We just got back from a wonderful visit to Casa Iguana in the charming village of Mismaloya which is 20 minutes from PV. It is an all suites hotel with basic, attractive, clean accomodations. The jacuzzi is covered in brightly colored bouganvilleas and has an incredible view of the night sky. The location can't be beat if you want to be close to the beach, the river and the the mountains. We hiked up to El Eden every day and enjoyed the jungle, wilderness, locals and animals en route. Everywhere we ate from the places on the Mismaloya beach, restaurants in Mismaloya and Puerto Vallarta and in in the the Casa Iguana restaurant had great food. The best Margaritas were at the hotel bar! Transportation into PV was quick and easy and right at the corner. This trip felt like we got to experience a more genuine part of Mexico, thanks a lot to the staff and location at Casa Iguana.

Casa Iguana was truly a peaceful getaway for two Gringos, first-time visitors to Mexico. We were not looking for glitz, endless Margaritas, crowds, and high prices of the strip but instead experienced local village life, fine food, great weather, friendly people, and simply a neat place to spend a vacation.

Outside the flowering hotel grounds, walked cobblestone streets through the village of Mismaloya to the zoo--not San Diego Zoo, but nice, carved and molded into the desert jungle. Rode the lively bus (6 pesos) to downtown Puerto Vallarta, walking the Malecon, shopping for clothes, finding the perfect holiday tablecloth and gifts in the open malls and narrow-street flea markets, taking in the church, eating at Bolas along the river. Took the day trip to Las Caletas, watching leaping humpback whales, enjoying a great buffet on the beach, snorkeling (nominal here; much better places exist where there are coral reefs), and partying with the crew on the boat back to the Marina. Also highly recommend the Botanical Gardens south of Mismaloya. Tonys up the street from the hotel serves generous amounts of food; it got noisy there one evening when a boy three stories down exercised his fighting cocks, raising a ruckus among the neighborhood chickens.

We enjoyed Red Snapper, mahi-mahi, omelets and other great Mexican dishes at the hotel's La Cocina restaurant. Eat at least one dinner around 8-9pm; Jorge the 62-year-old manager gets out his guitar and belts out one or two memorable songs; what a grand voice from the heart. Libby (sp?) and Ricardo certainly treated us well there, and Jaime at the front desk walked us through our repeated questions.

Casa Iguana is set between the mountains along a stream a short walk from the beach. The local teenagers apparently are allowed to use the pool Friday evenings for a couple of hours, and it was neat watching them enjoy themselves from our balcony.

We met others at the hotel from Alaska, Canada, and our home state, Colorado. Many of our acquaintances in the area were repeat visitors. We'll long recommend Casa Iguana to friends and coworkers.

We just got back from this little gem. Had a wonderful time and the only complaint we have is the beds but the owner told us he was ordering pillow tops for the beds so we are going back.
Mismolya is a wonderful little town and so safe, we walked all over the town at night. Make sure you go and eat at El Patio the food was terrific and the staff very friendly and a lot of fun. We went back two nights in a row. Enjoy your stay at Casa Iguana the price is right and it has everything you need for a nice relaxing vacation.

We spent three nights (for the price of two) in the Presidential suite and loved it. With the three nights for the price of two, our price per night worked out to about $141 per night including the applicable taxes. For a three-bedroom, two-bath unit, that's tough to beat. Throw in a full kitchen and a nice livingroom and it's a real deal. The pool and hot tub were both operational (hot tub could be hotter but it wasn't bad). The internet was free (we brought a laptop and were able to connect wirelessly from our room). The restaurant and bar were great (George and his daughter are great hosts and make the "worlds' greatest" of everything. The dinner waiter, whose name I didn't catch, was a great guy and the food was great.

So, what's the catch? Mismaloya is not the center of the universe. If you want the action, you'll need to go to P.V. and I would recommend that you stay in P.V. rather than commute (long bus or cab ride). After three days at Casa Iguana, we moved to the Sheraton Bouganvilla in P.V. and spent five days there. Not as nice a room in some respects and more expensive, but right on the ocean (Casa Iguana is not) and right in the center of P.V.; so, the restaurants and the shops are your oyster.

Pick your poison and have fun!