Beautiful setting! Next to ocean and forest. Beautiful gardens. Friendly locals.
Rooms were in bad condition. Furniture was worn out and dirty. Plumbing was not working in room properly.
Food was outstanding. Those Mexican locals were in the hot kitchen 16 hours a day, preparing three meals a day. They are not getting what they deserve.
Only thing going on for the hotel is the nature. But they were not doing anything to protect it. There was a dry creek bed right next to the hotel. It smells of sewage. I would not go and sit down on the small "private beach" at mouth of the river. This creek provides fresh water for birds in that area. It should be kept clean and cherished, so birds can stay. Not used as dirty water drain!
My husband got stung by a stingray on our last day. It is said to be the worst pain ever. Pain radiated up to his leg. Staff did a lot to help relieve the pain. Although they played it down a little, saying it only occurs during summer. It happened to us in winter. And they all talked about some yellow flower that would eleviate the pain, but they did not have this mysterious remedy at hand! It is about time to get some handy, since this accident seems to happen quite frequently in this area. Aqua shoes might be helpful for smaller rays. Better yet, stay out of the ocean starting sunset. That is when rays come to shore. Shuffle your feet before you step on sand in ocean.
Overall, not worth the money you spend. I would rent a $50 room from the local home-hotel association. Some of the houses are shown at [--]

It is hardly a "holistic lifestyle center" or an "ecotourism" location. Yoga lessons are occasional. Inspirational evening talks are life stories of a random guest who wants to talk. They do not seem to care much about conservation.

My new husband and I had our wedding at Mar de Jade and it was a wonderful event! We recommend Mar de Jade for anyone looking to throw an easy, relaxing, fun, and intimate wedding.

My husband and I did not have to worry about a thing all weekend. The staff took special care to ensure that the flowers, decorations, cake, and food were all just right. The ceremony overlooked the ocean at sunset underneath a beautiful linen hanging. The reception in the dining room was a blast and the food was delicious. I think ours was perhaps the tastiest - and most beautiful - wedding cake I've ever had.

Though some were initially reticent to travel so far and, frankly, pay a bit more, our guests were thrilled with our choice. Our guests arrived exhausted from the flight and subsequent bus ride, to be greeted by beautiful vistas, margaritas, fresh grilled fish, and mariachis. The next day, Laura arranged a hike to a beautiful, isolated beach that was a hit. Everybody loved winding in the huge hot tub in the jungle at night. Perhaps the most popular activity, however, was relaxing on the gorgeous terrace, listening to the waves, and catching up with friends and family.

Thank you Laura, Robert, Cynthia, Claudia, and the rest of the staff for working so hard to make this the wedding we always wanted!

It is not only the beautiful location (at the end of the white beach of Chacala Bay), it is not only the wonderful food (fusion of healthy, wholesome, Mexican), it is not only the interesting conversations during meals (amazing people from all walks of life), it is not only the inviting blue pool (and the secluded jacuzzi pool), that makes this resort such an unusual holiday destination. To me, it was the spirit of the people and the surroundings and the reason for existance of this place that made it so much more special. Mexico was never on my list of countries to visit and I only came because of being accepted as a holiday volunteer at this resort - and what a great introduction to real Mexico! Mar De Jade was born because of one woman who wanted to make a difference in the community. Laura, the owner, who is also a medical doctor, opened a medical clinic in a nearby town. Soon she had to house many volunteers who wanted to help and Mar De Jade was created! In the many years it has developed into a an unique meeting place of volunteers, speciality groups (we met people who came for a yoga retreat and others who came for a holistic healing course!) and holiday makers. This resort offers a magic energy buzzing (in a good holistic way) with people doing classes, going for one of the many excursions (whale watching, hikes up the volcano, shopping in the local market), reading books or just watching the sunset. A humbling experience was visiting the Children's Project at Laura's clinic in Las Varas, where kids meet for a meal and activities. Within one hour of interaction these kids found a place in our hearts! My 5 year old loved sitting in the new hot jacuzzi pool in the recently developed spa area (and they have plans to introduce great new Spa and Lifestyle Packages, which we will definately come back for!). This resort is a must for those who no longer want white towels, waiters, parties and to be entertained. This is where you come to when you want to find peace, harmony, relax and enjoy who you are! Thanx to Laura, Angelica, Emily, Anastasia for having us there, for being able to contribute to your volunteer program and for giving us great memories that will last forever!

