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Riviera Nayarit
Sayulita data
- Population: 3390 inhabitants (2020 census).
- 28 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta following Federal Highway 200 (55-70 minutes from PV’s Airport, depending on the time of day and season).
- Lat: 20º52’08″N – 105º26’27″W, altitude: 20 meters over sea level.
More data
- The average temperature is between 84ºF to 88ºF (29 – 31ºC).
- What to do: surfing, outdoor sports, camping, diving, hiking, and horseback riding.
Introduction
Even though many enjoy a very active vacation, going out to bars and dancing all night, some also enjoy relaxing a bit and enjoying more direct contact with mother nature.
A trip to the northern or southern areas of the bay will bring you to many smaller towns and more secluded beaches including this popular beach town/fishing village.
What is Sayulita like?
Sayulita is actually one of the most active beaches in the area, each time I have visited, Sayulita was, together with Playa Los Muertos in downtown Puerto Vallarta, the most active beach in the area.
Many people who knew Puerto Vallarta before it became famous, say Sayulita is very much like it was before. It offers a beautiful estuary, cliffs, a beautiful beach, and the sea.
The town attitude is very relaxed and both locals and tourists share and mingle and enjoy each other’s company, here you won’t find ritzy nightclubs or 5-star hotels, here people just chill out, relax and take it easy.
The general environment makes you think of the ’70s, hippie-surfer culture and very eclectic when you look at it as a whole.
What to do in Sayulita
Full walk along Sayulita’s Beach (July, 9th, 2022)
The town is best known for surfing, but there is much more to do here, some ideas include:
- Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
- Horseback riding
- Bike tours
- Kayaks & Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)
- Snorkeling and scuba diving
- Yoga & massages
- Whale watching
- Sea turtle releases (AKA, Sea Turtle Camp)
- A visit to the Marieta Islands
- Fishing and more.
Don’t forget to visit the surrounding hills and enjoy the panorama, you’ll really get a view of the long beach, the jungle, and the astounding sunsets.
The beaches are a pure delight for surfers, and for anyone who would like to be one. In addition, there is shopping and don’t forget to get a massage in front of the ocean.
At sunset, you’ll notice some silhouettes floating across the water, it’s the numerous surfers that are enjoying the sport they love, one of the main attractions in Sayulita Riviera Nayarit.
Waves, when I visited, were soft and very good for beginners, as the day wore on, they grew too, making them more appealing to the experienced lot.
A Little Hidden Gem: Playa de Los Muertos Beach Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
A great little excursion is to visit Los Muertos Beach, it’s some 15-20 minutes from Sayulita’s main square, you go to the beach and start walking to the left, you follow the street once you run out of beach and are leaving the fishing village, walk up the little hill along the path, walk past the cemetery and you go toward the sea. You are now at Playa Los Muertos, a great little beach where you can relax and enjoy a more relaxing day at the beach.
If you want to go by car you have to follow the beach road to the left, it is quite narrow, so sometimes you will have to stop or pull over if there are cars coming back to the village. It is so called because it is right next to a cemetery, but despite the name, it is a quiet and relaxing beach, with gentle waves, crystal clear water and clear sand, bounded by rocky edges facing north. To the left, beyond the rocks you can snorkel, see schools of colorful fish and other marine life.
Location Map, Los Muertos Beach Sayulita
Surf
Sayulita is a beach town that attracts surfers from all over the world, which is why you’ll encounter on the streets people speaking in many languages, plus a hippie style atmosphere surfers carry in the blood, peace, love and deep respect for nature and its beauties. These are some of the reasons to visit Sayulita.
Nature
The vegetation in and around Sayulita is very similar to what we find in a normal tropical forest, tall trees such as the Serrano Oak, Huanacaxtle or Parota, the Guayacan, Ceiba, Red cedar, Coacomate, and Mahogany. The latter, as we know, has highly prized wood and has been overexploited, so at the present time, it is a very rare tree. Fauna includes armadillos, badgers, wild boar, rattlesnakes, iguanas, ocelots, deer, turkeys and more.
You can enjoy fishing in this part of the Pacific Coast, Sayulita offers various options and a variety of species you can enjoy catching, such as marlin, swordfish, dorado, red snapper, tuna, lobster, shrimp, octopus, scallops and more.
Where is Sayulita and how to get there
Going north from Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find Bucerías, then La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, further north, there’s Destiladeras Beach and Punta de Mita.
Once you jump out of Banderas Bay the first town you’ll encounter along the Western Pacific Coast is Sayulita Mexico, a small fishermen town part of the Riviera Nayarit, between Punta Mita and San Pancho (San Francisco, Nayarit).
Around 24 miles north of Puerto Vallarta (a little more if you drive from downtown PV), on km 125 of the two-lane Federal Highway 200 from Vallarta to Tepic, take the detour to the left toward the sea, take Av. Revolución to the right after 800 ft. and then it’s 1800 ft to the town itself.
When you arrive on the highway or from the road connecting Sayulita and Punta de Mita, you find it’s a bit bland, nothing indicates that the place will be interesting or even worth visiting, but once you cross the small bridge over the river and get closer to the main plaza and the downtown streets leading to the beach, things change quite a bit and the reasons to visit this town become obvious.
In Puerto Vallarta, you can go to the bus terminal where buses (Vallarta Plus & ETN, for example) drive by Sayulita along the highway for $15 dollars more or less, but it’s cheaper and you walk less if you catch a “Compostela” bus, read below.
