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.

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.

156 staysOn the beach

On the sand

About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

Hillside pool terrace with tables and ocean view

Under US$150

Honest budget picks, hostels included.

ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel

Centro · from US$12

Sayulita Trailer Park & Bungalows

North side · from US$25

Houses for everyone

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

Balcony with jacuzzi and dining set over the bay

Pool and view

A pool, and the sea from it.

Small hotels

For when you don't want a whole house.

Every stay, by side

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.

30 of 112 stays fit · feels lively

Stay · Centro south hillside (oceanfront)

Casa Bougainvillea

Oceanfront 4BR from $850, casita $200, palapa casita $230. Steep stairs to the beach.

5 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $200

Stay · Gringo Hill

Casa Nicoya

Four-bedroom hilltop home on Gringo Hill, a main house plus a separate casita, with a pool, ocean views and a 5-7 minute walk to the plaza.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $625

Stay · Centro (near beach)

One of Sayulita's first hotels, on Calle Delfines about thirty steps from the main beach: eleven air-conditioned rooms named after local beaches, MX$550 to $2,700 a night, the best with hammock balconies. Self check-in at 3pm; no pool, and the street is loud at weekends.

2 min from the plazaSleeps 3From $31

Stay · Centro East (Pelícanos)

ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel

Community-focused hostel with daily activities.

6 min from the plazaFrom $12

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.

70 of 169 stays fit · feels calm

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 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.

14 min from the plazaSleeps 2From $145

Stay · North end beachfront

Casa Rosada

New luxury beachfront villa with full-time staff who arrange activities and transport.

22 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $3000

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.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $218

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.

17 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $175

The south side

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

13 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed

Stay · South end of main beach

Hotel Ysuri Sayulita

Six kinds of suite across the street from the calm south end of the beach, five minutes from the plaza: kitchenettes, bay-view balconies, a shared pool, and penthouses with their own infinity pools. Rates from about US$115.

7 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $139

Stay · South coast (Playa Pátzcuaro)

Casa Mis Amores

Secluded beachfront estate.

35 min from the plazaSleeps 14From $3500

Stay · South side

Local Tribe de Mexico

Ten shipping-container rooms on stilts with ocean views, a pool, a jungle spa and a restaurant on the south-end beachfront. Rooms can be booked together for up to 20.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 20From $300

Stay · South side

Villa Amor

Open-air villas of one to three bedrooms stacked up the hillside at the south end of the bay, with ocean views, a two-level pool and a beachfront bistro and bar. About five minutes on foot to Playa los Muertos.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $206

Playa los Muertos

The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.

11 of 14 stays fit · feels calm

Stay · Playa Los Muertos

Amor Boutique Hotel

About 27 palapa-roofed villas stepped down the cliff between town and Playa de los Muertos, each designed differently, most looking out over the bay: a shared pool, plunge pools in four, free surfboards and yoga. Villas from about US$312 a night; expect many stairs.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 2From $312

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.

22 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $210

Stay · Los Muertos hillside (jungle)

Hotel Boutique Siete Lunas

Jungle rooms with big views, up a steep hillside.

17 min from the plaza

Stay · Secluded cove

Casa Buque

Secluded cove retreat with ocean and jungle views.

16 min from the plazaSleeps 5From $440

Nanzal hill

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

11 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet

This week around Nanzal

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

Stay · Nanzal Hill, north side

Villa Violeta

Brand-new villa with expansive views.

21 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $499

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

Stay · Nanzal

Casa Camille

Two-bedroom condo in the Maraica complex on the north side, steps from the north beach, with a shared pool, a roof terrace with wet bar and fibre internet. Sleeps four.

17 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $199

Stay · Nanzal

Casa Escondida

Four-bedroom villa in Punta Sayulita with a private pool and terraces, with on-site concierge and optional extras like yoga or surf lessons.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $200

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.

1 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed

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.

11 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $260

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.

20 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet

Stay · South outskirts (Playa Escondida)

Playa Escondida

Adults-oriented jungle hideaway on its own cove just south of town: thatched bungalows open to the breeze, an ocean-view infinity pool, two restaurants and a bakery. No TVs, and Wi-Fi only in common areas.

27 min from the plazaSleeps 5From $165

Stay · South outskirts (Playa Escondida)

Haramara Retreat

Yoga retreat on twelve jungle acres above a private cove south of town, with open-air casitas, hilltop yoga pavilions and three organic meals a day. Hosts group retreats, couples and solo guests.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 50From $237

Stay · South outskirts (Playa Escondida)

La Joya Sayulita

Jungle-and-ocean retreat with its own beach and excellent restaurant.

28 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $490

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.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 14From $350

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.