Eat & do

Surf · Centro

Lunazul Surf School & Shop

A family surf school on Calle Marlín since 2002: a 90-minute lesson plus an hour's free practice (MX$1,790 alone, less in a group), and if you don't stand up, the second is free. Rentals, multi-day courses and lessons at La Lancha too.

Stand up or the second lesson is free

Surf · Centro

Mainland Surfboards

Local shaper building custom surfboards and fins, with ding repairs and quality board rentals.

Surf · North side

Marea Surf School

A surf school by the river, started in 2015 with an umbrella and four boards: local instructors, never more than four students each, 90-minute lessons on the main beach from MX$1,200, or the open-top truck to La Lancha's jungle beach at 2pm.

Surf · Centro

Sayulita Surf Center

Diego Cadena's surf shop in the Sayulinda hotel, a block from the break: 90-minute coaching plus an hour of free surf from MX$1,400 each, boards from MX$150 an hour or MX$600 a day, with lockers and showers, and fishing trips on the boat.

Surf · North side

Sayulita Surf Co.

Locally owned school for surf and stand-up paddle lessons and rentals, with guided sessions for more experienced surfers.

Surf · Centro

Surf'n Sayulita

A surf school on Calle Gaviota teaching since 2005 with ISA-certified instructors: a beach briefing, then 90 minutes in the water, board and rash guard included, from MX$1,200 each for three or more. Day trips to a jungle beach end with fish tacos.

Surf · North side

WildMex Surf School & Adventure Center

A big outfitter on Calle Pelícanos, open 7:30am to 8:30pm: two-hour lessons on Sayulita's sandbar (from US$65), 300-plus rental boards with free swaps, a surf shuttle to La Lancha, Malpaso mountain-bike rides and Marietas trips. Shops in San Pancho and Punta de Mita too.

Surf · Centro

Patricias Surf Shop

Sayulita's first surf school, run by the Southworth family since the 1990s right on the beach in front of the main break, beside a beach restaurant and fishing tours.

Beaches · Los Muertos

Playa los Muertos

Small, sheltered cove just south of town, reached by a short walk through the hillside cemetery. Calm water good for swimming, paddleboarding and snorkeling; popular with Mexican families.

Beaches · Centro

Playa Sayulita

The main town beach, a long sandy bay whose gentle waves make it a learn-to-surf hub. Lined with loungers, surf schools and restaurants; check water-quality notices after heavy rain.

Beaches · Around town

Playa Patzcuarito

Remote black-sand beach south of Sayulita, reached on foot or by a short drive plus a walk. Quiet, and popular for sunset.

Beaches · Centro

Playa Carricitos

Wide, quiet golden-sand beach backed by jungle, about a 20–30-minute walk north of town via Niños Héroes and a steep hill. Powerful waves make swimming risky; come for the walk and sunsets.

Beaches · Nanzal

Playa Las Cuevas

Horseshoe cove with white sand and clear water about two miles north of Sayulita, framed by cliffs and small caves. Reached by a jungle trail with some rock scrambling, or from San Pancho.

Beaches · Nanzal

Playa Malpaso

Secluded beach between Sayulita and San Pancho, reached by a jungle trail of about 20 minutes from the north end of town. Rocks, small caves and palms; no services, so bring water and go early.

Beaches · Centro

Playa Questos Sayulita

Surf-side stretch of sand in front of the village's two camping parks, with rougher waves for surfers and stronger swimmers.

Beaches · North side

Playa Sayulita Norte (North Beach)

The quieter northern end of the main bay, about a ten-minute walk from town, backed by villas and palms. Calmer for a swim on small days, but watch for rip currents near the headland.

Boats & diving · South side

Oceano Adventure

Dive and ocean outfit running private, small-group scuba and snorkel trips (six guests max) to the Marietas and other sites, plus PADI courses and surf outings.

Boats & diving · North side

Sayulita Entourage

Dive operation that began as Sayulita Diving School, running PADI courses, dive trips and small-group panga excursions to the Marietas Islands away from the big tour boats.

Boats & diving · South side

Fishing Sayulita

Captain Regis Cadena's sport-fishing trips on the Thunnus, a shaded 26-foot panga: six hours with live bait for up to four anglers, MX$9,000 in cash. Mahi-mahi, tuna, sailfish and roosterfish by season; drinks included when booked through his site.

Wellness · Centro

7 Spa Sayulita

A small spa in an open-air rooftop palapa on Navarrete, a block from the plaza and the beach, weekdays 9 to 5: a 60-minute massage is MX$1,200, the Mexican cacao treatment $2,000, plus cupping, Thai massage, Japanese head spa and an infrared sauna. Book online.

Wellness · North side

Alchemize House | Social Wellness Club

A rooftop wellness club on Calle Miramar's Plaza Nawalli: a communal sauna, a cold plunge and a warm pool on come-and-go day passes, plus yoga, Pilates, breathwork and sound classes. Sober, no pets, 18 and over (14 with a parent). Book on its app.

