Welcome to our new home in San Pancho, Mexico. You already know that we’ve fallen head over heels for the town with its enchanting mix of beach, jungle, cobbled stone streets and splendid people, so we thought it was about time we introduced you to our charming little home where we plan to stay until April. It’s the longest we’ve stayed anyone on our trip but, like I said, we’re in love!
Our apartment costs $500 a month and includes hot water, internet and a weekly clean including fresh towels (we didn’t realise this until the first time it happened and were blown away by the luxury of it!). We found it through one of our friends in town who lives on the same road. There was no advertisement or sign, which is the case for most of the long-term rentals in town. To find somewhere, you simply have to walk around and ask. There’s a big divide between holiday rental prices and places, like ours, that rent by the month – some of the cheaper holiday places are $500 a week, and the expensive ones cost that a day! This is why you need to be in town to find a bargain.
Our house is just one small block from the main street on a pretty, plant-lined, cobbled stone street. Our landlord, a friendly Mexican lady named Angela, lives downstairs, and we have the top floor, which is like a mini house in itself.
It’s accessed via its own stairway so we have plenty of privacy.
The tiled steps are particularly pretty.
Inside, there is a little living room/office. Steve has now put a desk in here, which is where he does his editing.
Behind that is the bedroom, complete with a dressing table, open wardrobe and en-suite bathroom.
A balcony runs along the whole side of the house…
…with a view that reaches across the town to the jungled mountains yonder.
My office is outside on the rooftop. This is also my ‘playpen’ where I practice yoga and hula-hooping.
The door behind leads to the kitchen, which is open-air on one side.
We were delighted when we saw that the kitchen had a blender, perfect for making smoothies. The only downfall is a lack of oven (which is the case for most rental places in South and Central America), but we’ve been amazed at what our little toaster oven can do. We also love the breakfast bar.
One of our favourite things is the amount of plants that grow on on terrace – from roses, to aloe vera, to herbs. The terrace also extends to the back, where Angela hangs her washing.
All this is made extra wonderful by the fact the beach is only a few minutes walk away. We can hear the waves from our terrace, and love to walk down there each day for sunset. My yoga class, our friends, and tons of excellent restaurants are also just minutes away, and every day, different trucks drive by selling their wares – from watermelons, to mattresses to gas. We’ve never lived somewhere so convenient!
So there you have our house. Remember mi casa es su casa, so let us know if you’re passing through San Pancho. We’d love to see you!
I want to live in this house – for a while forever!
Tobias recently posted..Cooking for Red Cross Children
Maybe you’ll find your way here one day!
Beautiful! I am jealous- I love the kitchen!
Steph recently posted..Road Reads Volume 2
Me too. We both love how open it is. It’s wonderful being somewhere this warm!
Awesome looking place guys.
jmayel & sacha recently posted..Ban Dalah Resort, Pai – A Countryside Oasis
Cheers guys. We feel pretty darn lucky to be here!
WOW! Absolutely perfect! I hope your home is filled with love, luck and laughter!
Thanks Lori
Goodness gracious, I want to pack my bags right now! Just 10 months 6 days 5 hours 13 minutes 12 seconds until me and my girlfriend start our long term traveling, not that I am counting… Keep the posts coming very inspiring
Thanks Beardo. Good luck with your travels. I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time
So utterly adorable !!!
It looks like a toy house, doesn’t it?!
What a charming Mexican abode!
Yoga with that view would be a dream.
Murissa @TheWanderfullTraveler recently posted..Winter Blues & Shades of Grey
It is – and definitely makes maintaining a daily practice much more doable!
That place is adorable! Love the tiled steps. I’ve got a month long rental in Colombia for now and have also had to learn to live without an oven.
Hope you guys enjoy your time there!
Britany recently posted..Its All About the Journey, Right? An Amusing Trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia
Yep, this whole no oven thing is a challenge but we’re getting used to it. Hope you’re having an awesome time in Colombia.
OMG I love your house, it’s beautiful! Gives me great ideas for my flat renovation
Thank you! Good luck with the renovation
Stunning – looks nothing short of paradise!
Kate xo petite-adventures.blogspot.ca
Petite Adventures recently posted..Style Profile: Alison Elle
That’s how we feel too!
Hi Victoria and Steve. I just stumbled onto your site via Twitter. Best accident I made all week! You got a fan in me!
Cheers,
Tessa
Tessa recently posted..Dear East Africa – Nakuru Safari Park
Wonderful! We’re delighted you found us. Happy travels!
Love, love, love Mexico! Love it!!! Having lived in San Miguel de Allende and Ajijic for about 6 months in all, as well as driven from the U.S. border to the border of El Salvador, I think I know this marvelous country fairly well. This happy international house sitter totally gets it!
We feel exactly the same! Perhaps we’ll cross paths at some point in this fine country
I love how the stair is decorated
James recently posted..Sapa Vietnam – A Complete Travel Guide updated Tue Feb 5 2013 2:17 am EST
I definitely intend to copy it if we ever buy our own house!
What a cute house! A truck that sells mattresses – how cool is that?!
Dana Carmel @ Time Travel Plans recently posted..Rio’s Favelas
That’s what i think every time I see it go by!
Gorgeous! I love your Mexican pad, its so roomy and quaintly designed. It’ll be hard to leave hey?
Sarah recently posted..Same Same But Different: A Homecoming
It will be! We’re heading home at the end of April but not for long. I imagine we’ll return to San Pancho at some point.
That looks great! Such good value for money.
What is the cost of living like in general out there?
Cheers!
Joe Can Write recently posted..Content Review
Heading back to Mexico in March and we’re looking for somewhere to base ourselves for a while as we travel around. I’ve never heard of this area, but it looks so pretty and the house is lovely!
Julia recently posted..The View From My Window: Romania
We’ll be here until April so perhaps we’ll cross paths! The off-season when it’s very humid and rainy (but also cheaper) starts around then. Keep in touch!
could you email the address of the apartment in san pancho me and my girlfriend should be moving that way next winter fingers crossed
Hi Jose,
I don’t think our owner has an email. It’s more of a ‘show up and ask’ kind of place. I will ask though, just in case. There ar eplenty of houses here so I’m pretty sure you’ll find something. Enjoy San Pancho! It’s a great place!