La Joya Sayulita
Around town · on the sand
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?
Ordered for a family; every side is still here.
Playa los MuertosCalm water for swimming and small kidsPlaza 11 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$200–900
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
Centro and the plazaNights out, and walking to everythingPlaza 1 minBeach 3 minFeels livelyMost US$110–350
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Muertos | 11 min | 3 min | calm | US$200–900 | 14 | Calm water for swimming and small kids |
| 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 |
| Centro | 1 min | 3 min | lively | US$110–350 | 112 | Nights out, and walking to everything |
| 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.
On the sand
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.
Pájaro de Fuego 406
North side · 100 m to the sea
Punta Tokipa
Around town · on the sand
Villa Joya
North side · 260 m to the sea
Villa Violeta
Nanzal · 360 m to the sea
Tokipa at Punta Sayulita
Los Muertos · 80 m to the sea
Under US$150
Honest budget picks, hostels included.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
Xocotla
Centro · from US$66
Caivama
Centro · from US$150
Caivama
Centro · from US$150
Casa Contorno
North side · from US$120
Houses for everyone
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · about US$5 a head
Casa Cariño
South side · about US$55 a head
Casa Llamarada
South side · about US$63 a head
Casa Serene
South side · about US$66 a head
Punta Tokipa
Around town · about US$25 a head
Villa Encanto
North side · about US$55 a head
Pool and view
A pool, and the sea from it.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
Casa Cariño
South side · from US$550
Casa Llamarada
South side · from US$750
Casa Mango
South side · from US$395
Casa Rosalita
Up the valley · from US$300
Casa Serene
South side · from US$795
Small hotels
For when you don't want a whole house.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
La Joya Sayulita
Around town · from US$490
Xocotla
Centro · from US$66
Casa El Mirador
Centro · from US$499
Cinética
Around town · from US$180
Maramara
South side · from US$95
Every stay, by side
Playa los Muertos
The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.
2 of 14 stays fit · feels calm · 3 don't sleep 4, 3 are over budget, 3 don't publish a price
Stay · Los Muertos
Tokipa at Punta Sayulita
Beachfront villa property at the point with eight villas, two pools, a beach bar and spa, near Playa Los Muertos.
The north side
Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
39 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 35 don't sleep 4, 9 are over budget, 35 don't publish a price
This month around North side
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 end
Pájaro de Fuego 406
The only one-bedroom unit in the Pájaro de Fuego complex on the quiet north end, with a private terrace, bay views and use of the complex's two pools (one heated in winter) and round rooftop terrace; sleeps four, pets welcome.
Stay · North side, Colina La Iguana gated community
Villa Encanto
4BR with extensive ocean and jungle views.
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.
The south side
Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
19 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 17 don't sleep 4, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Centro and the plaza
The heart of town: the plaza, taco stands, bars and the main beach a block away. Lively, and loud on weekend nights.
18 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 20 don't sleep 4, 5 are over budget, 44 don't publish a price
Stay · Centro (south hillside)
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Quiet adults-only hotel up a steep hill; whole property can be booked as an 8BR private villa from $1,600.
Stay · Centro
Xocotla
Gay-owned guesthouse of four apartments (two studios and two one-bedrooms) in a jungle garden with a heated pool. About three minutes' walk to the plaza and beach.
Stay · Centro
Caivama
Modern complex of two-bedroom condos with private plunge pools, a rooftop infinity pool, hot tub and gym, about two blocks from the beach and plaza.
Stay · Central, two blocks from the beach and plaza
Amare Las Villas
Two apartments, Cielo and Paraíso, sharing a saltwater pool and garden, two blocks from the main beach and plaza. Cielo has a rooftop palapa.
Nanzal hill
Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.
6 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 11 don't sleep 4, 2 are over budget, 8 don't publish a price
This week around Nanzal
Stay · Nanzal
Casa Colorin
Three-bedroom hillside villa on the quieter north side with an infinity pool and ocean views from every room; the north beach is about 150 yards away.
Stay · Nanzal
Casa Verde
Three-bedroom house on the quiet north end with a heated pool, an indoor dipping pool beside the living room and sunset views. A short cobblestone path leads to the beach.
Stay · Nanzal
Panorama Del Mar
Three-bedroom architect-designed villa high above town with a private plunge pool and views over the beach, ocean and jungle. Each bedroom is a king suite with its own bathroom.
Up the valley
Inland along the river and the town entrance: everyday Sayulita, the soccer field and quieter, local streets.
3 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed · 11 don't sleep 4, 1 are over budget, 20 don't publish a price
Stay · Up the valley
Casa Rosalita
A three-storey hacienda-style house in a gated compound on the quiet north end, five minutes from the beach: a heated pool before a jaguar-and-sharks mural, a pool bar, three kitchens and a sea-view rooftop. Sleeps eight to ten, from US$300 a night.
Further out
The edges of Sayulita and the next towns along the coast: Punta Sayulita, Playa Escondida, San Pancho and beyond. A cart or car ride from the plaza, and often the biggest houses.
10 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 9 don't sleep 4, 8 are over budget, 5 don't publish a price
Stay · South outskirts (Playa Escondida)
La Joya Sayulita
Jungle-and-ocean retreat with its own beach and excellent restaurant.
Stay · Punta Tokipa
Punta Tokipa
Gated oceanfront community, formerly Punta Sayulita, with 24-hour security and a beach club with a restaurant and infinity pools. Homes and villas here are mostly for sale, with some rentals.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Punta El Custodio / Platanitos, ~90 min north
Casa Colibri at Platanitos
Four-bedroom villa in a gated community above Platanitos beach at Punta El Custodio, with a private heated pool; housekeeper and chef included.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Punta del Burro, ~20 min south
Casa de Las Abuelas
Four-bedroom beachfront house in a gated community at Punta del Burro, with chef and staff included; sleeps 11.
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.