Read all about the best things to do and see in Sayulita here including hidden beaches, jungle hikes, sailing, best restaurants, scuba diving, and more.
Sayulita is one of the most relaxing beach towns I have ever visited by day and of the craziest party beach towns I have ever experienced by night.
This unique blend is what attracts and captivates most people that visit it and the reason why some never leave.
Interested to know some of the best things to see and do in Sayulita? Read all about it here my wonder friends and happy 2021!
The 14 Best Things to Do and See in Sayulita
I was fortunate enough to go deep into the Sayulita community. If you ever book these local things to do in Sayulita, you may use the code JOURNEYWONDERS10 upon check out. The booking links are provided for each item.
Thank you for supporting our local community in Sayulita!
Get a massage
After a long journey from your home, the best way to jumpstart your Sayulita trip is to get a home service massage! I am sure you don’t get to regularly spend on this back home but in Sayulita, massages are cheap!
Nahomy is a local from Sayulita who is offering home service massage. She was working at a spa but at the beginning of the pandemic, she decided to go her own way and start her personal home service massage business.
She is highly trained and continues to educate herself by taking massage courses. Her services are expanding and I can truly say she knows what she is doing.
You can check availability and prices for Nahomy’s private Sayulita massages here.
Hike Monkey Mountain
Monkey Mountain is seasonal so you definitely need to do this if you will be visiting Sayulita in the high season (from mid-October to mid-June).
The reason why Monkey Mountain is closed during the low season is that the hike is not accessible. Low season means rainy season in Sayulita so this tour won’t be available from July – September.
The tour guide here, Bloyd, is from Venezuela but has been living in Sayulita for over 5 years. He is a certified Monkey Mountain guide and will definitely give you the best time (not to mention you’ll gain a new friend in Sayulita!)
You can check prices and availability for the Monkey Mountain hike here.
Private Tequila Tasting
Tequila is originally from Jalisco. There is no other state in Mexico (or any country in the world) that can produce tequila but Jalisco, Mexico!
Sayulita might be in the state of Nayarit but it is on the border of these 2 states. This area gets the best tequila that comes from a town in Jalisco literally called Tequila.
A local couple, David and Hailey opened their private tequila tasting sessions. They get their tequila from small family providers and they have contacts from all over the country.
What is very sustainable about this activity is that it 100% supports local homes. Their tequila are not from mass producers. It really tastes different, too!
Click here to see prices and availability for Tequila Tasting in Sayulita.
Visit the Petroglyphs in Nayarit
Alright, this place is not very popular but if you are a nature lover and loves off-the-beaten-path adventures, you will definitely love this one!
JuanPa is the private tour organizer for this and I really enjoyed his company. He is very knowledgeable about Nayarit – we spent a day of disconnection at the Petroglyphs!
This is about an hour’s drive from Sayulita but JuanPa will pick you up and get you back safely to your accommodation. This tour lasts for about 6 hours so get ready to be in one with nature and disconnect with the hustle and bustle!
Check availability for the Petroglyphs tour by clicking here.
Take surfing lessons
Did you know that Sayulita is famous for surfing? But don’t worry if you’re not a pro (yet), Sayulita’s main beach is a learning beach haven for new surfers!
Waves in Sayulita are super-friendly that many beginners from all over the world opt to have a surf vacation here.
I had a chance to learn how to surf with Sergio and his great family of surfers. All his children are great wave riders and they are one of the original families in Sayulita.
Sergio only not teaches beginners but can also bring pro surfers to spots with great waves around Nayarit. This is a great activity for families traveling with kids!
Check prices and availability for surfing classes with a local here.
Experience a real Aztec ceremony with temazcal
This is one of the most unique things to do in Sayulita especially if you are into holistic healing. The Aztecs are a big part of the Mexican culture so if you want to dive deeper, go on this tour with a local shaman.
While there are many temazcal experiences in Mexico, I found this one the most authentic because the shaman is very knowledgeable and authentic. He is from a family of shamans and they are doing this sharing of the Aztec culture for years!
Click here to check prices and availability for the Aztec Ceremony in Sayulita
Relax and Enjoy the Chill Beach Life of Sayulita
Having a lazy day at the beach after a very stressful day, week or even year is exactly what the Doctor recommends and Sayulita is the perfect place to do so.
A while Sayulita’s main beach won’t impress anyone, there are plenty nearby off the beaten path beaches that both locals and visitors love.
Some of them are: Playa de los Muertos (located next to the town’s only graveyard), Playa Carricitos (get ready for a pleasant hike) and Playa Malpaso (located north of Sayulita’s main beach).
