Come with me to La Penita

On January 1, 2019, my husband and I checked into our all-inclusive hotel chosen for us by our travel agent , Felicia Grasso from tripcentral.ca.. Neither of us had been on a tropical vacation since the mid-1980's and we were overwhelmed by the options and information we found on the internet. I called tripcentral.ca and spoke with Felicia Grasso and communicated what we wanted and needed as well as our time frame and budget. She confidently said 'leave it with me and I will get back to you be [... read more]fore 7pm tonight' which was in less than 4 hours. She called back in good time with our itinerary including preferences as well as suggestions she had made on our behalf - and by 7pm we were booked and paid for. Fast forward to one week post return and both my husband and I can say it couldn't have been a more perfectly wonderful vacation or destination. It was my desire to visit La Penita where my mother had often stayed when she was living and I wanted to experience what had drawn her there but only knew the name of the town and was ignorant of its whereabouts. Both my husband and I were concerned about our health and well-being while traveling to unknown territory and it turned out that Felicia's recommendations and suggestions were ideal. We stayed at The Hotel Descameron Los Cocos in Rincon de Guiyabidas, an oceanside all-inclusive resort near enough to La Penita that we could either cycle or taxi there from our hotel in less than 20 minutes. As well as cycling, we enjoyed daily walks and swimming, resting and sleeping, eating, reading, dancing, exploring, snorkeling, boating, hiking, shopping, and making friends wherever we went either at the hotel or out and about. The atmosphere, the ethos of the community within both the hotel as well as in the townships of Guayabidas and La Penita was warm and welcoming and felt safe. The hotel was incredibly well managed and staffed. My husband and I both commented several times that it operated like a well-oiled machine 24 hours a day and met all our physical needs beyond either of our expectations as well as offering a variety of entertainment and services besides the impeccable maintenance of our rooms. The staff were excellent and so very kind, gracious and helpful. Drinkable water was always available and we were made to feel at home and welcome at all times, day or night. We fully intend to return and have enjoyed sharing our amazing adventure with our friends and family. We highly recommend Felicia's services via tripcentral.ca and not only thank her for the trip of a lifetime, but fully intend to book with her again.

Good family resort

This resort was pleasant quite and very clean even with the constitutions going on, the staff was always their for us and we also had the Transat rep. Agustin and his friend for tours and informations. We did enjoy our stay with the Decameron Los Cocos

Very nice vacation.

This resort has been gradually upgraded since we were there three years ago. Everything was great including the food and drinks. Employees were also as good as we have found at any resort. Hector and Noel in particular. We chose the Supersaver room so it was a bit small but well kept and the maid service for the room was great. No shortage of water and it tasted great throughout the restaurants and bars and plenty of bottled water supplied for use in our room. No sickness or upset stomachs throu [... read more]gh our 2 week stay. The Beach Club was also very nice with a great beach and food/bar/washroom set up for use during the day. 15 minute walk or short bus ride provided there and back every day, no charge. I recommend the resort sets up a better system for providing change easily for guests for tipping and also provide a reciprocal free day pass agreement with The Royal Decameron in PV to allow guests to try it out and possibly book there as well in the future. That would make for a nice day excursion.

AMAZING TIME

We enjoyed our time at Decameron Los Cocos very much. The food and staff were great, the rooms were a little dated but very clean. There were many Mexican families at the resort and sometimes it got a little noisy but all in all it was a GREAT experience. If you want to see some of REAL Mexico this is the place to go. Great beach to walk on and Rincon de Guyabitos was a tipical Mexican resort town.

Good resort

3 star hotel and resort, good cheap vacation and would recommend people going here as a money saver. The resort was aright and the food was basic but a lot of fun for someone who wants a cheap vacation to Mexico and likes the good weather.

Awesome Resort

This is the best vacation that we have had yet. The resort itself is well kept and the rooms were very clean. Love the adult pool which is a plus. The food was okay but we got by just fine. The people in the town are very friendly. We felt totally safe there.

Awesome family friendly resort

Beautifully manicured lawns and palm trees greet you, waiting for you when you get off shuttle is an ice cold cervaza or margarita 😍, most friendly staff, accommodating clean rooms, good food, great drinks, I could go on......

Our trip - Decameron Los Cocos in Rińcon de Guayabitos

This was our second trip to this location and hotel and we weren’t disappointed. Although listed as a 3 star hotel probably because it is an older hotel, we cannot say nice enough things about the cleanliness and especially the staff. They are wonderful in all respects. Although there is only 1 buffet restaurant and 1 à la carte, the varied selection of food was surprisingly good. There was a different ‘food’ theme each night going from Italian to Asian, BBQ, International and Mexican [... read more]. Being in proximity to the town of Guayabitos allowed us to also explore outside of the perimeter of the hotel. We would definitely go back and recommend this destination. Regards, Linda Rabey

Great resort

Hotel was old but it was great - friendly and b]very help-full staff. great activity, only issue we had was that the room we stayed in ( room 3301) the air condition switch wasn't working , we had to climb on one of the beds to press the air on .... ( I understand from another Canadian tourist that the switch hasn't been working for past two years.... this is not a complain as we didn't really have any issue with the air it self

Very clean and friendly resort

This resort is extremely clean and comfortable. All the staff were friendly and went the extra distance to make sure our stay was a very enjoyable experience. The food was delicious and of excellent quality and presentation. The beach is the best in town and the resort offers free daily transport to and from a quieter beach nearby. It is a short walking distance to shopping and the market. This resort is suitable for everyone.

