Wondering what to do in Sayulita (with or without kids)? It turns out this Mexican town is a paradise for singles, couples, friend and families, with endless activities that everyone can enjoy.

Having spent a week in Sayulita, Nayarit, on the Pacific west coast of Mexico, I can say with absolute conviction that Sayulita is a fabulous beach option for families, whether you’re looking for an outdoorsy, adventurous kinda getaway, a gentle relaxing time or even an extended stay.

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My visit was hosted by Sayulita Insider and I am extremely grateful to them for opening my eyes to the opportunities the area offers. My family and I spent two weeks exploring in and around Sayulita. Many of the activities and businesses mentioned in this article gave their services as part of the hosted trip, however, as always, I write only my opinion, regardless of whether I paid or was given a service.

Other great options for outdoor fun with families include Chiapas , the beaches of Yucatán or around San Miguel de Allende, where everyone can run and play to their heart’s content.

⭐️ Whatever you’re doing and wherever you’re going, this packing list for Mexico with kids will always come in handy.

Where Is Sayulita?

Sayulita is a small town in the state of Nayarit, around 40 kilometres from the big city of Puerto Vallarta and 300 km or a four-hour drive from Guadalajara (both in the state of Jalisco). It’s part of the Riviera Nayarit, a 300ish kilometre stretch of stunning Pacific coastline. Sayulita is also a Mexican “Pueblo Magico”, one of a collection of towns around Mexico that are considered to have that ´little something extra’.

How Many Days Do You Need in Sayulita?

Sayulita makes a great base for a longer trip to the region and there’s enough to do that you won’t be bored if you stay a week or more. There are plenty of families and expats who spend the entire winter in Sayulita!

I would recommend 3 to 5 days to get the most out of your time and to see and experience the best things to do in Sayulita.

Even if you can only spend a day in Sayulita it’s worth it but if you have time, I highly recommend staying there.

⭐️ Sayulita would be a great option for a spring break family vacation ⭐️

What To Do in Sayulita for Families

There is so much to do in Sayulita for families that you’ll never have time to be bored. If you enjoy outdoor life then this is absolutely a great option for your family.

⭐️ Many people looking to move to Mexico with kids have Sayulita high on heir lists of possible new homes.

Beaches In Sayulita

Obviously, as a coastal town, Sayulita has some great beaches and beach activities available. There are five beaches within walking distance of town although only two of them are easily accessible.

For me, coming from Yucatán where our waters are fairly calm and shallow, Sayulita’s Pacific shore was a whole new experience with kids. The waves are rougher, the tides are fiercer and the sand is hotter. We still had an incredible time and the kids absolutely adored learning to surf and playing with us in the slightly wilder water. It just required even more attention and we wouldn’t have let our six and eight year olds in the water on their own at all here whereas in Yucatán we let them play at the water’s edge on their own on calm days.

Sayulita Beach

🏖 This is the main beach in Sayulita. It’s very long, stretching basically the whole length of the town. While the beach can get crowded, it still possible to find a nice spot for yourself.

🏖 If you enjoy beachfront restaurants and hiring deckchairs/sunbeds then head to the main town section of the beach. If you prefer a quieter beach experience, head out of town along the beach, until the bustle of restaurants fades away and you pretty much have the beach to yourself.

🏖 There are a number of options for hiring surfboards, bodyboards and paddle-boards. See below for my recommendation. If you’re not really into surfing then sit back with a beer or margarita and watch the pros surf while the kids frolic.

🛟 There are lifeguard stations on this beach.

Playa Los Muertos

🏖 About a 15-minute walk from town this is a more secluded beach, Playa Los Muertos. It’s still popular but the absence of restaurants and bathrooms does mean fewer people.

🏖 I particularly loved this beach for the rock clambering opportunities for the kids. We did spend time jumping waves but the main activity here for my kids was absolutely mucking around on the rocks.

🏖 It is possible to buy snacks and drinks from small stalls there but I’d take your own just in case they’re randomly not there one day.

🛟 There is a lifeguard tower on the beach.

Playa Carricitos

🏖 Carricitos is one of my favourite beaches of all time. I went twice in my week in Sayulita: once without the kids and once with them. Carricitos is a longer walk from town. The first time I went I walked there and back, the second time, with the kids we walked halfway there (got a lift half the way) and all the way back.

