Sayulita used to be a tranquil little surf town, but it has become increasingly popular in recent years, after the highway was built, making it more accessible.
Its bohemian ambiance and fantastic year-round surfing conditions attract laid-back vacationers and an eclectic mix of expats and local surfers.
There are no ultra-luxurious Sayulita Mexico resorts; in fact, all of the hotels are boutique hotels. But a Sayulita vacation is ideal for those looking for casual slow travel.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, The Travel Bunny will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you!
Where is Sayulita Mexico?
Sayulita is roughly 38 kilometers (less than an hour by car) north of Puerto Vallarta’s international airport (PVR). San Pancho (San Francisco) Nayarit is also about 7 kilometers away.
Sayulita Mexico weather: when to visit Sayulita
The months of November through April are the most popular for visiting Sayulita on the Riviera Nayarit. But the little surfing town in Mexico is a beautiful destination to explore at any time of year and it’s ideal for mixing with the locals and experiencing true Mexican culture.
Sayulita Mexico weather is great almost year-round for surfing. However, the best time to ride the waves is when the north swells hit, between December and April. Beginners will be able to keep enough speed on their boards to avoid tipping over, but the waves will not be too difficult. More experienced surfers should head out to the north end of Playa Sayulita or to numerous other nearby breaks for faster and bigger waves.
If you’re looking for special events, book accommodation in Sayulita Mexico early for the Sayulita Festival – a five-day fiesta in February with concerts, movies, Mexican wine tastings, surfing, and yoga retreats. San Pancho Days is another nine-day festival that takes place at the end of September, with Mexican food, live music, rodeo shows, carnival rides, parades, and a fireworks show.
Where to stay in Sayulita
The best neighborhoods to search for Sayulita Mexico resorts and other places to stay in Sayulita are Downtown, South End, and North End. Have a look below to learn a bit about each of these neighborhoods in Sayulita, and discover the best Sayulita hotels and restaurants in the area.
Downtown by Sayulita Beach
Highlights: main beach, lots of restaurants, and a lively nightlife scene
Downtown has a variety of good restaurants, live music bars, and swarms of street merchants selling their crafts or delicious tacos till late at night (or more like early in the morning!).
This is the main tourist area in the city and Playa Sayulita (or the Main Beach) is pretty crowded with surfers and sunbathers every day, between 10 am and sunset. If you want to enjoy the animated nightlife but also have a tranquil time on the Riviera Nayarit by day, I suggest you wake up early to swim and tan, and return to your Sayulita lodging for the siesta time.
Getting around in Downtown Sayulita is easier if you follow the locals’ example and rent a small golf cart instead of a regular car. It makes it a lot easier to park on the narrow streets!
Where to stay in Sayulita Downtown
The best Sayulita accommodation in this neighborhood can be found at Selina boutique hotel, Petit Hotel Hafa Sayulita, Hotel Vista Oceana, and Aurinko Bungalows.
South End
Highlights: with two beaches, in a luxurious jungle setting
The Sayulita South End neighborhood is located on the western side of town, near Playa Sayulita and Playa Los Muertos. Los Muertos Beach is named after the nearby cemetery — well worth a visit because it’s actually a colorful and beautiful attraction in the town of Sayulita!
From Playa Los Muertos Sayulita, a little road goes along the edge of the beach and above the cove, narrowing into a small path. Right above it, you’ll find the Sayulita hotels and villas in Sayulita’s South End neighborhood, on a rainforest hillside overlooking the main beach and town, with magnificent views of the sea.
Just like before, I recommend renting a golf cart to get around Sayulita. While the center is just 10 minutes away on foot, the path is steep and after spending several hours swimming, surfing on Los Muertos Beach Sayulita, or just visiting the city, it can be tiring to go uphill.
Where to stay in Sayulita South End
The Sayulita accommodations I recommend in the South End are Siete Lunas, Distrito 88 Sayulita hotel for adults only, Amor Boutique Hotel, and its sister, Villa Amor, La Esquina Sayulita Aparthotel, Casa Pata Salada, and Hotel Kupuri Sayulita.
North End
Highlights: a quiet residential area where travelers can live like locals
The North End is located east of the Sayulita River. The “river” is actually more of a brook and can be dry at times.
Sayulita’s North End neighborhood is a calm, residential area within a short walk from Playa Sayulita. It’s the best place to stay in Sayulita for families with kids, but also for travelers looking for yoga and meditation retreats.
There are several restaurants and cafes in the area. However, there aren’t as many bars as in Downtown Sayulita, so there won’t be any late-night partying here.
It’s easier to get around in Sayulita’s North End neighborhood, but the views aren’t as spectacular due to the absence of hills.
In the North End, you can find the Sayulita Turtle Camp, a public reserve that births and releases baby sea turtles every evening after sunset.
Where to stay in Sayulita North End
The best Sayulita hotels in the North End are Hotel Villas Sayulita, Hotelito Los Suenos, and Casa Blanca Hotel. I also recommend Villa del Oso among the best villas in Sayulita.
