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

San Pancho, Mexico offers so many things to do in the way of activities, nature, and more. And the hotel scene here is growing steadily, offering guests an array of choices.

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

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

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

The Hotel

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

From here, you can enjoy unhampered views of palms stretching across the town. Beyond the palapa quietly 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, in essence, is a place to escape to and soak in the true meaning of San Pancho.

No sooner when we walked in did we meet 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. And for a special touch, each bathroom cutely supplies artisanal handmade soaps and shampoo. (But more on the rooms below!)

The Inspiration behind Marii Hotel

As Sofi and Antonio explained to us, the Marii hotel is named after the Huichol (Wixarika) word marii, meaning “birds of the coast.” The Huicholes or Wixataris 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 the name for Marii. So that, combined with its prime location on the lovely Riviera Nayarit coast in San Pancho is what 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 suitable for a family of four.

On the walls next to the large, sliding glass doors is painted a name of an endemic or migratory bird of Nayarit (Guacamaya, Águila, Colibrí, Urraca, Ibis, Pedrete, Caracara, and Codorniz). 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 jungly garden and pool.

The rooms feature plush, king-sized beds jutting out from the minimally-designed walls, and when entering 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 lied hidden behind a pair of sliding bamboo doors, a nice touch of natural minimalism. I especially appreciated the artisanal soaps, large round shower head, and soft bath towels. (I love these touches of small luxuries!)

Simple, clean, eco-friendly, and above all, rejuvenating. That’s what the rooms at Marii Hotel really give — 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 included as a part of their stay. Breakfast, I should mention, that is homemade, copious, and scrumptious!

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

The wholesome breakfast adds a nice touch of peacefulness and exclusiveness to the hotel — that way, you don’t have to worry about finding restaurants in San Pancho and filling your belly.

You can wake up slow 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 myself and Paul, 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 looking to have 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 bird theme of the hotel is subtle and evokes a very natural, earthy theme with tropical and exotic vibes which 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 mornings in peace.

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

But back to the room – since there are just a few (8 in total), returning to your chamber feels like going back somewhere familiar and homey, rather than a 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 kindle.

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 its 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 early 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 and Antonio, or Vanessa, are happy to help! You can also find a number of contacts for other businesses in San Pancho at the welcome desk in the Marii Hotel.

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! 

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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.