Sayulita
Discover Sayulita
Sayulita is a beach town in Nayarit, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Once an "off the beaten path" beach populated by surfers and backpackers, word about the town's mellow vibe, great food, and warm hospitality has gotten out. Despite its popularity, the town is still friendly and beautiful with wide sandy beaches and amazing sunsets. Sayulita is 23 mi (37 km) north of Puerto Vallarta on a two-lane highway (Fed Hwy 200). You can take a bus or a taxi from the Puerto Vallarta airport.
What to Experience in Sayulita
Taste of Sayulita...
There are 40 or more restaurants in Sayulita despite it being a small town. Go to one of the grocery stores off of the main square to get cervezas, then return your bottles for deposit returns. There are margaritas the size of your head available at Costeno's, which is located right on the beach, straight down from the plaza. If you are looking for a more upscale establishment, try Don Pedro's (also on the beach) or head to the plaza and check out Miro Vino or Calypso. If you want to learn about and sample Mexico's finest tequilas, then try Sayulita Fish Taco. There are several affordable options for accommodation. The town center is just a couple blocks in size and you should have no trouble finding a place to stay. The campgrounds in Sayulita are considered to be among the best in Mexico and are famous word of mouth lore passed among seasoned travelers. As the beaches in Sayulita have shallow temperate ocean water: Do the Stingray Shuffle and you will be fine. It means when going in the water, shuffle or slide your feet forward without lifting them. There are YouTube videos about how to do it. As of 2022, the increase in the population of Sayulita from tourism has resulted in some issues with the town's water system. As such, on occasion there have been issues with sewage being drained into swimming areas. Pay attention to potential pollution in swimming areas.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSayulita is 23 mi (37 km) north of Puerto Vallarta on a two-lane highway (Fed Hwy 200). You can take a bus or a taxi from the Puerto Vallarta airport. From the Puerto Vallarta airport, use the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway and flag a green and white "Compostela" bus that says Sayulita on the front. The fare is MXN60 as of 2026. The buses run every 10 minutes from 5:15 am until 10:30 pm. If you are staying in the main part of town, nearly everything is walkable. You may want a rental car if you are staying more than a mile or two from the center of town. Sayulita is a natural beauty. Frigatebirds dot the sky over the pacific. It still has plenty of virgin jungle for hiking. You will also find several different hidden beaches as you travel the dirt roads deeper into the jungle. Playa Sayulita stretches across the main part of town. The beach is shallow and you can reach the bottom even fifty meters away from the shore....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
If you are staying in the main part of town, nearly everything is walkable. You may want a rental car if you are staying more than a mile or two from the center of town. Sayulita is a natural beauty. Frigatebirds dot the sky over the pacific. It still has plenty of virgin jungle for hiking. You will also find several different hidden beaches as you travel the dirt roads deeper into the jungle. Playa Sayulita stretches across the main part of town. The beach is shallow and you can reach the bottom even fifty meters away from the shore. There are a couple of other beaches that are more 'local', if you're up for minor adventure scout out the other beaches around town. Sayulita is an excellent, tranquil place for new surfers to learn the sport. The bottom of the beginner section is sandy and mostly safe. This makes it easy to get back to the place the waves break and allows more efficient learning.
Where to Stay
There are several affordable options for accommodation. The town center is just a couple blocks in size and you should have no trouble finding a place to stay. The campgrounds in Sayulita are considered to be among the best in Mexico and are famous word of mouth lore passed among seasoned travelers. As the beaches in Sayulita have shallow temperate ocean water: Do the Stingray Shuffle and you will be fine. It means when going in the water, shuffle or slide your feet forward without lifting them. There are YouTube videos about how to do it. As of 2022, the increase in the population of Sayulita from tourism has resulted in some issues with the town's water system. As such, on occasion there have been issues with sewage being drained into swimming areas. Pay attention to potential pollution in swimming areas.
Money & Budget
There are ATMs throughout the village, for example from Multiva. As they are standing on the streets, take care that they aren't manipulated. Plenty of shops sell tourist things and local art. Huichol Indians sell their handcrafted wares in the plaza daily. There are 40 or more restaurants in Sayulita despite it being a small town. Go to one of the grocery stores off of the main square to get cervezas, then return your bottles for deposit returns. There are margaritas the size of your head available at Costeno's, which is located right on the beach, straight down from the plaza. If you are looking for a more upscale establishment, try Don Pedro's (also on the beach) or head to the plaza and check out Miro Vino or Calypso.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
As the beaches in Sayulita have shallow temperate ocean water: Do the Stingray Shuffle and you will be fine. It means when going in the water, shuffle or slide your feet forward without lifting them. There are YouTube videos about how to do it. As of 2022, the increase in the population of Sayulita from tourism has resulted in some issues with the town's water system. As such, on occasion there have been issues with sewage being drained into swimming areas. Pay attention to potential pollution in swimming areas.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Sayulita
crowd on seashore during daytime
body of water under cloudy sky during sunset
Paradise
Disconnected
a group of people walking down a street next to parked cars
white and blue water waves
Into the sea.
bird's eye photography of shoreline
A midday wave
white sand beach during sunset
crowd on seashore during daytime
body of water under cloudy sky during sunset
Paradise