Sayulita Mexico

Sayulita

A hippie town located in Nayarit about a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from Puerto Vallarta. Pretty touristy with lots of surf shops, hostels, restaurants, and vendors. 

Getting There from Puerto Vallarta

-Uber: My Uber was around 440 pesos which is equivalent to about 21 USD. Ubers are not allowed to pull up to the airport so you will need to walk left out of the airport and across the pedestrian bridge. At the bottom is where your Uber will be waiting. 

-Taxi: There are plenty of taxis at the airport if you don’t want to walk across the pedestrian bridge but they will charge you double the price of an Uber. 

*If you want to buy some water or snacks before your drive there is an Oxxo located right outside the airport and they do require masks for entry. 

FYI

Montezuma’s Revenge

Exactly one week after arriving in Mexico I woke up in the middle of the night sick. This also happened to some of my friends who visited. As vegetables are rinsed in tap water and food is made a little differently from back home tourists tend to experience “Montezuma’s Revenge” at some point during their stay in Mexico. The best thing you can do is to go to a pharmacy and buy anti-diarrhea and anti- vomit medication and pick up a few bottles of electrolytes.

Getting a PCR Test in Mexico

I needed a PCR test to enter Guatemala that had to be taken within 72 hours prior to travel. I started by asking the clinic in Sayulita who quoted me 600 USD and it would take 5 days as they had to send the test to a lab in Mexico City. Obviously this would not work for the 72 hour time restraint so I decided to check out the hospital in Punta Mita. They were able to do the test in less than 12 hours and it ended up being 182 USD. I took mine here and was very happy with how clean the hospital was and the lack of any wait time. I do know this price does change and I took the test end of November so the best thing to do would be to call and get a quote. You need to take your test before 9am to have the results by 10pm that night. I also had called the hospital in Bucerias and their price was around 212 USD. I visited the hospital in San Pancho but they were not testing at that time and the hospital wasn’t very clean. Do your research and you will be able to find a test with a decent price.

Eat

-Anchor Cafe: A healthy cafe with AC and great WiFi. Try their Coral or Castaway smoothies, avocado toast, and bagels (I liked mine with egg, spinach, and avocado).

-Miscelanea: Another awesome cafe with great WiFi and AC serving corn pancakes, a damn good vegan burger, passionfruit smoothies, and they make and sell their own sourdough bread!

-Mary’s: I always get the veggie rice bowl with sautéd veggies. It is amazing and has all the flavor.

-El Break: My go-to for dinner. Their veggie rice and beans bowl is very good! They are located just off the beach and is a nice spot to go if you want a quieter dinner away from the street performers. 

-ChocoBanana: A popular breakfast spot with traditional Mexican dishes, good pancakes, and fresh squeezed OJ.

-Organi-K: A healthy restaurant mainly known for their smoothies. I would also order an Americano, the sweet almond butter toast, or avocado toast.

-Pakeke: 3 pancakes with jam, syrup, and sautéed potatoes for 60 pesos. Quick and great service! They are closed on Wednesday.

-Trattoria Toscana: A great Italian restaurant right on the square. I had their Fungi pizza and added truffle oil. So good!

-Don Bonito: I got their tapioca granola bowl with fresh fruit. They also have an açaí bowl and French toast that looked really good.

-Bichos: Try their mushroom and cheese quesadilla! They have the traditional set up where you can add beans, sauces, and veggies to your taco or quesadilla. Another quiet spot away from the bustle of the town.

-Buonissimo Cafe + Gelato: My almost every night dessert spot. The best gelato and they even have WiFi! You have to try the Ferrero Rocher!

-Coffee on the Corner: Good, quick, and cheap coffee for 25 pesos served by the nicest man named Ricardo. Also try their Americano breakfast.

-Orangy Smoothies: Thick smoothies served with a wooden spoon. Fresh, delicious, and healthy. They are closed on Thursday.

-Santas Iguanas: A great spot for a quick slice of pizza. Their pizza is pre-made and they just reheat the slice for 5 minutes.

-Casa Gourmet: If you have been to Mexico and haven’t gotten on to Pan de Chocolate you are missing out. Fresh flaky pastry with an awesome chocolate filling. They occasionally sell pizza by the slice and the raspberry fruit tarts that are so good.

-Pizza Venezia: For the low price of 99 pesos you can make your own pizza using 3 toppings. A pretty popular spot with a bit of waiting time as they open at 6pm. BYOB.

-Que Rico: A small ice cream shop right next to Pizza Venezia that serves a small variety of popsicles and a few flavors of scoop ice cream.

