Las Cabanas del Capitan

Las Cabanas del Capitan’s distinctive sunflower yellow
walls reflect its overall vibe: fun, vibrant, beachy, and funky. The hotel
consists of two buildings, the older building contains bungalows and
a newer building has Suites and Standard Rooms. The columns along the outside of the bungalows are adorned with
hand-painted murals in bright colors, depicting images of nature and traditional
Mexican scenes, like birds and turtles, or women in brightly-colored dresses.The lobby and reception desk sit in a small separate
building with a tall Tiki-style palapa roof. The inside is painted in bright
ocean blue and decorated with seashells and other beach-themed items. The
guests of the hotel are generally friendly and young, with a mix of Mexican
families and groups of friends. The atmosphere is lively, dance music is often
drifting through the air and children can be seen playing around the lovely
gardens and filling the pool area with laughter.

Rincon de Guayabitos is a tiny seaside town and local beach
destination in a small cove along the coast of Nayarit, an area of Mexico known
for beautiful beaches and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s located a little over an
hour’s drive north of Puerto Vallarta by car, though arriving via local bus
will take longer. The road to Guayabitos winds through the hillsides and rural
areas, providing a glimpse of small town life. Las Cabanas del Capitan is centrally
located along the beach near the small downtown area, which goes on for half a
dozen blocks or so, and a handful of dining options and markets are located
within walking distance. It sits on a picturesque and lively section of beach,
where many vendors roam and local fishermen sell fresh fish or oysters from a
cart.

The hotel offers 24 bungalows in the original building, and
a second building has 12 Suites and 12 Standard Rooms. All
of the 24 bungalows, spread over three levels, have the same layout. The front
leads into an open-air kitchen and dining area. This outdoor kitchen
consists of a four-burner stove top, a full fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and
toaster. There’s a plastic table and chairs plus counter seating as well. The
outdoor space also includes a pull out couch in some rooms.A prominent element of the kitchens, and of the hotel
overall, is the use of traditional Mexican Talavera ceramic tiles. The tiles
generally display floral patterns in bright blue and yellow, however
different patterns denote different regions of Mexico, several of which are mixed
and matched around the hotel. Another signature style point of the hotel are
the ceilings, which feature arched rows of terra cotta tile.Inside the bungalow, there is a bedroom including a small
flat-screen TV and air-conditioning. Most rooms have a tiny balcony overlooking
the street -- though inside, the rooms are dark and a bit dated. The sink is
outside the bathroom, with a hand-painted sink basin depicting fish in bright
colors. The bathrooms are tiny, with barely enough room to fit the toilet and
shower stall. In the new building (which wasn't yet complete when we visited), the Suites consist of an open,
spacious living room, and kitchen space with a full dining area perched on a
balcony. Each Suite has a large bedroom and bath, with much more square
footage than the bungalows. The Standard Rooms consist of a lovely bed
and bathroom with a kitchenette or sitting area. Standard Rooms have wet room-style bathrooms, where the shower spills directly onto the bathroom floor and are not separate from the rest of the bathroom.

The main feature of the hotel is the medium-sized
pool, located up at the edge of the property near the beach. The L-shaped pool
consists of a shallow kids' area and a slightly deeper main area, but both
sides are often crowded with children. The pool is surrounded by plastic lounge
chairs, and there are more chairs on the grass lawn nearby, but in peak times
it can be hard to find a seat. There is also a large hot tub close by. Next
to the pool, there is a large gazebo packed with tables and chairs in a shaded
area, where many groups gather for a picnic lunch. There is no restaurant at
the hotel, however there are plans for a snack bar. There is a small outdoor lounge area with a few sofas, a flat-screen TV
and a library of books to read and share.The beach is lovely and wide, with plenty of room for kids
to play. This area is especially popular with locals and there are many snack
stands and vendors. The hotel has a small roped-off area with plastic lounge
chairs and umbrellas for hotel guests, however these seats can fill up very
quickly.