Lola Perez is a pint-sized bundle of spunk that makes it her
mission to greet guests arriving at
Las Casitas del Mar. The friendly Chihuahua
– along with her older sis Lucy, and her human parents Robin and Rick – are
naturals at making travelers feel more like lifelong friends who’ve come to
“catch up” and laze at their Bucerias hideaway.
On the heels of a busy three-night stay in Puerto Vallarta’s
hotel zone, I was smitten right off the bat with this sweet slice of easy-going
paradise. Twelve miles up the Banderas Bay
coast from Puerto Vallarta
International Airport (PVR) in Riviera Nayarit, the private, gated
retreat exemplifies the slower paced attitude you’d expect of a small fishing
village.
When the ex-pats purchased their
one-acre lot in 1992, they recognized that Bucerias was short on
casita-style accommodations. “It was more about private homes, apartments and a
few smaller hotels,” says Rick. “Once we opened in 1995, we became a nice
option for those wanting to stay longer and have homey comforts.”
Robin and Lola led me to
Casa Ballena, one of three detached two-bedroom brick and tile cottages. All
are individually decorated with traditional furnishings, artwork and pottery
the couple collected from their travels throughout Mexico.
With
generous size, ample sunlight filtering in and WIFI access, I instantly
fantasized about nesting indefinitely. Apparently, others do as well. Robin and
Rick see an enviable 60 % repeat business booking anywhere from one or
two weeks to a month. And the majority of this loyal cadre comes from the
Western U.S. and Canada.
Spacious bedrooms feature
an air conditioner and ceiling fan, with living and dining areas cooled by
ceiling fans. Separated
from the living room by a dining bar, my kitchen was decked out with everything
I needed – pots, pans, cooking utensils, silverware, dinnerware, full-size
refrigerator, oven with range, microwave, blender and ample bottled water. And
while there’s a dining table with chairs inside, each cottage has a second set
for al fresco grazing on its private patio.
In
a separate two-level structure, the Casa Pez Vela upper-floor suite is
accessible via an exterior stairway. This is the grandest, with its expansive
living area, full kitchen, two bedrooms each featuring a bath/shower, and
lavish private terrace looking toward the ocean and across the courtyard.
Tucked away on the first-floor are two one-bedroom suites with the same interior
touches.
As
a common gathering area within the cozy enclave, the well-manicured courtyard
is filled with coconut palms, mango trees and colorful hibiscus shrubs. At its
centerpiece is a cobalt-blue tiled mosaic swimming pool and gazebo with shaded
seating, barbecue grill, wet bar and bathrooms. “What’s really nice is how
guests who don’t know each other end up sharing pot luck dinners in the
courtyard,” said Rick.
Looking directly across the cobblestone Calle Lazaro
Cardenas, it’s nothing but palms, gently breaking waves and an occasional
standup paddler off the uncluttered beach. The
five-mile stretch earns a thumbs up for swimming, bodysurfing, boogie boarding
and surfing.
Eco-tourism also rocks the area,
with everything from bird watching and sunset turtle releases to ziplining in a
subtropical jungle. Vallarta Adventures arranges major excursions throughout
the region, or you sign up at Scott’s Tours across the calle. For golfers, El
Tigre and Flamingos serve up championship courses in adjacent Nuevo Vallarta.
Rick notes that the full kitchens are key. “Depending on
what time they arrive, a lot of our guests just go around the corner to Mary
Paz Market to pick up the essentials,” he says. There’s also a Mega, Walmart
and Merkabastos between the airport and Bucerias for more extensive shelf
stocking.
And for those who prefer to avoid cooking, coffee shops and
casual eateries are abundant along Lazaro Cardenas. That roster expands
exponentially when you head a few blocks further toward the colorful market and
main square.
