Casa Rosada
North side · 50 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?
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.
Sizes are what the places publish; a few don’t list them, so we keep those in.
On the sand
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.
La Joya Sayulita
Around town · on the sand
La Puesta Sayulita
North side · 80 m to the sea
Villa del Oso
North side · 80 m to the sea
Villa Joya
North side · 260 m to the sea
Villa Violeta
Nanzal · 360 m to the sea
Under US$150
Honest budget picks, hostels included.
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
Xocotla
Centro · from US$66
Casa Contorno
North side · from US$120
Casa Higuera
Centro · from US$128
El Manguito CobHouse
Up the valley · from US$135
Vida Feliz Casitas
Centro · from US$85
Houses for everyone
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.
Casa Cariño
South side · about US$55 a head
Casa Rosada
North side · about US$250 a head
Casa Serene
South side · about US$66 a head
Villa del Oso
North side · about US$194 a head
Villa Valentin
South side · about US$133 a head
Casa Abuela
North side · about US$55 a head
Pool and view
A pool, and the sea from it.
Casa Cariño
South side · from US$550
Casa Rosada
North side · from US$3000
Casa Serene
South side · from US$795
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
La Joya Sayulita
Around town · from US$490
La Puesta Sayulita
North side · from US$218
Small hotels
For when you don't want a whole house.
La Joya Sayulita
Around town · from US$490
La Puesta Sayulita
North side · from US$218
Xocotla
Centro · from US$66
Casa El Mirador
Centro · from US$499
Cinética
Around town · from US$180
AzulPitaya
North side · from US$160
Every stay, by side
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 don't sleep 4
Stay · Los Muertos hillside
Villa Pelicanos
Nine beachfront bedrooms near Playa Los Muertos; featured in Architectural Digest.
The north side
Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
36 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 35 don't sleep 4
This month around North side
Stay · North end beachfront
Casa Rosada
New luxury beachfront villa with full-time staff who arrange activities and transport.
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.
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 beachfront
Villa del Oso
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.
The south side
Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
15 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 17 don't sleep 4
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 (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).
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.
17 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 20 don't sleep 4
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 · 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.
Stay · Centro south hillside
Casa Higuera
2BR villa $280, Casa Sofia 3BR $308, casitas $120-142; close to town.
Nanzal hill
Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.
4 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 11 don't sleep 4
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.
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 · 11 don't sleep 4
Stay · Up the valley
El Manguito CobHouse
Two-bedroom cob-style cabin with round windows, a private pool and a tropical garden. Sleeps up to four, has on-site parking and accepts pets.
Stay · Up the valley
Loma Verde
Four-bedroom, four-bath apartment over two floors with five terraces and a rooftop heated saltwater infinity pool. About 7 minutes' walk to the north beach.
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.
9 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 9 don't sleep 4
Stay · South outskirts (Playa Escondida)
La Joya Sayulita
Jungle-and-ocean retreat with its own beach and excellent restaurant.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Chacala, ~45 min north
Casa Cleofas
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 · 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.