Great resort as we have been there 4 times now

Beaches are amazing. You could walk 5 miles a day. Air Tramsat rep Vincent was awesome. Food was great and atmosphere was so relaxing. Bang for your buck. Nice break to split it up at the end and go to Decameron in Bucerías if you are a younger generation. No complaints

Good resort

Decameron resort has nice, clean rooms, very friendly staff and great service. It’s location in guayobitos is perfect; close to other towns and different tours. I went on the tequila town excursion and it was a great two days.

Great holiday

This is an update of a review I wrote a year ago. We are just back from three weeks at Los Cocos, for my third visit and my wife’s second and we will go back, hopefully for longer next time. This is an older hotel in five buildings. Road construction has been completed, but it was still over an hour from the airport. The guests are either older Canadians or Mexican extended families. Many are repeat visitors. The rooms are basic, but clean. The beds are hard but comfortable. Water  [... read more]was hot. Building 1, 2 and 5 (newly constructed) are on the beach, 3 is across the road (but has larger rooms) and 4 is up the hill and has the superior rooms. Check in and check out were quick and easy. The wifi is considerably better than last year. It is free, and available in the lobbies of buildings 1 and 4 at least, and works around the pool in building 1 as far as La Iguana bar. The main buffet restaurant is excellent. There is good variety and food is generally tasty. Fish and pork are always available and usually chicken. Beef is sometimes on the menu, but is sometimes tougher than we are used to in Canada. There is always some Mexican food, which we found usually to be the best choice. The food is warm but rarely hot. The coffee is much better than last year and is available from early morning until mid evening. The second restaurant has reopened for breakfast and dinner most days of the week, and the snack bar has a limited selection from late morning until around 5:00 including burgers and fries. The menu at the second restaurant is more limited than at the main buffet, consisting of mainly Mexican food. Very nice empanadas some evenings and always freshly done taco fixings. I ate dinner at the à la carte restaurant once and it was a very nice meal, although perhaps not worth getting up early enough to reserve as the food in the buffets is always good. It is a bit of a climb (about 30 stairs) up from the lobby. The lunch buffet there is more limited than at the main buffet, but I thought the food a bit better. Soups were always good. The latest the restaurants are open is 10:30 at night, but from 7:30 in the morning until then, food is always available. There are three bars, open from 10:00 a.m. on. The main one is La Iguana which is across from the buffet along the beach. Los Pelicanos is also on the beach but quieter. There is another at Cocos 4 which we stopped at on the way to lunch at the upper restaurant and I never saw anyone sitting there. The disco serves drinks after the other bars close until 3:00 a.m. The beer on tap is Modelo (Clara and Negra) but they also have Corona in bottles and the rum is Bacardi. My wife tried five types of tequila and there may be others she didn’t. There is a selection of other liquors. The beach has a constant flow of walkers and vendors. It is about 30 minutes to walk to the far end where a stream bed divides Rincon de Guayabitos from La Penita. The beach is fronted by restaurants, trailer parks and hotels. Few of the hotels are higher than four stories and most seem to host Canadian seniors in large numbers. Lots of beach vendors sell everything from food (shrimp, fish, ceviche, nuts, candies) to inflatable beach toys, clothing and handicrafts. Pretty much anything can be bought on the beach, although probably at a higher cost than at one of the many shops in town. Pesos are preferred, but Canadian or U.S. dollars can be used. Canadian dollars can be exchanged at the hotel but at a poor rate. There are at least four ATMs within a ten minute walk, but the service charge is 109 pesos according to someone we spoke to, so best to bring pesos from home, or at least make your withdrawals in larger amounts. There is a market in town on Mondays in the main plaza which is worth a visit. Lots of things for sale, from coffee (ground and beans) to leatherwork, tee shirts, table cloths and much more. There is a larger market in the next town on Thursdays (La Peñita). Beach loungers at the hotel are adequate in number but a bit uncomfortable. Some people bring or buy plastic air mattresses to put on them. I paid 120 pesos for mine on the beach and it made sitting much more comfortable. New this year is an adequate number of plastic chairs on the beach. The loungers around the new pool at Cocos 5 are a different style and more comfortable. This year we did go to the beach club once. It is a ten minute bus ride away in the next town. The bus (free) leaves at 10:00 and returns at 4:00, but if you want to go late or leave early you can hire a taxi. There is a sign up sheet for the beach club and if not enough people sign up, it is closed. We didn’t sign up, but just showed up for the bus and had no problems. The buffet lunch at the beach club was small, but the food was excellent, probably the best we had at Los Cocos. The bar selection was more limited, with no draft beer, only Corona, which wasn’t really cold. The beach at the beach club is smaller and the ocean gets deeper closer to shore, so better if you are a competent swimmer that at the hotel where some wading is required to get to a depth suitable from swimming. There are four small pools. All are unheated and shallow (1.5 metres/4.79 feet at the deep end). The ocean is warmer but sometimes rough. The pools are in the centre of the buildings are not sunny all day. A swim in the pools is brisk. The staff was routinely friendly, seemed happy to be doing what they were doing and are hard-working. Someone was always cleaning or painting. Evidently, everyone takes pride in the place. If you are looking for a five-star hotel with lots of amenities, or a hotel with exciting night-life for young people, this is not it. Best for older couples or those just looking for a quiet time away. For us, it was a great place for a holiday.

