Off the Beaten Path Sayulita: 25+ Things to do in Riviera Nayarit
Sayulita along Mexico’s blissful Riviera Nayarit is very much “on-the-beaten-path,” as it’s frequented by international tourists and backpackers. There are however many undiscovered, hidden gems near Sayulita that are easily accessible and relatively unknown. In this post I’ll tell you all about the off-the-beaten-path things to do in Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit as well as information for how to get there.
This post encompasses popular activities and things to do along the Riviera Nayarit as well as Sayulita’s best kept secrets like secluded beaches, clay reserves, hiking trails, and cultural experiences. I spent a month exploring the area between Punta Mita and Rincon de Guayabitos and never ran out of activities.
Let’s jump right in and explore Sayulita’s hidden gems.
Skip ahead:
As you read this post, please consider clicking the links throughout. These are affiliate links which means when you book a hotel or purchase a product, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you (full disclosure). These commissions fund The Holistic Backpacker and help me write more blog posts.
Thank you for supporting my work!
Download my Mexico Google Map
Get all my Mexico travel recommendations saved directly to your phone – a digital guide available at your fingertips!
My Mexico map has recommendations for:
- Places: beach towns, mountain villages, backpacker hotspots, and magic towns
- Outdoors: beaches, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanos
- Restaurants: street food, healthy options, local favourites, international eats
- Experiences: holy sites, excursions, holistic experiences/retreats, turtle releases, photo-ops
- Planning: bus stops, lodging, public washrooms, tedious details (like laundromats/grocery stores)
Where is Sayulita
Sayulita is a small beach town located just over an hours drive north from Puerto Vallarta. It’s situated perfectly along the Riviera Nayarit which is a 192 mile stretch of coast along the Nayarit state.
Sayulita as well as other towns along the Riviera Nayarit give off a chill vibe with plenty of tranquil beaches and nature to explore. Sayulita in particular is the perfect base to explore the things to do along the Riviera Nayarit as it’s got a lively night scene, plenty of international travellers, lots of restaurants, and a great bus station to connect you with the surrounding towns.
I spent a month exploring all the secret spots in Sayulita and have written this post which outlines everything you need to know about visiting Sayulita – written specifically to help you plan your trip.
Connect via socials:
Sign up for emails to receive a 25% discount on my travel maps.
Taylor ♡
How to get to Sayulita
Sayulita is easily reached by bus from plenty of locations around Mexico, a few being Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, and Guadalajara. These bus routes all drop you off at Sayulita’s main bus terminal which is located here.
When I backpacked Sayulita I flew into Puerto Vallarta, crossed the highway via the pedestrian bridge, then caught the Compostela bus with “Sayulita” written in the windshield for 60 pesos. This journey took just over 1hr and was very easy to navigate. This bus runs every 20 minutes between 6:00am-10:00pm and is definitely the best way to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta.
The exact bus stop from the Puerto Vallarta airport is marked on my Mexico map.
You can also opt to take a taxi to Sayulita, however this option is much more expensive.
Transportation from Sayulita to the Riviera Nayarit
Sayulita itself is a walkable town, however if you want to explore any of the towns, beaches, and things to do further along the Riviera Nayarit you’ll need to organize transportation.
If you want a set of wheels for exploring you can rent golf carts which are available for rent everywhere. For a town that doesn’t have a golf course the amount of golf carts here is absolutely absurd. There are golf cart rental companies on nearly every street corner in Sayulita so you’ll have no issues finding one.
There’s also taxi and Uber to help you get around, however you may need to negotiate a price – it’s much more expensive than the local bus which was always my #1 choice of transportation for exploring all the off-the-beaten path actives near Sayulita.
Regional Bus Routes from Sayulita
You can easily explore Sayulita’s off-the-beaten-path destinations by using the local bus system.
The green Compostela bus runs north and south regional routes along the Riviera Nayarit from the main bus station in Sayulita. When you arrive at the station tell the person at the counter where you want to go and pay the fee. Your bus number is on the ticket.
North from Sayulita you can access San Pancho, Las Lomas, Lo de Marcos, Ursulo Galván, Villa Morelos, Chula Vista, Monteón, and Rincon de Guayabitos.
To the south of Sayulita you can access Punta Mita by bus as well as La Lancha beach if you’re willing to walk/hitchhike the final stretch.
The bus fares for these routes range from 30-95 pesos one-way making the Compostela bus the cheapest mode of transportation within Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit.