🏖 Access is via a walk through the jungle until you reach a turning taking you down through more jungle. If you put Carricitos into google maps it gives you the final road point, from there you take a right through a weird wall doorway (it’s signposted) and go down, down towards the beach.

🏖 It probably isn’t a beach for tiny kids because it’s wild and rough, and because it’s quite a trek to reach. For my kids, at six and eight, it was a beach day of a lifetime. There are no facilities at this beach, just you, palm trees and rocks.

🏖 It’s a great spot for surfing if you’re sure of yourself (personally I’d keep the kids surfing on the main beach where it’s safer). We spent about five hours playing on the rocks with the waves crashing over us.

🛟 No lifeguards.

Playa Patzcuarito

🏖 This beach is slightly further to walk (we went by car) but definitely possible if your kids are up for walking. It’s the next beach along after Carricitos.

🏖 When we visited Patzcuarito for sunset we were pretty much the only people on the whole beach. With its combination of black, gold-flecked sand, wild seas and palm trees, this is a beach I won’t forget in a hurry.

🏖 Again, there are no amenities here but it’s well worth a trip through the jungle if you love a solitary beach.

🛟 No lifeguards.

Playa Malpaso

🏖 We didn’t make it to Malpaso. The instructions I saw on how to find it are: head to the far end of Sayulita beach and follow the path around the back of the rocks until you find it.

🏖 In addition, there are other beaches that were recommended to me for being great with kids by Octavia, who wrote a booklet about exploring Sayulita with kids. You can get hold of a copy on her baby equipment rental website.

• Punta Negra  – 20 mins  SW
• Anclote, Punta  Mita – 30 mins SW
• Stinkies – 30 mins SW

Water quality: I’ve seen many discussions about the quality of water around Sayulita and while I don’t have a definitive answer, from what I can glean, the water used to be dirty but is no longer. The sea is rougher than around the Yucatán Peninsula and churned up water rarely looks perfectly blue.

Surfing Lessons

🏄🏽 My family used Sayulita Surf School repeatedly. We all took surfing lessons from them and then used them to hire boards when we wanted to muck about on our own too. The family who run this school were absolutely delightful and many of them are champion surfers. I loved how sweet they were when teaching my kids to surf. They tell me they can offer lessons in English as well as Spanish.

In case you’re wondering, I am a terrible surfer. In my head I’m amazing but the reality is not so suave, sophisticated or even balanced.

Sunset Sailing

⛵️It’s possible to go diving or sailing from Sayulita with an organised tour. Your company will pick you up and drive you to the point of embarkation. I took an evening sunset sail with Magic Charters Sayulita and it was absolutely phenomenal. We sailed around the pretty empty bay while the sunset lit up the sky. We even had the time to swim while the sun was setting over us. While we didn’t see pods of dolphins, we think we might have spotted the odd one or two in the distance – they’re pretty common in this area.

Diving

🤿 Diving is one of the top things to do in Sayulita. Friends of mine who went diving came back raving about the marine life they saw and the way they were looked after by the staff on their tour.

🤿 You have several different options for diving in Sayulita. My friends dove Islas Marietas and Los Arcos is very popular as well. For those who have no experience diving, discovery scuba diving is also available.

Whale watching

🐋 Sayulita is a popular destination for whale watching, which typically happens between December and April. This tour takes you towards Marietas Islands, which is one of the best spots for whale watching, and also gives you the opportunity to snorkel.

Turtle Release

🐢 Turtle season, in  Sayulita, is approximately June – January. During this time the female turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. If you happen to see this happening please don’t shine your phone’s flashlight on the turtle as it could well scare her off.

🐢 Generally, the eggs are removed by a local agency and taken to a safe spot on the beach where they are guarded against poachers. When the turtles hatch and are big enough they are then released to the sea.

🐢 You can take part in the turtle release programme every other night at 7.30 pm.  My kids and their dad went on a Tuesday night. You’re expected to donate to their work if you take part in the release, by the way.

🐢 The turtle ‘office’ can be found all the way along the Sayulita main beach in a black shack along the back of the beach. You won’t be sure until you see it but then it’s pretty obvious.