My wife and I arrived at Mar de Jade on our 20th wedding anniversary after 14 hours travel from the east coast. There was no Marchi Band blaring, no plastic wrist tag to wear, no tour arranger to bug us about trips and specials, no time-share spectacles and shams, etc. In fact, as our collectivo bumped over the last few potholes and across a dry ford into the lush tropical landscape, we knew we could not be disappointed. And the wave sounds on the sand and the on-shore breeze were all we needed to start the best and most relaxing vacation we have had anywhere on the planet.

We slept soundly that first memorable night, and all nights, even as the moon grew to full and shown thru balcony sliding doors that stretched across the entire width. All we heard at night was the surf and an occasional chirp of a frog or something. There was a bug now and then – insects and jungle are synonymous – but the lizards kept them in balance and they never bothered anybody. There was an onshore land breeze during the day, and a reverse sea breeze throughout the night that kept us cool, and reminded us that nature runs things, and quite well, in the tropics. We were in community with nature here, it permeates everything, even your dreams.

The land at La Chacala is considered sacred by the native people, and this is held in trust in the way the Mar de Jade staff has worked with the landscape to craft a true retreat center that touches your soul. While striving to stay compact and not smear development all over the beach, Mar De Jade capitalizes on ‘borrowed landscapes’ and sounds of sky, sea and tropical forest. Thus while you are actually on a very small property, it feels as though this place has an intention of its own, an intangible but very real marriage of man and nature that supports the very best in us. Those that choose this place will find their relationship to nature restored.

The La Chacala beach is about a mile long, and is wide and clean sand. Mar de Jade sits up against the extinct volcano at the south end. (Trails run up the side, and a hike here is like going into a lost world.) At times the full-moon high tide meant we had to skirt the high water line on a path thru volcanic boulders. The Pacific runs up on the continent at this interface of worlds, and the transoceanic waves grew in size as the full moon-approached. Whales, pelicans and sea life abound. Near the north end of the beach are the open air restaurants & shops, and somewhat quieter surf. And it was on the beach where you could encounter the closeness and richness of Mexican family life first hand, and if you wish, join in the play and love so openly expressed.

It felt wonderful to be welcomed by the Mexican families on the beach. The weekend sees many visitors, mostly local families, coming to play, eat and rest by the sea. The town is not built to handle the crowds, and weekend parking for day-trippers was a lot like Woodstock. And it was handled with politeness and humor. Smiling with a sandy Mexican child is likely to bring appreciative smiles from the rest of the family, and we the pale Americanos felt more like new arrivals to a church campground than tourists in a foreign land. We were welcomed and embraced wherever we went.

We only put on about 4 pounds each after 9 days of buffet Mexish food. My wife and I love vegetables and fruit, and were cautious after bad experiences in other places with veggies. No worries here, the staff spent most of the day washing vegetables and fruit, and preparing the meals which we soon learned to cut back on before we overloaded ourselves. There was a constant variety and you could take what you wanted. We never heard a complaint, but only satisfaction.

A word about guest services at Mar de Jade. This is a non-denominational retreat center and small eco-resort, with a social conscience and very sensitive, polite and smart people working there. The typical guests for the most part are self-sufficient adults and their children, who appreciate the experience of sharing wholesome, nourishing company and food together. You can get table service elsewhere, but that’s all explained beforehand on the website. We came to know everyone – staff and guests – and it was common to see a guest helping out in some way while there. One of Laura's, the founder, principles of Mar de Jade is service to others, and you could not miss being touched by this attitude in the experience of staying there. Mar de Jade shows us a better, more conscious way to run the world.

Don’t come for waiters, room service and hands stretched out for tips. Don’t come for rock music, college beer blasts, jet skis and HumVees for rent.

Come to be a part of nature, to be with a family-centered culture, and expect to tread lightly on the earth while you are there.

Come Mar de Jade for yourself. Come for your health, your sanity, your soul. Come for love. Chances are good, you will be fulfilled.