Sayulita Nayarit is hailed as “one of the greatest places on earth” and for good reason.
Sayulita is just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta and a world away. This small fishing town of 4000 is a throw back to what PV used to be in its glory days 30 or 40 years ago.
With its truly laid back spirit, slow pace, and friendly atmosphere this place is hard to leave once you arrive.
Top Reasons to Visit Sayulita
A popular surfer destination and retirement location for northerners, this town is slowly becoming a very popular place for those seeking the relaxed Mexico beach life of times past. According to Wikipedia, Sayulita first made it on the tourist maps when it was “discovered” in the late 60’s by adventurous surfers upon the construction of Highway 200. The rest of the entry goes as follows:
Today, Sayulita is a prosperous growing village of approximately 4,000 residents. Hailed as a popular off-the-beaten-path travel destination, Sayulita offers a variety of activities such as horseback riding, hiking, jungle canopy tours, snorkeling and fishing. Still a mecca for beginner surfers of all ages, the quaint town attracts upscale tourists with its numerous art galleries and restaurants as well. Sayulita has a curious eclectic quality, frequented by native Cora and Huichol peoples, travelling craftsmen as well as international tourists.
Sayulita is the crown jewel in the newly designated “Riviera Nayarit”, the coastal corridor from Litibu to San Blas. It’s stunning natural beauty and easy access to Puerto Vallarta have made Sayulita real estate some of the most sought after in all of Mexico. With a growing ecological awareness and stricter zoning enforcement, development is being regulated to help safeguard the environment and quality of life of the community.
Best Beaches in Sayulita
Sayulita is famous for it’s black and white sand beaches. There are many beaches to choose from, and all are quite stunning.
Playa Centro is a popular beach known for its calm waters and long established restaurants like El Costeño and Don Pedro’s. It is also a great place for beginner surfers and boogie boarders to paddle out.
Playa Questos is located in front of the two campgrounds in Sayulita. It is close to where the the river exits into the ocean, and as a result produces some very good surfing. Experienced and intermediate surfers can all catch beautiful waves to their hearts content here.
Playa de Los Muertos is a very popular swimming beach, protected by huge rocks on each side. It is past the Villa Amor and through the cemetary, follow the small river until you reach the ocean. It is a great place to explore by kayak too as many little beaches dot the area that are only easily accessible by Kayak.
There are more beaches than we can list here, you will have to explore them and figure out which is your favorite!
Where to Stay in Sayulita
You can pretty much choose how expensive you want your Sayulita lodging to be. Prices range from $3 at the campgrounds to $300 a night at the Playa Escondida.
Camping is possible at The Camaron and its trailer park neighbor. Prices are about $3 and $15 respectivley. They offer recreation rooms, electricity, hot showers, and bike and surfboard rentals. It’s a great way to stay in Sayulita on the cheap.
For slightly better lodging, but still on a budget check out the Hotel Diamante Internacional. They have rooms and bungalows and a swimming pool for around $20/night.
For a moderate budget, don’t miss the Villa Amor which offers waterfront luxury for anybody looking to have a romantic Mexico getaway. A famous and popular bed and breakfast is Adrienne’s Bed and Breakfast which is just a block from the beach and it is garaunteed to make you feel special on your vacation.
There are also a number of vacation rentals to be found if you are traveling and lodging with a big group or looking to stay for an extended period of time in Sayulita.
Check out the Gringos in Paradise book to learn more about what life is like living as an expat in Mexico and in Sayulita.