Sayulita, Mexico

All you need to know about this beachy, surf paradise!

This is an easy trip from the U.S. Just hop on a plane to Puerto Vallarta and catch a ride north. Sayulita is about a 45-minute drive from the airport. The town is home to about 2,300 people and rests on the Pacific Coast. There are a number of warm, sandy beaches alongside the vibrant cobblestone town. The town features restaurants with amazing local cuisine along with Italian pizzerias and American style food. Sayulita is home to fine dining as well as street side bars and taco carts. I will comment on some of the favorites from our trip later in this post.

Sayulita is a bohemian surf community. The town is alive with colored flags draped over the streets, shops and ice creameries line the road in the center of town. Each day, there is a flea market where you can find just about anything you need. Each Friday there is a Farmer’s Market where local vendors sell their goods. While we did not visit the Farmer’s Market, it comes highly recommended by the local community and tourists. Speaking of tourists, if you are looking for a spot that is off the beaten path and less touristy, this is your spot.

Surfers ride the waves here in Sayulita. Yoga studios and artists flourish here as well. If you are looking for a laid back, romantic vibe, Sayulita as the place to kick off your shoes (beachside), with a cocktail or fresh juice in hand. I came to Sayulita to find peace, rejuvenate and experience the culture. All three boxes were checked, and I highly recommend this magical little place to anyone seeking a fabulous get-away.

Where to eat:

Aloha’s Catering: We wanted to try the most authentic food Sayulita had to offer, and our wish came true. A local chef from Aloha’s catering in Sayulita, Mexico (sayulitalife.com), Chef Gabby, offers in-home cooking classes as well as in-home four course meals that she prepares herself…. did I mention this all happens in your vacation rental?! Chef Gaby, her husband Ernesto and her mother-in-law are a team. They bring all the ingredients needed for the meal. The classes are step-by-step, hands-on cooking. The team of three are friendly, professional and felt like family within minutes of their arrival. The ingredients are simple and clean- all of which are local and in season. The team cleans after cooking and serving the food. They also email the recipes after the cooking class. This food is incredible and completely reproduceable from home. We loved the cooking class so much, we asked them to come back the next day to teach us again. This was such a treat and I highly recommend cooking with Aloha’s Catering. The food was absolutely delicious and, my friends and I learned some new skills (did anyone say homemade tortillas?). If you are in Sayulita, definitely squeeze this into your plans. The refried beans are to die for, especially when there are leftovers for beans, tortillas and huevos for breakfast the next day. Add a little left over fresh salsa and you have yourself an incredible, flavorful “day after” meal. The cost for the cooking class was 2,000 MX pesos, which is about $125 U.S.- you will pay at least this amount dining out. The 4-course meal was 3,400 pesos and 100% worth every peso.

Cooking class #1: Chicken enchiladas in red sauce, refried beans and veggies. For drinks; cucumber margaritas.

What you will make:

• Homemade tortillas (I bought a tortilla press after learning this skill- it is easy and insanely delicious. Etsy has a number of really nice presses.)

• Tomatillo salsa in a Molcajete

• Refried beans (Chef Gaby uses oil instead of lard but you can request she bring lard)

• Tomato sauce for the enchiladas

• Potato and carrot (these get boiled with the chicken that is used for the enchiladas)

Cooking class #2: Chile rellenos, rice and refried beans. The rellenos were not battered and fried like some. These rellenos were prepared in the sauce after lightly sauteing the stuffed peppers in a heavy pan. Cutting the grease by cooking the chiles this way was a healthy and delicious treat. Rellenos prepared this way are my preference.

What you will make:

• Homemade tortillas

• Roasted poblano chiles (these get stuffed with cotija cheese for the rellenos)

• Rice (a la Gaby- best rice ever!)

• Red sauce from roma tomatoes, onion and garlic

4-course meal:

• Appetizers included: flour tortillas and Gaby’s family favorite; a gooey, cheesy blend of local chorizo and cheddar cheese. The cheese and chorizo get heated in a pan, where they are mixed together. Gaby places the mixture into the molcajete. The dish is served this way along with the warmed tortillas. Grab a heaping spoonful and spread the cheese and meat mixture into the warm flour tortillas- be prepared for flavor paradise! Next Gaby prepared shrimp ceviche. This was the best ceviche I have ever had. The ingredients are super fresh and blend together in your mouth as crisp, refreshing goodness. The ceviche is served with chips, avocado and of course, handmade corn tortillas.

