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?

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
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
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
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
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
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.

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.

24 staysOcean view Pets ok Washer Good for kids Parking Clear all

On the sand

About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

Casa Mar de Grecia

Outside Sayulita: Burros, ~20 min south · from US$500

Under US$150

Honest budget picks, hostels included.

Houses for everyone

Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.

Curved infinity pool above the palm-lined bay of Sayulita

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.

1 of 112 stays fit · feels lively

Stay · Centro south hillside

Casa Higuera

2BR villa $280, Casa Sofia 3BR $308, casitas $120-142; close to town.

3 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $128

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.

9 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 Side (quiet north)

Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos

Breezy, spotless condos with pool and jacuzzi near the north beach.

14 min from the plazaFrom $200

Stay · North side

Aqua Reef Sayulita Condos

Newer north-side building with three 3-bedroom apartments sharing a pool and rooftop jacuzzi, about three blocks from the beach and a 7-minute walk to the plaza.

14 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $200

Stay · North side

Casa De La Vida

Three-bedroom north-end house with kiddie and adult pools, a big veranda and bay views; a short walk down a lane to the beach.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $275

Stay · North Side beachfront

Casa Mucho Gusto

3BR north-side beachfront house.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $350

The south side

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

5 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed

Stay · South coast (Playa Pátzcuaro)

Casa Mis Amores

Secluded beachfront estate.

35 min from the plazaSleeps 14From $3500

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.

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

Stay · South coast (Ojo de Agua)

Villa Valentin

4BR villa plus two 2BR casitas; popular for retreats; quieter and drier than town.

30 min from the plazaSleeps 18From $2395

Nanzal hill

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

2 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet

This week around Nanzal

**Casa Infinito**Christopher P. · 5 days

Stay · North-east hillside

Villas Piedra Blanca

Two villas on a gated hillside estate above the north side, with three pools, a palapa bar and the whole bay below. Casa Piedra Azul sleeps ten from US$714 a night; the seven-bedroom estate sleeps sixteen and hosts weddings of up to 120.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 16From $714

Stay · Nanzal

Andreas Vacation Rentals

Three homes on Avenida del Palmar at the north end, bookable singly or together for up to 12: Casa Mariluna (3 bed), El Templito (2 bed) and Mi Casita (1 bed). Pool access, A/C, direct booking.

23 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $595

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.

2 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed

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.

5 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet

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

Stay · Secluded beachfront

Casa Ninamu

Secluded beachfront 2BR.

25 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $500

Stay · Outside Sayulita: Burros surf break, ~20 min south

Casa Rincón (Punta del Burro)

Main villa plus four casitas, six bedrooms in all, in the gated Punta del Burro community south of Sayulita. Last house on the beach, beside a river bed, with a beginner-friendly wave out front.

236 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $950

Stay · Around town

Selva del Mar

Jungle estate of about 15 acres a mile from town, with Bali-style wooden houses such as El Templo. Ten minutes on a jungle path to a private beach.

26 min from the plazaSleeps 2From $140

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.