We just concluded our second stay at Casa Contenta and enjoyed it as much as our first visit a year ago.
Los Ayala is a small town at the Southern end of Jaltemba Bay, about 1.5 hours drive North of Puerto Vallarta (PV). While the towns North of PV up through Sayulita appear to mostly cater to North American visitors, the towns North from there seem to be destinations more for Mexicans, with Rincon de Guayabitos as the center. The drive from Sayulita onwards feels like going back in time figuratively and literally - somewhere near Lo de Marcos, the time zone changes from Central to Mountain. We rented a car in PV for both our visits and welcomed the convenience of having our own transport.
Los Ayala is smaller and quieter than Guayabitos, although on weekends and holidays the beach will get busy with mostly locals. Casa Contenta is on the quiet Southern end of the beach and stands out with its unique architecture and colorful design. Owners Lin and Jim have invested a lot of energy and creativity into building a truly unique and romantic environment, combining colonial designs and furniture with lots of artful details. We stayed in the upstairs Vista suite, which has two bed and bathrooms, a large living area and kitchen with a covered outdoor dining area, a big patio on the side, as well as a huge rooftop patio, which offers great views of the surroundings and the ocean.
Lin and Jim made us feel very welcome and helped with everything from arranging massages, suggesting places for shopping and sightseeing, as well as local restaurants and options for live music.
Staying in Los Ayala may require a few adjustments and then it will be a great experience: there are few paved roads (work in progress), few restaurants (the ones on the beach close at dusk), and few places to get necessities. On the other hand one can buy freshly caught fish (lobster on weekends) on the beach in the morning along with fresh bread and vegetables for delicious meals at home, if one is so inclined. Otherwise, Guayabitos and La Penita offer quantity and variety for shopping and dining, and even Sayulita is close enough for a dinner outing.
We have on both our visits thoroughly enjoyed Lin's and Jim's hospitality, the comfort of Casa Contenta, a glimpse of Mexico away from the main destinations, and we have always felt safe, whether in town, on the beach, or in the car.