Town 5 km northeast of Sayulita
Sayulita's quieter neighbor: a long surf beach, a lively community center, and sunsets without the crowds.
San Francisco, which everyone calls San Pancho, sits five kilometers up the coast from Sayulita and feels like Sayulita did before it got famous. The village runs down one main street to a wide, open beach where the waves break hard and the sunset is the evening's main event.
Its layout has an unusual story. In the early 1970s President Luis Echeverría chose San Pancho as a model town for the region, and the government paved streets and built a clinic, schools, and a hotel school. That is why the main avenue is called Tercer Mundo ("Third World") and the side streets are named after countries like Pakistan, Kenya, and Honduras. The plan was dropped when his term ended, and San Pancho went back to being a small fishing and farming town.
Today it draws surfers, yoga students, and people who want Sayulita's beach life at a slower pace, along with a strong arts scene centered on the Entreamigos community center.
What to see and do
Walk the beach at sunset; the surf is strong, so swim only when it is calm and stay near others.
Visit Entreamigos, a community center in a former milk plant with a recycling center, workshops, a library, and a shop selling local crafts.
Surf or take a lesson: the beach break suits intermediate surfers more than beginners.
Stroll Avenida Tercer Mundo for cafés, taco stands, and small galleries.
Getting there
San Pancho is about 10 minutes north of Sayulita by car or taxi on Highway 200; take the San Francisco turnoff toward the sea. Local buses running along the highway between Puerto Vallarta and the towns to the north stop at the turnoff, a short walk from the center.
5 km northeast of Sayulita
Directions from Sayulita on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in San Pancho
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Tours & activities
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Weather warm
San Pancho shares the climate of Sayulita, 5 km away. The best months to visit are Mar, Apr, May, Nov.
Make Sayulita your base
San Pancho is an easy trip from Sayulita, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.