General Information – San Pancho Life

San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico: General Information

Health/First Aid:

YOU SHOULD NOT DRINK TAP WATER IN MEXICO. Bottles of purified water are also for sale at various stores and San Pancho restaurants. (To assist San Pancho’s recycling project, please try to reuse you personal water bottle by refilling it from your home garrafon). The town’s restaurants have an excellent record for cleanliness and you may be confident that all vegetables & fruits have been thoroughly disinfected and that all ice is made from purified water.

To limit the number of mosquitoes in or around your home, make sure there is no standing water around the house. Dawn and especially dusk are the worst times for getting bitten. Otherwise it is perhaps convenient at night to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts, or to use an anti-bug cream or spray, light candles and mosquito coils, or sleep under a mosquito net. For bites, Lanacane is excellent (only available north of the border), or locally ”After Bite”.

Hospital:

San Francisco, Mexico, aka San Pancho, is proud to have its own hospital (tel. #311-258-4077). Built in the 1970’s when San Pancho was being developed as a model village under the then-President Luis Echeverría Alvarez, the well-equipped hospital has flourished as the region has grown in popularity. In Puerto Vallarta “AmeriMed” and “San Javier” hospitals are also highly recommended for serious incidents. (SEE “EMERGENCY PHONE #’s” page).

Post Office:

There is a small post office in San Pancho. However, it only handles incoming mail and isn’t useful for tourists. The closest is in Bucerias to the south, La Peñita to the north, or in Puerto Vallarta and at the airport.

Money Exchange:

You can use US & Canadian dollars (not traveler’s checks) at most of the stores and restaurants in San Pancho and the surrounding area, but you will get bette,r exchange rates at the “Casa de Cambios” (Money Exchanges) at the airport, banks, or from ATM’s.
In San Pancho there are no “Casas de Cambio”, but there are four ATM cash machines. One is located at El Indio market at Calle America Latina; the second is located along the the main street entering town at Mini-Super Mary (near the soccer field); the third is at the Kiosko store on Calle Asia; the fourth is in the pharmacy across from the soccer field. All ATM machines charge a 25-90 pesos surcharge – check the prices on each one before using.

The nearest banks

are in Bucerias – halfway to/from Puerto Vallarta. There are various ATM machines at banks along the road, or there are several at the Mega Comercial Shopping Mall just south of Bucerías. There are also banks in La Peñita, 16 miles/25kms. north of San Pancho on Mex. Hwy 200, direction Tepic. Banks are open Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Groceries:

Basic staples are available in the village at a number of small grocery stores or “Mini-Supers”. Some offer a better selection of products and fresher produce than others so it is worth a stroll through town to see what is available and fresh that day. Try Mini Super “El Indio” on Ave. America Latina, or Emilio’s fruit & vegetable market, just a few doors down. Mini Supers Mary or Mini Super El Morro, both on Ave. Tercer Mundo (the main street), are other options. It’s also good to flag down the pickup trucks that circle through town offering fresh produce, fish & shrimp.

For more fresh fish try behind Calle Cuba #29, and for meat there are modern butcher’s shops (Carnicerias) in town on Av. Tercer Mundo (the main street) near the corner with Calle Asia or at Mini Super/Carniceria San Francisco on Calle Africa (the road leading to the hospital).

Liquor, Wine & Beer:

The tiendas around San Pancho should be able to satisfy your requirements. Some stores are better stocked than others especially with wine, which is still not appreciated locally. The best way to buy beer is by the case. Bottles require a deposit – keep deposit receipt safe for a refund upon leaving and returning the case with the empty bottles. Make sure to exchange all the empty bottles each time in order to avoid losing the deposit. Cans, of course, there is no extra charge.

Laundries:

here are two laundry facilities in San Pancho. One is on the main street next to the Cemex paint store opposite the secondary school, and the other is on Calle Asia at #52. Laundry is charged by the kilo ($12 +/-) and you leave it with the proprietors who wash, dry, and fold everything for you. If you drop off your items before 9 a.m. they are usually ready later the same day.

Religion:

Catholic services are held at the church on the Plaza del Sol off Calle Mexico. Non-denomination and Baptist services may be found in Bucerias, and Jehovah’s Witness in Sayulita.

Holidays:

Major holidays affecting San Pancho and Mexico are the following: September 15th-16th Independence Day; October, the founding of San Pancho; November 1st and 2nd, Day of the Dead; November 20th, the Mexican Revolution; December 1st-12th, Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe; December, Christmas and Holy Week; January 6th, Dia de los Reyes Magos gift exchange; March/April, Semana Santa (week before and after Easter). As for May 5th, or Cinco de Mayo celebrating the Battle of Puebla, that holiday is not generally observed in Mexico as it is by gringos in the U.S. Christmas and Holy Week are really the biggest celebrations, when most Mexicans head to the beach and San Pancho fills up nowadays. Beaches and evenings are not as quiet during these times, but it is a festive atmosphere.

Night Life:

San Pancho may be quiet and restful but it is by no means dead. Live music is popular and featured at most of the notable restaurants over the weekends and occasionally during the week. Polo matches and other entertainment are also available during the winter – check the SanPanchoLife calendar for details. Besides those options, the heavens can always captivate you with the bountiful stars!

Sports:

Soccer matches in San Pancho occur most weekends and knockabouts each evening at The Unidad Deportivo Alvaro Jacome on Av. Tercer Mundo (known as the soccer field). Both pick-up basketball games and zumba classes take place in the Plaza del Sol.

There is also a bullring on the outskirts of town where rodeos, fiestas, best hiking in Mexico, and concerts are held.

Pickleball is the newest rage. It began in San Pancho several years ago and there are about 50 players ranging all levels from beginners up to 4.0. There are three indoor courts just across the river at Hacienda San Pancho. Play is separated into groups of similar skill, tournaments are held a few times per winter, and players from surrounding towns are welcomed by the locals.

San Pancho boasts a world-class Polo Club, La Patrona San Pancho, on a property just behind the town. There are several tournaments during the winter months, and they hold a Sunday Brunch and a polo match every Sunday.

See some things to do in San Pancho Mexico