Sayulita is a charming small town located in Banderas Bay in the south of the Nayarit state on the Pacific Coast, state of Jalisco Mexico. You can plan a trip that includes Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, and Sayulita because they’re all close to each other.
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Here’s where to stay, where to eat, and top things to do in Sayulita Nayarit!
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How To Get To Sayulita
Fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport and then take a cab to Sayulita – it’s about a 45-minute drive and costs anywhere from 500-700 pesos.
Sayulita Hotels: Where To Stay
Petit Hotel Hafa
Petit Hotel Hafa is a cute little boutique hotel in Sayulita where Mexico-meets-Morocco. The hotel is conveniently located 3 minutes from the nearest Pacific Ocean beach and just a one-minute walk from all the shops and restaurants on Sayulita Plaza.
There are only 6 colorful bohemian rooms with free wi-fi and minifridges. Air conditioning is available for a fee. Head up to the rooftop deck for the ultimate view of all of Sayulita.
Cost: You can get rooms for as low as $75 a night, book here!
Av Revolución 55, Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
Sayulita Restaurants: Where To Eat
For breakfast: Panino’s
This tiny coffee shop in Sayulita sources their beans from the neighboring state of Oaxaca and bakes fresh pastries every day.
Delfines 1, Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
For lunch: street tacos
You’ll find street taco carts almost on every corner in Sayulita selling tacos for only a few pesos. Order the local favorite: liver & onions.
For dinner: Don Pedros
Located right next to the beachfront is Don Pedros, an open-air restaurant that focuses on seafood. We loved the grilled lobster with a couple of tequila margaritas!
Tip: To experience the nightlife in Sayulita, you’ll want to come for salsa night on Mondays at Don Pedros!
For dessert: La Fuente
La Fuente caught my eye from the street and I always have to get ice cream in any city that I’m in. I got two scoops of sorbet made with fresh mango, coconut, and strawberry – yum!
Av Revolución 44, Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
Things To Do In Sayulita
Shop in Sayulita Plaza
Sayulita started as a tranquil fishing village and has now blossomed into a popular beach town with a thriving hipster-surfer scene in Nayarit. The Sayulita Plaza is filled with local shops and art galleries – you can easily spend a couple of hours here browsing all the local colorful goods.
What to buy: delicate Huichol beadwork, colorful stuffed animals, handmade rugs, and pottery from Oaxaca, bags, and bracelets from Chiapas.
Evoke The Spirit shop
We walked into this darling shop in Sayulita that was filled with colorful handpainted cow skulls, handmade jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and home goods.
Evoke the Sprit shop was established by Brittney Borjeson, a NY transplant who fell in love with Sayulita in 2012.
Calle Jose Mariscal 12A Sayulita, NAY Mexico
Artefakto shop
This craft shop and gallery includes artisan handcrafted home decor and art from culturally rich regions of Mexico.
Delfines 15-10, Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
Take a picture under the flags
You’ve seen this photo on the internet so don’t miss taking a photo on this famous selfie street with the iconic Sayulita flags.
Sunbathe on Sayulita Beach
You’ll immediately notice all the surfboards and it’s because Sayulita is a popular destination for surfing. You can swim in the water here and it’s actually the only beach town in the area that does not dump wastewater directly onto the beach. Other activities include stand up paddleboard and snorkeling.
Los Muertos Beach is a popular beach in Sayulita that’s just a 10-minute walk from the plaza.
Visit San Pancho
Also known as San Francisco, San Pancho is just 4 miles or a 10-minute car drive from Sayulita. This small sleepy town has hipster cafes, art galleries, and bohemian shops. This is where some of the locals live and the beach here is less busy.
Day trip to Punta Mita
We took a day trip to Punta Mita to visit the Four Seasons, W Punta Mita, and Imanta Resorts. Punta Mita is a 1,500-acre private peninsula of Mexico’s premier luxury golf and spa vacation rentals.
Other day trip options: Lo De Marcos
Day trip to Islas Marietas
I highly recommend putting the Marietta Islands on your agenda – these beautiful tiny islands are only accessible by boat.
Experience Los Muertos
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and in 2020, it’ll begin on October 31 to November 2, 2020. Mexico celebrates the friends and family members who have died with music, vibrant colors and lots of food.
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