Travel Guide: Sayulita & Beyond

Since February 2021, my husband Brian and I have had the good fortune to have spent about eight weeks in Sayulita, Mexico at Villas Tortuga. Our friends purchased the property in late 2020 and have worked to develop it into eight rental units that have been fully renovated from top to bottom. Located on the North End of town, you’re ideally located to hop in a golf cart to cruise around town, walk to the beach, and enjoy the numerous restaurants and shops that Sayulita has to offer. I really enjoy the laid-back, hippie vibe of Sayulita as a place to unwind, disconnect, and relax. Only 45-60 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, it’s worth the journey. I hope this guide is helpful to those of you who are planning a trip there.

Beaches

• Playa Sayulita is the “main” beach in town. Often the busiest and lined with all sorts of restaurants and beach clubs. Nearby you’ll find Patricia’s Surf School which is where Brian has taken surf lessons for quite a bargain of a price.

• North End Beach is quiet and “local.” Here you will find Las Sirenas Beach Club (bar and chair/umbrellas rentals) and Le Camion food truck & bar. Be forewarned, the margs at Las Sirenas are strong! Check out Nirvana Spa for beach massages under the purple tent.

• Playa De Los Muertos is located near the cemetery and a really nice beach with softer sand and calmer waters than the main parts of Sayulita. Less of a drop into the water. There are chair and umbrella rentals as well as food and bar service here. Parking is typically about $5 USD for either a car or golf cart.

• Playa Carricitos is a great sunset viewing beach but no frills or amenities. Golf cart over and bring your beach blanket and cooler.

Shopping

• Photographs by Curt Barter and other artwork can be found at Palu. We have a beautiful canvas print hanging in our home as a memory of our time spent in Sayulita.

• Evoke the Spirit is a favorite for textiles, hats, pottery, and jewelry.

• Debbie De Le Cueva has a rotation of beautiful home wares and accessories.

• Sana Spices is the go to for great spices and gift kits to take home with you. My personal favorites are the Ginger Orange Sugar and Smoked Chipotle Salt for great cocktail rims.

• Quiut offers beautiful beach cover-ups that you won’t want to miss. Make the trek up the hill to Villa Sayulita.

• Kalu for great gauzy dresses, pants and more; all the casual wear you’ll want to live in.

• Mini Super Chewbacca for all your grocery and beverage essentials. You can truly find a little bit of everything here. Same owners as Las Sirenas Beach Club.

• Mercado del Pueblo is the farmer’s market that happens every Friday and it’s worth the trip for any fresh fruits and vegetables, chips/salsa/guac, cheese, eggs, and a selection of crafts and food tents. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Sayulita Wine Shop is a cute little spot in town that does live music and tastings and cheese boards on Wednesday evenings. A perfect happy hour before grabbing dinner. They also specialize in Mezcal and Raicilla.

Restaurants

• Mariscos Purillo’s: Favorite spot to eat dinner, with drinks, for under $20 for 2 people. Open for 3 meals a day (not entirely common in Sayulita) and some of my favorite tortilla soup, guac, and pico. We actually buy the guac and pico to-go, to keep in our villa. Great, fresh margaritas here as well.

• Pizza Venezia: Near North End Beach and a favorite to grab to-go and enjoy on the beach for sunset.

• Cafe Don Bonito’s: A hipster environment with good breakfast options and beverages.

• Northside Cafe: Great breakfast spot known for their banana pancakes.

• Miscelanea: Newer to Sayulita but really chic environment with indoor/outdoor seating and great breakfast beverages and food.

• Don Pedro’s: Located beach front which works well for our friends with kids to let them run free while we enjoy a nice dinner. More upscale cuisine and always a fish of the day.

• Bar Le Zouave: One of two favorite margaritas in town. I prefer the classic but everyone I know has always liked whatever variation they order here. A great nightcap stop.

• Yam Bak: Local brewery offering a full bar, but what we really enjoy is the live jazz/funk music that they sometimes have with a brass section. Enjoyable to sit outside and listen for awhile.

• Archara: A tasty Thai spot and great option for a break from Mexican cuisine. Reservations recommended as this is a small place.

• Marcolino Pasta y Vino: Great traditional/old school Italian; nothing pretentious or fancy. One of the best Caesar salads of our life!

• La Rustica: Friends raved during a visit that the Jefe pasta was the best they’ve ever had. Good environment and tasty food, but second to the Punta de Mita location that wins out for the views alone.

