
Casa Mis Amores
South side · 280 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 a big group; 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.
Two or three places within a short walk of each other that sleep your group between them, so everyone is together without one huge villa.


South side near the south entrance, Selva Maaku · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 15 together · from about US$85 a head a night


Centro · 2 min apart on foot
Sleeps 16 together · from about US$60 a head a night

South side, Cocos Norte hilltop · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 18 together · from about US$98 a head a night

North side · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 15 together · from about US$51 a head a night

North end, Colina La Iguana · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 20 together · from about US$92 a head a night

North end, on the hill · 1 min apart on foot
Sleeps 14 together · from about US$54 a head a night
About a hundred metres or less from the sea.

South side · 280 m to the sea

North side · 50 m to the sea

Around town · on the sand

North side · 80 m to the sea

Nanzal · 80 m to the sea

South side · on the sand
Honest budget picks, hostels included.

Centro · from US$113

Centro · from US$68

Centro · from US$12

North side · from US$89

Centro · from US$130

North side · from US$60
Sleeps ten or more, with the price worked out a head.

Centro · about US$5 a head

Nanzal · about US$45 a head

South side · about US$63 a head

South side · about US$250 a head

North side · about US$250 a head

South side · about US$66 a head
A pool, and the sea from it.

Centro · from US$113

Nanzal · from US$714

South side · from US$750

South side · from US$3500

North side · from US$3000

South side · from US$795
For when you don't want a whole house.

Centro · from US$113

South side

South side · from US$300

Centro · from US$68

Centro · from US$166

North side · from US$89

Calmer streets behind the long north beach, palm groves and villas, with a flat walk into the plaza.
28 of 169 stays fit · feels calm · 124 don't sleep 12
This month around North side
Stay · North end beachfront
New luxury beachfront villa with full-time staff who arrange activities and transport.
Stay · North end beachfront
Seven-bedroom oceanfront estate on the quiet north beach, sleeping 16, with a heated infinity pool, jacuzzi, full staff including a chef, and lawns that host weddings of around 100 guests.
Stay · North side
Small set of rooms on Calle Pelícanos at the north end, listed on Airbnb by room, including one that sleeps four or five.
Stay · North side, two blocks up from the north beach
Ocean-view villa with whole-house water purification.

Villas with big ocean views on the hill above the north beach. Steep: golf-cart country.
4 of 36 stays fit · feels quiet · 26 don't sleep 12
This week around Nanzal
Stay · North-east hillside
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.
Stay · Nanzal
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.
Stay · Nanzal
Pair of private beachfront houses on Avenida del Palmar with a shared privacy wall: Casa Gallo has four bedrooms and a pool, Casita del Mar three and a dipping pool.

The heart of town: the plaza, taco stands, bars and the main beach a block away. Lively, and loud on weekend nights.
19 of 112 stays fit · feels lively · 64 don't sleep 12
Stay · Centro (south hillside)
Quiet adults-only hotel up a steep hill; whole property can be booked as an 8BR private villa from $1,600.
Stay · Centro hillside (above main beach)
Oceanfront estate with panoramic views of the beach and the surf break, 3 minutes from town.

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 · 63 don't sleep 12
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.
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.
Stay · South coast (Ojo de Agua)
4BR villa plus two 2BR casitas; popular for retreats; quieter and drier than town.

The sheltered cove south of town, through the cemetery path. Calmer water, families and swimmers.
4 of 14 stays fit · feels calm · 8 don't sleep 12
Stay · Los Muertos
Beachfront villa property at the point with eight villas, two pools, a beach bar and spa, near Playa Los Muertos.
Stay · Los Muertos hillside
Nine beachfront bedrooms near Playa Los Muertos; featured in Architectural Digest.
Stay · Los Muertos side (hillside)
Whole 7BR villa from $995 or casas (Neruda, Hafiz, Lorca, Zen, Rumi) $150-275. A new condo block next door blocks some views.

Inland along the river and the town entrance: everyday Sayulita, the soccer field and quieter, local streets.
4 of 41 stays fit · feels mixed · 29 don't sleep 12
Stay · East (near bus station)
Converted shipping-container rooms with a nice pool.
Stay · Up the valley
Three-star hotel on Calle Cerrito with a pool, parking and Wi-Fi, a short walk from the market and the plaza.
Stay · Up the valley
Two-dozen-room hotel on the east edge of town with a pool, children's pool, garden and free parking; some rooms have kitchenettes. Roughly a 20-minute walk to the main beach, so suits drivers.
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.
9 of 39 stays fit · feels quiet · 26 don't sleep 12
Stay · 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.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Chacala, ~45 min north
Four-bedroom villa in the gated Marina Chacala community, with a shared ocean-view pool and beach club access. About 45 minutes north of Sayulita, so a different stay from the town.
Stay · Outside Sayulita: Chacala, ~45 min north
Five-bedroom villa with a big pool, each room with its own bathroom, in the Marina Chacala jungle about 45 minutes north of Sayulita.
Stay · Punta Tokipa (Punta Sayulita)
Gated oceanfront community: 6BR Casa Panorama from $2,800; 1-2BR eco villas from $350.
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.