Staying at the Marii Hotel Costero in San Pancho

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I’m standing overlooking a hill lush with towering palm trees; there are birds of many colors flying over the garden oasis below when a calming breeze whips up and gently pushes my hair behind my shoulders. Where am I? The Marii Hotel Costero in San Pancho!

The hotel scene in San Pancho is growing steadily as more and more visitors seek out the amazing things to do in this peaceful stretch of coast in the Riviera Nayarit

Thanks to the eco-conscious and mindful atmosphere that San Pancho proudly encompasses, many of these hotels are using their business to promote these sustainable values in the design and maintenance of their hotel.

That’s why I’m thrilled to have been invited to experience the magic of Marii Hotel in person and share it with you all.

Here’s my experience staying at Marii Boutique Hotel in the heart of San Pancho, Nayarit!

Staying at Marii Hotel in San Pancho

When you stay at Marii Hotel, you’ll immediately be met with a feeling of tranquility. You have left the cobblestone streets of San Pancho and are now in a secluded garden oasis! As soon as we entered, we were immersed in the airy atmosphere of the property’s cafe and terrace.

From here, you can enjoy unhampered views of palms stretching across town. Beyond the palapa lies an enclosed yard full of exotic flora to attract and sustain the bees, butterflies, and birds. 

On the opposite end rests a jade green, key-shaped pool lined with flowering plants in shades of orange, green, and purple. It’s quite an inviting atmosphere!

Marii Hotel Costero is, in essence, a place to escape and soak up the true meaning of San Pancho.

Right as we walked in, we met Vannessa, Sofi, and Antonio. We filled out and signed a short information form and then gave a deposit (to be returned at the end of the stay) of $1000 MX pesos (so bring extra cash with you).

The hotel endeavors to be as eco-friendly as possible, using only naturally derived products to clean the hotel and rooms. For a special touch, each bathroom also supplies artisanal handmade soaps and shampoo. (But more on the rooms below!)

The Inspiration Behind Marii Hotel

As Sofi and Antonio explained, the Marii hotel is named after the Huichol (Wixarika) word marii, meaning “birds of the coast.” The Huicholes, or Wixaritaris, are the native peoples of the Sierra Madre mountains across several states of Pacific Mexico, including Nayarit.

Nayarit and the Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay) are home to hundreds of endemic and migratory birds—hence the inspiration behind Marii’s name. This, combined with its prime location on the lovely Riviera Nayarit coast in San Pancho, gives Marii “Hotel Costero” its fitting name.

The Rooms

Take a look around the garden, and you’ll notice 6 private suites (Habitaciones Aire y Terra) suitable for couples and 2 palapa bungalows (Habitaciones Agua) next to the pool that are suitable for a family of four.

You’ll find the names of endemic and migratory birds (Guacamaya, Águila, Colibrí, Urraca, Ibis, Pedrete, Caracara, and Codorniz) on the walls next to the large, sliding glass doors. These are the names of the rooms, adding to Marii’s unique, nuanced bird theme.

Each room features a private, outdoor seating area just beyond the pebble and tree-trunk walking path.

We stayed in the airy Caracara Room, which had a front-facing view of the jungle garden and pool.

The rooms feature plush, king-sized beds jutting out from the minimally designed walls. When I entered the room, my eye immediately met a handmade ceramic flower vase that sat delicately on the entrance table next to the hotel’s policy sheet.

Our spacious and clean bathroom lay hidden behind a pair of sliding bamboo doors, a nice touch of natural minimalism. I especially appreciated the artisanal soaps, a large round shower head, and soft bath towels. (I love these small luxuries!)

Simple, clean, eco-friendly, and above all, rejuvenating. That’s what the rooms at Marii Hotel really give you — a sense of calm that invigorates the senses.

Each Marii Hotel room comes equipped with:

• King-size bed
• Air conditioning
• Complimentary water/coffee
• Pool and beach towels
• Outdoor seating area
• Artisanal handmade soaps

Features I really appreciated: Warm lighting, comfortable linens, the spacious shower, and complimentary pool or ocean towels.

