Nostalgia in Motion

Sayulita is a laid-back, colourful surf town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, known for its vibrant energy, eclectic mix of locals and travelers, and relaxed beach vibes. With its cobblestone streets, street art, and bustling markets, it has a charming feel. The town attracts surfers, yogis, and artists, offering everything from taco stands and beach bars to boutique shops and wellness retreats. The nearby jungle-covered hills provide opportunities for hiking and hidden beach explorations, while the main beach is a hub for surfing and sunbathing.

• Languages Spoken: Spanish, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
• Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN, $)
• Historical Significance: Originally a small fishing village in the Riviera Nayarit, Sayulita has grown into a popular surf town known for its boho atmosphere, indigenous Huichol culture, and vibrant arts scene.
• Best Time to Visit: November–May (dry season with warm temperatures and ideal surfing conditions).

When I arrived in Puerto Vallarta, I knew I wanted to avoid the overpriced airport taxis, so I took a more local and cheaper route to Sayulita. Instead of heading straight to the taxi stand, I walked out of the airport, crossed the short pedestrian bridge over the highway, and found the local bus stop on the other side. Within about 10 minutes, a bus pulled up, I asked the driver if it was going to Sayulita, and I hopped on paying only a few pesos. The bus took about an hour and a half, but dropped you off right by the town, which is pretty easy to navigate making the whole experience pretty straight-forward.

The town itself is quite adorable, with tons of shops, markets, restaurants, and cafes for people to browse. Built around the Sayulita Plaza, everything was very compact with few cars driving around making it generally quite pedestrian friendly. It only took a couple of days to really become quite familiar with all of the streets and how to navigate around a few key landmarks.

My trip to Sayulita at the end of February, which happened to coincide with Sayulita Days, which is a week-long festival that culminated in Mexico’s Flag Day on February 24th. The town had a vibrant festival atmosphere, with a lively parade featuring horses performing choreographed formations and a full carnival set up in the nearby event grounds—which was a serendipitous turn of events.

Sayulita is known for its vibrant street art, with colorful murals and hand-painted signs decorating nearly every corner of town. Walking through the streets, you’ll find walls covered in intricate designs, bold patterns, and depictions of local culture, from surfers and wildlife to Huichol-inspired art. I personally love street art and murals and is often one of the highlights of exploring a new town, seeing what art I might be able to find around each corner.

Sayulita’s food scene is a mix of traditional Mexican flavors and international influences, with everything from street tacos to trendy cafés. While I don’t eat much seafood, fresh seafood, fish tacos, and ceviche were pretty popular. Breakfasts always felt very fresh with an abundance smoothies, tons of fruit, and fresh-pressed juices. While there was a fairly inexpensive breakfast at the hostel, I did venture one day to the YAH-YAH café which had a delicious classic eggs, bacon, avocado, and croissant breakfast, which was a little more hearty for a bigger day of adventuring. Sayulita also had a surprising number of international options, including one of my favourite meals there at La Rustica Sayulita, that had wood-fired pizzas and amazing pasta.

Sayulita is surrounded by beautiful beaches and nearby towns, each offering its own unique coastal experience. While there are plenty of spots to explore, here’s my rundown of the beaches I visited:

• Playa Sayulita – The main beach in town, Playa Sayulita is the most accessible and busiest stretch of sand. It’s a hub for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing, lined with beachfront bars, restaurants, and vendors selling everything from fresh coconuts to handmade jewelry, micheladas, snacks and more.
• Playa Los Muertos – Just a short walk south of Sayulita’s main beach, Playa Los Muertos is a small, tucked-away cove named after the nearby cemetery with colourful, beautifully decorated graves, that you pass on the way there. The water here is calmer than at Playa Sayulita, making it a good spot for swimming with a more relaxed feel, but I do think the sand at Playa Sayulita was a bit nicer.

• Playa Carricitos – About a 30-minute walk from Sayulita, Carricitos is a way more secluded beach with stronger waves. There are no facilities, so bring water and snacks if you plan to spend time there. The sunsets from here are stunning and we were virtually the only ones there, however I would say all of the sunsets on all of the beaches are equally beautiful. What really was nice being in a more secluded beach, was the peacefulness and the serenity to enjoy the sunset and be present in the moment.