• Dinner: We asked Gaby to make us whatever she wanted. There are definitely options she can provide, but we wanted her to cook her favorite. Chef Gaby cooked fresh Mahi Mahi, caught that day. The fish was served with fresh shrimp on a bed of vegetable succotash. Each bite was a flavor bomb and probably the best Mahi I have tasted.

• Dessert: Caramelized plantain banana with strawberries and coconut ice cream…. yum!

Imiari Cafe: We could have eaten here three times a day, this place was so good. This is primarily a breakfast/ lunch spot which serves everything from espresso drinks to fresh pastries made in-house, smoothies and dishes like croissant sandwiches and chilaquiles con huevos.

Step inside this sweet little cafe with about 5 to 6 tables. Pull out your laptop, order a cup of excellent coffee and stay a while. Enjoy the hanging plants and the smell of croissants baking. I love the atmosphere of this cafe. It is clean and laid back.

I recommend the butter croissant, chocolate croissant, the lemon yogurt muffin, omelet with prosciutto and cherry tomatoes (this comes with fresh salsa that you will want to eat with a spoon as well as some of the most delicious refried beans), and the chilaquiles are a must. The frutas rojo smoothie is an intoxicating blend of berries, yogurt, coconut milk and chia seeds. This smoothie did not stand a chance. I devoured it within minutes. It was smooth and just the right balance of creamy and slightly sweet. Lastly, I should also note that milk alternatives are available here.

Wa’ kika ice creamery. This place serves homemade ice cream with all natural ingredients. This area is know for the ice cream and gelato and is worth a visit… in fact- please go! Aguas fresca as well as popsicles are available as well. The coconut, cafe and passionfruit were the group’s top picks. We went back four times, if that tells you anything.

Escondido Bar. This gem is right in the heart of town and offers a beachy, surf vibe. The craft cocktails here are AMAZING and as fresh as fresh can be. I literally watched the bar tender juice the watermelon for my drink. The bar also serves breakfast and coffee each morning- you can sip passionfruit mimosas while enjoying the bohemian vibe or using the space as a co-location workspace. The bar has a number of games available, we played Cards Against Humanity while sipping our cocktails. This place has a really great menu and the cocktails taste just as good as they sound on the menu. I LOVE Escondido Bar with its way too good cocktails and surfy meets tropical boho vibe. If you love craft cocktails and you find yourself in Sayulita- GO!!

Matiz restaurant. This is a ceviche restaurant which serves an entire list of different ceviche. Chose a couple and share with the table as the serving sizes are large. I recommend the margaritas at Matiz. They offer lime, cucumber and passion fruit- all of which are tasty. The best part of this restaurant is the rooftop location. It is outdoors and is quite romantic in the evening.

Bar Miramar. This little haven is right on the beach and features a bar and an outdoor kitchen that serves chile rellenos and flan for dessert. This is a winner as far as “on the actual beach” restaurant and bars go- if you want the beach and some loungey Adirondak seating, this is the place for you. The drinks were not great but worth trying. The bar also offers a number of non-alcoholic beverages that looked pretty good. I did not try any of the non-alcoholic drinks, but I bet they are refreshing based off the descriptions. The rellenos are served with tortillas, rice and beans, all of which are good.

Things to do in Sayulita:

