
Casa Bougainvillea
Centro · 130 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 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| 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.
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

Centro · 130 m to the sea

Centro · 390 m to the sea

Centro · 70 m to the sea

South side · on the sand

Centro · 360 m to the sea

Centro · 280 m to the sea
Honest budget picks, hostels included.

South side · from US$125

Centro · from US$12

Centro · from US$130
North side · from US$70
Centro · from US$128
Centro · from US$125
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.

Centro · about US$55 a head

Centro · sleeps 10
Centro · about US$35 a head
Centro · about US$27 a head
Centro · about US$35 a head
Centro · about US$36 a head
A pool, and the sea from it.

Centro · from US$200

South side · from US$395

Centro · from US$625

South side · from US$125

South side · from US$206

Centro
For when you don't want a whole house.

South side · from US$206

Centro · from US$130

Centro · from US$360
Centro · from US$499
Centro · from US$595
Centro

Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
3 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 59 don't sleep 6
This month around North side
Stay · North side
Beachfront hotel of 60 rooms on Avenida del Palmar, each with a king bed, balcony and kitchenette. Large heated pool, beach bar and restaurant, co-working space, breakfast included.

The heart of town: the plaza, taco stands, bars and the main beach a block away. Lively, and loud on weekend nights.
25 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 40 don't sleep 6
Stay · Centro south hillside (oceanfront)
Oceanfront 4BR from $850, casita $200, palapa casita $230. Steep stairs to the beach.
Stay · Gringo Hill
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.
Stay · Centro
Four-bedroom beachfront villa on three levels overlooking the main beach in the centre of town, with a bar, sky lounge and carved Thai doors. Sleeps ten.
Stay · Centro
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.

Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
14 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 29 don't sleep 6
Stay · South side near the south entrance, Selva Maaku
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.
Stay · South side
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).
Stay · South side
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.
Stay · South side
Three-bedroom, three-level hillside house with a heated saltwater pool and waterfall, rooftop pergola with soaking tub, and ocean views. Renovated in 2023, five minutes' walk to town.

The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.
2 of 14 stays fit · feels calm · 4 don't sleep 6
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.
1 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 12 don't sleep 6
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.