5 Best Beaches in Sayulita: Sayulita is a small town located in the state of Nayarit about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. The town is a hidden gem of Mexico’s Pacific coast, famous for its beautiful beaches, great weather, and relaxed atmosphere. The town has been a tourism destination since the 1960s, when surfers started frequenting its beaches to take advantage of the great waves. Despite this, Sayulita has managed to retain its small-town authentic Mexican feel, away from the crowds that flock to more popular cities in the area like Puerto Vallarta.
Although the initial visitors to Sayulita were surfers, since those days, the town has become popular with other beachgoers, sunbathers, and vacationers. Today, some of the main visitors to the town include families, couples, and solo travelers, who flock to Sayulita to enjoy the beautiful weather and great beaches. If you are planning a trip to Sayulita, here are the best beaches in the town and the reasons that make them the best. Be sure to check them out on your trip.
Playa los Muertos
A beautiful, secluded beach with calm waves, Playa los Muertos is one of the nicest beaches in Sayulita. The beach is less crowded than the main beaches in Sayulita, and its still waters make it a great spot for swimming and snorkeling.
Playa los Muertos, or the Beach of the Dead, is located a short walk from downtown Sayulita. The scenery on the walk to the beach is absolutely stunning, with palm trees and other tropical plants shading the walking path that descends slowly to the beach. On the side of the path, on a small hill just before the beach there is a cemetery, which is where the beach got its name.
On the beach, the sand is soft and golden with gentle waves and sandbars further out in the water. You can rent chairs and umbrellas on the beach, and there are vendors who sell food and drinks. The calm waters make this beach ideal for children and the elderly.
Although Playa los Muertos is less crowded than the main beaches in Sayulita, it can get crowded, especially as the day goes on, so it is best to go early in the morning to make sure you get a good spot on the beach.
Sayulita Beach
Sayulita Beach is the main beach in Sayulita. Known for its beautiful scenery and warm waters with good waves for beginner surfing, Sayulita is one of the most popular beaches in the town. The beach is located in downtown Sayulita and is easily accessible from most of the hotels, resorts, and rentals in the town, and there is plenty of parking available for those coming from further away. The beach can get very crowded on nice days, especially as the day goes on, so you should try to get there as early as possible.
When you arrive on Sayulita Beach, you will notice plenty of vendors renting chairs and umbrellas, and selling food and drinks. You can buy great food and local beer from the vendors, or you can go to any of the great bars and restaurants in the area to sit down for a meal or pick up some food and drinks to enjoy on the beach.
The most popular activity on Sayulita Beach is surfing. The beach has frequent waves which are not too big or rough, making it a perfect beach for beginners. There are also surfing instructors who you can book a lesson with on the beach. Aside from surfing, other popular activities on Sayulita Beach include boogie boarding, body surfing, swimming, paddleboarding.
San Francisco
Located 3 miles north of Sayulita is the town of San Francisco, also known as San Pancho. This small town is known for its beautiful, uncrowded beach, great waves for surfing, and excellent food. The beaches in San Francisco are more secluded than the ones in Sayulita, and they are also unsheltered, and more exposed to the Pacific, making the waves on the beach wilder and better for intermediate and experienced surfers and boogie boarders.
San Francisco’s beaches rarely get crowded, and there are fewer vendors on the beach, and many more locals than tourists. Although San Francisco is less “touristy” than Sayulita, it still has plenty of excellent restaurants and bars right next to the beach, so spending the day here and getting some great food and drinks is easy.
Playa Carricitos
The most isolated beach in Sayulita, Playa Carricitos is accessible only by a short hike on a trail through the jungle. When you get there, you will find an open beach a couple hundred yards in length, with rock formations marking the boundaries on each side. This beach is wild, with surf and waves that can be powerful, making it a great place for experienced surfers, boogie boarders, body surfers, and swimmers, but potentially dangerous for the inexperienced.
The beach is very isolated, with no lifeguards, and you may even be the only one on the beach when you get there. Therefore, it is important to be careful in the water, even if you are experienced. However, the natural beauty and tranquility of the beach makes it well worth the hike, even for those who are just interested in kicking back and relaxing, without going in the water.
Another important thing to note is that there are no facilities or vendors on this beach. That means that the beach is very peaceful and quiet, but it also can be inconvenient, so be sure to bring a lunch if you plan on spending the day on Playa Carricitos.
Playa Las Cuevas
Playa Las Cuevas, or the Beach of Caves, is a beautiful, easily accessible beach located on the north side of Sayulita. Similar to Playa los Muertos, getting to Playa Las Cuevas involves a short walk along a path shaded by tropical trees. The beach has an isolated feel, and once you get there, you will see the stunning rock formations and caves located along the water’s edge that give the beach its name. These caves are open to explore, although some of them are only accessible during low tide.
The water is clear, cool, and swimmable, although the rock formations along the water’s edge can be hazardous in some areas, so you may want to wear foot protection. There is sometimes an undertow, so exercise caution if you do choose to swim, and don’t go too deep.
This beach is not one of the main tourist beaches in Sayulita, and there are no vendors or facilities, giving it a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The beach is a great place for a day trip or picnic, but be sure to bring everything you need for the day with you, as you will need to go back to town if you want to get a meal or if you forget chairs or umbrellas.
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