The Sun, the Life. El Sol La Vida. The best hotel experience I've ever had. You instantly feel like you're part of the family. From the moment I walked into the hotel area I knew I was in the right spot. Greeted by co-owner Ray with a big grin je says, “You must be Hugh.” You know right away you made a great choice. Ray’s looks like an old surfer with a Canadian accent. You like him instantly.

There was no “check-in”, nothing to sign no paperwork to deal with. In a moment or two Linda, Ray’s wife, greeted me in the same welcoming way. Ray helped my wife and I with the luggage, told us the necessary things about the hotel and gave us the key to our room, the Sunrise Suite. And that was it.

El Sol La Vida is not like any hotel I’ve ever stayed. There are just four suites, two upstairs and two down. It’s beautifully landscaped and right on the beach. There’s a wonderful pool as well. The rooms are very comfy, well appointed and have huge bathrooms and walk-in showers. And the towels, oh my, they are huge and so, so soft.

Ray and Linda’s daughter, Leanne, has a fantastic café – Surf’s Up Café right on the hotel grounds. All I can say is, FANTASTIC. Leanne, in only a year, has brought her beach side café to number 16 of all restaurants in Mazatlan on Trip Advisor. A testament to her culinary skills and fantastic concoctions – unlike anything you’ll get at any other restaurant in Mazatlan.

Yes, El Sol La Vida and the Surf’s Up Café are off the beaten path of the Golden Zone in Nuevo Mazatlan. That’s what makes them so great: laid back; comfortable; relaxing. You have a beautiful beach right at your front door, nearly all to yourself. Feeling like you’re at home, but away – that is El Sol La Vida.

The landscaping is gorgeous and extremely well kept, as is the entire facility. There’s a huge plumeria, about 15’ high that still had some blossoms. My wife and I are plumeria freaks, having eight beautiful plants on our patio at home.

Each morning Ray sets out the continental breakfast about 8:00 am. My wife downed almost all the coffee and I emptied the jug of wonderful orange juice every morning. We sat on the steps to the beach with our feet in the sand and watched the oyster divers do their thing. My wife loves, as do I, to watch the pelicans as they fly in unison just skimming an inch or so above the ocean waves and they provided plenty of viewing pleasure. It was like heaven.

More times than not near the end of the evening I would find Ray down by the pool-side bar. He would offer me a beer and we would talk for an hour or so about anything and everything. We shared many a tale during those evening visits. It was like hanging out with an old friend.

When your trip is up and it’s time to leave, believe me – as you hug Ray, Linda and Leanne and say your good byes you feel like you’re leaving part of your family behind.

There’s a reason El Sol La Vita has raving reviews: It’s not just the place, it’s the people.

We will return to El Sol La Vita.