Getting there from Puerto Vallarta International Airport
To get to Sayulita, if you are at the Puerto Vallarta Airport and take one of the white airport taxis, the rate will be around $40 dollars at least… so I would recommend you can grab a bus, Uber or taxi from the other side of the pedestrian sky bridge (watch the video).
You’ll go along Highway 200 north, take the “Camión a Sayulita” at the bus stop there (20 yards to the right of the taxis). The bus line to Sayulita is “Compostela”, they include a Riviera Nayarit logo and are white, red and green, they should have “Sayulita” written on a sign or on the windshield, not all the Compostela buses go to Sayulita, so make sure by just asking “Sayulita?” to the driver. A popular place to catch the Sayulita bus is in front of Walmart and Sam’s Club opposite the cruise terminal/harbor area.
The ticket will cost you approximately $2.40 US dollars (2019: $46 pesos). They drive by every 20 minutes (more or less) between 7 AM and 11 PM. It takes around 1 hour to get to Sayulita and at times it can even get up to 90 minutes if there are a lot of stops along the way (there is no fixed amount of stops) check out the route here.
Buses from Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta take off beside the Centro de Salud Rural in Sayulita on Av. Revolución, this is what is called the “Sayulita Bus Terminal”, it’s more like a parking lot.
The bus will take Federal Highway 200 back and will stop at all the shopping plazas along the way, the route ends just past Plaza Genovesa on the corner of Berlin and Berna streets in Colonia Versalles, PV Hotel Zone.
Just in case you are wondering if you are traveling to Sayulita, the closest airport is Puerto Vallarta International Airport, there is no airport of any kind in Sayulita.
Where to stay
Hotels in Sayulita include boutique hotels, villas, smaller hotels, bungalows, vacation rentals and campsites for RV’s or tents. Some of the most recommended include:
- Hotel Don Miguel Plaza – Avenida Revolución 48 Colonia Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Mexico – http://hoteldonmiguelplazasayulita.co
- Hotel Kupuri -Calle Gaviotas Sur 12, Centro, 63732 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – http://hotelkupuri.com
- Los Encantos Hotel & Suites – Calle Miramar 13B, Colonia Deportiva, 63732 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – https://www.facebook.com/LosEncantosSayulita
- Amor Boutique Hotel – Calle Pescadores S/N, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – http://www.amorboutiquehotel.com
- Villas Sayulita – Corner of Rosalio Tapia & Sábalo, Sayulita, Nayarit – http://www.villasayulita.com
- Sayulita Beach House Hotel – Gaviotas 1, Col. Centro, Sayulita, C.P 63734 – http://sayulitabeachouse.com
- Casablanca Sayulita Hotel – Del Palmar #79 Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico – http://www.casablancasayulita.com
Where to eat
Along the cobblestone streets, you’ll find innumerable small stores selling traditional local dishes, bakeries, street food stands and elegant restaurants too.
If you are looking for restaurants, some ideas we can recommend are:
- Alas Blancas Sayulita – Delfines 9, Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – http://alasblancas.restaurantsnapshot.com
- Tierra Viva – Calle Marlín 10, Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
- Don Pedro’s – Calle Marlín 2, Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – FB de Don Pedro’s
- Sayulita Café Casa del Chile Relleno – Calle Revolucion 37, Zona Centro, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico – https://www.sayulitalife.com/sayulita-cafe
- Restaurant Don Juan – Carretera Ranal A Punta de Mita 9, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
- El Jakal – Av. Del Palmar Norte, Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
Despite the absence of large nightclubs and a quiet nightlife, Sayulita does offers options for all tastes. During the holiday period, you’ll find live bands in outdoor concerts on the beach or by the river. Also for those who want to go to a disco, it is possible to sometimes find events organized at the local baseball field. For those who prefer more adrenaline, on Sundays, there are rodeo shows.
Weather
If we compare the climate of Sayulita with that of Puerto Vallarta, we could say that it is a bit more temperate. The best months of the year are from November to April with temperatures ranging from 72 to 78°F. Nights are sometimes cool enough to require a long-sleeved shirt and thin pants. The rainy season spans from the month of June to October, more or less. As is common in this area, as well as in Hawaii, the rain normally falls during the night and the days are very clear and quite humid. During the rainy season, it is common to see impressive thunderstorms and lightning.
Sayulita Nayarit Mexico has a subtropical climate, rarely temperatures fall below 77°F. Due to its location and natural environment, the climate of Sayulita also varies very little between each season of the year.
Sayulita Temperatures
Average Temp. °F
Min Temp. °F
Max. Temp. °F
Sayulita Precipitations
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp average (°F) | 72.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 75.0 | 78.8 | 81.7 | 83.3 | 83.1 | 82.9 | 82.0 | 78.1 | 74.1 |
| Temp min. (°F) | 59.9 | 59.9 | 59.5 | 62.6 | 67.5 | 72.9 | 74.3 | 74.3 | 74.3 | 72.5 | 67.1 | 63.1 |
| Temp máx. (°F) | 84.2 | 84.2 | 84.6 | 87.4 | 90.1 | 90.7 | 92.3 | 92.1 | 91.6 | 91.6 | 89.2 | 85.3 |
| Rain (mm) | 23 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 117 | 239 | 334 | 316 | 86 | 22 | 25 |
Sayulita Webcam
FAQ
- What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?
The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.
- Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?
Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city’s beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.
- Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?
Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views.
The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot.
Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.
- What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?
Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area’s natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.
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