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. 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.

139 staysa couple Washer Pool A/C Clear all

On the sand

About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

Under US$150

Honest budget picks, hostels included.

ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel

Centro · from US$12

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

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 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 · 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

Nanzal hill

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

9 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 Hill, north side

Villa Violeta

Brand-new villa with expansive views.

21 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $499

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

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

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.

16 of 112 stays fit · feels lively

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.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $165

Stay · Centro south hillside (oceanfront)

Casa Bougainvillea

Oceanfront 4BR from $850, casita $200, palapa casita $230. Steep stairs to the beach.

5 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $200

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.

4 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $625

Stay · Centro East (Pelícanos)

ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel

Community-focused hostel with daily activities.

6 min from the plazaFrom $12

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.

61 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 side

Casa Norte

Single-level three-bedroom villa with a detached one-bedroom guesthouse, large pool and palapa, on a quiet north-side street less than a block from the beach.

9 min from the plazaSleeps 8From $475

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

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 · Across from beach

Casa Linda Theresia

6BR directly across the street from the beach.

6 min from the plazaSleeps 12From $875

Stay · Los Muertos hillside

Villa Pelicanos

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

14 min from the plazaSleeps 18From $2200

Stay · Near beach (walk to downtown)

Villa Tranquila

Panoramic bay views: 3BR $650, 2BR $475, king studio $225.

9 min from the plazaSleeps 7From $210

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.

7 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 · East (hillside)

El Cielo de Sayulita

Brand-new hillside apartments with a rooftop infinity pool.

10 min from the plazaSleeps 4From $260

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.

6 min from the plazaSleeps 6From $175

Stay · Jungle

Casa Stella

Jungle villa with pool and palapa.

19 min from the plazaSleeps 9From $625

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.

14 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet

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 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

Stay · Ocean view

Casa Mariposa

2BR with panoramic ocean and beach views.

7 min from the plazaSleeps 10From $165

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.