10 best Sayulita hotels
1. Amor Boutique Hotel
South End
This Sayulita boutique hotel is the closest thing you’ll find to a luxury Sayulita Mexico resort. They offer accommodation in Sayulita with one to three bedrooms or studios, with full kitchens and kitchenettes. In addition, each suite was designed to complement the natural surroundings, so they are all unique.
The Villa Amor Hotel Sayulita, which shares a pool and restaurant with its sister resort Villa Amor, is built into the slope of a hill on the South End, overlooking the cove and main beach. Several suites with spectacular views are on the higher floors, but not all of them can be accessed by elevator, so keep that in mind if you have any mobility issues.
Searching for Sayulita luxury hotels or Sayulita boutique hotels?
Then Villa Amor Hotel Sayulita is ideal for you!
2. Hotel Villas Sayulita
North End
Villas Sayulita has a swimming pool, a treehouse, a swing set, lots of cute animals the kids will love (dogs, ducks, and chicks), and a BMX bike park with complimentary bikes and helmets that the little ones will adore. Each villa is unique, but they all have at least two bedrooms, a full kitchen or kitchenette, and a private terrace.
Hotel Villas Sayulita is a wellness-focused hotel that offers daily yoga programs, as well as temazcal ceremonies, guided meditations, and permaculture classes. Every day, the Smoothie Bar serves breakfast and brunch, with much of the fresh produce coming from their own gardens!
One of the best hotels Sayulita for a family vacation in Mexico!
3. Hotel Hafa Sayulita
Downtown
Hotel Hafa Sayulita is only a 2-minute walk from Playa Sayulita. The Carricitos Beach is 15 minutes away by foot, and Escondida Beach is 1.3 kilometers away.
This hotel in Sayulita Mexico has family rooms with air-conditioning and private toilets, as well as a terrace for guests to enjoy. Some of the hotel’s rooms have a patio with a view of the city. It also has concierge services, an outdoor pool, free WiFi, and a bar.
This is one of the best Sayulita hotels for couples!
4. Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita
Downtown
Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita is a 4-star hotel located only a one-minute walk away from the beach. All rooms come with private showers and complimentary toiletries. Some may also have a seating area and a refrigerator en-suite.
This hotel in Sayulita Mexico has a sun terrace available to all its guests, but some of the rooms come with balconies with wonderful views of the sea.
One of the best Sayulita hotels on beach for couples!
5. Hotel Boutique Siete Lunas Sayulita
South End
This hotel in Sayulita Mexico is just a fifteen-minute walk into Downtown from a twisting back road west of Playa Los Muertos and Playa Sayulita.
Siete Lunas Sayulita is set on a lush, jungle slope overlooking Playa Sayulita. It offers panoramic views of the ocean and hamlet below, making it ideal for romantic getaways in Mexico. This quiet Sayulita boutique hotel only has seven rooms, each with a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows that open completely to a private terrace.
The little Siete Lunas Hotel also has a pool with views of the sea and a cocktail bar. If you’re looking for a good Sayulita bed and breakfast, this is the best choice, as breakfast is included in the accommodation cost at this small Sayulita Mexico resort.
6. Casa Blanca Sayulita
North End
Casa Blanca is one of the best Sayulita hotels on the beach. It’s right next door to the Sayulita Turtle Camp, where newly hatched sea turtles are released at sunset year-round. This Sayulita hotel is also only five minutes away from several restaurants and bars.
All suites at Casa Blanca Sayulita include a full kitchen and private balcony. In addition, 2 bedroom suites have bunk beds in the guest room. The spacious Main House sleeps up to 10 and includes its own oceanfront private pool.
This sunny Sayulita boutique hotel has a heated pool, plus a palapa roof terrace with its own jacuzzi and barbeque. It’s just the right size for a small party, in case you’re planning to travel to Mexico with friends!
7. Hotel Kupuri Sayulita Mexico
South End
The smoke-free Hotel Kupuri Sayulita Mexico features an outdoor pool. Its 23 air-conditioned rooms also have flat-screen TVs with satellite, ceiling fans, blackout drapes/curtains, and safes. Complimentary toiletries, bottled water, and Wi-Fi access are available for all guests, and hair driers, irons, and/or ironing boards can be requested at the reception.
There is also a complimentary continental breakfast at this Sayulita bed and breakfast. Additionally, tour/ticket help is available, as well as dry cleaning and laundry services.
8. Hotelito Los Suenos
North End
Hotelito Los Suenos is only a four-minute walk from the beach. Each of the rooms of this Sayulita Mexico hotel has a private bathroom and some of them also have views over the outdoor private pool.
The Los Suenos Hotel with pool in Sayulita Mexico also has a sun patio and an on-site restaurant. They also have room service available, if you want to enjoy a romantic dinner in complete privacy.
If you’re looking for the best yoga retreat in Sayulita Mexico, book Hotelito Los Suenos!