For more information call 322 2301726 (English) or 3221327381 (Spanish)

Jungle Trek

🎋 Not everything awesome in Sayulita is on the beach. Sayulita is surrounded by jungle and I was given the opportunity to head into it with Katja from Natikari Rancho Verde. We spent a good few hours trekking through the trees, up and down, sweating and marvelling – because of course, it’s blooming hot in Sayulita. It was absolutely worth the sweat to march around the jungle – anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with trees. I love them so much, their energy, the feel of their bark under my hand. I love climbing them as much as I love looking at them so any time I’m offered the opportunity to get close, I am IN.

🎋 Katja and a group of others bought a large section of the jungle just outside Sayulita proper with the specific intention of protecting the land from developers. She was very clear to me that if you are interested in an ethical jungle trek or walk with your kids, she can absolutely cater to your family’s needs. We discussed options that include walking, enjoying the small streams and then heading to her stunning palapa and jungle garden for a rest while the kids play. This is a highly recommended activity for families.

Ser Su Voz Bird Sanctuary

🦜 A short walk from the centre of Sayulita is Ser Su Voz, the only legal bird sanctuary in Sayulita. It’s a small place in a residential area. It’s run by a British woman, Tracie, who has been in Sayulita for thirty years and is loudly vocal about what needs to happen to keep the region’s biodiversity safe and healthy.

🦜 You can visit and learn about the plight of the birds she rescues and why her work is so important. My kids were fascinated by the birds and loved learning about another way we can help protect our environment and ecosystem.

Donations to the sanctuary are accepted gratefully via PayPal.

Calle Limon, #38

Sayulita Cemetery

On the way to Playa Los Muertos be sure to stop in at the cemetery for a quick look around. It isn’t big but it is pretty, being on the edge of the jungle. The kids will find this fascinating.

Playing and Exploring

🛝 There is a small playground near the baseball field but it was closed when we were in town. Who needs a playground, though,  when you have the beaches and the small town river that has to be crossed every time you want to go from south to north?  You could cross via the bridge but why would you when you could cross via the small stepping stone over and over and over? The kids thought this was absolutely the best thing ever.

Hippie Market

Alongside the river is Hippie Market where you will find many stalls selling souvenirs such  as Huichol jewellery and beaded items, t-shirts, bags and nik-naks.

The Plaza and Sayulita letters 

Sayulita is a very small town and there’s always a lot going on at dusk. I definitely recommend taking a stroll around the plaza as there are always dancers and performers doing something. The Sayulita letters are great at any time of day, obviously, but it’s just so hot when the sun is out that you may prefer to wait until dusk to visit them.

Go on a taco tour

🌮 Joining a taco tour is a great way to a) get oriented with the town and b) find all the best taco places you may not discover on your own. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to try different types of tacos that you may not normally order and figure out which ones are your favourite.

Where To Eat In Sayulita

You’re going to be surprised by the quality of food in this small pueblo.  We didn’t have a bad meal anywhere.

🍽 Organi-k – I ate a delicious breakfast at this health food restaurant by the river. They serve poké bowls, acai bowls, sandwiches, and more.

🍽Chocobana –  This centrally located restaurant is a great spot for everyone. I had a vegetarian breakfast bagel that was super tasty. Friends tell me that their muffins are to die for but I didn’t try one myself.

Not only is the food good and the service very friendly, but this restaurant also funds Ser Su Voz, the bird sanctuary mentioned above, was the first restaurant in Sayulita to refuse straws, plastic or unicel, and it also offers coffee cups for loan so you can get take away coffee around town without adding to the waste problem. As much of their food as possible is organic and homemade.

🍽 El Original Cafe Sayulita – Opposite Organi-k is El  Original Cafe Sayulita. We had a nice breakfast here.

🍽 Si Señor –  If you’re looking for food with a view, Si Señor is a great option. Serving up good Mexican food overlooking the bay, this makes for a great evening meal.

🍽 Don Pedro’s – At Don Pedro’s I ate a fabulous vegetarian ravioli and everyone else at the table had meals they raved about too.

🍽 La Rustica – This Italian restaurant was a big hit with my kids (I didn’t go) who said the pizza was great. I also heard from actual discerning adults that the food was tasty.  No photos because my husband is not quite the trusty sidekick I like to think he is.