• Si Senor: A beautiful setting right on the water, which is not that common in Sayulita. Definitely considered a pricier restaurant in town. Enjoy the great views for a special evening out.

• Frente al Punto: Located between North End Beach and Main Beach, Brian loves their shrimp tacos. Check out Sunset Station band on Sunday nights for good fun.

• Another One Coffee Roaster: My favorite $3 USD berry smoothie in town!

• Tierra Viva: Another fabulous spot open for 3 meals a day. Try to snag a seat on the rooftop for sunset during dinner. I really enjoy their tortilla soup, caesar salad, and papas fritas (trust me!) but you really cannot go wrong. Fish of the day is a popular order amongst friends.

• El Tiburon: New in 2022 and home of my other favorite margarita in Sayulita; the watermelon cucumber. Great variety of food options and always delicious.

• Suenos: New in 2022 and definitely swanky in design. We enjoyed a really nice dinner here one evening and look forward to returning on our next trip.

• And finally, a must in Sayulita is to keep an eye out for the BEST churros of my life at the churro cart that is just over the bridge on the north side. You never know which evenings they’ll appear, but it’s always a treat when you spot them!

Misc.

• Ally Cat Sailing offers numerous sizes of catamarans for daytime and sunset sails. They’ll conveniently transfer you via bus from Sayulita to the marina in La Cruz. Beautiful vessels and fun to be had!

• Rose Room Yoga is atop Don Bonito Hotel. Catch a class by personal favorite instructor, Mandy.

• Airport Transfers: Sammy is an unofficial taxi driver so you’ll need to cross the bridge from airport to parking lot, but he’s highly trusted and great rates via car or SUV. Contact Sammy via WhatsApp: +52 1 311 119 6355. If you prefer curb-side greeting service, contact Jose via WhatsApp +52 1 322 155 8784. Tell them Villas Tortuga sent you.

• Golf Cart Rentals: Town is spread out, there are hills, and lots of cobblestone. Rent a cart for the full experience and enjoyment! Sayulita Golf Car Rentals, Roy’s Golf Carts via WhatsApp: +52 322 159 6590, or Riviera Golf Cart Rentals.

• Munchly delivers all the local Sayulita restaurants to wherever you are staying via WhatsApp: +52 322 323 3515.

Nearby Towns

• San Pancho is a 10 minute drive from Sayulita (or accessible by a 4 mile coastal hike) and worth the trip to explore the charming town and amazing sunsets. It’s what Sayulita was 5+ years ago, before the massive growth.

  • Cervaceria Artisanal is a brewery in town that is known for burgers and occasional live music.

  • Tierra Tropical Beach Club is an escape to paradise. Unobstructed ocean views, a gorgeous pool, beautiful restaurant, and an age restriction of 13 and up equate to a tranquil, relaxing day. There is a small day use fee and plan to bring cash as sometimes they have wi-fi issues and their credit card machines go down. On Google Maps it is also described as La Patrona Beach Club, which can be confusing.

  • Stroll along the one main street and you’ll happen upon numerous restaurants. New ones seem to be popping up each trip.

• Litibu is a 25 minute drive from Sayulita and yet another deserted strip of beautiful sands and water.

  • Litibu Beach Club & Grill is reservations only and is a great spot to enjoy the beach for the day (chairs and umbrellas included) and then stay for a sunset dinner. You’ll find a reasonable per person food and beverage minimum required to enjoy their facilities for the day.

• Punta de Mita is about 25-30 minutes away and home to numerous wonderful restaurants and beautiful beaches. If you’re splurging, you’re staying at Four Seasons Punta Mita; arguably one of the most beautiful resorts in the world (and in my heart)!

  • Public Beach Punta de Mita is where you will find a small gate opening that leads to a public beach with white, sugar sand and turquoise waters. There are plenty of chair and umbrella rentals as well as food and bar service here. It’s completely different from Sayulita and worth it for the beauty.

  • There is one strip of water-front dining options that you can peruse, but a personal favorite is La Rustica Mita for a sunset dinner. The shop at the front is Evoke the Spirit’s outpost from Sayulita and chock full of beautiful jewelry.

  • Casa Teresa transports you right to Italy with authentic pasta and a very Tuscan atmosphere. One of the oldest restaurants in town and a personal favorite. This would be considered pricier than any other Italian around town.

  • For additional shopping options, pop into Calaverita de Mita and Mita Mita, which also has an adorable little bar out front with great cocktails.