Miscelaney

All this heat is giving me flashbacks to Mexico. Me gusta Emerald Bay (aka. the New Mazatlan). Last fall me and mi compadre had the very good fortune of spending a week at Pueblo Bonito, Emerald Bay, just a 20 minute (hotel) shuttle ride down the beach from Mazatlan. A blend of old-style villas and scenic suites which are infused with all of the modern comforts you’d expect from any upscale resort. This place is a dream.

My last resort experience in Mexico being Cancun, I expected something similar: a nice resort which offered poolside sun bathing for guests, however the white sands trumping the pool culture by offering cool sips, dips and sunbathing underneath the many huts and/or beach umbrellas. Maybe it is because I’m getting older, or it’s the demo of the Emerald Bay Pueblo Bonito guests (or both), but the traditional beach culture seems to have been replaced with a posh yet relaxed pool culture. Two side-by-side azur infinity pools (which look like they flow right into the ocean) span a  good portion of the waterfront side of the property. Guests angle every morning to secure their preferred lounge chair for the day either under the shade or in direct sun, but close enough to the swim up bar or the outside cafe. Some even prefer the semi-submersed lounge chairs which rest in the shallow end of the pool .

The first happy hour starts sharply at 11:00 am (two-for-one drink specials). Just enough time to wake up to a leisurely morning, enjoy room service from your balcony while luxuriating the spectacular ocean front view, walk the beach for an hour, and by then you are ready to cool off with a dip in one of the pools (there are three all together) and find your stool at the swim up bar. The friendly staff quickly gets to know your name, and cheerfully bring your food order(s), water, and drink specials all day long to the convenience of your lounge chair. You never have to leave the pool, no less your  chair. Your day is a blend of lounging in the sun, swimming, refreshing & re-hydrating, dehydrating via an excellent list of options, noshing and shooting the breeze with the other relaxed guests.

Around 5:00pm you make up your mind whether you are going to dine at the resort, or take the air conditioned bus into Mazatlan for dinner. A quick shower, and you are on your way to a wonderful city pumping full of options: quaint, authentic restaurants, beach-side cafes offering magnificent ocean views, modern clubs for dancing, or even a visit to the sister resort, Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan. It’s all good and you really can’t make a bad choice.

Obviously there are a ton of outdoor (and indoor) activities you can arrange to do while at Emerald Bay (besides staying poolside): scuba, snorkeling, boating, wind surfing, surfing, para-sailing, hiking, horseback riding, shopping, spa, indoor gyms, etc. The list goes on. We gave it a good college try once or twice (hiked a volcano in the mid-day sun and hit a few historic architectural relics), but given the heat and the humidity, the most enjoyable part of the trip was being poolside all day every day.

What a great vacation and way to unwind. While there are many more resorts popping up on this ever-growing crescent shaped beach, Emerald Bay Pueblo Bonito is a delightful way to escape. Far enough away from the everyday hustle and bustle of Mazatlan, but close enough that you can join in the fun and festivities anytime you care to hop a shuttle or call a bike taxi.