Embark on an Epic Jungle Hike
Interested in doing something alternative? How about hiking in the jungle that surrounds Sayulita? One of the best things to do and see in Sayulita that doesn’t involve the beach is going on a jungle hike.
Bring water, hiking shoes and get ready for a really sweaty morning alongside the staff of Rancho Verde Natikari while you observe the many wonders of nature.
Be on the lookout for lizards, butterflies, and crazy parrots amigos! You can read my chronicle of the entire journey here: Jungle Hike in Sayulita.
Go Sailing Around the Bay of Banderas
The Bay of Banderas is one of the largest bays in the entire world spanning multiple cities in Mexico across two different states (Nayarit and Jalisco).
Hiring a private sailboat to go around your heart desires and disembarking in hidden beaches is one of the best things to do and see in Sayulita wonder friends.
One of my all-time favorites is Playa Mahajuitas, just look at the color of that water! Don’t think about it twice and get ready to conquer the Mexican sea!
Take A Day Trip to San Francisco (San Pancho)
Believe it or not, we have a Mexican town called San Francisco and it is nothing like its American counterpart! Best known to the locals as San Pancho, this joyful town is located less than 20 minutes away from Sayulita by car.
One of the best things to do and see in Sayulita due to how close it is as well as how different the vibe in San Pancho is.
Here you will find a really nice beach as well as many more restaurants making this an ideal half day-trip from Sayulita.
Scuba Dive at the Islas Marietas
Known as the Galapagos of Mexico, the Islas Marietas are home to a vast array of diverse species of birds and marine life.
And while looking at them from the boat is already an amazing experience; scuba diving all the way to the bottom of the ocean is quite an unforgettable one.
What are you waiting for? Jump into the depths of the ocean and see the colorful fish of the Pacific Ocean.
For non-divers, visit the Marietas Islands
Remember those pictures you see on Instagram of a secret beach in Mexico? Well, this is your lucky day! It’s just 20 minutes from Sayulita!
Located in Punta Mita, the Marietas Islands is a group of islands popular with blue-footed boobies and of course, the secret beach.
I visited the Marietas Islands with a local fisherman (Cesar). We met up at the fisherman’s wharf in Sayulita where all the boats are parked. He gave me some insights into how fishing while wearing the best boat shoes for fishing is a livelihood in Sayulita. It was really interesting to see!
Marietas Islands is closed every Monday and Tuesday. Children below 12 years of age and adults 50+ are not allowed to enter the secret beach for security. However, you can still visit the other islands and be on this trip.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Marietas Islands tour
Eat Amazing Mexican Food in Sayulita
Sayulita is probably the most diverse town per square meter when it comes to food.
Not only you have the traditional Mexican restaurants (tacos al pastor for the win!) but also Asian cuisine, Italian-owned trattorias, fresh seafood places, vegan poke bowls places, and much more.
Some of my favorite restaurants were Organi-K, Chocobanana, La Fogonera, and Si Señor.
You can read all about the best restaurants in Sayulita here.
Help Clean the Beaches of Sayulita
While Sayulita is home to many eco-friendly locals, there are still many individuals that chose to pollute the once pristine beaches of Sayulita.
Luckily, there are many efforts being made to prevent this and you can either participate in a group beach walk to collect trash or do so on your own.
The ocean belongs to us all and it is our duty to protect it my wonder friends!
How to Get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta
Sayulita lacks an airport and the nearest one is located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. On average, it takes 1 hour to go from Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta (40 KM).
You can either take a public bus (5-10 USD, multiple departures during daytime), an Uber (25 to 40 USD depending on the time of day), or a private taxi (100 USD give or take).
Juan, my local contact in Sayulita takes passengers to and from PVR Airport at a very affordable rate. You can use my code JOURNEYWONDERS10 to get a 10% discount on taxi rides with Juan. All his services and availability can be found here.
Where to Stay in Sayulita, Mexico
When it comes finding the best place to stay in Sayulita, you definitely should aim for a beachfront property and when it comes to that, no one does the job better than Villa Robalo.
Located right in front of the beach and featuring multiple pools, the villas here are perfect for all visitors who want to enjoy the ultimate Sayulita experience.
Alternatively, if you’re a digital nomad, you can book at Casa Vecino which, despite not being a beachfront property, offers the fastest Wi-Fi in the entire town.
Either case, you cannot go wrong and I hope you enjoy your stay in Sayulita as much as I did my wonder friends!
I hope you have enjoyed this article about the Best Things to See and Do in Sayulita, Mexico. Don’t forget to subscribe in order to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your e-mail!
Have you ever been to Sayulita? Would you like to? What are your favorite things to do and see in Sayulita? Share your thoughts and let me know what you think!
Until next time, my friends!