9. Selina Sayulita boutique hotel
Downtown
A Sayulita boutique hotel in the heart of the city with a courtyard pool, big rooms, and a great location, Selina Sayulita offers a variety of rooms and suites to choose from when you book your accommodation in Mexico. The largest is a three-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen that accommodates up to seven people.
Selina Sayulita boutique hotel is the only hotel with a pool in Downtown Sayulita. In addition, it’s a unique and very deep pool, that was once used for scuba-diving lessons. However, if you prefer the beach, you’re only a short walk away and free boards and beach gear rental are available on site.
Every day, hot coffee and a small breakfast buffet are served on the poolside at this Sayulita bed and breakfast hotel in Mexico. As far as other meals go, you’re within walking distance of all of Sayulita’s restaurants, nightlife, and street vendors.
10. Distrito 88 adults only hotel in Sayulita
South End
The Distrito 88 Sayulita Boutique Hotel for adults only is located only 2 minutes away from the beach and it features a garden. It has air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and balconies.
Each of the rooms at this Sayulita Mexico resort has a coffee machine, a flat-screen TV, and complimentary amenities. Certain condos at Distrito 88 Boutique Hotel for adults in Sayulita have pool views, and each room has a patio.
Hotel Distrito 88 is the best place to stay if you’re looking for Sayulita Mexico resorts for adults only!
Top 5 apartments & villas in Sayulita Mexico
1. Villa Amor
South End
The villas at this boutique Sayulita Mexico resort range in size from comfortable studios to opulent five-bedroom homes. All rooms at Sayulita Nayarit Mexico include a kitchenette and an outdoor shower, with several having private plunge pools. Vintage Indian and Moroccan furnishings coexist with modern Mexican comforts in the diverse décor.
The pool and restaurant at Villa Amor are shared with the sister hotel Amor Boutique Hotel. Personal cooks can be appointed, though.
This magnificent hotel overlooks Sayulita Beach and is within ten minutes on foot from Downtown. Because the hotel does not have an elevator, tourists with limited mobility should request a room on the ground floor.
2. Villa del Oso Sayulita Nayarit
North End
Villa del Oso in Sayulita Nayarit Mexico offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from its location by the beach in the calm North End neighborhood. The home is 20,000 square feet in size and sits on a large 105,000-square foot plot.
This Sayulita villa for rent was created with great care and attention to detail. Villa del Oso beachfront villa in Sayulita Mexico is a palatial retreat with superb French interior design, immaculate lush gardens, modern décor, sun-filled rooms, and wide gathering areas.
Villa del Oso Sayulita also has a private, self-contained, two-story, two-bedroom guesthouse with its own outstanding ocean views, in addition to the main home. Counting the guesthouse, you’ll have seven bedrooms at your disposal. All of the rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, and three of them have Jacuzzis.
3. Casa Pata Salada
South End
Sayulita’s Casa Pata Salada, one of the best Sayulita Mexico resorts on the beach, was previously known as Casitas at Casa Carolina. Each of these Sayulita villas for rent features a fully equipped kitchen, private bathroom, a huge and roomy bedroom, and a private terrace with two lounge chairs and a breathtaking ocean view.
The villas in Sayulita Mexico at Casa Pata Salada are tastefully arranged in a contemporary Mexican style, with a pillowtop mattress, high thread count sheets, separate bathroom, and beach towels, purified water, and kitchen supplies, satellite television, wireless internet access, and air conditioning during the summer.
Besides offering immediate beach access, Casa Pata Salada is also just a five-minute walk away from the center. We have immediate beach access and are within a 5-minute walk from the village center.
4. La Esquina Sayulita Aparthotel
Downtown
La Esquina Sayulita is only a five-minute walk from Playa Sayulita. This air-conditioned apartment for rent in Sayulita Mexico comes with free Wi-Fi, a satellite flat-screen TV in the seating area, a fully supplied kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, stove, toaster, and, and a private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer.
La Esquina Sayulita apartment for rent also has a balcony with views of the outdoor pool, a sun patio, and a garden. For your convenience, there is also a car rental service available at this apartment for rent in Sayulita.
5. Aurinko Bungalows Sayulita
Downtown
Aurinko Bungalows are located in central Sayulita Nayarit Mexico, only two minutes away from the beach. These Sayulita beachfront bungalows come with fully equipped kitchens, which include a refrigerator and a coffee maker. They have private bathrooms with showers and fans in the living area.
Among the perks you’ll enjoy at Aurinko Bungalows Sayulita are free Wi-Fi, surfing lessons, and discounts on renting surfing equipment.
Best Sayulita Mexico resorts, hotels & villas deals right now
Booking.com
Mirela Letailleur is a Romanian travel blogger living in the South of France. She writes on The Travel Bunny travel blog about affordable travel in Europe, creator of unique free travel guides, local travel expert. Problem solver. Wannabe coffee guru.
Other travel articles to help you plan your Mexico vacation
10 best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun
5 amazing romantic getaways in Mexico
Mexico travel destinations: 7 Best Mexico vacations