-La Rustica: I ate here for Christmas dinner and had Carbonera but switched out the bacon for mushrooms and so good! I also had the Fungi pizza with truffle oil and it was amazing. Do not make my mistake and think the smaller pizza will be enough-go for the the biggest!

Do

-Go to the Organic Markets: Every Friday from 10-2 located over the bridge and just past Organi-K on the right. Masks are required for entry and the market is very similar to the one in San Pancho with food, crafts, and live music. 

-Palu Gallery: Modern paintings, prints, and hats for sale in this cute gallery. All beach or surf inspired.

-Walk to San Pancho: Walk to the right edge of the beach and you will find a trail that will take you eventually to San Pancho. If you just want to enjoy a quiet beach Malpaso is less than a 30 minute walk.

-Go to Playa de los Muertos: If you walk to the far left side of the beach (Facing the beach) you will follow the signs up and over the hill to a quiet small beach with a heavy shore break depending on the size of the surf. A great spot to relax away from all the vendors of Sayulita.

-Paddleboard: Rent a paddle board from Marea Surf School and paddle around the point at Playa de los Muertos and even past the next point to check out the quiet empty beaches.

-Surf: No trip to Sayulita is complete without paddling out on the main beach and catching some long boarding waves. Keep in mind that many surfers are beginners and are not aware of surf etiquette. Also at low tide the rocks are exposed or very close to the surface.

-Surf Trip with Marea Surf School: If you are looking for a day of adventure contact Marea on Instagram and book a surf trip to Platinitos. (Also visit their shop or tent on the beach for surfboard, paddle board, or bodyboard rentals or surf lessons). The drive is about an hour and a half to arrive at this deserted surf break. You will walk down a set of stairs and paddle across a little river to the beach. The break has a sand bottom and is great to surf in the morning. After a few hours here you will drive to San Blas for lunch. Once you have eaten your fill everyone will hop back in the car and drive to a boat launch. You will get a ride around the mangroves spotting numerous crocodiles. Next you will drive to a waterfall. We arrived a little before sunset and after our swim were were able to enjoy the sun setting on the walk back out. This is not a touristy spot and you will rarely see anyone. I highly recommend this trip and you will get to see all the beauty this part of Mexico has to offer.

-Volunteer: I volunteered at Marea Surf School for a month and loved it! The guys are awesome and along with accommodation you have free use of their surfboards. I worked 6 days a week for 5 hours a day .

-Shop: Check out Mañana, YamBak (Open 9-3), the vendors on the plaza (Across from Pacha Mama), and Sininen Surf Shop.

-Go to the beach.

Stay

-Don Bonito: I stayed here for two nights when I first arrived and I loved it. Don Bonito is located a 5 minute walk from downtown and on a quiet street. I loved the pool and terrace area and was able to enjoy their cafe in the morning. Awesome customer service and the showers and bathroom products made you feel like you were at a spa.

Day Trip to San Pancho

San Pancho is possibly my favorite town so far in Mexico! One main street and a beach with short boarding waves. Less options for food then Sayulita but what they have they perfect! 

Getting There From Sayulita

-Bus: If you go to the bus station on Revolucion Road right after Coral and purchase a 22 peso ticket to San Pancho. The bus will drop you off at the gas station and entrance to San Pancho and its a little over a 10 minute walk to the beach. On the way back no buses enter the road to Sayulita so you will have to walk from the gas station. 

-Taxi: A taxi will set you back 200 pesos. 

Eat

-Dough Joe: Awesome donuts! Try their raspberry, Boston cream, and peanut butter. 

-Chido Greens: The best breakfast I have had! Try their breakfast bowl and green juice. 

-Dolce Jardin: Awesome wood-fired pizza! I had their veggie pizza. 

-Dolce Amore: Right across the street from Dolce Jardin and serving up the best gelato in San Pancho. 

-Amar Y Ya: A good place to do some computer work and great for breakfast too! I had their dirty chai, Amar Y Ya smoothie (A banana, mango, pineapple, tumeric, and bee pollen), and Corny croissant which was Nutella topped with strawberries.

-Marii: A beautiful boutique hotel and cafe serving up some delicious eats. I had a sweet toast with red berries, honey, and flowers. 

-GAiA Bowls: Delicious vegan food fresh and lots of flavor! They have a restaurant and a stand at the markets. 

Do

-Go to the Markets: Located in the Plaza off of Calle Cuba and Calle Mexico. Grab lunch at Gaia, a fresh juice, baked goods, fresh raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, vegan cheese, and much more! There is live music, clothing, jewelry, and even swim-wear!

-Go to the beach: Take a walk to the right end for the quieter area and to the left to check out the surfers. 

-Check out all the Murals: Take the last road from the markets to the beach and enjoy all the artwork! There was an awesome sea scene when I was there. 