Something to note – the local buses drop you off at the main highway (GPS location) in Sayulita opposed to the main station so it’s a bit of a trek to walk back into the “downtown” area on the return journey.
ps – I have all these bus stops marked on my Mexico map with descriptions and helpful tips for navigating the local bus.
Where to Stay in Sayulita
Luckily there are plenty of places to stay in Sayulita as well as along the Riviera Nayarit.
Best Hostels for Backpackers in Sayulita
Personal favourite hostel in Sayulita: I stayed at ITH The Amazing Hostel for 2 weeks and had a wonderful experience. Everyone is friendly, they have a sunny rooftop area with yoga mats and a sink for laundry, plus they have a pool and a fully equipped kitchen. This makes longterm stays more sustainable and convenient.
Best Social hostel in Sayulita for backpackers: La Redonda is on the louder side with no cozy area plus the showers and kitchen area aren’t great. The atmosphere however is much more social, they do daily surf trips to La Lancha, there are always activities going on, and the hostel is just steps from the beach/restaurants/bars. I stayed here a couple weeks too and had a nice experience, but ended up leaving as it was too loud for me – I like my space.
Upscale Hostels in Sayulita: Casa Pepe and Viajero are both “fancier” hostels, but don’t necessarily have the same social component that La Redonda offers.
Women’s-only hostel in Sayulita: My Sister’s House is a female-only hostel that runs all kinds of spiritual and artsy events. It’s a super wholesome place for the ladies looking to connect with their feminine side.
Where to Stay in Sayulita According to Budget
Budget hotels in Sayulita: Villas Vista Suites and Hotel Playa Azul are both right by the beach and come in at very appealing price points.
Mid-range hotels in Sayulita: the 4 star Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita and Casa Pia are also within close proximity to the beach, but with a bit more class.
Luxury hotels in Sayulita: if you’re looking for the best 5 star experience in Sayulita the Nomada Wellness Hotel is less than 100m away from the beach and has all the best fancy-dancy amenities.
When to Visit Sayulita & the Riviera Nayarit
The best time to visit Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit is from November to May if you’re looking for stable weather with sunny skies, lower humidity, and cooler temperatures. A lot of Sayulita’s secret spots require walking so I personally prefer the cooler temperatures of this time of year.
Outside this period weather is still generally pleasant, but afternoon showers are common. August is Sayulita’s wettest month.
Keep in mind the good weather brings larger crowds and peak season prices. Christmas, New Years, and spring break are especially busy periods.
If you’re hoping to surf, winter is best as this is when Sayulita sees the biggest swells – December to April.
What to do in Sayulita: Off-the-Beaten-Path Options
If you’re wondering what to do in Sayulita the below are my top picks. Everything mentioned in this section is within walking distance and does not require any public transportation (aside from a couple recommendations in next door San Pancho).
In the next section you’ll find my recommendations for what to do near Sayulita along the Riviera Nayarit – these are the more off-the-beaten-path spots.
ps – everything mentioned in this post is marked on my Mexico map with photos, descriptions, and relevant booking links.
Go Surfing in Sayulita
Surfing is one of the top choices for things to do in Sayulita and why so many international travellers choose the town as a destination. The main beachfront in Sayulita has excellent surfing opportunities and a friendly vibe so it’s easy to meet people while you’re out waiting for waves. You’ll also have the chance to be up-close-and-personal with the pelicans that patrol these waters.
Every street and the south end of Playa Sayulita is “littered” with surf schools and board rentals shops so if you’re new to surfing you won’t have any issues finding an instructor or a board. If you opt to stay in Sayulita’s hostels, many of them offer surf trips and lessons where it’s easy to meet other travellers.
If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path surfing in Sayulita, you can rent a board and bring it to the beaches mentioned below which offer more secluded, wild experiences.
Visit San Pancho
San Pancho is Sayulita’s quieter next door neighbour. San Pancho is the perfect place to visit or stay if you’re looking for a quiet beach town with a holistic vibe. There are tons of boutique shops here, restaurants, yoga studios, and the beach also offers a much better view of sunset than Sayulita’s main beachfront.
You can easily take the bus from Sayulita to San Pancho for about 60 pesos roundtrip. I personally found spending half a day in San Pancho was enough time to cruise the main street, check out a few shops, grab a meal, and watch sunset from the beach.
