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 friends; every side is still here.

The north sideFamilies and groups: palms, pools and the long beachPlaza 10 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$150–450
Nanzal hillBig views from the hill; you'll want a cartPlaza 20 minBeach 3 minFeels quietMost US$200–600
Centro and the plazaNights out, and walking to everythingPlaza 1 minBeach 3 minFeels livelyMost US$110–350
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
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
North side	10 min	3 min	calm	US$150–450	169	Families and groups: palms, pools and the long beach
Nanzal	20 min	3 min	quiet	US$200–600	36	Big views from the hill; you'll want a cart
Centro	1 min	3 min	lively	US$110–350	112	Nights out, and walking to everything
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
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.

A couple Family Friends Big group Just me2 4 6 8 10 14 20people

Under $150 Under $350 Under $800Pool Heated pool On the beach Ocean view Walk to the plaza A/C Kitchen Good Wi-Fi Washer Parking Good for kids Pets ok Breakfast included

Sizes are what the places publish; a few don’t list them, so we keep those in. 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.

54 stays6 friends A/C Pets ok Kitchen Clear all

On the sand

About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

Under US$150

Honest budget picks, hostels included.

Houses for everyone

Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.

Curved infinity pool above the palm-lined bay of Sayulita

Pool and view

A pool, and the sea from it.

Small hotels

For when you don't want a whole house.

Sayulita Surf Hotel Casa Buena Onda

Centro · from US$289

Every stay, by side

Sunset on the long beach, looking north to the hills

The north side

Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.

18 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 59 don't sleep 6

This month around North side

**Sunset from Las Sirenas beach club on the north side**Christopher P. · 12 days

**Sunset from the north beach**Christopher P. · 12 days

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.

14 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $200

Stay · North side

Casa De La Vida

Three-bedroom north-end house with kiddie and adult pools, a big veranda and bay views; a short walk down a lane to the beach.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $275

Stay · North end, above the beach

Casa Jorge

New 4BR ($550) plus a 1BR loft ($120).

16 min from the plazaSleeps 7From $550

Stay · North Side beachfront

Casa Mucho Gusto

3BR north-side beachfront house.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $350

Nanzal hill

Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.

2 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 17 don't sleep 6

This week around Nanzal

**Casa Infinito**Christopher P. · 5 days

Stay · North-east hillside

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.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 16From $714

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.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $595

A cobbled street in Centro, lined with palms and shopfronts, running down to the sea

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.

5 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 40 don't sleep 6

Stay · Centro

Casa Pura Vida

Four-bedroom house on Calle Pelícanos in the middle of town, wrapped in a big street-art mural, with a dipping pool, a palapa roof terrace and polished-concrete rooms; sleeps ten, with tacos, coffee and a minimarket on the street.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 10

Stay · Centro south hillside

Casa Higuera

2BR villa $280, Casa Sofia 3BR $308, casitas $120-142; close to town.

3 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $128

Stay · Centro (steps to sand)

Hacienda Camino al Mar

Centrally located 7BR villa steps from the sand.

304 min from the plazaSleeps 16From $950

Stay · Centro (Plaza)

Hotel Vogue

Leafy oasis on the square whose thick walls keep out street noise.

1 min from the plazaFrom $150

The south side

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

17 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 29 don't sleep 6

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 · South coast (Playa Pátzcuaro)

Casa Mis Amores

Secluded beachfront estate.

35 min from the plazaSleeps 14From $3500

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

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 · 4 don't sleep 6

Stay · Los Muertos hillside

Villa Pelicanos

Nine beachfront bedrooms near Playa Los Muertos; featured in Architectural Digest.

14 min from the plazaSleeps 18From $2200

Papel picado over the street at the town entrance

Up the valley

Inland along the river and the town entrance: everyday Sayulita, the soccer field and quieter, local streets.

4 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed · 17 don't sleep 6

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.

16 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $300

Stay · Tamarindo neighborhood

Casa Tamarindo

Upstairs two-bedroom unit of a classic Mexican house about a 5-minute walk from town, with three queen beds, A/C, a terrace, private kitchen and a mature fruit garden. Budget-friendly.

7 min from the plaza$Sleeps 6From $75

Stay · Up the valley

Villa Alta Mira

4BR with dedicated concierge.

20 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $495

Stay · Up the valley

Pacific Inn Sayulita

Two-dozen-room hotel on the east edge of town with a pool, children's pool, garden and free parking; some rooms have kitchenettes. Roughly a 20-minute walk to the main beach, so suits drivers.

13 min from the plaza

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.

7 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 12 don't sleep 6

Stay · Beachfront (private beach)

Casa Hikuri

4BR villa with a private beach.

43 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $1200

Stay · Outside Sayulita: Punta del Burro, ~20 min south

Casa Los Amigos

Four-bedroom house for 8 to 10 with ensuite rooms, a pool with outdoor kitchen, BBQ and pizza oven, and a short walk to the beach and the left-hand surf break.

10 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $1350

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.

238 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $500

Stay · Ocean view

Casa Mariposa

2BR with panoramic ocean and beach views.

7 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $165

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.