Mexico · North America
Sayulita is the kind of place where you book three nights and stay two weeks. This former fishing village on the Riviera Nayarit has exploded with surfers, digital nomads, and artists, but it still feels more like a village than a resort town — roosters wander the streets, surf breaks are a two-minute walk from anywhere, and a plate of fish tacos at a plastic-table spot on the plaza costs about $3. The main beach is a beginner-friendly surf break with board rentals right on the sand. Walk ten minutes north to Playa de los Muertos for a clothing-optional beach backed by a small cemetery with ocean views. The food and mezcal scene punches way above a town this size, with cocktail bars and wood-fired restaurants hiding behind hand-painted doorways. Wednesday's farmers market is a highlight. It's 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta's airport, which makes it easy to get to but hard enough to keep out the tour buses.
Sayulita is a colorful surf village on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit with a beginner-friendly point break, $2 fish tacos, and a bohemian energy that hasn't been polished away by development. Forty-five minutes from Puerto Vallarta, it runs on its own clock.
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The best beaches in Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit on Mexico's Pacific coast, from Sayulita's beginner surf break to remote Patzcuarito, the Marietas Islands' Hidden Beach, and Lo de Marcos' turtle releases. Includes costs, water quality notes, and seasonal travel advice.
Read more about thisMexico low season runs May to mid-December. The Pacific — Puerto Escondido, Huatulco — is the real bargain; Caribbean beaches get sargassum. September is cheapest and riskiest.
Read more about thisMercado 23, Benito Juarez, Pino Suarez and Lucas de Galvez run daily; Olas Altas, Sayulita and San Jose del Cabo are seasonal. Skip Cancun's Mercado 28.
Read more about thisWhale sharks off Isla Mujeres run mid-June to mid-September, La Ventana kitesurfing November-March, Zicatela surf April-September, and Cozumel drift diving year-round.
Read more about thisMexico's most Instagrammable beaches: the Marietas Hidden Beach, Balandra, Bacalar's seven-color lagoon, Holbox glow, Tulum ruins, and Las Coloradas pink lakes.
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