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Lifestyle

There are direct flights to Puerto Vallarta from many major cities in the US. From Denver, for example, you can leave your house at 8:00 in the morning and have a late lunch on the beach in San Pancho (although officially named San Francisco, it is affectionately known as San Pancho by locals). San Pancho lies in the middle of a small protected region of coastal mountains and semi-tropical forest. In fact, this is the only tropical forest north of Central America.

San Pancho is a small semi-tropical village on the Emerald Coast of the Nayarit Riviera. Puerto Vallarta, less than an hour away, has the stores, services and pleasures of any big city, including an active nightlife, theater, a wide variety of music (including classical), excellent restaurants, great shopping, adventure recreation, and art. Next to the beach is an astonishingly diverse street show. Sayulita, less than 10 minutes from San Pancho, also has an amazing variety of restaurants, music, late night entertainment, plus a great surf scene.

San Pancho, by contrast, is more of a family place. Here, also, are an astonishing variety of great restaurants, but no bars. The streets are full of laughing, happy kids and cute little babies--this town of 2200 has four schools. The same crowd of old men, characters all, plays dominos daily at the park while lovely old ladies rock slowly in the shade. Even on a rare crowded day, the wide sandy beach has long empty stretches on which to relax to the sound of the surf. Every day offers quiet moments of great beauty. This is a great place to read a book, have a long conversation, and take a deep breath.