Hike from Sayulita to San Pancho
Instead of taking the roundtrip bus to San Pancho, many travellers opt to hike one-way along the Sayulita-San Pancho trail – this is one of the most popular things to do in Sayulita. There are two routes; a forest and a jungle trail. I personally prefer the more shaded jungle trail, but the beach trail early in the morning is beautiful too.
I’ve written a whole post about the Sayulita-San Pancho hike outlining everything you need to know about the trail.
Explore Local Beaches in Sayulita
Something that struck me as surprising is that no one likes to walk in Sayulita. Travellers and locals alike explore the beaches right out their doorstep and they typically disregard the ones that require any amount of walking.
I guess that makes exploring the beaches around Sayulita an off-the-beaten path activity because outside the main beachfront in town the rest of them are borderline deserted.
The beaches within walking distance to Sayulita are:
To the north of Sayulita: Playa Malpaso which sees a bit more traffic due to the trail to San Pancho.
To the south of Sayulita: you’ve got Playa Carricitos (popular for sunset), Playa Patzcuarito (black sand beach), and Playa Pátzcuaro Sur (cave beach). Playa Pátzcuaro Sur is a secret spot near Sayulita – I spent a whole day here and only saw about 4 other people. The former are quiet, beautiful beaches you can enjoy away from the Sayulita crowds.
Visit the Local Farmer’s Markets in Sayulita & San Pancho
There are weekly farmers markets in both Sayulita and San Pancho that sell all kinds of organic produce, artisan goodies, natural skincare, plant medicine products, health foods, etc. This is one of my favourite things to do in Sayulita as it gives you a chance to network with locals and stock up on goodies that are otherwise hard to buy in Sayulita.
Sayulita farmers market: 10:00am – 2:00pm on Fridays between November and April
San Pancho farmers market: 10:00am – 1:30pm on Tuesdays between November and April
Download my Mexico Google Map
Get all my Mexico travel recommendations saved directly to your phone – a digital guide available at your fingertips!
My Mexico map has recommendations for:
- Places: beach towns, mountain villages, backpacker hotspots, and magic towns
- Outdoors: beaches, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanos
- Restaurants: street food, healthy options, local favourites, international eats
- Experiences: holy sites, excursions, holistic experiences/retreats, turtle releases, photo-ops
- Planning: bus stops, lodging, public washrooms, tedious details (like laundromats/grocery stores)
Participate in a Temazcal Ceremony
Temazcal is an authentic Mexican experience tied to Mesoamerican origins. It’s a sweat lodge ceremony in which herbs, drumming, singing, and praying are used/performed by Indigenous peoples of Mexico. The purpose of the ceremony relates back to spirituality as well as helping the body detox.
There are various locations offering Temazcal in Sayulita, however I can personally recommend Nayarit Wild which operates out of the Aldea Bamboo Village. The leaders are lovely and there were no other tourists when I participated, only locals, making it feel like a more off-the-beaten path, special experience. They hold community Temazcals every Friday at 5:30pm from December (winter solstice) to June (summer solstice).
You can book Temazcal in advance here.
Participating in Temazcal is a beautiful way to connect with the local culture.
Watch Sunset from the Sayulita Viewpoint
Unfortunately Sayulita’s position isn’t ideal for sunset and during the summer months you can’t see sunset from the beach at all. You can however walk up a steep road to a viewpoint which overlooks the town and is the perfect place to watch the sun drop below the horizon. Good night Sayulita!
I’ve marked the exact location of this sunset spot on my Mexico map.
Take a Yoga Class in Sayulita
Sayulita offers a chance to live a holistic lifestyle, so obviously one of the best things to do in Sayulita is take a yoga class. The Rose Room is a local favourite as there’s all kinds of classes and it’s right next to the beach.
Go Horseback Riding on the Beach in Sayulita
If you have dreams of romantically riding horses along the beach in Mexico at sunset, then you can add this horseback riding tour to your list of adventurous things to do in Sayulita.
Participate in a Turtle Release in Sayulita
In nearby San Pancho there are various turtle centres which facilitate safe incubation and turtle releases into the ocean. This Facebook page keeps the community up-to-date when there’s been hatchlings and when the turtle releases will occur.
Play Beach Volleyball in Sayulita
There are multiple volleyball nets on the main beachfront in Sayulita. Every evening there are groups playing so if you fancy a game of volleyball jump right in.
Get a Beach Massage in Sayulita
If you’re looking for a relaxing thing to do in Sayulita there are multiple beachfront massage tents. This is the perfect way to unwind after a “hard” day of surfing or relaxing on the beach.
