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EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside

Photo gallery for EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside

The happiest feature pf the Nido is its proximity to the pool.
This door leads to the Villa de Vistas, 3 houses, 1 NIDO (nest)
Our gentle patron Saint Pancho (St. Francisco) will welcome you.
And then you walk down this stairway with classic Mexican tiles.
And when you come around the corner, you find your new home -- EL NIDO.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 483 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
San Francisco (San Pancho), NAY
  • Playa San Francisco
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • San Pancho Nayarit Market
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Sayulita Beach
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (PVR-Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Intl.)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside

EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA (The Nest of the Turtle) is a little casita nestled into the hillside and cozied up under the Big House (LA CASA QUE CANTA -- The House the Sings). When you enter the courtyard of the property you need to go down two flights of stairs to get to EL NIDO.

It is located just a few steps away from the Family Pool, which was designed to be both safe and a constant delight to children of all ages. It has a complete kitchen, a small but comfortable sitting area inside, and a sunny one outside. It has two bedrooms -- the master bedroom has a king-sized bed; the other room is a bunk room with a set of bunk beds. Its bathroom has dual showers.

You might wonder what makes EL NIDO special. The initial inspiration came from the fact that San Pancho is a turtle sanctuary and we wanted to honor the great work of Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde. Keeping with the sense of a sanctuary, we wanted our NEST to be small, safe, distinctive, and like any self-respecting turtle's nest, grounded.

In keeping with that initial inspiration, our architect/interior design team created a tropical forest motif for the bathroom with its two showers and timbers providing the supply of water and lighting. The bathroom sink is onyx. The marble gives evidence of the antediluvian past with all kinds of crustacean fossils. A couple of stone turtles will share this most intimate part of the NEST, the double shower.

Likewise the bunk room feels like a tree house.

The sitting area and the kitchen are filled with Mexican artifacts -- tiles, masks, wall hangings, carefully and expertly carved pine furniture.

We have also recently made some upgrades to the property. This includes adding a generator, in case of power outages. We now have 2 different wifi services (fiber and Starlink satellite) and a switch that will toggle between them if 1 goes down. We also have an expansive mesh wifi network ensures the entire property with fast wifi. You are guaranteed to have power and internet connectivity.

EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA is one of three houses in this complex. LA CASA QUE CANTA is above the NIDO. A second home, the CASITA CELESTIAL is further down the hill. The entire property has purified water which means it's not necessary to drink bottled water. If you look at the photo of the back of the property, you can see the entrance to EL NIDO on the lower left side, on the same deck as the pool. It is very private, a five minute walk to the beach and another 20 to town. You will not hear the sounds of any other guests, but you will hear the beating of the surf and the rustling of the palm fronds. You will also hear the singing of the birds and the cackling of the Chachalacas.

SAN PANCHO is a haven. It is 50 minutes north of the airport in Puerto Vallarta. It has about 2000 to 2500 Mexican Nationals and a moderate presence of Gringoes, but is now growing rapidly. There is a high level of respect for the Mexican culture among those who have chosen to live in San Pancho. The restaurants are excellent. The beach is beautiful and not overloaded with people. There are many activities available-- from attending polo matches to going on birding walks (we are a bird sanctuary), to being present when the infant turtles are released into the perils of the ocean. And, of course, the weather is ideal.

Property manager

Melissa Roberts (and her husband, Bill Roberts)
Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children need to be supervised.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

San Francisco

Located in San Francisco, this holiday home is by the sea. Shoppers can check out San Pancho Nayarit Market, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Sayulita Beach and Punta de Mita Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
San Francisco (San Pancho), NAY

What's nearby

  • Playa San Francisco - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Las Huertas Golf Club - 4 min drive - 2.0 km
  • San Pancho Nayarit Market - 6 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Sayulita Square - 13 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Sayulita Beach - 30 min drive - 10.3 km

Getting around

  • Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (PVR-Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Intl.) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Su Pancha Madre - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Mariscos Barracuda - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bistro Orgánico - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Maria's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Chido Greens - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA -- A Poolside, Cozy Casita Nestled Into the Hillside located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Playa San Francisco and 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from San Pancho Nayarit Market. Las Huertas Golf Club and Entreamigos are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 40 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

William B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location exceptional service and space

We had a lovely time staying in San Pancho - the food was fantastic in town and the vrbo was exactly what we wanted for our family of 4.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alea W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Stay at this Casita

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The space was clean, spacious, and comfortable. It was far enough away from town for relaxing and quiet evenings, but an easy trip in to enjoy all the conveniences of town. We loved the walk to town each day (a bit long for some, but we loved it) and enjoyed the nearby beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gwynne B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another lovely week in this idyllic spot

It couldn't have been better. A lovely, lovely place that has become our Mexican home away from home.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Fred B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastically Relaxing Jungle Oasis

Wonderful unit with all the comforts for a most relaxing visit to San Pancho with the sound of yer ocean and birds chirping away. Full kitchen was a blessing and the swimming pool was fantastic for a dip in the afternoon. The bed was extremely comfortable and it was easy to walk or taxi to town (or golf cart if you so desired). Fantastic restaurants in San Pancho, mercado on Tuesday, incredible sunsets at the beach every night. Highly recommend Villa de Vistas!!!!
Stayed 11 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent edge of town retreat

Super well maintained retreat on the north edge of the beach. Marie was very helpful and available
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonah P., Austin Texas

We loved it!

