Decameron Los Cocos

Rincon de Guayabitos is a dusty fishing village turned tourist town, where scrappy hotels and restaurants line the busy beach. The Decameron is undoubtedly the town’s crown jewel, but it pales in comparison to its neighbors in Vallarta (and prices reflect this). The Decameron’s bright colors are hard to miss when driving down Guayabitos’ main drag, Avenida Sol Nuevo. The busy two-way street separates one side of the hotel from the beachfront side, where the majority of its pools, rooms, and restaurants are located. Most of the Decameron’s guests are families from Guadalajara and other parts of Jalisco, but a smattering of Americans and Canadians (mostly older couples) are also drawn to the low rates on the beach. The atmosphere is vibrant, fun, and usually loud, but pockets of quiet also exist -- primarily around the adult-only pool.  

Decameron Los Cocos is located in Rincon de Guayabitos, a sleepy beach town about 40 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. Guayabitos is popular with Mexican travelers -- particularly families from Guadalajara. The town is filled with tiny hotels, casual restaurants, and open-air bars, and has a gorgeous beach that’s great for people watching. English-speaking tourists are not catered to here (even at an international hotel chain like the Decameron) -- so those who don’t speak any Spanish may find it difficult to communicate. The Decameron Los Cocos is about a 75-minute drive from Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta. 

Travelers don’t come to the Decameron Los Cocos for its stellar rooms. Decor is dated and amenities are few (though the hotel does have one newer, more updated building). Rooms are painted in bright shades of green, orange, and yellow, and feature locally inspired artwork and furniture.  All rooms have one king-size or two queen-size beds. Floral patterned bedspreads and thick drapery show signs of age -- flat-screen TVs seem to be the only modern amenity. Rooms are air-conditioned and have key-operated safes (that guests have to pay to use), but don’t expect coffeemakers, hairdryers, mini-fridges, or ironing equipment. Bathrooms feature small shower stalls and vanities. Past guests have complained about water temperature control. It should be noted that some rooms are located across the street from the beach.

The Decameron Los Cocos doesn’t have tons of on-site amenities -- there’s no fitness center, spa, or kids' club here -- but the enthusiastic activities team keeps guests entertained from morning till night. Throughout the day, guests of all ages participate in various activities, like sunrise yoga, beach volleyball, relay races, trivia, and karaoke. Most of the activities are conducted in Spanish, but team members will speak English and Spanish if there’s an international crowd. At night, musical performances are held at the theater, which then turns into a disco for the late night crowd. Guests looking for a solid internet connection won’t find it here. Wi-Fi only works around the hotel’s two lobbies, and the signal tends to be slow and spotty.  

The Decameron Los Cocos has four pools -- three on the beach side, and one for adults across the street, adjacent to the Cactus Bar and La Bamba Restaurant. It’s significantly quieter than the other pools, so its ideal for adults looking for a peaceful spot to relax. The beachfront pools are named Pool One, Pool Two, and Pool Three, and vaguely resemble one another in terms of style and layout. All three are (roughly) rectangularly shaped with separate shallow areas for kids. Pool Three is the newest and most popular among families.

Rincon de Guayabitos’ gorgeous beach is located directly in front of the Decameron. The beach is almost always crowded with families, resort activities staff, and local hawkers selling everything from shrimp to inflatable tubes. While it may not be the epitome of serenity, the beach is a fun place for people-watching. The ocean water is warm and calm -- ideal for swimming. The Decameron has several rows of plastic lounge chairs and palapa style umbrellas lined up along the sand. There’s also a beach volleyball court.  

Dining at the Decameron isn’t particularly memorable. The hotel’s all-inclusive food is mediocre at best, and its buffet and a la carte options can feel repetitive after a few days. Tropical Restaurant is the hotel’s largest and most popular eatery. It serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a massive, open-air setting. Before meal times, guests form long lines outside of the restaurant to score first dibs on the buffet. Tropical Restaurant is always crowded, but it offers the largest selection and variety. Two smaller restaurants, La Bamba and Canoa, also serve buffet breakfast and lunch. At night, La Bamba transforms into an a la carte steakhouse -- though the food isn’t much better than the buffet offerings. For guests who get hungry in between meals, there’s an all-day snack bar located in front of Pool Three. In addition to the three restaurants, there are also three bars (serving unlimited domestic beers and alcohol) scattered across the property.