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 couple; every side is still here.

The south sideThe plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walkPlaza 7 minBeach 3 minFeels mixedMost US$130–400
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 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
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
South side	7 min	3 min	mixed	US$130–400	95	The plaza and a quiet cove, both a short walk
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
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
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.

96 staysa couple Ocean view Heated pool Parking Good Wi-Fi 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

The south side

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

16 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed

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.

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

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.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $795

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).

8 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $125

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

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.

12 of 112 stays fit · feels lively

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

Casa Pura Vida

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.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 10

Stay · Gringo Hill

Casa Dos Chicos

Breezy hillside house for big families.

5 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $325

Stay · Centro

Casa El Mirador

New villa for gatherings ($499) plus 2BR suites ($249).

3 min from the plazaSleeps 14From $499

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.

43 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 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

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

Playa los Muertos

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

3 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

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.

4 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed

Stay · Up the valley

Casa Rosalita

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

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

Stay · Up the valley

Villa Alta Mira

4BR with dedicated concierge.

20 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $495

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.

11 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet

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: 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

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.

16 min from the plazaSleeps 11From $543

Stay · Outside Sayulita: Burros, ~20 min south

Casa Mar de Grecia

Beachfront homes about 20 minutes' drive from Sayulita, just south of Punta de Mita, steps from a surf break. A three-bedroom lower unit sleeps six; a six-bedroom house sleeps twelve.

238 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $500

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.