About this Blog, Chacala, and a Little Advice

Early morning walk on Playa Chacala

ABOUT RENTING IN CHACALA

For more detailed info about Life in Chacala, a small Mexican village, click here or go to http://mylifeinchacala.blogspot.com. Or for info about taking the bus from the airport to Chacala, and other information about visiting Chacala, go to Chacala Nayarit.

This is a Blog intended to connect travellers with budget or long-term basic rentals in Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico by:

• finding renters for low-income families living in Chacala who have rentals available that are not advertised effectively (particular Techo de Mexico rentals)
  

• finding rentals for people looking for an affordable (meaning cheap), long-term (defined as a minimum of one month) rooms with baths and sometimes kitchens and/or patios.

However, all but three of the rentals in Chacala are listed here, for the convenience of people looking for a place to stay in Chacala. Contact info is included.

Chacala is a very small Mexican tourist and fishing village on the Pacific coast of Mexico, about 2 hours north of Puerto Vallarta. It is accessible via public transportation during the daylight hours. It has about a dozen restaurants, a beautiful beach, kinder-grade 1- 8 school facilities, an internet cafe, several groceries, hardware store, tourist shops, a couple of higher-end very small hotels at the south end of the beach (see Mar de Jade and Majahau web sites), and a hardware store.

Other services, such as a bank and ATM, dental and medical care, laundry services, fabric stores, internet places, hair salons, shoes stores, and intercity and interstate bus services, etc are located in Las Varas, about 10 kilometers away

RENTING IN CHACALA

Coming to Chacala and making a rental arrangement face-to-face is probably the best way to find an affordable, long-term rental. And that eliminates any surprises. As a word of warning, very few landladies here speak English. And from early December thru Easter week many places have already been rented, so it's probably better to have a reservation for those periods.
Of course, if you are equipped for it, there is always camping on the beach, my personal favorite.

SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING A SATISFACTORY RENTAL AGREEMENT

*When making a deposit for a reservation, be sure to clarify specifically important details about the deposit. For example:
What are the exact conditions for a refund of your deposit or rent?
Clarify if the refund will be made in pesos, dollars or a check from an American bank.
And when will the refund be made.

* When is the remainder of your rent due (on arrival, on departure?).

* Is the remainder of the rent due in pesos or dollars?

* Will there by food services available during your stay?
The four main higher-end places in Chacala (Mar deJade, CasaPacifica, Majahua and Paraiso Descondido) with food service do not offer food service every day and for every meal or season.

* Clarify if the facilities you are interested will be available during your stay: pool, hot tub, spa, massage, etc. Sometimes there are repairs going on, etc etc.

* Clarify in advance the exact location of your rental.
If you want to be on the beach or within a block or two of the beach, make sure the place you are considering is located there.

*If you prefer a quiet location, make sure you place will be in a quiet location. And that no construction on-site or near your location will be happening during your stay. And that no conferences or retreats are taking place. Particularly with children participating.

* Clarify in writing the exact unit and dates for which you are making the deposit.

* If it is important to you, you might inquire if the person taking your reservation (if it is not the unit's owner) if they are charging the owner a fee, and how much. You might also ask if the actual owner of the unit receives your non-refundable deposit if you cancel.

Generally, my experience, by observation, is that problems with deposits and the availability of services, problems with location, and changes in rooms or locations can happen. I hear enough of these kinds of problems to make the following suggestions. You, as a potentional renter, have an obligation to be clear when you make your reservation about your needs and expectations. And do your research. Use the links on this website to do some research about Chacala.

AND BE SURE TO SEE THE UNIT YOU ARE RENTING BEFORE YOU PAY THE BALANCE OF YOUR RENT.

There are a couple of other suggestions about making your stay a happpy one.
If you have very strong food preferences (real coffee, real cream, good chocolate, etc etc etc) bring them with you. Or ask ahead of time if they are available in the area.

* Benadryl and Immodium are not something you want to go shopping for when they are needed. Bring them with you.

* Sunscreen is a must. You might want to bring your favorite brand

* If you are a reading addict, be sure to bring enough to read. The bibliotecha has a small exchange library. The closest English language newspapers and magazines are at the PV airport. Or maybe Sayulita or Nuevo Vallarta.

*Be sure to get pesos (probably at the ATM at the airport) before you arrive in Chacala.
Change (cambio) is often a problem in Chacala, so bills of 200 pesos ($20) or smaller are good. 500 pesos bills can be a problem, except when paying your rent. Then it's fine.