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 one; every side is still here.

Centro and the plazaNights out, and walking to everythingPlaza 1 minBeach 3 minFeels livelyMost US$110–350
Up the valleyBudget stays and everyday local lifePlaza 13 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$80–250
The south sideThe plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walkPlaza 7 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$130–400
The north sideFamilies and groups: palms, pools and the long beachPlaza 10 minBeach 3 minFeels calmMost US$150–450
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

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
Up the valley	13 min	3 min	mixed	US$80–250	41	Budget stays and everyday local life
South side	7 min	3 min	mixed	US$130–400	95	The plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walk
North side	10 min	3 min	calm	US$150–450	169	Families and groups: palms, pools and the long beach
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

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.

139 staysjust you Heated pool 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.

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.

27 of 112 stays fit · feels lively

Stay · Centro (south hillside)

Distrito 88 - Adults Only

Quiet adults-only hotel up a steep hill; whole property can be booked as an 8BR private villa from $1,600.

6 min from the plazaSleeps 21From $113

Stay · Centro

Amaia Sayulita Boutique Hotel

Small hotel of eight rooms and a suite right on the main plaza, with a heated garden pool, air conditioning and good bedding. You're in the middle of town, so expect plaza noise.

1 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $79

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.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $66

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.

3 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $150

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.

5 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed

Stay · Up the valley

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 · Jungle

Casa Stella

Jungle villa with pool and palapa.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 9From $625

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.

12 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $135

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.

15 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $895

The south side

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

29 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed

Stay · South (residential)

Villa Vargas Sayulita

Spotless group villa with private pool and an attentive host.

8 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $300

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.

3 min from the plaza$$$$Sleeps 10From $550

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

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.

54 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 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.

13 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $190

Playa los Muertos

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

4 of 14 stays fit · feels calm

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 · Steps from beach

Casa Chloe

Immaculate 3BR steps from the beach.

6 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $500

Stay · Los Muertos hillside

Casa Corazon de Luz

Heart-shaped open-air home overlooking the bay; bumpy dirt road, golf cart advised.

11 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $1250

Stay · Los Muertos hillside

Villa Pelicanos

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

14 min from the plazaSleeps 18From $2200

Nanzal hill

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

7 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

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.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $510

Stay · Nanzal hillside

Casa Nido Nanzal

Modern home high above the bay with sunset views; golf cart recommended.

20 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $850

Stay · Nanzal

Casa Verde

Three-bedroom house on the quiet north end with a heated pool, an indoor dipping pool beside the living room and sunset views. A short cobblestone path leads to the beach.

23 min from the plaza$$$Sleeps 6From $250

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.

13 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet

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

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.

715 min from the plazaSleeps 15From $850

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.

1021 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $415

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.