Wellness · North side

Altura Vista Pole and Dance Sayulita

Pole and dance studio with classes for beginners through advanced, plus specialty workshops and weekly community sessions focused on confidence and fun.

Wellness · Centro

Nirvanna Spa

A second-floor spa at Marlín and Navarrete, open daily 9am to 8pm: a 90-minute house massage is MX$1,188, hot stones or a cacao massage $1,404, facials from $918. They also come to your villa, and run Casa Madera, with a temazcal.

Wellness · Up the valley

Sayulita Fit

Local gym on Av. Revolución with weights and cardio, group classes and jiu-jitsu for all ages; monthly memberships available.

Wellness · North side

The Rose Room

An open-air yoga studio under a palm-thatched roof above the Don Bonito hotel, two minutes from the north beach: vinyasa at 8 and 9:30am on weekdays, 9:30 at weekends, and slower evening classes Mondays and Wednesdays. MX$300 a class, mats provided, no booking.

Wellness · North side

Yoga Los Sueños

Public yoga classes every day in the two studios at Hotelito Los Sueños on the north side: slow flow, vinyasa, hatha and yin, plus a donation-based community flow.

Wellness · North side

Evoka Sayulita Yoga School

Yoga school running residential 200-hour yoga teacher trainings and 100-hour meditation trainings in Sayulita, with courses scheduled through the year.

Nature & tours · Centro

Santuario de la Iguana

Small iguana sanctuary in the centre where you can usually spot several iguanas resting in the trees. A quick stop with kids.

Nature & tours · Around town

Cachasol Farm Distillery

Six-acre farm distillery about 8 minutes south of town on the Punta Mita road, making raicilla and tequila. Runs guided distillery tours with tastings and a meal, cooking and cocktail workshops, and shorter bar tastings. Reservations needed.

Nature & tours · Up the valley

Natikari - Rancho Verde

Private nature reserve outside town where a biologist guide leads birding walks, a birdsong breakfast and longer jungle hikes, plus a gentle donkey outing for children. Tours include pickup from set points in Sayulita and support local conservation.

Nature & tours · Centro

Sayulita bike adventure

Guided mountain-bike rides and rentals out of town, on jungle singletrack toward San Pancho and quiet beaches. Rides run about two hours.

Nature & tours · Centro

Sayulita Bird Watching

Birding tours led by Vidal Prado, running since 2008, from a two-to-three-hour early-morning outing near town with binoculars supplied to full-day trips toward San Blas and San Sebastián del Oeste. Free pickup in Sayulita and San Pancho on the local tour.

Nature & tours · Nanzal

Sayulita Turtle Camp

Volunteer-run nonprofit sea turtle nest protection and hatchling release camp, seasonal (nesting Aug-Dec).

Nature & tours · Centro

The Picnic Company

Puerto Vallarta-based company that sets up styled picnics, proposals, birthdays and small events on beaches across the bay, Sayulita included, handling permits, catering, drinks and decor.

Nature & tours · North side

Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita

Volunteer-run camp led by a local biologist that moves olive ridley nests to a protected hatchery and releases hatchlings at sunset, roughly June to February. Watch quietly, no flash.

Culture & art · Centro

Evoke The Spirit

Brittney Borjeson's shop on Calle Marlín for things made in Mexico: Wixárika beaded and yarn-painted skulls, naturally dyed rugs, ceramics and textiles, much of it one of a kind and only sold here. Open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Culture & art · North side

Mercado del Pueblo

Friday farmers' and artisan market running since 2009: organic produce, prepared food, fresh juices, crafts and live music. It runs in the winter season, roughly November to April.

Culture & art · Centro

Palú Gallery

Gallery and shop of Mexican painters Paulina Gutiérrez and Anne Luna, set partly in an old VW van under a pergola. Bright tropical canvases, screen prints and painted keepsakes.

Culture & art · Centro

Esto Es Mexico

Folk-art shop with a bright blue, pink and yellow facade and painted Catrina figures, run by César Godoy and Belén Sandoval, who make most of the pieces themselves: skulls, luchadores and other Mexican icons. Credited with starting the town's Day of the Dead altar contest among galleries.

Culture & art · Los Muertos

Los Muertos Cemetery, Sayulita

Small hillside town cemetery with brightly painted graves under jungle trees, on the footpath to Playa de los Muertos. Families decorate it for Day of the Dead; walk through quietly and respectfully.

Culture & art · Centro

Sayulita Plaza

The town's central square, ringed by cafés, bars and taco stands. Evenings bring food carts, vendors and street performers, and it is decorated for Day of the Dead and the December fiestas.

Culture & art · Centro

Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Sayulita's Catholic parish church, a short walk from the plaza. From December 4 to 12 neighborhood processions with decorated floats end here, with mariachis at dawn on the 12th and fireworks at night.

Culture & art · Centro

Galería La Hamaca

A folk art gallery on Avenida Revolución, just off the plaza, where the owners buy straight from village artisans in Mexico and Guatemala: weaving from Chiapas, leather from Guanajuato, Huichol beadwork, pottery and carving. Pieces worth carrying home; open daily until 9pm.