El Cielo de Sayulita
Up the valley · 420 m to the sea
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.
On the sand
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.
Pájaro de Fuego 406
North side · 100 m to the sea
Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos
North side · 210 m to the sea
Andreas Vacation Rentals
Nanzal · 80 m to the sea
Casa De La Vida
North side · 100 m to the sea
Casa Del Sol
North side · 80 m to the sea
Under US$150
Honest budget picks, hostels included.
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
Hotel Hafa
Centro · from US$68
Macondo Bungalows
North side · from US$60
Caivama
Centro · from US$150
Caivama
Centro · from US$150
Casa Del Sol
North side · from US$150
Houses for everyone
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.
Villas Piedra Blanca
Nanzal · about US$45 a head
Casa Llamarada
South side · about US$63 a head
Casa Serene
South side · about US$66 a head
Andreas Vacation Rentals
Nanzal · about US$50 a head
Casa Mariposa
Ocean view · about US$17 a head
Casa Mucho Gusto
North side · about US$35 a head
Pool and view
A pool, and the sea from it.
Villas Piedra Blanca
Nanzal · from US$714
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
El Cielo de Sayulita
Up the valley · from US$260
Small hotels
For when you don't want a whole house.
El Cielo de Sayulita
Up the valley · from US$260
Hotel Hafa
Centro · from US$68
Sayulinda Hotel
Centro · from US$166
Macondo Bungalows
North side · from US$60
Cielo Pool Suite
Nanzal · from US$99
Cinética
Around town · from US$180
Every stay, by side
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.
9 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 5 are over budget, 44 don't publish a price
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 · Centro
Caivama
Hillside complex of 26 two-bedroom residences with plunge pools and a rooftop infinity pool, gym and yoga room. A block from the plaza and about three from the beach.
The north side
Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
23 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 9 are over budget, 35 don't publish a price
This month around North side
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 (quiet north)
Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos
Breezy, spotless condos with pool and jacuzzi near the north beach.
Stay · North Side (by bridge)
Macondo Bungalows
Owner-run bungalows with many repeat guests; some units fan-only.
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.
The south side
Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
9 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 6 are over budget, 27 don't publish a price
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.
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.
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).
Playa los Muertos
The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.
1 of 14 stays fit · feels calm · 3 are over budget, 3 don't publish a price
Stay · Los Muertos
Casa Kukana
Hillside estate on 2.5 acres with two bungalows, a three-suite Moroccan-style one and a one-bedroom English Country one, with sea and jungle views. About a 6 to 8 minute walk to town.
Nanzal hill
Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.
5 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 2 are over budget, 8 don't publish a price
This week around Nanzal
Stay · North-east hillside
Villas Piedra Blanca
Two villas on a gated hillside estate above the north side, with three pools, a palapa bar and the whole bay below. Casa Piedra Azul sleeps ten from US$714 a night; the seven-bedroom estate sleeps sixteen and hosts weddings of up to 120.
Stay · Nanzal
Andreas Vacation Rentals
Three homes on Avenida del Palmar at the north end, bookable singly or together for up to 12: Casa Mariluna (3 bed), El Templito (2 bed) and Mi Casita (1 bed). Pool access, A/C, direct booking.
Stay · Nanzal
Casa Gardenia
Two-bedroom hillside house on Nanzal Hill with an infinity salt-water pool and ocean views from every room. Stairs next to the property lead down to the beach in about eight minutes.
Stay · Between Nanzal and Gringo Hill, Margarita del Cielo
Cielo Estrella
One-bedroom villa at Margarita del Cielo with a full kitchen, queen bed and daybed. Shares the complex's pool, barbecue and pizza oven.
Up the valley
Inland along the river and the town entrance: everyday Sayulita, the soccer field and quieter, local streets.
5 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed · 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.
Stay · East (hillside)
El Cielo de Sayulita
Brand-new hillside apartments with a rooftop infinity pool.
Stay · Up the valley
El Cielo de Sayulita
Hillside complex of 12 two-bedroom, two-bath apartments above town with a rooftop infinity pool, gym and wide views over town and the Pacific. Pet-friendly, self check-in.
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.
5 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 8 are over budget, 5 don't publish a price
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Burros, ~20 min south
Casa Mar de Grecia
Beachfront homes about 20 minutes' drive from Sayulita, just south of Punta de Mita, steps from a surf break. A three-bedroom lower unit sleeps six; a six-bedroom house sleeps twelve.
Stay · Around town
Selva del Mar
Jungle estate of about 15 acres a mile from town, with Bali-style wooden houses such as El Templo. Ten minutes on a jungle path to a private beach.
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.