Casa Bougainvillea
Centro · 130 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 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
Compare the sides in a table
| 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.
On the sand
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.
Casa Nicoya
Centro · 390 m to the sea
Buddha Beach Villa
Centro · 70 m to the sea
Villa Amor
South side · on the sand
Trópico Sayulita
North side · 260 m to the sea
ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel
Centro · 360 m to the sea
Under US$150
Honest budget picks, hostels included.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
Casa Pia
North side · from US$38
ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel
Centro · from US$12
My Sister's House
South side · from US$25
Casa de la Ballena
Centro · from US$130
Houses for everyone
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · about US$5 a head
Casa Cariño
South side · about US$55 a head
Casa Vecino Sayulita Guesthouse
South side · sleeps 12
Buddha Beach Villa
Centro · about US$55 a head
Casa Pura Vida
Centro · sleeps 10
Trópico Sayulita
North side · sleeps 16
Pool and view
A pool, and the sea from it.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
Casa Bougainvillea
Centro · from US$200
Casa Cariño
South side · from US$550
Casa Mango
South side · from US$395
Casa Nicoya
Centro · from US$625
El Oasis
South side · from US$125
Small hotels
For when you don't want a whole house.
Distrito 88 - Adults Only
Centro · from US$113
Casa Vecino Sayulita Guesthouse
South side
Villa Amor
South side · from US$206
Casa Pia
North side · from US$38
Casa de la Ballena
Centro · from US$130
Macondo Bungalows
North side · from US$60
Every stay, by side
The north side
Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
10 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 59 don't sleep 6
This month around North side
Stay · North side
Trópico Sayulita
Small set of rooms on Calle Pelícanos at the north end, listed on Airbnb by room, including one that sleeps four or five.
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.
36 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 40 don't sleep 6
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.
Stay · Centro
Casa Ambar at Casa Galeria
Two-bedroom condo in the Casa Galeria complex, two blocks from the plaza and beach, with a shared salt-water pool, air conditioning and secured parking. Sleeps six.
Stay · Centro south hillside (oceanfront)
Casa Bougainvillea
Oceanfront 4BR from $850, casita $200, palapa casita $230. Steep stairs to the beach.
Stay · Gringo Hill
Casa Nicoya
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.
The south side
Hillside lanes between the plaza and Los Muertos: views, guesthouses and a short walk down to the beach.
30 of 95 stays fit · feels mixed · 29 don't sleep 6
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 · 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.
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).
Playa los Muertos
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
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 · 17 don't sleep 6
Stay · East side, quiet mixed neighbourhood
Casa Las Chicaz
Three-bedroom house over three levels in a quiet mixed neighbourhood, with a salt-water pool, jungle views and air conditioning in the bedrooms. Short walk to the beach and plaza.
Stay · Tamarindo neighborhood
Casa Tamarindo
Upstairs two-bedroom unit of a classic Mexican house about a 5-minute walk from town, with three queen beds, A/C, a terrace, private kitchen and a mature fruit garden. Budget-friendly.
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.
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.