Casa Fenix

Casa Fenix is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a little room to breathe rather than a standard hotel box. You get a private entrance, a seating area and your own outdoor space, with garden or mountain views depending on the accommodation. There is room to make the place work around your day, whether that means coffee before an early start or a quiet hour with the doors open once the salt and sunlight have been dealt with.

The layout also suits travelling families and small groups, with accommodation ranging from apartments for couples or smaller parties to a large garden-view villa for a much bigger gathering. Pets are welcome too. It is a practical base in Sayulita: independent, relaxed and better suited to doing your own thing than following a resort timetable.

You are in Sayulita, Mexico, not Puerto Vallarta proper. Sayulita Beach is a six-minute walk away, close enough for a morning swim or a quick look at the sea before breakfast without turning it into an expedition. The property itself has a garden and terraces, while some accommodation looks towards the garden or mountains.

Sayulita's restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance. Don Juans is about 150 metres away, Pakeke and El Metro Sayulita about 200 metres, and Lush Hostel, Yambak Sayulita and Bar le Zouave are between roughly 200 and 350 metres away. North Sayulita Beach is about 1.6 miles on foot, while San Pancho Beach is about 3.9 miles away on foot.

Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport is around 20 miles away by road. That is close enough to make the transfer straightforward, but not so close that aircraft become part of the view.

The useful distinction here is not a long list of room labels; it is how much living space you want around the diving day. The Studio Apartment and the apartments with a terrace or balcony suit couples or smaller groups who want a kitchen, dining area and somewhere outdoors without taking over the whole property. The apartment with a terrace is the more flexible choice when extra sleeping capacity matters.

For a couple wanting space to spread out, the Executive Suite offers the largest apartment-style setting short of the villa. At the other end of the scale, the Villa with Garden View is built for a group, with six bathrooms and enough capacity for a substantial family or friends' trip. That is the one to consider when several divers want to share a base without sharing every square metre.

Every unit has air conditioning and a fan, useful after a hot day outside and a much better combination than relying on a single cooling method. Kitchens include a stovetop, refrigerator, coffee machine, kettle and cookware, so you can keep drinks cold, prepare something simple and avoid treating every meal as a logistical exercise. Private bathrooms have both a bath and shower, while balconies, patios or terraces provide a place to sit with coffee or let the evening arrive.

The hotel puts the emphasis on self-catering. The apartments have fully equipped kitchens with a stovetop, refrigerator, kitchenware, coffee machine and electric kettle, plus a dining area. For a diver, that means breakfast can happen on your timetable and a late return does not automatically require a search for an open kitchen.

Coffee and tea facilities are provided in the accommodation, and the refrigerator is the small but important detail when you return warm, hungry and not particularly interested in shopping immediately. Prepare something simple, eat at your own table, or use the outdoor furniture when the evening is doing its job.

When you want someone else to deal with the food, Sayulita's nearby options are close at hand. Don Juans, Pakeke and El Metro Sayulita are all within roughly 200 metres, with Lush Hostel, Yambak Sayulita and Bar le Zouave also nearby. The property gives you the kitchen; the village gives you the choice.

The post-dive activity list here is pleasantly uncomplicated: garden, terrace, patio, balcony and outdoor furniture. You can sit outside with a drink, let the legs recover and watch the day lose its heat without having to report for another organised activity. Sometimes that is the entire plan, and it is a sound one.

The beach is a six-minute walk away when sitting still has run its course. Sayulita's restaurants and bars are also close enough for an evening wander, while the nearby beaches of North Sayulita, Carricitos, Escondida and San Pancho give you alternatives for a change of shoreline.

Families can use the larger accommodation options, and children of any age are welcome. The property also accepts pets, so your travelling companion does not have to be left behind. The upper floors are reached by stairs, a practical point to keep in mind when choosing where you want to sleep after a full day outdoors.

Check-in runs from 4 pm to midnight, and you need to let the property know your arrival time in advance. Check-out is between 8 am and 11 am, which can work well for an early departure but gives you a firm morning timetable. There is no age requirement for check-in.

Cash is accepted. Smoking is not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted, so the house rules favour ordinary evenings rather than turning the accommodation into a late-night venue. Pets are allowed without an extra charge, and children of any age can stay; cots and extra beds are not available.

There is no parking at the property, so plan the arrival around your transfer or vehicle arrangements rather than assuming a space will be waiting. WiFi is free throughout the property. Upper floors are accessible by stairs only, another reason to choose the accommodation with your luggage, knees and post-dive energy in mind.