-Shop at Elote Arte: A beautiful simple shop selling linen clothes, accessories, pottery, and ran by the most beautiful soul, Ignacio.

-Get a massage: I messaged Angelica Spa on Facebook and booked a home massage for an hour. I was able to have a massage in my hotel room for 800 pesos which is about 40USD. Highly recommend! 

-Wander the streets: Because life is slower in San Pancho daily life is much more social. Kids ride their bikes, there are a lot of skateboarders, and it is awesome to see a town full of life with a more authentic vibe compared to the more touristy town of Sayulita. Check out all the architecture, murals, and pet all the dogssss. Walk from the main downtown to the right and quieter side of San Pancho via America Latina Calle and Las Palmas. Enjoy the quiet cobblestone streets along a golf course. 

Stay

-Agua de Luna: A design hotel that has a simple beach resort vibe and only accommodates guests aged 16 and above. They have a total of 15 beautifully styled rooms, a rooftop lounge, and heated pool, a large swimming pool on the ground floor, and tubs or jacuzzis in select rooms. Martha is amazing and will most-likely be there in the morning. They have awesome customer service and allowed me to check out two hours later as no one was checking in. They also messaged me as soon as my room was ready on my day of check in. The hotel has a great location on a quiet street but not too far from the beach. 

Day Trip to Punta Mita

Punta Mita is generally catered to a wealthier crowd staying at all-inclusive resorts. The town is small with many beach-front seafood restaurants and a few upscale shops. 

Getting there from Sayulita

Start by taking the bus to Bucerias for 22 pesos. Once you arrive in Bucerias you will get off and cross the road to catch a bus to Punta Mita for 20 pesos. The whole trip will take a little over an hour. If you decide to take a taxi it will cost around 400 pesos. 

Eat

-Arena Surf Cafe: Located in the quiet side of town on the roof top of Punto Mita Suites. Beautiful view to the beach and a good variety of breakfast foods. Bring a book and enjoy their hammocks while your food digests. 

-El Cafecito: Located on the main road Avendia El Anclote by the beach. They make their own ice cream and have good sandwiches, smoothies, and avo toast on sourdough. 

Do

-Shop: Check out Mita Mita, Un Pueblo, and Sea and Salt. Mita Mita has resort wear, Un Pueblo has totes made in Mexico and pottery, and Sea and Salt has a more boutique feel with a variety of accessories and clothes. 

-Go to the beach: There is stairway across from Hotel La Quinta del Sol and off of Avenida Hidalgo down to the beach. There is a longboard surf break here called Stinky’s and there are rentals available on the beach as well. This is a good beach to have a beach day at as there are no rocks and the water is clear. 

-Surf: Straight out from the restaurant El Coral is more of a short boarding wave. There are plenty of surf shops in town to rent from.

-Walk around and check out the art work, meet some four-legged friends, and view all the cool houses of Punta Mita.

-Surf at La Lancha: I only went here once the afternoon towards the end of rainy season. The entrance is across from the Oxxo and Pemex gas station. There is also a Wild Mex location here if you want to rent boards. It is safe to park your car here in the parking lot. The hike will take you 10 minutes across a river with thick mud and along some muddy trails. I recommend going barefoot and make sure you don’t wait until dark to walk through. The beach here is beautiful and a great spot to longboard. There’s a left break straight out and some peaks off to the right that are better for short boarding. Mind the rocks and bring food and water with you as there is nothing to purchase on the beach. 

-Surf at Burros: My favorite spot to surf! A beautiful right point break good for long boarding and okay for short boarding on the bigger days. There is a left break here too that only will work on those bigger days. You will turn at the Palladium resort and take the dirt road to the left. There are parking spots here and it is best to not leave valuables in the car as there is no security or cameras around. The walk is short over a cobblestone path to the beach. We never had an issue leaving anything on the beach and once again bring all the necessary food and water as there aren’t any vendors on the beach. Stay until sunset here as the walk back is easy and the sunset is worth it! Best to surf here going into low and we found from 1-4pm was a good window. Be careful on the paddle in as it does get shallow and there are a lot of rocks and reef. 

All in all Sayulita is a great place to go for a short surf vacation. If you are looking to stick around for a while I think it would be very worth it to buy or at least rent a car and make it regularly to the better surf spots. For the ease of travel, access to all the necessities, and variety of activities I highly recommend. If you are looking for a chill uncrowded surf this may not be the place for you but if you talk to the locals you might be able to find the uncrowded breaks that make this trip even more worthwhile. Enjoy your time in Sayulita, eat all the foods, surf all the waves, and explore those hidden gems. Adios!