//
Mexican town
Photo: Drew Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco (also called San Pancho) is a seaside village in Nayarit, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is a very tranquil place with no big businesses. Referred to as a "surfer beach", San Pancho is very welcoming to anyone looking for a quiet beach well away from the crowds of mega-resort areas just a short distance south.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Polo matches are played November - May on Sunday afternoons and November - July on Saturday evenings. The club also offers upscale dining in their on-site restaurant, equestrian lessons, and lessons to would-be polo players.
Beautiful wide, long sandy beaches ideal for sunbathing or swimming. Umbrellas and lounge chairs can be rented for about M$200 per day. There are often good waves here and surfers find plenty of waves to keep themselves occupied. At times the waves can be rather overwhelming for casual swimmers.
Outdoor patio restaurant famous for its sopes. Order a couple different flavors and wash it down with a cold Pacifico beer for a quintessential Pacific beach experience.
Traditional Mexican restaurant with regional and nouveau Mexican dishes. Family friendly with high chairs and changing tables available. Food is very well prepared and elegantly presented. Full bar.
Vegetarian-friendly Indian restaurant right at the entrance to town.
Traditional restaurant with an eclectic menu that combines seafood, Mexican, Indonesian, and vegetarian dishes.
Lively bar draws a young crowd. DJs most nights, live music on weekends, occasional open mike night. Full food menu available.
Craft beer bar with several beers brewed in house including an IPA and a stout. Full bar with a good range of artesanal mezcals and some creative mezcal cocktails to go with it, like the Spicy Mezcal Margarita. They claim to have the best burgers in town and locals don't seem to find room to quibbel with the claim. The portabello burger is a winner.
Rustic tropical eco-hotel with palapa-style buildings. Quiet location on the edge of town next to the beach.
Upscale boutique hotel with friendly service and immaculate, spacious rooms with plush towels, bed linens etc. The on-site restaurant serves regional dishes made with locally sourced organic ingredients. 1 block walk to beach. No on-site parking, but street parking is ample.
Cozy small hotel (10 rooms) 4 blocks from the beach. Spacious, clean, well equipped rooms with modern fixtures. Swimming pool. On-site restaurant serves a traditional Mexican breakfast made to order (not buffet).
Modern upscale boutique hotel with immaculate housekeeping, new fixtures, cable TV, air conditioning. Rooftop has two large jacuzzi tubs. On-site cafe.
Hostel with dorms and private rooms about 1.5 km walk to beach.
Pitch a tent at one of several sites near the river. Shared community kitchen is available.
From the airport of Puerto Vallarta: Go to the highway, cross the bridge and take a direct bus for around M$50-60 (Nov 2021). The buses to San Pancho are green on the bottom and frequent. Some have air-conditioning.
Read in the guideEverything in town is within easy walking distance. Walking is better than using a bike because the streets are cobblestone. Nothing is more than about a kilometer or two away.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Puerto Vallarta · International · PVR
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about San Francisco (Mexico) and Mexico.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in November across autumn foliage, mild desert warmth, southern spring blooms, and off-peak travel bargains.
6 min read
ItinerariesPlan your Isla Holbox trip with our complete Mexico guide. Explore sand streets, Punta Cocos bioluminescence, whale sharks, beach clubs, and ferries.
8 min read
Travel tipsIs it safe to travel to Mexico right now? Compare safety in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Mexico City, and Oaxaca with official travel advisories and local tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.