Sauna & Cold Plunge in Sayulita
On the topic of wellness in Sayulita I’ll mention the Alchemize House. If you’re wondering what to do in Sayulita and enjoy alternative forms of heath and wellness, the Alchemize House offers sauna, cold plunge, and breath work classes.
Have a Bonfire on the Beach in Sayulita
There don’t seem to be any “rules” against having bonfires on the beach in Mexico, so something to do in Sayulita is simply have a bonfire at the beach! Playa Carricitos is a popular spot for this, and if you decide to lodge at La Redonda or ITH hostel they do group fires weekly.
Palm burns fast and hot so make sure you’re having fires in a safe manor. Also ensure you completely extinguish the fire before you leave!
Hit the Gym & Learn Martial Arts
Quilombo Sayulita is a popular gym among tourists and locals. They have workout equipment as well as mixed martial arts training.
Experience Sayulita’s Nightlife
Sayulita has a loud and busy nightlife scene full of music, dancing, and karaoke. Tuesday is the best night to go out in Sayulita, however the weekends are good too. YamBak is the most popular bar for the “clubbing” experience, however I’ve got a full rundown of the best spots to go out in Sayulita in this post.
Enjoy the Many Festivals in Sayulita
Since Sayulita is such a popular backpacking spot in Mexico, there are frequently festivals, live music, and random events happening all the time – especially during holiday periods. I visited during the month of February and it seemed like literally every day/weekend there was something new going on.
If you plan in advance you can coordinate your trip with a festival which will give you unique authentic Mexican experiences. From Mexican cowboys with dancing horses to traditional dancing to carnivals and music fests, Sayulita does it all!
Eat Your Way Through Sayulita
And finally, EAT! Sayulita has a delicious food scene full of local cuisine, international dishes, and healthy options. I’ve listed all my favourite restaurants in Sayulita in this post.
I’ve also marked all my favourite Sayulita restaurants with descriptions and general menu options on my Mexico map as a quick reference point when you’re on-the-go.
What to do in the Riviera Nayarit: Off-the-Beaten-Path Options
Now for the off-the-beaten path options near Sayulita. These secret spots require transportation, but can all be reached by bus. I used to bus to access every spot mentioned here without issue.
ps – everything mentioned in this post is marked on my Mexico map with photos, descriptions, and relevant booking links.
Go Whale Watching Along the Riviera Nayarit
There are various places you can go whale watching on the Riviera Nayarit. A popular spot for tours is Rincoin de Guayabitos which is accessible by bus from Sayulita. There are plenty of tour operators in town so just roam the beach or the street and you’ll have no issues finding a suitable operator.
I was lucky and saw whales along the beach multiple times from various spots so you don’t technically need to join a tour, however it is a unique thing to do in Sayulita.
Explore Guayabitos
Guayabitos is a busy resort town popular for Mexican families and elderly people as the beaches have calm water which is better for swimming. What drew me to Guayabitos though were the secluded beaches and the local hiking trail.
After taking the bus to Rincoin de Guayabitos you can catch a taxi to Los Ayala for less than 70 pesos. At the west end of Playa Los Ayala there’s a 40 minute hiking trail to both Mirador Del Toro and Playa Del Toro which are secluded beaches and viewpoints. This was my favourite secluded beach in Riviera Nayarit (calmest water and whale sightings) as well as the most beautiful viewpoint I saw in the area.
This was definitely an off-the-beaten path adventure in Sayulita as there were hardly any international tourists, just a few locals. I recommend visiting early in the day to ensure you get time alone at the beach and the viewpoint all to yourself!
Take a Day Trip to La Lancha & Punta Mita
La Lancha is a fairly well known beach along the Riviera Nayarit, popular for surfing. There are board rentals and a surf school right on the beach.
Rather than surfing I explored the south end of the beach at low tide to find small crevices in the seawalls. I then walked all the way to Punta Mita along the beach where I found secluded strips of beach, the most beautiful white sand, and shells.
Walking to Punta Mita from La Lancha is definitely one of the more off the beaten path things to do at this beach as I barely saw anyone along the way, however the walk itself takes only around an hour and you can find beautiful “secret” beach spots away from the La Lancha crowd.
To get to La Lancha you’ll have to take the bus to Punta Mita until it intersects with the highway, then walk or hitchhike the rest of the way. I have exact locations for this marked on my Mexico map.