What an awesome place. Right next to the beach and the hosts Bill and Melissa were great. We will be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Beautiful Stay!

We had an excellent stay at this beautiful property. Everything was extremely clean and in great condition. The bedrooms were comfortable and air conditioned. Check in was easy and the guidebook provided us with important information that helped us plan our stay. We (and our toddler) loved ending each afternoon in the beautiful pool. San Pancho is an amazing town and we would definitely return.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gwynne B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

FABULOUS

This rental was so perfect for our family. The setting is magnificent. The owners are delightful people. Couldn't have been better.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Larry G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything we wanted and more ...

What a beautiful property. Absolutely amazing pool area. Melissa and Maria made us feel like family. It was a great vacation made even better by this gem of a rental and the people who run it. Thank you for the wonderful week in paradise.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

toni t., Where do you live?

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nido de la Tortuga

My stay was very relaxing. Marie was a helpful concierge and Bill and Melissa were very friendly! Marie set up a ride from the airport to the property and the driver was very good as well. The property is absolutely gorgeous and the pool was refreshing. San Pancho is such a cute little town. Would definitely visit again!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laurie K., Seattle

Lovely home in the jungle

Though we had the smaller unit, we had the whole property to ourselves. Very relaxing surrounded by jungle and the sounds of the ocean. San Pancho is an ADORABLE town and we loved out time there.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Stephen W.

Romantic

This house is wonderful. Fully equipped and in a wonderful location. We rented the Casita and fortunately had the entire place to ourselves during our stay. Short walk to the beach and town and very private. The staff were phenomenal people and so helpful. Looking forward to staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

jesse t.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet tropical getaway

We had a lovely time here with William and Melissa as host to there beautiful home. The place was quiet and secluded in between tropical forest and nature sounds. The beach was close walk and the local food was amazing. I would recommend this place to anyone e and we an on coming back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paige W., Aledo/TX

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas Getaway

The property itself was beautiful! The tilework on every step leading to and from the property and down to the beach was incredible as was the tile mosaic on the pool. It was simply a stunning estate in the midst of a jungle, and we were enchanted! Thank you for the wonderful assistance from Marie and Iris. We hope to come back and highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

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Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun, Sun, and Friends

Melissa and Bill were delightful hosts, assisting us with planning and giving us ideas about things to do on our visit. It was like being with family. My daughter, grandchildren, and I had a great time in San Pancho and surrounding communities. It's the perfect location to relax and enjoy the beach, pool, restaurants, and activities such as surfing, boating, and even watching a polo match!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

John G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Las Brisas

Extraordinary hosts and support staff. Accommodations were perfect. Villa de Vistas could only have been created and maintained by a family who love and honor one another as well as their San Pancho with its tropical jungle, peaceful trade winds, warm pool, imaginative dining options and beautiful beach. Hopefully, we can continue to respect, protect and honor this offering to be cherished.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen H., Portland, Oregon

Special place in a special town

We absolutely loved everything about our stay at El Nido de la Tortuga in the gorgeous and generous community of San Pancho. The casita had everything we needed for the four of us (two adults and two kids) to unwind and feel at home. Bill and Melissa were the most gracious hosts, and we enjoyed getting to know the other family staying on the property as well as Rodrigo and Iris, who were so friendly and helpful during our stay. We'll be back in a heartbeat!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

Very quiet. Beautiful. In the jungle. Felt Like an extension of home
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carol B., Willits, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Villa

We loved everything about our stay. The villa was well equipped, artfully built, beautifully landscaped with a pleasant (though steep) walk through tropical plants and down a road to an amazing sparsely populated beach. We walked to town in the mornings via the beach where there were more people and beach action. The pool was the perfect temperature and we enjoyed coming home and taking a swim at the end of the day. The gracious hosts, Melissa and Bill were in the main house when we were there and we enjoyed meeting them and hearing their story. Marie, the concierge, was very responsive and helpful! All in all, we had a wonderful time & felt very grateful for our relaxing get-away.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy A., Victoria, BC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family beach vacation

We loved this property! The kids spent a lot of time in the pool. The village of San Pancho is beautiful but has changed a lot and is getting more expensive. The property is too far to walk to town if you have kids but we rented a golf cart to solve that and it turned out that the kids absolutely loved the golf cart lol. Our hosts Melissa and Bill are very kind and lovely people and it was a pleasure to meet them. Our concierge Marie was very helpful organizing things for us before we arrived like a private chef to come to our place and tours/local advice. We can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home, wonderful hosts

This property is stunning! The whole villa is just gorgeous - coming home to it every afternoon after a day of explorations felt like a real treat. There are stunning views in a jungle-like environment, a pool perfect for all ages, and lots of space to lounge and eat outside. El Nido is so convenient being right on the pool and deck level. We felt the unit was bigger than we expected, with plenty of room for our family of four. The steps down to the beach are so fun and were totally manageable. Though the beach itself was too rough for us to go in, we enjoyed jumping over waves and just playing in the sand - it's a gorgeous beach! We were lucky enough to be there while the owners and their family were there - all so nice, helpful, and accommodating. This is a really special place and we really can't imagine staying anywhere else in San Pancho now!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent!

