sayulita, mexico
Sayulita. A small, adorable yoga and surfing town just outside of Puerto Vallarta with lush jungle, beautiful beaches, cafes, restaurants, and charming shops.
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TRAVEL
You’ll want to fly into the bigger city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. From the airport, you can take a taxi or order an Uber. If you’re ballin’ on a budget and ready for an adventure, I’d recommend taking the city bus called the Compostela. It comes often, and right across from the airport. It’s not going to be luxurious, but it’s (very) cheap and easy. You’ll surely get a local experience! It drops you off right downtown. Personally, I would not have wanted a car in Sayulita. The town is very walkable once you’re there!
💡Airport tips: Get there early. The Puerto Vallarta airport lines were long. Bring a personal fan for the airport. It was really hot, stuffy, and crowded there. I’d also recommend eating before or after you get to the airport. The food was a lot better in Sayulita!
PACKING
I’d recommend packing a backpack and leaving your roll on luggage behind. We had to walk a few blocks to our hotel, and we felt super silly lugging our rolling luggage around the dirt roads. It was pretty hot and humid when we arrived, so light clothing was great. Sayulita is a casual beach town, so sandals and cute dresses are perfect. I bought some cute jewelry from the street markets during my trip.
MONEY
Bring cash and let your bank know you’ll be travelling. My friends cards stopped working when she got there because they thought there was fraudulent activity on her account. I’d bring American dollars and pesos, though pretty much everyone took American dollars. We didn’t use our cards at all and many places don’t take them! We had a hard time finding an ATM that worked and had cash. There’s a bank or two in Sayulita, but there was a decent fee involved and we had to walk to the end of town and stand in a long line. My recommendation would be to order Mexican Pesos from your bank before you leave, or stop at the ATM in the airport. We found everything in Sayulita to be quite affordable compared to the Bay Area in California, but if you’re looking for a really low cost trip, this may not be it.
CELL SERVICE
Our phones worked well everywhere we went in Mexico and we found plenty of WiFi in the hotel and the cafes. I called my provider before I left and they added a very affordable plan to my account for the days I was out of the country. I wasn’t working, so if you need high speed connectivity, I’d definitely do a bit more research.
WHEN TO GO
We went in February and the weather was perfect. Warm but not unbearably hot. The crowds were minimal but there were enough people that the town felt lively and fun.
SAFETY
We felt safe the entire time we were there. We were cautious and aware (as always!) but for two girls travelling alone, we felt great around town. I ventured out to the shops and the beach alone and felt fine. I never go out at dark alone when I travel anyway, but in a group, I’m sure it would have been fine.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at Sayulinda Hotel and loved it. It was casual and adorable and fun. There’s a beautiful rooftop pool and bar with a view of the ocean and some great swing chairs. We were there in the middle of the week, but I’ve seen them post about different events with DJs and music, so I’d definitely check out their event calendar! The hotel was quite loud. In the evenings, we heard music from around town. In the mornings, we woke up to the sounds of the birds. Personally, I found it beautiful, but maybe bring ear plugs or a sound machine or stay outside of the downtown area if you’re sensitive to sound. We felt really safe at the Sayulinda Hotel. The front desk monitors who comes in and out and there’s security at all times. The breakfast was homemade, locally inspired, and delicious. Our rooms felt secure and safe and we had little lock boxes for our passports and other important items.
WHERE TO EAT
Walk around and check out all the local restaurants. Sayulita has everything from local eats to pizza and sushi. Coffee and smoothies everywhere we went were incredible. Vegetarian options and healthy eats are readily available. There’s also a weekly farmer’s market! If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, there’s less of this here than in other cities in Mexico we visited. I wouldn’t say Sayulita is a foodie destination, but we loved everything we ate.
Xochi has a lovely rooftop bar for a celebratory night where you can dress up and order cocktails and great food. It has a view of the ocean and it’s a block from Sayulinda Hotel!
WATER
Do NOT drink the water in Sayulita. We purchased bottled water as soon as we arrived from the local markets and brought it with us everywhere. There’s a chain in Mexico called Oxxo which has locations all over town. We learned how to say ‘no ice’ when we ordered drinks in restaurants. We tried to eat cooked food and skipped the seafood. I brushed my teeth with bottled water too.
SHOPPING
The little local shops are super cute and fun to visit. We found great hand made clothing, jewelry, home decor, and more. There are outdoor vendors with great items. You will not find chain stores or malls in Sayulita. I’d try to bring necessities from home like contact solution, nail polish, sunscreen, etc. You can find basics in the Oxxo chain market, but they’re limited. We found a simple pharmacy with local (and very affordable) meds, but they didn’t speak English and it was tough to find what we were looking for.
YOGA & HIKING
We took a guided hike through the jungle that landed at a private beach where we stopped for a beautiful yoga practice. The views were stunning! Make sure to bring sturdy shoes as it’s not paved and a bit rocky and hilly. There wasn’t a clearly marked path, so I wouldn’t have wanted to attempt this without the guides. Plus, they were the most wonderful couple with great travel tips! This activity was our fav part of the whole trip. Check out the link to book tickets here!
The Rose Room is a lovely place to take a yoga class. We did a drop-in class and I wish I’d gone every day of the trip. When you walk in the front, there’s a cute cafe with amazing coffee and food. You walk upstairs to the most breathtaking yoga space surrounded by palm trees. They have everything you need for class, including mats and blocks.
LANGUAGE
Many locals speak Spanish and English in Sayulita. You’ll be totally find if you don’t speak Spanish, though it’s definitely helpful to know the basics.
SURROUNDING TOWNS
San Pancho is a town just north of Sayulita. It’s equally beautiful, but much calmer and quieter. Puerto Vallarta is the bigger city in the area. It’s beautiful, with great culture, but it felt pretty touristy and crowded. The city was clean and there was a lot to do, but we went to Puerto Vallarta after Sayulita and missed the Sayulita charm so so much.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I love Sayulita and I’d definitely go back! The only things I’d do differently, would be to stay longer, bring more friends, and take more yoga classes. 💖
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