Guides · 5 spots · 4 min
Where to watch the sunset
The bay faces west, so the sun goes down over the water right in front of town. Scroll to follow tonight's sunset around the bay, from the hill to the cove.
Nanzal Hill
The hill above the north end looks down on the whole curve of the bay, the surfers as dots and, once the sun is gone, the town lighting up below. Most of that view belongs to rental terraces, so it's the reason to book a place up here. Without one, Mazo's terrace above the far north end is the widest view you can buy a drink for.
- Getting upSteep. A cart helps
- BestNov–Apr, clearer skies
21 min on foot from the plaza · add where you're staying
Drinks, food and the spot itself
The north end
Cross the river and keep walking past the main beach, and the crowd thins out. It's couples, walkers and a few surfers, and a handful of small bars put their tables right on the sand. Bar Miramar opens around sunset; La Isla's happy hour runs into it.
- CostFree, or a drink
- CrowdLight
13 min on foot from the plaza · add where you're staying
Drinks, food and the spot itself
- Bar MiramarLittle beachside bar on the north beach near Casablanca hotel, open from sunset;
- Bar La IslaTables in the sand under a palapa;
- Estrella de Mar MariscosSeafood restaurant with wide views over the ocean and jungle.
- La Playita SayulitaToes-in-the-sand spot serving breakfast to dinner: tacos, hefty burgers and cocktails, with warm staff.
The main beach
In front of the plaza the surf lessons wrap up, the regulars paddle out for one more wave and the lineup turns into silhouettes. The beach bars keep loungers facing the water if you order; a towel on the sand works just as well, and a pizza from town makes it a picnic.
- CostFree
- CrowdBusy
4 min on foot from the plaza · add where you're staying
Drinks, food and the spot itself
- Don Pedro's Restaurant & BarA two-level palapa on the main beach since 1994: Mediterranean cooking with Mexican touches off a mesquite grill, red beet ravioli, spicy tuna tostadas, and tables on the sand at sunset.
- Coco's Beach ClubThatched-roof beach club on the main beach with loungers on the sand and a roof deck over the surf;
- GOAT Beach Club SayulitaA beach club where Calle Delfines meets the main beach, open daily 9am to midnight.
- Ancla SayulitaLoungers right in front of the main surf break, with board rentals and a tuna tostada people come back for.
- Pizzería AlcornoqueWood-fired sourdough pizza with cheap add-on toppings;
Sí Señor's terrace
On the road toward Los Muertos, a terrace over the water looks back across the whole bay, with guacamole made at the table. Book ahead for a front table in high season. Below it, the south end of the beach has the calmest water for a last swim.
- BookAhead in high season
- SwimCalmest at the south end
8 min on foot from the plaza · add where you're staying
Drinks, food and the spot itself
- Sí Señor SayulitaA wooden deck over the water on the path to Playa de los Muertos, open 9am to 10pm, with the whole bay in view.
- Taboule Beach ClubQuiet, swimmable southern tip of the beach;
- The Dock SayulitaA deck three metres above the sand at the calm south end of the main beach, run by a family of local fishermen: ceviche, seared tuna and the day's catch, cocktails made with house shrubs, and a 3 to 5pm happy hour.
Playa los Muertos
A short walk south through the hillside cemetery brings you to a small cove framed by rocks, with calmer water for a swim before the light goes. The path has no lights, so head back with a little light left, or bring a torch.
- Getting thereThrough the cemetery
- BringA light for the way back
13 min on foot from the plaza · add where you're staying
After the sun goes
The colour lasts about twenty minutes after the sun is gone. Then everyone drifts back toward the plaza for the food carts, the buskers and the first bands of the night.
Tonight, from the plaza
Only some evenings
- Photo needed: Volunteers releasing hatchlings on the north beach at duskIn season nowBaby turtle releasesThe volunteer camp on the north beach releases hatchlings at sunset, usually announced the same afternoon. Watch quietly and follow the volunteers.Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita
- Photo needed: A sailboat silhouette in the bay at sunsetAny monthA sunset sailBoats leave from Punta de Mita and the marina at La Cruz rather than from Sayulita; tour desks in town can book them.
- Photo needed: The coast from the top of Monkey Mountain at sunsetDry seasonMonkey MountainFrom the top of Cerro del Mono you see the whole peninsula. Go with a guide for sunset; the last stretch down is in the dark.WildMex Surf School & Adventure Center
Sunset through the year
Earliest around 6:19 pm in late November and early December, latest around 7:47 pm in early July. Sayulita stays on the same clock all year.
Questions people ask
What time is sunset in Sayulita?
Between about 6:20 pm (late November and early December) and about 7:45 pm (around early July), local time. Sayulita is on UTC-6 all year with no daylight saving.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Sayulita?
The main beach in front of town is the classic spot and costs nothing. For a quieter evening go to the north end or Playa de los Muertos; for a view from above, book a terrace like Mazo or Sí Señor.
Does the sun set over the ocean in Sayulita?
Yes. The bay faces west, so the sun goes down into the Pacific all year, a little to the left in winter and further right in summer.
Is it worth going to Sayulita in the rainy season for sunsets?
Clouds can hide the sun some evenings between June and October, but storms often make for the most colorful skies, and the town is calmer. November to May is the more reliable choice.
When can you see the baby turtle releases in Sayulita?
The volunteer camp on the north beach releases hatchlings at sunset during nesting season, mainly from late summer through December. Releases are usually announced on the camp's Facebook page the same afternoon.
Written by sayulita.co from our own research, checked against 16 sources. Nothing here is paid for. The views at the top are rendered from our 3D map of Sayulita, not photos; the photos are real and credited. Sunset times are worked out for Sayulita; cloud forecast from Open-Meteo. See something out of date? Tell us.