Playa Escondida Reviews
TripAdvisor Guest Reviews
Hidden Gem...
After staying three nights in the small town of San Pancho, My friends (two couples) and I wanted to stay somewhere on the beach. We had heard of the Harama Yoga Retreat Center next door. As we toured the facilities at Harama, we stumbled upon the private beach of Playa Escondida. The bartender, Jorge, was extremely friendly and made excellent (and strong) drinks. He suggested we ask the front desk if there were any rooms available. Luckily there were.
It is a beautiful boutique hotel with a great location...hidden away from Suyalita town and the crowds. The staff (from the restaurant to the front desk) was very accommodating and attentive. The front desk rep even made sure she said "Adios" when we left for the airport. Very friendly staff!
The restaurant was great (my boyfriend and I loved the chicken Mole). Although it is close to the pool. But no one was using the pool the times we ate lunch, dinner. The hotel also gave us a $200 USD credit which was an added incentive. As for the spa, Eva was great as she gave me a very relaxing massage over looking the ocean.
The only downside to this hotel, is the fact that many of the rooms (we were in the Cabana bungalow) are in the midst of the jungle...and have no windows or screens. So it's very much like camping outdoors with a bed and bathroom. One morning I even found a small tree frog in our shower. And although many of the staff insisted that January wasn't the season for mosquitoes, my legs and back were covered in bug bites. Also, the Cabana we stayed in was very dark and could have used a better cleaning in the shower. There were mold stains on the shower walls. I preferred showering in the spa shower as there was better lighting and no mold.
But overall, it was worth the bug bites...getting to have our own private beach and beautiful views. I would come again...but would bring bug spray and ask for a more enclosed room with better lighting. I heard Villa 4 is just that.
Room Tip: Villa 4 is better enclosed during mosquito season
posted by: Nicole M, SF (January 9, 2012)
Attention to detail in a picture perfect”
My husband and I just returned from a wonderful week spent at Playa Escondida and while we don't normally do repeat locations, this place could qualify.
I have to say that I travel frequently to both high and low level locations for work and have limited vacation time which unfortunately falls at the same time as everyone else so when I pick a vacation spot, I'm picky! I didn't have a lot of time for this one and picked based on trip advisor and where my miles could get us, not disappointed. We stayed in two different rooms, 1st the Guest House which is super funky and up a lot of steps, we live up a lot of steps so no biggy for us, The Guest House is secluded and feels like your in the middle of the jungle (kinda are) and the call of the birds awakens you each morning.
You can sit on the terrace, drink your coffee, and take in the not so distant view of the ocean. The bedroom is above in a loft so I could get up early and not disturb my husbands beauty sleep! The second room was amazing and worth the extra money, Sol 1 is you have to remember when booking your trip (just don't prevent me from getting it). Sol 1 is epic, it has a huge terrace that overloks the beach and again the bedroom is in a loft. The pictures actually don't in this case do it justice. You have a full kitchen, sitting area and you are quite literally steps to the beach.
Now what makes Playa Escondida different? 2 things and one that has been mentioned a lot : the staff and the attention to detail.
The Staff:
Diego the owner runs a tight ship and everyone that works at Playa Escondida feels like an owner. They don't brush things off or take shortcuts, they actually go the extra mile which is rare, especially at so many different levels. When we arrived we remarked on how reasonable the services, food, etc was and one of the staff said that they do not look at their guests as wallets but as visitors to their home, this is accurate.
The details:
The decor and detail of this place is spot on. Each room is unique, spotless, thought out, and little things like electrical wiring, is carefully concealed and combined in the decor, it's one of those little things that we notice when traveling, the exposed wires, the bare lightbulb, the room will look good upon 1st glance but begins to show it's ugly side after a day or two, this never happened.
The Spa is excellent and the massage was so good I went back twice, the food is so good we ate at the restaurant restaurant more than not. The beach is beautiful and private. There are 2 amazing long flat beaches to the right and left over some rocks and easy to access. We went on 2 excursions the snorkel at the Marietta Islands and a 2 hour horseback ride and both were fun and g the money. Not the most amazing snorkeling but I'm spoiled, it was fun to swim through the cave and see the beach and the blue footed boobies are really cool. The horses are not your typical beach rental and are well cared for with amazing temperaments and were unfazed by cars, dogs, and people.