Do yourself a favor and stop looking around and book this property! You'll be so glad you did. We really enjoyed our stay here. Bill and Melissa are wonderful people and great hosts!! They were very responsive with our questions prior to booking and throughout our stay. We were on the fence as to whether or not to get a car and we did end up renting one from Gecko in PV. It came in handy to get us to and from the airport, to get groceries for the week on the way to the property, and to Sayulita to get our COVID tests prior to our flight home. We also used it to go to La Launcha beach for some surfing. Otherwise we just walked into town for breakfasts and dinners when we felt like it. The walk was easy either on the beach or on the roads. We really enjoyed just spending time at the property though and relaxing in and around the pool! This vacation was exactly what we needed and Bill and Melissa couldn't have been better hosts. They have put so much work and love into their property and it shows. You can tell it gives them joy to share this beautiful place with others. And San Pancho is totally worth visiting!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melanie M., Park city utah

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Luxury vacation home

We had a wonderful stay at El Nido De La Tortuga! It was a beautiful, well equipped and meticulously maintained property. Iris was so helpful in getting us to the home and showing us around. All of the caretakers were very friendly. The home was a quick 5 minute walk to the beach and another 10-15 walk in to town. San Pancho was a lovely town, and more our mellow speed than Sayulita, but it was close enough to check out other beaches than San Pancho. Bill's instructions, recommendations and guidance was very thorough and gave us much information to assist us in our stay. Would highly recommend this beautiful property. Thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Isabelle R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Propriété impeccable

Nous avons adoré notre expérience à la Villa. Tous les petitsplus y était: cadeau à notre arrivée, les bases pour cuisiner (huile, poivre, sel, etc), cuisine complète, propreté impeccable, savon et shampoing. L'endroit est juste merveilleusement beau. Le jardin est incroyable, la piscine parfaite et le personnel est plus qu'attentionné. Mélissa répond dans l'heure qui suit et est une hôtesse très attentionnée. Nous avons passé finalement la majorité de notre temps à profiter de la Villa. Cette dernière est situé à quelques minutes de la plage et à 15 minutes à pied du village. C'est un endroit paradisiaque que je recommande pleinement. À voir!
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jesse D., Calgary, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Stay!

Bill and Melissa are fantastic hosts and amazing people. We felt very lucky to find their place during our time in Mexico. Melissa has created such a wonderful oasis with every detail thought through. The quality of the Nido is incredible and feels very luxurious. It was also impeccably clean. We were travelling with our 7 month old and it had everything we needed - high chair, full kitchen, pool toys, and even a pack n play. We were initially hesitant with the distance from town before booking but it did not bother us at all! The beach is less than 5 mins away and it is closer to the quieter and nicer end of the beach. The walk to town was a nice 20 min walk along a quiet road or along the beach. If we had an older child we would probably rent a golf cart (and saw many other families do the same!). I cannot recommend this place enough! We will definitely be back to this perfect little oasis. Thanks again Melissa and Bill!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Roberts (and her husband, Bill Roberts)

Host profile image
We have lived most of our adult life in Middletown, Connecticut, where Melissa was a school social worker and Bill was a clergyman for the first half of his career and a consultant for the second half. In 1979 we built a home on Cape Cod for our family -- we have three sons.

The Cape House was very important to our family, but as the boys grew up, moved away, and had children of their own, we decided to sell that house and build a three-home complex in San Pancho to accommodate our expanded family as well as friends and other guests. EL NIDO DE TORTUGA is one of 3 units.

Why they chose this property

In January of 2006 two of our sons went on a surfing/scouting trip to the west coast of Mexico. They found their way to San Pancho, and immediately fell in love with the town and the beach. A couple of months later, we rearranged some travel plans and went to check it out for ourselves. Well, we also loved the place.

We felt welcomed to the town. The Americans and Canadians we met seemed to respect the culture and value their relationships with the residents whose families, in some cases, have lived in this area for over a hundred years. It seemed that this would be an ideal place to build a home for generations of our family.

We purchased this piece of land hoping that we might have a pretty good view of the ocean and sunsets. And we do have spectacular views from the top of the property and the main house, LA CASA QUE CANTA. Though there are no ocean views from the NIDO, all around is the gorgeous jungle.

Another reason this property was attractive has to do with the way the hillside drops away rather precipitously and allowed us to place three separate living units in such a way that they provide optimal privacy but still allow for generous places where groups can get together should they want.

Finally, the property is perfect because it is close enough to the beach (a five minute walk down the hill and through our jungle garden) and close enough to the town (about a 20 minute walk)-- but far enough away so that the noise and the congestion which comes in the busiest seasons does not affect us.

What makes this property unique

The unique benefit of EL NIDO DE LA TORTUGA is that it not only celebrates the turtle sanctuary, but it is a sanctuary for the humans too--a place for fun and renewal.

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests