
Casa Rosada
North side · 50 m to the sea
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
Ordered for a big group; 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| 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.
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.
Two or three places within a short walk of each other that sleep your group between them, so everyone is together without one huge villa.


South side near the south entrance, Selva Maaku · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 15 together · from about US$85 a head a night


Centro · 2 min apart on foot
Sleeps 16 together · from about US$60 a head a night

South side, Cocos Norte hilltop · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 18 together · from about US$98 a head a night

North side · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 15 together · from about US$51 a head a night

North end, Colina La Iguana · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 20 together · from about US$92 a head a night

North end, on the hill · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 14 together · from about US$54 a head a night
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

North side · 50 m to the sea

Around town · on the sand

North side · 80 m to the sea

Los Muertos · 80 m to the sea
North side · 100 m to the sea
Around town · on the sand
Honest budget picks, hostels included.

Centro · from US$113
South side · from US$95
North side · from US$150
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.

Centro · about US$5 a head

South side · about US$63 a head

North side · about US$250 a head

South side · about US$66 a head

Around town · about US$25 a head

North side · about US$194 a head
A pool, and the sea from it.

Centro · from US$113

South side · from US$750

North side · from US$3000

South side · from US$795

Around town · from US$350

North side · from US$3100
For when you don't want a whole house.

Centro · from US$113

South side
Centro · from US$499
South side · from US$95
North side · from US$150
North side · from US$160

Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
12 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 124 don't sleep 12
This month around North side
Stay · North end beachfront
New luxury beachfront villa with full-time staff who arrange activities and transport.
Stay · North end beachfront
Seven-bedroom oceanfront estate on the quiet north beach, sleeping 16, with a heated infinity pool, jacuzzi, full staff including a chef, and lawns that host weddings of around 100 guests.
Stay · North side, two blocks up from the north beach
Ocean-view villa with whole-house water purification.
Stay · North Side beachfront
Five king suites, spacious gardens and sunset views right on the north beach.

Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.
1 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 26 don't sleep 12
This week around Nanzal

The heart of town: the plaza, taco stands, bars and the main beach a block away. Lively, and loud on weekend nights.
7 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 64 don't sleep 12
Stay · Centro (south hillside)
Quiet adults-only hotel up a steep hill; whole property can be booked as an 8BR private villa from $1,600.
Stay · Centro hillside (above main beach)
Oceanfront estate with panoramic views of the beach and the surf break, 3 minutes from town.

Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
8 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 63 don't sleep 12
Stay · Gated community
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 · Gated community (5 min to town)
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 coast (Ojo de Agua)
4BR villa plus two 2BR casitas; popular for retreats; quieter and drier than town.

The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.
2 of 14 stays fit · feels calm · 8 don't sleep 12
Stay · Los Muertos
Beachfront villa property at the point with eight villas, two pools, a beach bar and spa, near Playa Los Muertos.
Stay · Los Muertos hillside
Nine beachfront bedrooms near Playa Los Muertos; featured in Architectural Digest.
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.
6 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 26 don't sleep 12
Stay · 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: Chacala, ~45 min north
Five-bedroom villa with a big pool, each room with its own bathroom, in the Marina Chacala jungle about 45 minutes north of Sayulita.
Stay · Punta Tokipa (Punta Sayulita)
Gated oceanfront community: 6BR Casa Panorama from $2,800; 1-2BR eco villas from $350.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: gated community ~20 min north
Six- or eight-bedroom ocean-view estate in a gated 12-acre retreat near Lo de Marcos, about 20 minutes north of Sayulita. Heated 40-foot salt-water pool and a big palapa for events.
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.