Stay · North end (Av. del Palmar)
Casablanca Sayulita Hotel
Spotless rooms around a central pool with a short path to the north beach. Suites from $145; the 3BR Casablanca Beach House starts at $500.
Pick your side of town
Where you stay shapes the trip: the plaza’s buzz, a quiet palm grove on the north beach, or a view from the hill. Already booked? See what’s around your stay
Which side?
Centro and the plazaNights out, and walking to everythingPlaza 1 minBeach 3 minFeels livelyMost US$110–350
The north sideFamilies and groups: palms, pools and the long beachPlaza 10 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$150–450
The south sideThe plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walkPlaza 7 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$130–400
Playa los MuertosCalm water for swimming and small kidsPlaza 11 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$200–900
Nanzal hillBig views from the hill; you'll want a cartPlaza 20 minBeach 3 minFeels quietMost US$200–600
Up the valleyBudget stays and everyday local lifePlaza 13 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$80–250
Compare the sides in a table
| Side | Walk to the plaza | Walk to the beach | Feels | Most stays a night | Stays | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro | 1 min | 3 min | lively | US$110–350 | 112 | Nights out, and walking to everything |
| North side | 10 min | 3 min | calm | US$150–450 | 169 | Families and groups: palms, pools and the long beach |
| South side | 7 min | 3 min | mixed | US$130–400 | 95 | The plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walk |
| Los Muertos | 11 min | 3 min | calm | US$200–900 | 14 | Calm water for swimming and small kids |
| Nanzal | 20 min | 3 min | quiet | US$200–600 | 36 | Big views from the hill; you'll want a cart |
| Up the valley | 13 min | 3 min | mixed | US$80–250 | 41 | Budget stays and everyday local life |
Walks are on foot from the middle of each side, roughly; carts take about a third of the time. Prices are what places publish, the middle half of them.
Prices are the lowest night each place publishes, usually in low season; places that don’t publish one aren’t shown under a budget. Pool, A/C and kitchen show the stays we know have them; a place that doesn’t say isn’t a no, it just isn’t listed here.
The north side
Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
32 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 9 are over budget, 35 don't publish a price
This month around North side
Stay · North end (Av. del Palmar)
La Puesta Sayulita
Polished hotel on the quiet north end of the beach with immaculate rooms and standout service.
Stay · North Side (C. Chiripa)
Los Almendros
Gated complex of about two dozen villas on a quiet flat street at the north end, around a big shared pool and gardens, three blocks from the beach. Villas have two to six bedrooms.
Stay · North side
Villa Joya
Two-bedroom condo in the Los Almendros complex at the north end, with shared pool, elevator and daily housekeeping. About four minutes to the beach, ten to the plaza.
Stay · North Side (quiet north)
Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos
Breezy, spotless condos with pool and jacuzzi near the north beach.
Stay · North side
Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos
Newer north-side building with three 3-bedroom apartments sharing a pool and rooftop jacuzzi, about three blocks from the beach and a 7-minute walk to the plaza.
Stay · North end, 3 minutes from the beach
Casa Brissa
Casual-luxury home rentable as 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms.
Stay · North side
Casa Buena Suerte
Stand-alone two-bedroom house on the quiet north side, built Balinese-villa style with a heated salt-water pool and gardens. Flat five-minute walk to the beach, sleeps six.
Stay · North side
Casa Contorno
Newly built jungle-side rental at the foot of Nanzal hill, in separate units with plunge pools and air-conditioned king bedrooms; about 10 minutes to the beach.
Stay · Possibly north shore, one block from the beach
Casa Sol y Luna
Old-style Mexican house one block from the beach, with three bedrooms each in its own detached casita with bath and A/C. Pool, garden and an open indoor-outdoor kitchen and living area.
Stay · North side
Casa Tecolote Upper
Upper two-bedroom unit of Casa Tecolote, on a quiet dead-end street with a shared solar-heated saltwater pool and outdoor kitchen. About a five-minute walk to the beach and town.
Stay · North side
Casablanca Beach House
Three-bedroom main house of the Casablanca beachfront property, directly on the sand with a heated beach-edge pool and a large palapa. Three king suites plus bunks.
Stay · North end (Av. del Palmar)
Pájaro de Fuego
Condo complex across the road from the north beach with two big pools, one heated in winter, plus 24-hour security and daily housekeeping. Units run from one to four bedrooms; expect stairs.
Stay · North side, Pájaro de Fuego complex (hill)
Penthouse Wabi Sabi
Three-storey, three-bedroom penthouse townhouse in the Pájaro de Fuego complex with wraparound balconies and a rooftop sundeck. Large shared pool, gym and covered parking; five minutes to the beach.
Stay · North side
Pool Side Condo
Two-bedroom, two-bath north-end condo with terraces over the ocean and jungle, a guest pool and rooftop gardens. Short walk to the quiet north beach.
Stay · Across from north beach
Quetzal Luxury Condos
1-4BR luxury suites across the street from the north beach.
Stay · North Side hillside
Villa Buena Vista Estate
North-side luxury home with an infinity pool and jacuzzi.
Stay · North side
Villa Cherimoya
Two-bedroom villa with a private saltwater splash pool and treetop ocean views in the north end, about three minutes from the beach. Not suitable for small children because of open stairs and pool.
Stay · North side, Pájaro de Fuego complex
Villa Lucia
Penthouse in the Pájaro de Fuego complex with a private pool and views over the bay and town. Upper floor with stairs and no elevator; complex has large shared pools.
Stay · North end (Av. del Palmar)
Villa Rana Verde
Three separate architect-designed villas about half a mile from the village; combine for 4-7 bedrooms; kid-friendly.
Stay · North Side beachfront
Villas del Palmar
Gated beachfront complex on the north side with 24-hour security and a shared pool on the sand. Suites, penthouses and whole villas for rent; about five minutes' walk to the plaza.
Stay · North side
AzulPitaya
Beachfront hotel of 60 rooms on Avenida del Palmar, each with a king bed, balcony and kitchenette. Large heated pool, beach bar and restaurant, co-working space, breakfast included.
Requests to book go straight to the owner or manager on WhatsApp; we don’t take payments or a cut. Owners and managers can claim a listing.