Playa Escondida – Sayulita Hotels – Bachelor in Paradise
Have you always wondered where the show Bachelor in Paradise is filmed? Curious about this beautiful location outside of Sayulita, Mexico? Well, you can STAY THERE! With a little help from Evexia Travel, all of your Bachelor dreams can become a reality! See how on this week’s highly anticipated blog post: Pursuing Pretty in Paradise!
How to Visit Bachelor in Paradise
As a happily married woman with two boys, my dreams of being on the tv show The Bachelor and ensuing Bachelor in Paradise will never be a reality. But as a firm believer in YOLO, I decided that I was going to make it happen on my own terms. t’s been a bucket list item of mine to stay Playa Escondida, in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico. Since this is a remote, boutique resort, I knew that I would need help planning a girl’s vacation here so Julia, owner of Evexia Travel, took the reigns and organized one of the most memorable vacations that any of us have ever had.
I had pretty high expectations for this hotel and Playa Escondida absolutely exceeded all of them. It’s one of the most unique, beautiful, and secluded places that I’ve ever stayed in. Every single one of the fifteen women on this trip was blown away by their experience! The hotel has only 32 rooms, each one is completely different.
The closest airport to Sayulita is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The hotel is approximately an hour from the airport, depending on traffic. An airport transfer should be arranged before arriving to make things easy. Privacy is key for this property and there are no signs to indicate the property. A long cobblestone driveway will snake you through the jungle and a security guard will stop you before arriving at the hotel. So if you were looking to sneak a peek at the resort, you won’t be able to unless you have a hotel reservation.
The difference between this boutique Mexican resort and the larger chain hotels is that this is not an all-inclusive hotel. Accommodation is included in the price of your room but food and drinks are pay-by-purchase. You will accumulate an ongoing tab and pay at the end of your stay. Tips are added to the final total so no need to tip at each transaction. I’m so happy to report that the food is delicious and very affordable. There are lots of options including guacamole, quesadillas, tacos, pasta, pizza, and seafood.
Rooms
Rooms are between $495-$200 in high season from November to April and $395-$165 in low season from May to October. This is based on double occupancy as rooms have either a king or queen bed. Extra rollaway beds/person can be added to your room (if space allows) at $50 per day. Only certain rooms offer to air-condition and some even have balcony jacuzzi tubs. This is not an all-inclusive hotel, food and drinks are à la carte style and billable to your room. Go here to choose your room, then contact Julia to arrange your stay.
My bestie and I chose Sol 1 for our trip as we wanted something beachfront and spacious. It was huge! Our room had 2 full baths, an extra outdoor shower, and a heated spa tub on the massive balcony. It was just something else to be able to go to bed every night with the sound of the waves crashing and wake up every morning to look right down onto the ocean. You don’t get that kind of beach-front access in most Mexican resorts. Our king bedroom was one of the few rooms that offered air-conditioning.
Some of our group chose to stay in the Tree House rooms. One thing we discovered was how FAR they are from the actual resort. Each room comes with a golf cart and it is a 5-minute drive up the cobblestone street to get to your room. This path is unlit at night. The upside is that you have a very secluded, private room in the middle of the jungle.
The hotel is completely beachfront and secluded. Large rocks frame the beach and the water here is quite rough. It’s difficult to swim without being pummeled by huge waves. If you choose a room close to the beach, you’ll enjoy the sound of the waves crashing at all times of the day. Paddleboards, boogie boards, and snorkel gear are included with your stay at Playa Escondida although it may be difficult to find a time when the ocean is calm enough to take advantage of this.
The Pools
There is one main pool on the resort, the one that you frequently seeing the couples lounging in all-day on Bachelor in Paradise. There is also a small hot tub that you’ll recognize from a few make-out scenes and another smaller pool that isn’t used very frequently.
Spa
The hotel has a beautiful treehouse-like spa, that is completely open to the relaxing sounds of the waves. Book yourself a relaxing massage or facial. My 60-minute massage was $60 USD and worth every penny! For more ways to unwind, try the daily morning yoga that’s offered in the open-air palapa (also where Rose Ceremonies are filmed!). The instructor is excellent and this is included with your stay!
Sayulita
Sayulita is the closest town that should NOT be missed. I’ve always been a little weary about Mexico travel but I felt completely safe in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita. You can access Sayulita from the hotel in a few ways. Rent a golf cart from the hotel but I would not at all recommend driving it during the dark. Arrange a taxi to pick you up from the hotel.
The adventurous alternative is hiking it! At guest services, there is video and map on how to reach Sayulita on foot. It is about a 30-40 minute walk over some treacherous rocks and through the back roads, but if you’re up for it, it’s quite a neat experience. It will also bring you up through the Playa Los Muertos (Beach of the Dead) which is a must-see. Our group enjoyed the hike to town and then found a bus in the taxi queue after dinner to return to the hotel. Watch for my next blog post on Sayulita!
Travel Tips
Use a travel agent! You won’t find Playa Escondida as part of a vacation package for Sayulita Hotels. Using a Travel agent like Julia from Evexia will really help make your trip worry-free.
Bring your own drinks. On your way to the hotel, arrange a stop at the Mega grocery store to stock up on drinks, snacks, and food. Beer is cheap to enjoy on the property but wine and spirits can add up quickly if you’re trying to be frugal. Some rooms have small kitchens if making a few meals is something you enjoy.
The water is filtered and safe to drink.
Groups and children are not “encouraged” at the resort. A word of caution here! This is not a resort that you would bring you, children. It’s tranquil and quiet and people vacation here to really relax and unwind. It’s for the same reason that booking a group of people will meet you with a lot of push-back from the hotel. If you’re looking to plan a group stay, contact Julia from Evexia to do so!
Disclaimer: This post is in no way associated with The Bachelor franchise. This post was made possible by Evexia Travel. All thoughts, opinions, and photographs are copyrighted Pursuing Pretty.
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