I did yoga almost every morning on the beach (complimentary) which was a great way to start the day. I personally enjoyed the challenge of the instructor as she pushed me further than most and called me on my mistakes and cheats, others thought her a little too "honest".
Lastly I recommend this place for new years eve, it was so fun and again the details! They had 3 bands, a beach bonfire with marsh-mellows, open bar, fireworks, activities for the kids (not that I have any), and a great dinner!
Run don't walk to this place if your looking for a small, attentive, and overall relaxing location for your next trip.
Room Tip:
Sol 1 the best beach view, but from what I hear from others there aren't really bad rooms. I wouldn't recommend the jungle rooms during the hot months though.
posted by: Soggy_Portlander, Oakland, California (January 6, 2012)
The most amazing place
We drove in from puerto Vallarta to get a massage and have lunch. The place is breath taking and is the most amazing place . The massage was the best I have ever had and To hear the waves breaking during the massage was wonderful. The lunch, fish tacos, yummy!!! I can't wait to go back next year and stay the night. The staff also friendly and very helpfully. See you next year!!!
posted by: Scottkymm2424 (December 15, 2011)
Great hotel in a beautiful setting
Stayed 4 days in early December. I'm already planning a trip back. My husband and I had the best time at Playa Escondida. It was peaceful, beautiful, relaxing and very romantic. The staff is incredibly friendly and professional and the rooms are unique and very cool. I stayed at Casita for the first night and Sol 3 the remaining nights. Both rooms are great but I found that Casita was a bit too close to the road and slightly noisy. I'm a light sleeper so I found Sol 3 to be a better fit. The food is pretty good but the cocktails take the prize. Awesome margaritas, mojitos, cielo rojos and the random beer cocktail from Jorge was also excellent. My husband and I both had massages and they were the best massages we've ever had. Eva and Elsy have magical hands! We had a great time hanging out with Coral & all the other resort pets too. The only drawback is the distance of Playa Escondida to town. If you don't plan on heading into Sayulita too often then this is a perfect fit. We went for a wedding and had to take taxis almost every night. Not a huge issue but it can get pricey if you head into town often. We will definitely be back, this place is amazing!
posted by: electra005, Oakland, California (December 20, 2011)
At least stop in for dinner or enjoy a day here!
I've been coming to Sayulita for 4 years - several times each winter for surf trips. I actually enjoy the hustle and bustle of Sayulita but many complain about the numbers of people and noisy nights - if that's the case - THIS is the place to stay. It's gorgeous, tucked away in the jungle but right on a beautiful beach. It has just as easy access to all of the local surf breaks - or you can have the group Wildmex in Sayulita come pick you up and take you on surf trips.
My boyfriend and I decided to do the very short (10 min) drive in from Sayulita to have dinner last night. We arrived just before sunset and watched the sun slip into the water while sipping PERFECT margaritas at lovely beach bar (Jorge really does make perfectly balanced margaritas - not all sugary like most places here)... then we stayed for dinner as the full moon lit up the waves. It was a magical evening, we enjoyed walking through the gorgous grounds, had exceptional service, and good food. We will definitely return!
posted by: indierhythm, Palo Alto, California (December 11, 2011)
Honeymoon Heaven!
This place is perfect down to the last detail! My husband and I spent our honeymoon here and absolutely everything exceeded our expectations. We stayed in Luna Amour and enjoyed the gorgeous vista from our private terrace overlooking the ocean (we could even watch the whales each morning as they visit at this time of year-magical!), pristine private beach, infinity pool and hot tub, delicious food and cocktails served by friendly and attentive staff. Staff went out of their way to provide a memorable experience (we hung out with the bartenders Jorge & Jose nearly every night-hilarious!).
The icing on the cake was a sunset dinner on the beach with a bottle of champagne amidst flower petals and candles (we did pay for this service, but it was well worth it! Thanks Tony and Paloma.) Just a 20 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride away, we were able to visit the town of Sayulita for surfing, shopping and other dining experiences. We rented surf boards from Patricia's for $5 / hour (or a $30 lesson + board rental) with rash guards included.
I hesitated to write this review as part of me would like to selfishly keep Playa Escondita a secret- it is that amazing! My loyalty to the staff who are all incredible people and to the owner who has obviously poured so much love into this place are the reasons for sharing this treasure with the world. I will definitely be back and have recommended to all my friends!
Room Tip: We stayed in Luna Amour and loved it. From speaking with other guests, it sounds like every room has something special to offer.
posted by: Kim S, Whistler, Canada (December 4, 2011)
Wonderful, relaxing and friendly place
We just came back from Playa-Escondida where we spent 8 nights. Everything in this small hotel is simply wonderful! The location is superb. Resort is facing a large natural beach with almost nobody except hotel's guests. Every evening we took long walks on the beach, enjoying sunset, moonlight and incredibly beautiful stars. The grounds are beautifully maintained - lots of lush tropical foliage and plants.
The rooms are gorgeous and have unique interior and exterior designs. We were lucky to be in the Studio Rocosa room, surrounded by nature. The room was big and clean with view over rainforest hills and bit of ocean.
Bathroom and shower on the balcony were cute and unique in style. We made friends with geckos and tiny, penny size, cute frogs that came to visit :) The hotel's pool is absolutely clean and gorgeous, surrounded by palms, rocks and ethnic sculpture figures. The restaurant is so cute, you do not want to leave it.
It was fun to have breakfast while barefoot every morning, enjoying amazing view of the ocean just in front of you. Dinners were beyond romantic when you do not see the ocean, but hear the waves.
The food is fresh, healthy, tasty, made to perfection and the deserts are delicious! My radically non-vegetarian husband just fell in love with the lamb ribs and NY angus steak. We really loved it and we ate there during the whole stay and it was absolutely perfect, no need to go elsewhere. Small thing: vine list could have more choices. Australian vines would make great addition.
Yellow Tail brand, for instance. We love it here in US :) The service and the staff are so nice and attentive. Everything comes at you with a smile. Rosalio and Ruben, you are the best and thank you for Spanish lessons! Jorge makes absolutely delightful and wonderful cocktails.
The Sayulita town is cute and alive. And the location of the hotel was perfect with 25 min walk to town. Thank you Playa-Escondida! Great service and wonderful wildlife were perfect for our vacation. No doubts we will come again.
posted by: Larisa and Gennady, MI USA (November 22, 2011)
The best!
My wife and I just returned from our second visit to Playa Escondida. We had a fabulous time, as we did when we visited last year.
Our room (Sol 1) was perfect. It has a ton of space, beautiful views of the ocean and a fabulous bedroom accessed by a flight of stairs. It's right on the beach and close to the restaurant, bar and spa area.
Jorge took great care of us. Not only does he mix great drinks, he gets to know the guests and makes sure they have what they need. Eva is a wonderful masseuse -- get the hot rocks!. Marisol kept my wife in shape with her morning yoga classes on the beach. All of the staff is friendly and helpful.
The restaurant is good, though we ate most of our lunches and half of our dinners in town. We enjoyed breakfast by the pool every morning.
For those looking for a great place to relax in a beautiful, natural setting, Playa Escondida is perfect. The staff will arrange activities (surfing lessons, fishing, etc.) if you want, but no one is pushing you to do anything. Sayulita is nearby (half hour walk on the beach and through the jungle or a $6 cab ride) and it has some fun shopping and restaurants. (Check out Miro Vino, Fish Tacos and Beer and Burrito Revolucion.)
Viva Playa Escondida!
posted by: sidperson, Washington DC, District of Columbia (November 21, 2011)
Absolutely wonderful place!
My mother and I spent a week at Playa to celebrate her birthday, and it was a fabulous experience. All the staff was very friendly and helpful. I'm reluctant to name names because I wouldn't want to leave anyone out-everyone was great. The ambience is original and relaxing. The accommodations offer incredible privacy, have fun, funky decor and are well maintained. Both massage therapists, Eva and Elsy, are excellent and Maria Sol's yoga classes are superb. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. It is really a terrific place and I hope to return!
Room Tip: Luna Danzante has two double beds and the most amazing view! It is also very private with it's own sand terrace with lounge chairs.
posted by: ElkeOH, Westmoreland, NH (November 18, 2011)
Great place to relax
This was the first time I went on vacation just to relax and do nothing and now I wonder why I waited so long to do that. October is a good month to visit if you want to feel secluded. Elsie gives great massages - I wish I could find someone like her back home because I'd be a steady client for sure.