🍽 Achara – While this place is owned by Americans, the food is completely and utterly Thai. The atmosphere is laid back elegant and the food is absolutely fabulous. If you can, get the garden table (yes, there’s only one).

🍽 Street Food In Sayulita – Obviously, there are plenty of street food stands in Sayulita and many of them serve up delicious tacos and more. I did eat at a few and was very happy with both my fish tacos and vegetarian tacos. Friends said there are great pastor tacos on the corner opposite Yambak on the plaza (where I enjoyed the mushroom tacos very much).

My big problem with street food in Sayulita is the same as anywhere in Mexico: a total and utter disregard for the environment. They continue to use unicel (polystyrene) plates or to wrap their plates in plastic bags (a typical Mexican option). Until this changes, we all need to be carrying our own plates, something I totally failed to do on this trip, much to my shame.

🍽 Craft Beer: Yambak – If you like craft beer then Yambak, on the plaza, is the place for you. They make their own beer on-site and are about to start moving it around the country. It’s truly delicious and the vibe at the bar is super cool. Bring in your tacos from anywhere else and enjoy!

Day Trips From Sayulita

While there are plenty of things to do in Sayulita, its central location makes it perfect for exploring nearby beach towns too. Here are a few recommended day trips from Sayulita.

San Pancho

San Pancho is just a few miles up the road from Sayulita. A lot of people will tell you it’s what Sayulita “used to be”, with a chilled out, slightly hippie vibe. It’s a small beach town and the beach is nice, though not the nicest in the area.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is the biggest city in the area and very popular with tourists. In fact, many people who don’t want the hustle of PV opt to stay in Sayulita instead.

Islas Las Marietas

It’s possible to visit Islas Las Marietas from Sayulita, Punta Mita or Puerto Vallarta. We ended up taking a day trip from Puerto Vallarta due to timing issues. This is the famous Playa Escondida that you only access via a swim through a cave.

Where to Stay in Sayulita

Villas Palmar

We stayed in Villas Palmar, which is managed by Pacifico Properties (please do mention my name if you get in touch with them to book accommodation). This is a small gated group of apartments right on the beach. Each apartment is well equipped and very comfortable. The internet is good enough for online school. The pool is lovely and we didn’t struggle with noise here at all. With kids this was a great spot as they could be somewhat free to run around and make friends and they loved their bunk beds!

Casa Vecino

If you’re a digital nomad looking for high-speed internet Casa Vecino is the best option in town. It’s a luxurious guesthouse with 4 separate casitas, which gives you plenty of options. Perfect for families or groups of friends traveling together!

Ser Su Voz

The Ser Su Voz aviary has two options for accommodation, too. There is one full house with two bedrooms and one studio apartment available. Both are entirely equipped with either upcycled or recycled items. Nothing new was bought to furnish them. I’m absolutely awed by this option and highly recommend checking them out.

Sustainable Sayulita

As I noted above, I had a serious issue with the amount of waste generated by the street food vendors in Sayulita. I implore all visitors to make a point of taking their own cutlery and crockery if eating at street food stands – forewarned is forearmed and all that! (I am mortified that I failed here as I normally don’t but I promise to do better in future).

Making your vacations more sustainable is really much easier than you might think. Try following these top tips next time you go on vacation.

There are a few organic stores in town

• Terrenal Sayulita
• Organic-O
• Sana Spices

Useful Items To Take With You To Sayulita

• Snorkel mask  – we bought these for each of us before a trip to see the whale sharks and found that it really improved everyone’s experience when snorkelling
• Waterproof Dry Bag – my new obsession. I  bought three and I love them. Everything stays dry on boats, at water parks, on the beach. I laugh in the face of people who don’t use them (husband, ahem, looking at you).
• GoPro  – I  bought a GoPro last year and it has changed our water photography immeasurably.
• I also bought the GoPro Dome  to allow me to play around with water photography. I have been sharing some of the photos and videos on Instagram and Facebook if you want to see what sort of things you can do with a dome basically it allows you to take those awesome half in/half out the water photos.
• Inflatable Life Jacket for children
• Please, please take your own water bottle and maybe even your own travel crockery and cutlery so you can help Sayulita wean itself off “disposable” items.

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