Guides to Sayulita
The things worth knowing before you go and once you're here, in our own words. Nothing is paid for.
Eat
Where to eat and drink, and when.
The best bars in Sayulita, by time of nightWhere to start at sunset, where to find good mezcal, which bar has a band tonight and where everyone ends up after midnight.5 min read
Tacos and street food in Sayulita, from morning birria to the last al pastorBirria before eleven, fish tacos at lunch, al pastor after dark: the stands worth finding, what they charge in pesos, and how to order.5 min read
Breakfast and coffee in Sayulita, from the dawn surf to a long brunchWhere to get coffee before a surf, the best chilaquiles, the brunch cafés worth a wait, the roasters, and what breakfast costs.5 min read
Seafood in Sayulita, from the pangas to the palapasWhat to order, where the boats come in, the cheap counters, the palapas on the sand and where to find whole fish grilled over coals.5 min read
Eating well for little in SayulitaA day of good food for under 400 pesos, the family kitchens and loncherías, tortillerías and fishmongers, and where the money quietly goes.4 min read
Vegetarian and vegan in SayulitaHow to order without meat, the plant-based cafés, the Mexican dishes that are veg by nature, dinner beyond tacos, and what to ask before you trust a menu label.5 min read
Dinner with a view in SayulitaWhen to book, the tables on the sand, the deck over the water toward Los Muertos, the rooftops above town and the balconies over the plaza.4 min read
Our lists
Do
Beaches, sunsets and the day trips worth the drive.
Where to watch the sunset in SayulitaThe bay faces west, so almost anywhere works. Here's where to sit, when to show up and what goes on as the light goes.5 min read
The beaches of Sayulita and the coves nearbyWhich end of the bay to swim, surf or sit, and how to walk to Los Muertos, Carricitos, Malpaso and beyond.5 min read
Day trips from SayulitaQuieter beaches ten minutes away, islands you can swim into, whales in winter and a mountain town worth the long drive.6 min read
Sports and adventure around SayulitaSurf, paddle, dive, ride, climb and fly through the canopy, then catch the contests and races that fill the year around the bay.5 min read
A morning on the waterPaddle the cove at first light, snorkel the rocks, book the Marietas the right way and go out to meet the humpbacks in winter.5 min read
Hikes and jungle walks from SayulitaClimb Monkey Mountain at first light, walk through the painted cemetery to Los Muertos, find the way to Malpaso, and go into the jungle with someone who knows it.6 min read
Yoga, massage and slowing down in SayulitaOpen-air shalas and a hot studio, massage a block from the beach, a sauna and cold plunge, a Friday-night temazcal and the retreats that fill the winter.4 min read
Shopping and makers in SayulitaWixárika beadwork and yarn paintings, the Friday market by the bridge, local labels, leather and silver, and raicilla to carry home.4 min read
Rainy days and kidsHow the wet season really works, the sea in the morning and the turtles at sunset, and what to do with children (or yourself) when the afternoon storm rolls in.4 min read
Stay
Which side of town, and what it costs.
The sides of Sayulita, and which one suits youCentro for nights out, the north side for families, the hills for views and quiet, Los Muertos for calm water: how each part of town feels, sounds and walks.5 min read
Groups and weddings in SayulitaWhen to come, one big villa or houses next door, venues and the people who make it work, the rules for a beach ceremony, getting everyone from the airport, and what it costs a head.6 min read
Working from SayulitaFibre or Starlink, what to do when the power goes, where to work in town, a day built around the surf, what a month costs, and the rules on staying and on phones.5 min read
Surf
Learning, the spots and the seasons.
Learning to surf in SayulitaWhere the soft waves are, when to paddle out, what a lesson costs and how not to get in anyone's way.6 min read- The surf spots around the bay, from the sandbar to the pointsSayulita's own waves, the reefs a short drive south at Punta de Mita and the quieter beaches to the north: who each one suits, what it needs and how to get there.7 min read
The year in surf: what each month brings to SayulitaNorthwest swells in winter, south swells in summer, a warm sea all year and storms to watch from June: when to come for which waves, and when the lineup is quiet.4 min read
The Sayulita Longboard ContestThree days of style on the main beach, with a division for over-fifties, an aerial show and heats after dark. What it is, how to watch and how to get a jersey.3 min read
Our lists
Culture
The year in fiestas, and what's on each month.
The Day of the Dead in SayulitaAltars in the plaza, a parade of catrinas, a torch-lit walk to the hillside cemetery and a surf contest on the beach. What happens when, and how to be a good guest at a family's remembrance.4 min read
The year's fiestas, in Sayulita and around the bayPatron saints' days with fireworks, a fishermen's pilgrimage across the bay, Independence night, Pride on Avenida Revolución and twelve nights of processions for the Virgin of Guadalupe.2 min read
Wixárika art: beadwork, yarn paintings and how to buy them wellThe bright beaded jaguars and yarn paintings sold all over Sayulita come from one of Mexico's living Indigenous cultures. Who makes them, what the symbols mean, where to buy and how to tell the real thing.4 min read
The Mercado del Pueblo, Sayulita's Friday marketEvery Friday morning from November to May, local growers, bakers and makers set up on Avenida Revolución. When it runs, what to buy and how to get the most from it.3 min read
Practical
Arriving, money, getting around and staying safe.
- Your first day in SayulitaCash, water, the beach and a first plate of tacos: what to sort out on day one, and in what order.6 min read
- What to pack for SayulitaLess than you think, with a few things that matter: the right shoes, real repellent, a rash guard and some pesos.5 min read
Getting from Puerto Vallarta airport to SayulitaTaxi, transfer, Uber, bus or rental car: what each one costs you in money and hassle, and where to find it.4 min read
Money in Sayulita: cash, cards, ATMs and tippingWhere to get pesos, which places want cash, when to say no at the card machine, and what to tip whom.6 min read
Getting around SayulitaWalk the center, rent a cart for the hills, agree the taxi fare first, and take the green-and-white bus when you're not in a hurry.5 min read- Water and safety in SayulitaWhat the official beach tests say, when to stay out of the sea, how to read the flags, and what to know about tap water, storms and mosquitoes.4 min read