Explore

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?

Compare the sides in a table
SideWalk to the plazaWalk to the beachFeelsMost stays a nightStaysGood for
Centro1 min3 minlivelyUS$110–350112Nights out, and walking to everything
North side10 min3 mincalmUS$150–450169Families and groups: palms, pools and the long beach
South side7 min3 minmixedUS$130–40095The plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walk
Los Muertos11 min3 mincalmUS$200–90014Calm water for swimming and small kids
Nanzal20 min3 minquietUS$200–60036Big views from the hill; you'll want a cart
Up the valley13 min3 minmixedUS$80–25041Budget 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.

Villas in the jungle on the south-side hill above a rocky cove and a small pier

The south side

Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.

20 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 6 are over budget, 27 don't publish a price

Stay · South (residential)

Villa Vargas Sayulita

Spotless group villa with private pool and an attentive host.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $300

Stay · South-central, on a small hill above the surf break

Casa Cariño

Four-bedroom gated house two blocks from the beach, with a heated salt-water pool, waterfall, six-hole mini-golf, roof palapa and ocean views. Breakfast and coffee included.

3 min from the plaza$$$$Sleeps 10From $550

Stay · Gated community

Casa Llamarada

Four-bedroom villa in the gated Selva Maaku development just south of town, built for groups: a heated pool and hot tub ringed by three fire pits, a pool house with a wet bar and a chef's kitchen; sleeps twelve, with five baths.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $750

Stay · South side near the south entrance, Selva Maaku

Casa Mango

Three-bedroom house with a saltwater pool, a garden and a bungalow on the roof, inside a gated estate with round-the-clock security; sleeps seven, with two kitchens and three and a half baths.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 7From $395

Stay · Gated community (5 min to town)

Casa Serene

Four-bedroom villa for big groups in a private development in the jungle south of town, with a saltwater pool, hot tub, wood sauna, cold plunge and fire pit; sleeps twelve, with five baths and a pool house.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $795

Stay · South side

El Oasis

Compound of six casas sharing a waterfall pool and palapa lounge bar on the south side, under a 10-minute walk to the plaza and beach. Rent one casa or all nine bedrooms (24 guests).

8 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $125

Stay · South side

Casa Almas

Three-bedroom, three-level hillside house with a heated saltwater pool and waterfall, rooftop pergola with soaking tub, and ocean views. Renovated in 2023, five minutes' walk to town.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $275

Stay · South side

Casa Bonita

Gated three-bedroom house on Gringo Hill with a heated pool and a small kids' pool, roughly a five-minute walk down to the plaza. Sleeps up to eight.

10 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $350

Stay · South side

Casa Cerritos

Stand-alone three-bedroom hillside villa with a heated private pool and ocean and jungle views from every room. About a 15-minute walk or short golf-cart ride to the beach.

11 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $350

Stay · Above village

Casa de Myretta

Villa above the village with stunning views.

10 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $450

Stay · South side

Casa Dos Rios Downstairs

Two-bedroom ground-floor suite on the south side with a patio over the shared pool; five minutes' walk to the centre.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $150

Stay · South side

Casa Dos Rios Upstairs

Two-bedroom upper suite on the south side with a rooftop palapa bed, a patio over the shared pool and jungle views.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $175

Stay · South side

Casa Montaña

Newer two-bedroom house on a quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, with a private salt-water pool, mountain views from the upper deck and fibre internet. About a ten-minute flat walk to the beach.

10 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $165

Stay · Jungle

Casa Obsidiana

Private jungle retreat.

20 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $315

Stay · Gringo Hill (Monte Calvario)

Casa Palma Chueca

4BR with heated pool.

5 min from the plazaSleeps 11From $450

Stay · South end of main beach

Casa Pata Salada

Beachfront 1BR casitas from $167; many stairs to some units.

5 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $167

Stay · South side

Casita at Casa Candiles

Remodelled two-bedroom casita on a south-side hilltop with its own private pool and ocean views. Walkable to town and the beach.

5 min from the plaza$$Sleeps 4From $189

Stay · South end of main beach

La Esquina

Oceanfront studios from $167 and a 2BR penthouse from $543, a block from the plaza.

3 min from the plazaFrom $193

Stay · South (Av. Revolución)

Maramara

Good-value apartments; uneven maintenance.

6 min from the plazaFrom $95

Stay · South side

Casa Chango

Owner's house on Calle Luna with a two-bedroom main house and pool, plus a one-bedroom boutique casita that rents year-round. Looks over Monkey Mountain (Cerro del Mono).

5 min from the plazaSleeps 2From $395

← All sides of town

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