom.
It’s one of the newest suites at Bungalows Lydia and has a large bathroom with attractive fittings. It also has a kitchenette, giving parents the freedom to prepare meals for children according to their own preferences and tastes. It’s only a short drive into town (less than 3 km) and some people even walk it there, but we prefer to go out for lunch and enjoy dinner on the terrace of our suite.
This suite has two terraces, one to the side that enjoys a jungle view with glimpes of the ocean by the south beach, and a second large terrace to the front that has views of the ocean towards north beach.
The Heaven Suite is the only suite at Bungalows Lydia with two separate bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bedroom has a king bed and the other has two single beds, so it’s a good choice for families or for up to 4 friends. It also has a separate sitting room and a large balcony that runs along the full length of the building.
The sitting room features equipale dining and seating areas for four people, and faces the terrace. It is also fitted with a kitchenette and large refrigerator. The master bedroom also opens out onto the terrace, whilst the twin bedroom is to the back of the unit.
This suite is one of the newest at Bungalows Lydia, and is very spacious, light and airy. There are windows to the front and to the rear in most rooms. The rear windows overlook palm trees and jungle gardens.
The twin bedroom has a small ensuite bathroom with a shower, whilst the king bedroom has a large bathroom, shown below. Both bathrooms have windows that face the jungle.
Bungalows Lydia is perched above two beautiful and virtually private beaches. To the north is the gorgeous beach shown in the first photos. It’s long enough for a pleasant stroll, and the ocean is inviting although there’s usually some surf. Many guests enjoy swimming or just splashing in the sea. A series of steep steps leads down to the beach. Once there, you can often have the whole beach to yourselves.
South beach is also accessed by steps. This beach is a little wilder and rockier, but is great for rock pooling and strolling at sunset.
The beautiful pool at Bungalows Lydia is surrounded by palm trees and lawns. There’s a shallow section for children, and plenty of room to swim too. A large palapa lounge overlooks the swimming pool. This is a great place to sit in the shade and admire the views. It can be used for informal gatherings too, and an outdoor grill can be used by guests on such occasions.
The swimming pool and grand palapa are great places from which to admire the magnificent Pacific coast sunsets.
Bungalows Lydia lies about 30 miles north of Puerto Vallarta’s International airport, and the journey by car takes about an hour.
Driving directions
Follow the highway 200 past Sayulita and take the turning for San Francisco (San Pancho). Once you are in the town, Bungalows Lydia is well signed (we can send detailed driving directions with your confirmation). The property lies about 2 miles north of the town, on an unpaved road.
Bungalows Lydia
San Francisco
Mpo. de Bahia de Banderas
Nayarit
Mexico