Sayulita, Mexico, is a vibrant beachside town on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, with a fun energy and surf culture. I visited a few years ago and fell in LOVE with its charm, incredible food & laid back vibes. This time we decided to spend a few weeks here to really soak up the atmosphere.
This Sayulita travel guide includes the best things to do in Sayulita as well as where to eat in Sayulita. You also find the best hotels and other Sayulita travel tips to make it the perfect Mexican vacation.
Looking for more Mexico travel tips? Check out our other Mexico travel guides:
Best Resorts in Mexico for Couples
Best Things to Do in Todos Santos
Best Places to Visit in Baja California
Top 3 Mexico West Coast Destinations
SAYULITA TRAVEL GUIDE
WHAT’S THE VIBE OF SAYULITA
Since my last visit, Sayulita has grown from a sleepy small surf town to a bustling hotspot among locals & travellers. Rightly so with its exceptional cafes, colourful streets, food vendors, artisanal shopping options & proximity to gorgeous beaches.
While Sayulita is great for a day trip, this small town has so much to offer and is a great escape from the bigger city of Puerto Vallartia and more authentic than the luxury resorts of Punta Mita.
Select your accommodation wisely (either right in the action if you prefer, or an oasis out of the hustle) & you’ll love your experience here!
SAYULITA MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS
When to Visit Sayulita
Sayulita is warm all year round, with the wettest months being August and September (low season). We visited in November & were spoiled with sun drenched days.
The best time to visit is from November to April. May has the most sunshine whilst June begins rainy season. Because the winter months see less rain and better weather overall, this is the high season for Sayulita.
How to Get to Sayulita Mexico
Sayulita is in the state of Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Ocean and can be reached via Puerto Vallarta international airport. From there, Sayulita is about 36 kilometers by car (around 1 hour drive).
The best way to get from Puerto Vallarta airport to Satulita is by taxi or car rental. Once in Sayulita, the best way to get around is by golf cart or by taxi.
Is It Safe in Sayulita?
Sayulita is a safe destination to visit in Mexico, and is considered one of the safest places to visit as a tourist traveling to Mexico.
BEST HOTELS IN SAYULITA
I did a lot of research to find the perfect mix between jungle oasis & easy access to Sayulita town. There are lots of amazing boutique hotels throughout Sayulita. These Sayulita hotels are our recommendations for the ultimate stay in Sayulita:
Casa Mimas – colourful hilltop abode with the perfect laid back Mexican aesthetic. A five minute uphill walk from town but one that gives you instant relaxation when you enter the home, with a cooling sea breeze and amazing views to the ocean. The outdoor/indoor living space with kitchen and hammock (my most used space) is the highlight here.
Casa Saturno – shares the same owner, aesthetic & Mexico feels as Casa Mimas, but with several bedrooms and an even more impressive living space. This is a great place to stay for a large group or family! I loved the bridge connecting its rooftop spaces, charming design and being right up among the jungle!
Mi Casita – nestled right behind the main street, this apartment stay has beautiful decor and was very comfortable to work and relax. Mi Casita has a very convenient location to grab a bite or hit the beach and boasts a beautiful shared rooftop terrace and pool. A bottle of tequila was a nice touch, and the hosts were very accommodating too!
Don Bonito – set one street back from the quiet end of Sayulita’s main beach, this boutique hotel is an oasis around 10 minutes walk from the centre of Sayulita. We didn’t stay here, but we visited many times as it has an incredible cafe attached to it. We will definitely stay here next time as it seemed like the perfect place for us.
BEST SAYULITA BEACHES
We like to escape the crowds, so when we weren’t surfing Sayulita’s perfect right hand wave, we were exploring the surrounding beaches. Sayulita Beach can become quite busy, so here is a list of our favorite local beaches to explore:
– Playa Sayulita – if you don’t want to venture too far, we found the main beach to be much emptier and the water cleaner if you walk north up the beach, past the river outlet.
