I’ve been working hard running three companies and haven’t been on a real vacation for two-to-three years. I wanted to go to a place that had good surf but I didn’t know where. I just knew that I needed to get out of town and take a vaca.

One day while I was working in the shop a customer saw a brochure that was sitting with all the other media material for our customers and said “Hey, have you been to this resort? My family and I went and it was great and they take our Barter money.” The “barter” money the customer was referring to is part of a merchant exchange program I’m part of. I replied, “REALLY”? My customer had proceeded to tell me how great it was and how she took surf lessons, etc. etc… So I decided to check out the resort’s Web site to find out more. It was an all exclusive surf resort called Costa Azul Adventure Resort that included boat rides out to the local surf breaks. So I start telling my friends about it and invited all of them.

I began booking my reservations and flights a couple months later. None of my friends could make the trip so I was off to mainland Mexico on my own. I got the 4-1-1 on Costa Azul from a friend of mine who had been there a few times. My friend told me I was going to have a great time, and told me to take the bus to a town called Sayulita in Nayarit, Mexico, and then to take a taxi to San Pancho, also known as San Francisco in Nayarit, straight to the resort. This saved me over 100 bucks on the taxi/shuttle rides.

Some of my friends and family were a bit worried about me traveling to an unknown place, so one of my friends gave me $60 to at least get to my resort safely. Well that idea went out the door as soon as I arrived in Puerto Vallarta airport and had my bags. I asked the taxi drivers how much they charged and they said $60. I don’t know about you but I looked out the front door and there was the bus stop calling me for a $2 ride. Weighing out my options, I headed to the bus stop. I had to pass over a bridge, which was a little tougher than I though carrying two boards and my entire luggage in one big bag. For a 5-foot, 105-pound girl it was a bit much. But like they say in Mexico, no problemo!

Within a minute of starting up the bridge, there were two little kids ready and willing to carry my board bag over. Yes! They dropped it for me at the bus stop. I gave the kids a buck each. Everybody was so cool and willing to help getting on the bus. There was a hilarious moment in which one guy already on the bus and one guy getting on helped me throw the board bag up on to the bus. I was finally on my way – I was traveling one hour north from there to Sayulita. After the bus ride, I took a $10 taxi ride, and boom, I was there no problem.

It was time to celebrate checked in. I got my big bag lugged up to my room and off to the bar I was for food and a cervesa. It was just about sunset; I saw some guy coming back from surfing and I couldn’t wait to go! Not knowing the program, I waited for my orientation that told me how everything works around there and how to get what I need. I signed up that night to surf the following morning. I had to set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. to make the boat ride – I thought, “Hey, I’m on vacation, don’t I get to sleep in a bit?” Nope. I grabbed a little continental breakfast while the van was being loaded with our boards and food. I was the only girl with three other guys – John, Ian, and Dave. John and Ian flew in the night before like I did and had been there before. They were the same guys I saw getting out of the water when I got into the resort. Dave was there with his wife renewing their vows, which was a surprise to her. The four of us headed out to a break called Chacala – a perfect left. I was a bit nervous I must say. To begin with I forgot to bring my reef booties and everyone kept warning me about the nasty sea urchins that you have to dig out of your skin if they stick you. But once I got my first wave it was a piece of cake. The wave just lifted you up right into it. Lefts all day long. I gave Ian the nickname “studmaster” because he was out the whole three-to-four hours we were out there without a break. When we were tired we would head to the boat or paddle to shore to rejuvenate and hydrate with water and food they had packed for us. It was awesome having lunch on a secluded beach with a five-man crew. Oh yeah, let’s not forget Alanzo – he was our tour guide and didn’t do much but load us up on the van, load us up on the boat and surfed with us. Life’s rough in Nayarit, Mexico – sounds like my kind of job.

If I didn’t have a business to run I might have never come back. After the surf sesh, we headed back to town to catch our van back to the resort, and of course, wild John had to make sure we stopped for tacos and beer. Yummy! John and Ian had a couple of other guys coming in that night to join them. The surf was looking a bit small down from the resort, so I had decided to go for a sunset horse back ride instead on my second night there. I guess I was late and the group left without me, so I ended up getting to ride on my own and galloping all the way down the beach. Boy were my legs Jell-O after that!

The fun began, but the boat would be there early again the next morning – I rolled out of bed at 6:30 a.m. again and went into the dining room for breakfast. I was hating life. But it was all good once we were on our way to the “left” that nobody else was going. We would have the break all to ourselves.
The surf looked small. But a few decent size waves came through and the form was always good. We had a blast dancing on the waves and pushing each other off. My favorite moment was getting smacked on the behind while riding a wave for snaking the guy and bragging about it I guess. So, it was another day in Paradise, and I ended up with the nickname “hot pants.” Once again we stopped for beer and tacos, listened to the live mariachi music. I bought a dog collar for my dog Max made by a little Mexican kid. We headed back to the resort to drink Pina Colada’s and Mai Tais. It was time to surf again -- this time at the break about a mile from the resort. It was the main break in town, called San Panchos. What a walk, but what a great two-hour surf sesh! This ended up being my routine – I almost felt like I was in a surf boot camp because I surfing two-to-three-hour sessions twice a day, and then partying. Whew.

We saw about six long boarders come in and we were like, great, we had all short boarders and all the sudden the place was packed with 12 of us wanting to surf. They split us up so we could all have waves. It was back to Chacala one more time. I wanted to go to Punta Muntas to surf a different break but I also didn’t want to go with six long boarders. And, I wanted to stay with the crew I had been surfing and having fun with. It was, of course, another great day at Chacala. I was living la vida loca, with all the surf and partying.
The partying chilled out a bit when the boys left. What a great group of guys they were. They were only there for a few days and they were definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I missed them for a day and then met the next crew of people. It was mostly couples, but that was alright because everybody was really friendly and nice. I ended up surfing Punta Muntas a few times and Chacala a couple more times and San Pancho just about everyday. I was so sad to leave the warm water, warm weather and the nicest staff and to come back to reality.

It was a much-needed surf vacation. This is why I do this for a living. I may work extremely hard but it’s wroth it in the end to be able to take trips like this and to be able to share them with my friends and family.

Mahalo!
Sandra