The Café

Marii Hotel’s guests enjoy breakfast a delicious, homemade breakfast included as part of their stay. 

They source local, healthy ingredients to create their toasted granola with honey, fresh fruits, and yogurt, and their spread of delicious avocado toasts with arugula, germinated sprouts, and a variety of toppings.

The wholesome breakfast adds a nice touch of peacefulness and exclusivity to the hotel. That way, you don’t have to worry about scouring the streets in search of San Pancho’s restaurants to fill your belly.

You can wake up slowly at Marii Hotel, and that is what we really appreciated about staying here. 

Slowing down and enjoying the present moment is a special attraction of the airy palapa cafe, which is also open to the public for breakfast or for afternoon coffee/tea.

And seeing as the guestroom suites are down a flight of steps, it doesn’t make the hotel feel commercial at all. Quite the opposite, there’s a feeling of openness and community with respect to its guests.

The cafe also makes staying at Marii Hotel ideal for digital nomads like Paul and me, who require the internet for work.

The Vibe

The hotel, the rooms, the cafe, all of these things have one thing in common: the down-to-earth vibe!

If you are looking for a place to stay in San Pancho, the Marii Hotel is the ideal accommodation for those who want the best of both worlds—a convenient location close to town yet a quiet atmosphere with lots of privacy. (Check room prices for Marii Hotel here.)

The hotel’s bird theme is subtle and evokes a very natural, earthy vibe, with tropical and exotic vibes that you can sense just from lounging outside your room or by the pool.

Plus, the neighborhood surrounding Marii Hotel is quiet and local, which is nice for enjoying the view, lounging poolside with a book, or bird watching in the morning.

Upon our arrival, Antonio excitedly told us about the diverse birds that come to frequent the Papelillo tree hanging behind one of the palapa suites. The hotel even stocks a pamphlet you can look through to point out and identify the birds that visit the hotel and fly around San Pancho!

The hotel has only eight rooms, making it feel like a much more intimate atmosphere than you’ll find at a high-rise. Returning to your chamber feels like returning somewhere familiar and homey rather than a sterile hotel room.

The type of guests who choose to stay here are active nature lovers as well; they go bird-watching or hiking in town and come back to enjoy a quiet afternoon curled up with a book.

Travel Tip: You can enjoy bird watching at Marii in the mornings, when the town is just waking up, and the sun illuminates the tropical hotel grounds. Or, for a truly immersive bird-watching experience in San Pancho, you can book a morning tour with Luis, the owner and guide of Bird Watching San Pancho.

The Future of Marii Hotel

Sofi and Antonio hope to promote responsible tourism in San Pancho. As such, they encourage their guests to immerse themselves in the community, share a coffee in the cafe, and see all that San Pancho has to offer.

One of the highlights of the hotel is the cafe terrace, where you can enjoy breakfast with a view. But one day, Sofi and Antonio would like to share the open kitchen concept with their guests and provide access to a communal kitchen.

Another upcoming project they would like to implement is evening wine tastings at the cafe bar, which will end at a respectable time in order to continue to promote responsible tourism in San Pancho.

Final Thoughts: Staying at the Marii Hotel in San Pancho

For activities or questions, Sofi, Antonio, or Vanessa are happy to help! The welcome desk in the Marii Hotel also has contacts for other businesses in San Pancho.

One last thing we really liked about the hotel is that you are self-sufficient and can come and go whenever you please. 

That said, staff leave later in the day, and you are asked to keep the entrance gate locked with your key. We highly appreciate this concept, as it feels like you are returning to an apartment in San Pancho rather than a hotel!

In my opinion, a stay at Hotel Marii will be a highlight of your trip. It offers a home away from home in the picturesque pueblo of San Pancho, Mexico!So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Marii Hotel in San Pancho and plan your getaway along the Riviera Nayarit! 

Special thanks to Marii for sponsoring this article and hosting me as their guest. As always, the content & opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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