Visit the Mud Beach in Los Lamos
I actually accidentally stumbled across this Sayulita hidden gem. I was looking for off-the-beaten-path things to do near Sayulita and saw there were two beaches in Los Lomas.
I bought a bus ticket to Los Lomas, walked 40 minutes down the steep road and ended up at Punta Monterrey which is a beautiful wellness retreat on the secluded Playa Monterrey. The water was fairly calm and there was decent shade making this a great beach to stay a while
If you however take a turn off the main road you’ll find the tucked away Playa De Barro which has strong waves and minimal people. What caught my attention were the people digging something out of the earth at the south end of the beach. It ended up being natural clay with healing properties! My friends and I dug out a bunch, covered our bodies with it, exfoliated with the sand, then rinsed it off in the ocean. We left with the softest, most airbrushed skin!
To date this was my favourite off-the-beaten-path activity near Sayulita.
Here’s my complete guide to finding the mud beach in Los Lomas
Hit the Jamurrca Hot Springs
The Jamurrca hot springs is the ultimate “off-the-beaten-path” thing to do near Sayulita as getting there is tricky. There’s no direct bus so walking a far distance and potentially taking a taxi will be necessary to reach the springs. For this reason I opted to skip visiting the Jamurrca hot springs, but if you’re willing to rent a car or figure out the transportation situation this is a super secret spot near Sayulita where you’ll likely only see locals.
Here’s the location of Jamurrca hot springs.
Hike Monkey Mountain
Monkey Mountain is one of the most popular hikes along the Riviera Nayarit. The top of the trail overlooks Punta Mita as well as Marieta’s Islands off in the distance. The hike itself is relatively easy, taking around 2-3hrs of active hiking time over consistent, moderate elevation gain.
Many people opt to take a guided tour like this one as roundtrip transportation can be tricky to organize between Sayulita-Higuera Blanca, but it is possible via bus.
I’ve posted more detail information about the Monkey Mountain hike in the guide linked below.
Visit Marietas Islands
The Marietas Islands Tour is something I didn’t personally do as it didn’t fit in my backpacker budget. Many people I spoke to said it wasn’t worth it, but here are the details if you’re interested.
You can book this guided tour (open bar included) ahead of time online or go to the docks in person in Punta Mita in the morning or afternoon to book the tour. You shouldn’t pay more than 1,000 pesos in person.
The tour incorporates a boat ride to the islands, snorkelling, and *maybe* a trip to a hidden beach cave. *Maybe* because not every tour/boat gets to go to the secret beach. Apparently there’s a cap of how many people can visit the beach in a day so you may not actually get to see the cave beach – which for me was the main appeal of the tour and I didn’t see the point in going if this wasn’t 100% guaranteed.
Download my Mexico Google Map
Get all my Mexico travel recommendations saved directly to your phone – a digital guide available at your fingertips!
My Mexico map has recommendations for:
- Places: beach towns, mountain villages, backpacker hotspots, and magic towns
- Outdoors: beaches, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanos
- Restaurants: street food, healthy options, local favourites, international eats
- Experiences: holy sites, excursions, holistic experiences/retreats, turtle releases, photo-ops
- Planning: bus stops, lodging, public washrooms, tedious details (like laundromats/grocery stores)
Quick Mexico Travel Guide
Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.
Best time to visit: December to April has cooler temps and sunny skies. Hurricane season is from June to November.
Currency: Mexican peso, displayed as “$.” Cash is king in Mexico so it’s best to always have some on-hand. Small bills and change are always helpful for transportation and tipping. Most ATMs have service fees so try to withdraw larger amounts at once.
Local transportation: varies from trams and buses in bigger cities to colectivos in smaller beach towns. Local transportation is cheap, but if you’re looking to travel long distances you’ll need to utilize pricier night buses or fly.
Phone: SIM cards can be purchased at Oxxo. Data plans are generally cheap.
Language: Spanish. In popular backpacking spots you can often get by with English, however having basic Spanish or Google Translate is necessary elsewhere.
Safety: Mexico’s safety varies greatly from place-to-place.
Purchase my Mexico map: which is downloadable to Google Maps on your phone and has all my Mexico recommendations & travel tips constantly available at your fingertips.
Packing Guide: here’s my ultimate packing guide/travel essentials.
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
Like This Post?
Share with friends or save it for later!
About the Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
You May Also Like
How to get to Gjiri Filikuri Beach in Himara
Valbona to Theth Hike Guide: Tips & Recommendations
