A Gem in Mismaloya
At the Casa Iguana Hotel, we couldn't have asked for more. On a cobbled street across from the gargantuan La Jolla de Mismaloya, Casa Iguana offers a smaller, quainter, Mexican experience. The hotel is indeed comfortable, clean, and possesses all the necessary amenities such as a mini kitchen, fans, and a telephone. We actually bought avocados and tortillas in the general store and made our own guacamole. The rooms are very charming and spacious, with rustic furniture, Mexican folk art, tiled floors, with bedspreads and cushions covered in traditional style fabrics of red and orange hues. They are also equipped with communal balconies looking out over the pool, the pallapa covered restaurant “La Cocina,” and to the lush surrounding jungle that climbs the hills in all directions.
D.J./ concierge Jamie plays mellow and moody world music plays throughout the day, loud enough to hear but quiet enough to read a book by the pool. The grounds are landscaped with grass and Kana flowers and vegetation surrounds the curving and voluptuous pool. Accompanying this scene are the sounds of wild life in the nearby creek. Parakeets, parrots, and all varieties of tropical birds seem to dance in flight overhead. Ironically, in this very comfortable little hotel, iguanas, geckos, turtles, donkeys, chickens, and dogs are never too far off. And, at night, the sounds of the jungle come alive as you are transported to another time and place.
For those who actually want to stay in touch with the world, Internet services are also available.
Casa Iguana is, moreover, the perfect location since it is approximately 20 minutes by bus to Puerto Vallarta and about 10 minutes to Boca Tomatlán, where one can take water taxis to the more remote settlements on the south coast. On the first day, we walked down the dirt path to the beach and just got a bucket of beer and ceviche then walked along the coastal path to the point. One little restaurant across the creek, nestled between mango trees makes great huevos rancheros. I believe it is just past the store, “La Pasadita” on the south side on the way to the beach. Another thing you cannot miss in Mismaloya is hiking (or driving) up to El Eden waterfall. I felt like a little kid, again, swinging from a rope on the side and plunging into the deep, natural pool. You can also climb up a ladder on the side of some rocks and ride the slick boulders like a water slide. Wonderfully, there is a full service restaurant and bar right next to this jungle paradise so you can snack on ceviche, chips and salsa, and drink rusas de cerveza (beer, salt, and lime).
In the mornings, a mother and son will squeeze fresh juices of all sorts on the southeast corner near where you catch the buses. In the afternoons, Anselmo offers heaping cups of papaya, watermelon, jicama, mango, and coconut, all with their share of chili, lime, and salt (if you like).
Just to take note…I loved our room, but since we were on the top floor, we baked in the early June heat that was oddly hotter at night in our room. All rooms, however, are equipped with AC, we just didn’t want to run it all night. All the staff is very friendly and the restaurant has pretty good food. I didn’t envy anyone at the very touristy La Jolla de Mismaloya and will return to Casa Iguana for a more charming Mexican experience. It is pretty, relaxing, simple…tucked along a tiny cobbled road in the village of Mismaloya, but close enough all the sites. Enjoy!
Gracias por todo... Jamie and Carami...Ustudes estan muy amable...Casa Iguana es un paradiso secreto...
Michelle and Isa from Laguna Beach, California
Written 1 year ago
