El Nido Casa 4 - Paradise on the Bay

Casa Sandbar is owned and run by a Canadian couple, Sandra & Barry. It's their lifelong dream come true, and I've stayed there four times in the three years since 2016. On my first visit, ten friends came with me to celebrate my 60th birthday. We were among their very first guests and loved the place, the rooms, the staff, and the town. Zihua keeps calling me back. The suites all have exceptionally well-equipped kitchens, but cooking isn't something you have to do every day. There are dozens of great restaurants within walking distance. Still, this is a fishing town, and fresh local catch is available daily at the Central Market, which is a spectacle in itself. A tuna loin big enough for four costs $10 CDN. A kilo of shelled, deveined, butterflied shrimp is also $10 CDN, and Mahi Mahi (Dorado) is much the same. It's hard not to want to cook that stuff yourself. The market is a 15-minute walk down the hill, with a 40 peso cab ride back ($3). There's also MEGA, a huge Superstore that's fun to explore. It's too far to walk, but only a 40 peso cab ride each way. You can get everything you buy at home there, including wine, beer, spirits, groceries, and prescriptions. It's also a good place to use the ATM, much cheaper than the downtown banks. There are plenty of options from Casa Sandbar: cook in your suite or head out for all kinds of great food just minutes away. You'll also have to choose between two beaches. Casa Sandbar sits on a point between La Ropa and Madera, both spectacular and a 5-10 minute walk away. Each has white sand that continues into the ocean without rocks underfoot. Zihua is a Mexican town where many Canadian and American expats and retirees have chosen to live. It's nothing like the all-inclusive tourist destination of Ixtapa, just 30 minutes away, and they share the same airport. If you'd like a week or two of luxury in a top-notch place and a town I'm sure you'll love, look no further. Thanks for reading this long post!

After a disappointing mistake with another rental, we were lucky to find this clean, well-run place on Christmas Eve. Barry and Sandy welcomed us warmly into a lovely condo perched above the bay. Recommended!

The suites are beautiful, the beds are comfortable, and they have air conditioning. Each one has a cooling pool with a view, so be sure to book a suite with an infinity pool. The only drawback was slow Wi-Fi. It's a brilliant place run by very nice people, and I'll absolutely stay again.

We stayed there in Feb. 2018 and had awesome accommodations, with wonderful owners and staff. The town, beaches, and sites are easy to get to.