Room tip: When you have a room near the beach, you'll hear the waves crashing while rooms in the bird canyon get jungle-like sounds and sometimes barking dogs.
posted by: Sabitron, California (October 27, 2011)
A Great Place
My wife and I spent 6 days and 5 nights. We could not have been more pleased. The service - outstanding. Seriously, outstanding! From the time and effort spent on making sure our meals and room were to our liking to seeing to it our needs were met for excursions away from their property. I could go on and on...I will leave it at this. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation spot, with outstanding food, outstanding service, clean, well kept accommodations and attentive and caring staff. Look no further.
posted by: John Niedz, Broomfield, Colorado (October 14, 2011)
Perfection
I just spent a week at Playa Escondida with my wife for our honeymoon. Everything was perfect - the setting is stunning, the rooms are so unique, well kept, and comfortable, the staff are out-of-this-world nice and accommodating, the food is fantastic, and the overall experience was just amazing. Big shout out to Tony, Annie and Alicia at the front desk for all of their help, as well as Rosalio, Tomas, Joel and Noe at the restaurant for their extra friendly service. We definitely splurged for this occasion and we couldn't be more happy with our choice to stay here. Sayulita is also a great little town - super safe, relaxed and lots of great places to eat and drink. I would highly recommended this place to anyone!! Thanks for the great week, everyone!!
posted by: duk_koo_kim, Toronto, Canada (September 6, 2011)
Heaven!!!!!
My husband and I have just returned from here with nothing but GREAT things to say about Playa Escondida!!!!!!! This was by far one of the most beautiful places I have been to! What really makes this place is the people! Not once did we feel like we were being taken care of by "paid" employees, instead we met and bonded with friends!!!! Every single person I met at this hotel, I take back home with me in my heart!
This place felt like home, with all its attentions do details, from the gardening to the candles, to the smells, and of course hats off to the Chef!!!! Being one myself, I was uplifted with pleasure with the quality of the food, attention to detail just 5 stars!!!!
The quaintness of this place is outstanding and will recommend it to the fullest!!!!!
Take the time to see what beauty is hidden here, you will not be disappointed, I give you my word!!!!!
Many thanks to all of you at Playa Escondida, you will be with me forever!
posted by: frizouvie, St jean sur Richelieu (August 12, 2011)
Absolutely 5 star wonderful!!!!!
There are not enough words to express our positive experience at Playa Escondida! From day one when we arrived via taxi and were greeted by name by front desk host Roger all the way until the end of our stay we were treated like absolutely royalty. We came for our honeymoon and they made us feel like every moment here was given just for us. We had a catered private candle light dinner on the beach as part of the honeymoon package and we were amazed at how much work Toni had put into it. The decor, the candles, the location on the beach, it was all just perfect. Jorge. the bartender, really and truly one of the nicest men I have ever encountered. This resort offers ocean view, some of the best food I have literally ever experienced, professional, friendly and laid back service w/ a smile and scenery that would literally take anyones breath away. Anyone who could ever complain about the noise of the ocean or the heat in the air should probably vacation somewhere like Siberia. I am amazed at the bad reviews on here, surely composed by spoiled people too hard for anyone to please. No, there are not panes of glass for windows, there is not AC in the rooms and you will most certainly be calmed in the evening by the crashing sounds of the ocean waves. If those items do not appease you, best find another destination but if you enjoy basking poolside w/ staff that waits on you hand and foot, the escape from busy life and the rat race and just an overall new, cultural and beautiful countryside, this is the place for you. We will be turning Playa Escondida into a regular vacation destination. They have won our hearts. Muchas Gracias to you all at Playa Escondida, you give honor to your jobs and the resort and we will be back to visit you all again!!! Love from Angie and Eric! August 5th-August 11th 2011!! We will miss you all!
posted by: AngieandEric_11, Toronto, Canada (August 9, 2011)
Mexico's #1 Wedding/Honeymoon Destination
I want to thank everyone at Playa Escondida for our incredible wedding and honeymoon experience!!! Brenda, Anne, Rene, Tony, Alex, Jorge, Tomas, Chef Oscar, are just a few of Playa Escondida's staff that make this resort the paradise it truly is. During our two week stay, they became our second family and will remain in our memory and hearts forever! Their personal service to our needs, their responsiveness and attentiveness, were second to none. They all truly love what they do and it showed every day. We were treated as royalty by every staff member and we hope the owner(s) appreciate what dedicated and caring staff they have. We highly recommend this secluded beach resort to those of you wishing to experience less crowds and a lot more what Mother Nature has to offer (including magnificent sunsets)
Make it a point to visit Jorge, the bartender and order Kim's "Forever Yours" Martini. Insist Jorge tell you the story that made this Martini famous in all of Sayulita. His story telling will go a long way with this refreshing Martini...we promise you, he will not disappoint.
Playa Escondida supersedes any 5 star resort. It combines natural Jungle like setting with magnificent private beach and all the privacy you expect. Everything is first class including the gourmet meals prepared by Chef Oscar. The food is incredible, setting is unbelievably romantic and service outstanding! Spa treatments were the best we have ever experienced! Both masseuses were incredible! As you can see we can't say enough good things about this place and we hope you will visit this paradise in Mexico.
posted by: TravelBum1962, Vernon, Connecticut (August 7, 2011)
Beautiful paradise
Our 3 nights stay was incredibly relaxing, we were treated like royalty and every member of the staff was so kind to us. Unfortunately our room got flooded the first night (love nest) but they gave us another room for the next two days, a much better room btw (sol I). This hotel has a secluded beach with total privacy, and its cuisine was 100% gourmet, every dish was absolutely delicious! We can't wait to come back!
posted by: erickardus (August 4, 2011)
Loved it, didn't want to come home
We stayed at Playa Escondida for 5 nights, and didn't want to leave.
From the moment we arrived, we were greeted like old friends and all the staff went out of their way to make us feel at home and relaxed. Every request we had was accommodated, and the friendly smiles we got from everyone made us feel so welcome.
We stayed in Cenzontle up in Bird Canyon, and it was fantastic. So private, room was clean and bed very comfortable. We had our own golf cart to get to our room and back to the main resort. The owners dog Coral used to ride up in the cart with us, and stayed in our room each night we were there.
The food at the restaurant was amazing - every dish we had was great, fresh, delicious and reasonably priced. The waiters were so accommodating, helping us with our Spanish and making sure we had whatever we needed. Before leaving I made a special trip to the restaurant to hug goodbye to Tomas, he was such a great part of making our time there special. I also agree with other comments that Horhay/George the Bartender also makes the most delicious drinks.
We both had treatments at the SPA - the staff were lovely, and the atmosphere amazing - a relaxing massage on a cliff top while the sea breezes cool you down. So good my husband went back 2 days in a row.
Playa Escondida isn't for those who want the Hilton experience - there is no air con, and you are literally in the jungle. But if you want to feel like you have escaped the world, and welcomed like you are part of the family this is the place for you.
If we are every back in Mexico (long way from Perth!) we will be back.
posted by: AlisonRay, Perth, Australia (August 4, 2011)
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Frommer's Mexico 2011
Playa Escondida "Find" "3 stars"
(Frommer's ratings are 0=recommended to 3=exceptional; Finds= "special finds"- those places only insiders know about)
Just above an idyllic beach cove, a handful of uniquely designed bungalows dot the lush tropical grounds of Playa Escondida. A waterfall rains warm water into the oceanfront infinity pool, set next to the palapa restaurant and an open-air spa which offers outstanding massages for a great value.
The casual, friendly staff gets to know many of the guests at this gorgeous yet unpretentious resort.
It's not the Four Seasons—activities are limited, there are no air conditioners, and Mother Nature sometimes visits the open-air Bungalows (which have fans and mosquito nets). But for those who want a peaceful vacation off the beaten track and don't mind sacrificing a bit of commercial convenience for enchanted natural beauty, this place is truly unforgettable and magical.
Choose from among individually designed beachfront casitas, bungalows in the jungle, or imported teak houses from Thailand constructed in a spectacular bird canyon.
Sayulita is a winding 5-minute drive from this splendid resort.
posted by: Shane Christensen, Author of Frommer's Mexico 2011