Staying at the PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical in San Pancho

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San Pancho, Mexico, is one of the best hidden gems and micro destinations along the Riviera Nayarit. The town promotes eco-friendly values, a sense of community, and self-care. 

You can get a healing massage, attend a yoga class, and participate in community events all in the same day. And if you stay at the PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical, you can delight in all three under one roof!

Since living in this wonderful pueblo for over 2 years, we have seen many businesses and hotels come and go. We even saw PAL.MAR in its renovation stages! After being invited to experience the hotel in person for two nights, I can assure you that this boutique hotel is here to stay!

Here is my honest review + experience staying at the PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical in San Pancho!

The Hotel

If you’re walking down the street past PAL.MAR, it’s hard to resist wanting to see inside. From the outside aesthetic, you can already tell the rooms and atmosphere are equally cute!

The PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical, for me, evokes a sense of tranquility and well-being. That is how I can best describe what it was like to stay here for two nights. The laid-back bohemian atmosphere with its minimal decor and natural elements, simply invites you in.

PAL.MAR is not your typical hotel, either, offering both short-term and long-term (monthly) stays. Made all the more comfy because of the kitchenettes and general apartment-style accommodations.

When it comes to location, you can’t get much better than this. The hotel itself is located in the heart of San Pancho. Just outside the entrance are all the shops and restaurants you could ever want! 

The town’s main markets and a handful of authentic Mexican restaurants are virtually two steps away. Not to mention, our favorite cafe and the best microbrewery in town are right next door, and reaching the beach only takes a quick 5-minute walk.

But more than its location, what I learned about PAL.MAR from the co-owner is that the hotel was designed with eco-friendly features in mind.

For example, the kitchenette sinks have individually attached water filters to discourage guests from buying water bottles, the bathroom soap and shampoo are all biodegradable, and the water is solar-heated. 

You can also visibly see their attention to detail when it comes to sustainability, using natural materials in the design and construction of the hotel and rooms.

The Rooms

The rooms at PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical are unlike any hotel room I’ve ever seen for two main reasons:

1. Suites feature a full kitchenette, king-sized bed, and mini lounging area.
   1. Note: You can also book regular hotel rooms without kitchenettes if you don’t intend to use them.
2. The rooms are tastefully decorated in a boho-chic style, featuring artisanal Mexican handicrafts and art.

We stayed in the Pal’ Cerro standard suite located on the third floor. It afforded spacious, apartment-sized accommodation with all the bells and whistles we needed to fully enjoy our stay. 

I not-so-secretly asked the co-owner, who designed all the rooms at PAL.MAR herself, to please design and decorate my future tiny home. 🙂

The Pal’ Cielo room (left) has a palm tree growing through the middle!

A big bonus feature of the hotel was the freedom to cook a full meal inside the room. Having a fully equipped kitchenette (with microwave, 2-burner gas stove, sink, coffee maker, blender, cutlery, glasses, etc.) can really come in handy, especially for guests staying for a week or more.

Beyond the stylish kitchenette, our next favorite features were the enormous, comfy bed and the full-size table for the lounging/dining area. We also had a lovely balcony facing the pool and courtyard below.

Room features I especially appreciated were the full-sized sliding glass doors (lots of natural light), the double floor-to-ceiling curtains, and the room’s card key, which automatically switches off all the lights (AND saves your light settings for when you return). These are all extra features I thoroughly enjoyed having!

Check room prices for PAL.MAR here.

The Activities

A couple of on-site activities were created with the intention that, at PAL.MAR, you can rest and rejuvenate your senses. 

On-site yoga classes are offered in their very spacious and airy palapa. You can also book a full-body massage on the breezy rooftop.

Hatha Flow yoga class

I stayed at the hotel in time for the Thursday morning Hatha Flow Yoga class at 9 AM. I woke up slowly that morning. I read my book in bed before getting up and making a breakfast of fresh fruits from the local market. 

At 9 AM, I walked barefoot across the hotel property, up a flight of stairs, and quietly joined the yoga class. The sun peeked through the palapa, and the air blew around the large dreamcatcher floating in the corner.

I didn’t realize how much my body – and mind – needed a full yoga class. Denise, our instructor, walked us through the breathing techniques and yoga positions, explaining on and off how each connected to our organs and energy systems. Our class lasted about 90 minutes, although I honestly didn’t see the time pass!

It was just the type of San Pancho wake-up I was craving but didn’t know I needed.

90-minute rooftop palapa massage

The second activity I experienced at PAL.MAR was their on-site rooftop massage. That’s also something my mind and body sorely craved and needed (but this one I knew!). 

It had been a while since I had such a satisfying and “yummy” massage — yummy as my masseuse Denise put it. Yes, the same talented Denise was also my yoga instructor.

Denise incorporated a blend of Swedish and Thai techniques, which left me completely zen afterward. It was the best massage I have had in a long time, possibly ever! 

She could feel where I had strained my body from aerial silk training, which I had done well over six months before. Then she massaged out all the squeaky and squiggly muscle knots. I’ve since been relieved of neck pains and aches and I owe it all to her magic hands!

Booking a massage is a must when staying at PAL.MAR. And the price per value is extremely high (I think it’s around $1200 pesos for 90 minutes). If I didn’t say it already, Denise comes highly recommended! 🙂

The Vibe

Laid-back boho vibes are definitely the atmosphere at PAL.MAR, which I loved. With all the decorations, the morning yoga, and overall exquisite attention to detail, there is a sense of wellness and warmth at PAL.MAR.

In addition to the atmosphere, the staff members are courteous and friendly (which, to me, is always a sign of good management). You can easily come and go from your suite, which feels like your own slice of paradise amid the tropical oasis!

Paul and I even discussed how our room felt inspiring. We had an extra kick in our step and were extremely productive at work. I think it had to do with the room’s natural light and minimalistic yet feel-good decor. 

Like I said before, I secretly wished we could keep our suite as our apartment here in San Pancho! It was such a nice room to return to for rest or work.

Special touches

As for the attention to detail, I was quite impressed with the little touches, including the:

• dish of cotton eye pads in the bathroom to remove makeup or wash your face,
• double floor-ceiling curtains to prevent light in the early morning,
• automatic light switch linked to the room card key,
• sliding bamboo mini door to hide the trash and water filter under the sink,
• mezcal/tequila shot glasses in addition to wine, water glasses, and mugs… The list goes on!

It seemed like our needs — and more — were all covered. Longer stays are quite common in the hotel, and discounts are available for monthly rentals outside of the high season. (Reserve your suite in advance here!)

If you enjoy doing things yourself when on vacation (i.e. cooking your own meals), then PAL.MAR has the best set-up for that! 

Seeing as there is no common kitchen/dining area, the food aspect is left entirely up to you, which is nice. That way, you don’t have to eat out in town and have the option to enjoy dinner in your room.

Final Thoughts: Staying at the PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical in San Pancho

PAL.MAR is truly a unique hotel, offering its very own tropical oasis for guests! The rooms are extra spacious, light, and feature stunning Mexican contemporary design, unlike any hotel we’ve seen before.

Lastly, travelers interested in coming to San Pancho to relax and rejuvenate should seriously consider staying at PAL.MAR!

So why wait? Book your slice of paradise at PAL.MAR Hotel Tropical and start planning your trip to San Pancho, MX!

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Special thanks to PAL.MAR 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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