– Playa Carricitos – this was our favourite beach by far. Maybe a 20 minute walk from town but well worth the hilly jungle walk. We had this beach to ourselves a few mornings. The water was beautiful, with palm trees, jungle and matte boulders hugging the sand.
– Playa de Los Muertos – much closer to town with a walk through the graveyard. The waves were much calmer compared to other beaches.
– Caves Beach and Playa Malpaso – a longer walk north along the main beach and then through a dense jungle track. Once again, rewards for the effort as you escape the crowds. There’s a cool little cave to walk through too.
– San Pancho Beach – what I remember Sayulita being many years ago. Much more chilled vibes. For more on San Pancho, check out our blog here.
WHERE TO EAT IN SAYULITA MEXICO
There’s so many amazing places to eat in Sayulita. From vegan cafes to colourful street vendors and some of the best tacos we’ve ever eaten, we’ve got you covered with these local restaurants we highly recommend you visit during your Sayulita Mexico vacation:
– Miscelanea Cafe – open for breakfast and lunch, this is the place for clean eating and plenty of cold brews options.
– Anchor Cafe – our other favourite for morning meals, reasonably priced and great chia and smoothies.
– Organi-K Cafe – amazing açai bowl range here.
– Mary’s – one of the most popular dinner options for Mexican cuisine. We only ever had the guacamole and tacos because they were so good.
– El Itacate – our other ‘go-to’ Mexican restaurant. Save it for dinner (as lunch is very hot in the street) and try the carrot or the hibiscus vegetarian tacos.
– El Tiburon – if you want to get off the street, the upstairs area has a good vibe and live music while you eat.
– La Rustica – Italian food if you want a change-up of cuisines.
If you have a kitchen there’s an array of fresh markets to purchase groceries. Here’s where we shopped:
– Alas Blancas – probably the best all-round grocery store in town
– Terrenal Health Food – a walk from the center of town but with great healthy and organic food options
– Anna Rosa’s market – roadside fruit and vegetables
– Casa Gourmet – bakery for croissant or bread
Also want to give mentions to Naty’s Cochina for elevated street tacos, Barracuda for seafood and Alas Blancas for a nice beachfront option with sand between your toes. We didn’t visit these but heard good things.
BEST PLACES TO DRINK IN SAYULITA
– Escondido Bar – amazing cocktails (including margarita varieties) with a 2-for-1 happy hour and very friendly staff.
– El Barrilito – straight across the road from Escondido Bar with good cheap margaritas and a more ‘locals’ vibe. You can bar hop to Escondido Bar thanks to their happy hours aligning!
– Atico Bar – have a drink at the bar on a swing, with loud tunes and good guacamole to go with your drinks.
There’s more options to eat and drink on the beach. Go and explore & let us know your favs!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN SAYULITA MEXICO
There are so many Sayulita activities that you can book, from a horseback riding tour to whale watching.
I’d recommend doing a Tequila or Mezcal tasting! It’s a great way to learn more about Mexico’s land and history, as well as what’s in your drinks.
Otherwise book a massage after all of your exploring. Chesh organised both the tasting and massage at our villa for my birthday, and it was SO nice 😊
There are many free things to do in Sayulita, including hiking Monkey Mountain (which we didn’t get time to do this trip), visiting one of the many beaches, or exploring the farmer’s market.
There’s also tours to the Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands, but due to limits on the numbers of visitors you can expect a healthy price tag for this tour.
If you haven’t ever surfed before or just need a refresher, try taking surf lessons on one of the beautiful beaches.
We hope you get a chance to visit Sayulita and fall in love with it the way we have. Let us know if we need to check out anything we missed in our guide to Sayulita on our next trip in the comments below!
Want to extend your stay and see more of the stunning Pacific Coast of Mexico? Check out our new blog with our Top 3 Places to visit on the Pacific Coast.
Looking for more Mexico travel tips?
Best Resorts in Mexico for Couples
Best Things to Do in Todos Santos
Best Places to Visit in Baja California
Top 3 Mexico West Coast Destinations
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