A quick get a way

This hotel is quite a drive North of Puerto Vallarta, just so you are aware. The hotel grounds, buildings, pools and rooms were very clean! The beach was wonderful. It is a fairly big resort at the end of the town Rincón de Guayabitos, which a lovely Mexican town for wandering, shopping and eating local authentic Mexican Street food. The beach is amazing for walking and end to end is Just short of 3k. Breakfast and lunches in the buffet were great, at times dinner was questionable. The snack ba [... read more]r had pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs and all the fixings as well as a few other items.There is one building on the hillside that boasts adult only pool, it may be quieter at this location but there are many stairs and quite a walk to the buffet and beach. We would definitely return to this resort if the price is right.

Not Good

Old and decrepit. Poorly organized for food service. Food only available at certain times. 2 bars always a line up. Nice beach. Most staff hardworking and friendly. Rated 3 stars but is barely 1 star. Old pool, too cold and in the shade.

Will not return!

Too far from airport. 1.5 hours on bus. Hotel is very old and in need of major upgrades. Extra charge for safe in room. No fridge, hair dryer, ironing board, bedside clock in room. Beds are very hard and all of the furniture is falling apart. Have to ask repeatedly for extra bottled water at front desk. Food is only ok. Buffets have limited hours. Not all inclusive! Beach nice but very busy.

Stunning resort

If only for the vibrant colors, this resort would earn the label "stunning." But it deserves this label for many more reasons: the helpful staff, the numerous pools, the fabulous restaurants, and the gorgeous setting on a two km beach. The resort is crowded by other buildings on every side, yet it maintains its character. The five buildings are attractive and the rooms are very clean. The food is delicious and the drinks flow freely. The only drawback was the enormous crowds that packed t [... read more]he beaches of this fishing village over the Easter weekend. This place is incredibly popular. It seems if half of Mexico was holidaying there. Tents were set up right up to the water line, except right in front of the resort which maintains a little privacy that way, so that people could enjoy some protection from the sun and even sleep there. Not a room was available anywhere in Guayabitos during those few days that we were there. The rooms for the most part are small but adequate. Those in Building 4, where we were, are large and less noisy, although one night a band played across the street until midnight. We were there with another couple. The hotel was unable to give us rooms that were side-by-side but were still near each other. The food was excellent and plentiful, even if it was not haute cuisine. All of us enjoyed ourselves immensely. The service was great, with special credit to "Alex" who went over board in her helping us.

Good resort.

Good basic resort. Not quite as clean as everyone seems to suggest but I may be more picky. Maids seem a bit inconsistent at times. Pools are good but the poolside chairs are very uncomfortable.(except cocos 5 pool which has new and better comfortable chairs) Food was the same at almost all restaurants with some differences here and there. Al la carte was better. Bar by the Mexican restaurant was very good and not as busy. Bar by the buffet was not as good and service lacking. Bar at the La Bamb [... read more]a was very good. La Bamba bar also has a cappuccino machine coffee etc. Coffee over all was not fantastic but it passed for us. There are other options nearby if you wish to purchase it. Be weary of the store across from main hotel entrance incorrect change given back from purchase and no prices on most goods in their store.

Great Resort!

This was our second stay at Decameron Los Cocos. It is a very clean and well maintained resort. The food was exceptional with a great variety for even the pickiest of eaters. The staff are all very friendly and really go out of their way to make sure everyone is taken care of. The resort caters to families so if you don't care for the sound of children a person would be better off in the adults only building providing you have mobility as there is no elevator but there is a lot of stairs. The  [... read more]evening shows at the theater are extremely well done. We would definitely return for another two week stay!

So much fun!!

This was my fifth hot vacation and by far the most fun I've ever had. Mostly because of the company I had but also because of this resort. The food is amazing, the hotel is spotless clean, and the staff are incredible. We made friends with quite a few of them during our stay and they made our stay that much more enjoyable. The entertainers are friendly and talented, the bartenders and servers are so attentive and efficient, and the show staff were beautiful to watch. I also can't say enough nice [... read more] things about Salvador, the excursion guy. He made the two that we did unforgettable and was a fountain of information (we did sea four fun and Compostela.) I can't wait to come back again!