• Spend the day at the beach. Wave jump, take surf lessons, body surf and/ or relax in the sun or under an umbrella. There are chairs and umbrellas set-up each morning which can be paid for if you would like to use them. Our condo provided beach chairs and umbrellas- which was a nice perk. There are food and drink vendors on the beach if you don’t bring your own. We packed a cooler (also provided by Las Delfines Condominium). We really loved the beach right in front of our condo and just to the right of Bar Miramar.
• Patzcuaritos Beach. Wow- just wow. This beach is secluded and far away from the bustling beaches. The beach is a mix of black and beige powdery sand that bumps up against volcanic cliffs and jungle. We saw just a couple people during the four hours we enjoyed this beach. Pack a lunch, some bevies, a towel and umbrella and hit this beach. It is quiet and stunning. In order to get to this beach, drive your golf cart just outside of town, past Hara Mara Resort Retreat. There is a fork in the road where you will go straight. Drive down the steep hill to the abandoned ticket hut and cement barriers. If you see graffiti, this is the right spot. Walk about half a mile down the path and boom! You made it!
• Get a massage on the beach.
• Visit the Farmer’s Market (each Friday from 8-11 am).
• Stroll the daily flea market. You can find pretty tapestries, clothing, jewelry, beaded decor and food. This market is right in the heart of town and is a full city block (all four sides of the block).
• Dance on the beach (we went to Bar Miramar one night and a DJ was playing. We danced the night away, right there on the beach).
• GLOW- Sayulita Sound Healing. This woman is a reiki energy healer and offers sound healing and cacao ceremonies from her ocean view home or on the beach. We did not have time to book a session, but I did see a group of women on the beach enjoying their sound bath at sunset. I reached out to Rosie, the Healer, and she mentioned she also books 1:1 healing sessions. I will definitely be booking some time with this woman next time we are in Sayulita. Sayulita Sound Healing — GLOW (glowwithrosie.com)
• Boat tour and snorkeling around the Marieta Islands which are off the coast from Sayulita. Chica Loca Tours offers a variety of activities from private to public catamaran boat tours, mega yacht tours and yacht whale watching tours. We chose the public catamaran tour for 2,000 pesos per person. This includes a boat trip from 8 am – 2 pm with a continental breakfast, fajita lunch and open bar with premium labels. Once at the islands, you can swim ashore to the private beaches. This is a national reserve, and the guides are very strict about keeping the islands clean and safe for the wildlife. The beaches were stunning. After the beach we boarded the main boat and traveled to the snorkeling area. All snorkel equipment is provided. The snorkeling area is just off the coast of the round island (as the guides called it). The day we went the weather was windy which did not make for the best visibility. That said, we still saw schools of beautiful fish swimming along the coral reef. We then had lunch and cruised around in the ocean- there is plenty of “boat chill time”, where guests can relax on the padded deck, top level giant bean bags or on the bouncy bow (there is plenty of shade for those who want out of the sun). The waterslides shoot off the second deck and are a blast. There is also the option to kayak or paddle board. There is also a photographer on board. You will have the option to purchase the photos after the cruise. We paid about $25 US for our package, and we love them. I added two of my favorites of m y husband and I on Marieta Island. Lastly, humpback whales give birth in this area each Fall. We were lucky enough to see two whales while on the tour. All I can say is that it was an amazing moment, seeing the tale appear and then slow sink into the ocean… wow! This tour was so worth it. My friends and I had such a great time- it was just FUN! The crew is awesome, and the boat is clean. If you want a day of adventure, book this trip. The booking process was super easy- you can do it online here: Homepage – Chica Locca Tours
• Walk around downtown. There is a cute downtown area with a ton of shops and restaurants. Anything from art, to locally made blown glassware, jewelry, clothing and swimwear to wine tasting, cafes, bakeries and restaurants can be found downtown Sayulita. My absolute favorite is a little shop named, Evoke the Spirit (Evoke the Spirit – Evoke the Spirit – WEBSITE). The art, jewelry, rugs, pottery and macramé are absolutely beautiful handmade treasures by local artists. I fell in love with one piece in particular and each of the three times we visited the store, the artist was in the shop, making variations of the piece I was drooling over. The piece is a ceramic cast of a cow skull, which is coated in bee’s wax. The artist then weaves with hand dyed thread, on top of the wax, to make the design. These pieces are incredible. I’ve added a picture of the skull below so you too, can admire the craftmanship (see below).
• Take surfing or diving lessons. There are a number of surf and dive shops in town.
• Go on a guided ecohike in the jungle.
• Have dinner on a private peninsula followed by a Mexican style Cirque du Soliel called Rhythm of the Night. I have added a picture of the ocean side, candle lit set-up. This is the view of the “restaurant” as the boat arrived…. did I mention that this area is only accessible by boat? It is quite a long day given that we left Nuevo Vallarta at 5 pm and got in about 11 pm. This area is an hour North of Sayulita. We were home and in bed by 12:30 am. This was an interesting experience- once was enough for me.

Courtesy of Evoke Website

Where to stay:

General things to know:

Visit the Sayulita website- this is the go-to spot to book your stay and learn about things to do: Sayulita Mexico Vacation Rentals – No additional fees (sayulitalife.com)

This is a golf cart community. I highly suggest you rent a golf cart while staying in Sayulita. Traditional cars are way too big and you won’t need it. There are quite a few motorcycles and scooters around town- which are fun, but a golf cart can haul the full group as well as any goodies bought while out and about.

Book a driver for activities that are a distance from Sayulita.

Fall is humpback whale season!

Bring pesos- while more and more local businesses are accepting credit and debit cards, not all of them do as this is a small town. The town is cash based- so be prepared with pesos when you arrive.