Busy & Relaxed Sayulita Itineraries: 4 Days, 1 Week, and 2 Weeks +
In this post I’ll outline multiple Sayulita itineraries for those visiting with varying amounts of time. These 4 day, 1 week, and 2 week Sayulita itineraries encompass all kinds of activities from surfing and hiking to Temazcal and lounging. Whether you’re looking for a chill getaway or an active trip, these Sayulita itineraries will have what you’re looking for.
I spent 1 month in Sayulita and easily could have spent longer. Nicknamed “Stayulita,” this little Mexican beach town seems to entrance its visitors and everyone ends up staying significantly longer than they initially expect.
Sayulita offers Mexico’s best when it comes to safety, activities, beaches, and people. If you landed on this blog for the 4 day Sayulita itinerary, know you’ll likely end up using the 2 week Sayulita itinerary instead!
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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)
Why Plan a Trip to Sayulita?
Sayulita is one of my favourite spots in Mexico. I could come up with a million reasons as to why planning a trip to Sayulita is a great idea, but to break it down:
Sayulita is a safe, walkable town and has cheap local bus routes to nearby locations along the Riviera Nayarit making the whole area easily explorable. As a solo female traveller I never felt unsafe and this remained true when I walked the beach alone at night.
There are plenty of activities in Sayulita ranging from surfing and hiking to traditional Temazcal and yoga. There are also frequent festivals and local events happening which means whenever you plan to enact your Sayulita itinerary there’ll likely be something fun going on to enjoy.
Sayulita has great restaurants ranging from street food to high end dining to healthy, wholesome meals. There are also holistic shops and farmers markets selling organic produce, plant medicines, and organic meats. Although a bit pricy, it’s easy to eat well here!
There’s both a party scene and a quiet wellness scene in Sayulita meaning you can tailor your Sayulita itinerary to whatever type of vibe you’re looking for.
Finally, Sayulita is a magic town (“Pueblo Magico”). There are some seriously spiritual vibes and people here – the ability to manifest what you want is strong and you can literally feel the high vibration of the place.
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How to get to Sayulita
The first step to planning your Sayulita itinerary is figuring out how to get there.
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.
How to get Around Sayulita
Once you arrive in Sayulita you can make use of the local bus system which has routes going south to Punta Mita and routes going north all the way to Rincón de Guayabitos. I have detailed information regarding the local bus system in my Sayulita backpacker guide.
There are also golf cart rentals located literally every 5 steps, so if you want to grab a set of wheels to explore it’s easy-peasy.
Best Time to Plan Your Sayulita Itinerary
The best time to plan your Sayulita itinerary is from November to May if you’re looking for stable weather; sunny skies, lower humidity, and cooler temperatures. Outside this period weather is still generally pleasant, but afternoon showers are frequent. 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 your Sayulita itinerary revolves around surfing, winter is best as this is when Sayulita sees the biggest swells – December to April.
Where to Stay in Sayulita
Luckily there are plenty of places you can stay in Sayulita. These are the best options according to every budget for your Sayulita itinerary.
Best Hostels in Sayulita for Backpackers
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 is the best hostel for 2 week Sayulita itineraries.
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. La Redonda is the best hostel for the 4 day Sayulita itinerary if you’re breezing through hoping to meet people.
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.
Where to Stay in San Pancho
San Pancho is less than a 10 minute bus ride from Sayulita making this a great place to stay during your Sayulita itinerary. Staying in San Pancho is best if you have a few extra $ and want to lodge in a quieter town.
Hostels in San Pancho for backpackers: Hostal San Pancho and Akoma San Pancho do not have great reviews, but they’re two of the few hostels available in San Pancho. Hostels in San Pancho are a bit rustic.
Budget hotels in San Pancho: Casa Pancho Playa comes in at the best price point in San Pancho.
Mid-range hotels in San Pancho: Hotel Artesanal and Verde Luna are both lovely mid range establishments offering air conditioning and a wide variety of amenities.
Luxury hotels in San Pancho: Ciyé Hotel and Witari Hotel Boutique are San Pancho’s 5 star hotels. These luxury hotels have pools and air conditioning.
Things to do in Sayulita
Before I give you my 4 day, 1 week, and 2 week Sayulita itineraries, these are – in a nutshell – the things you can look forward to during your trip to Sayulita.
There are plenty of things to do in Sayulita – surfing, hiking, partying, yoga, turtle releases, horseback riding, and traditional Temazcal – to name a few. Rather than go into full detail regarding things to do in Sayulita here, I’ve put together the posts linked below with more detailed information.
Sayulita’s lively backpacker scene plus prime location next to the beach on the Riviera Nayarit creates the perfect combination for activities of all kinds. Whether you’re looking for a chill retreat in nature, a wild party scene, or a holistic experience you can easily tailor your Sayulita itinerary to fit your individual taste.
4 Day Sayulita Itinerary
This 4 day Sayulita itinerary is jam packed with the areas highlights. This very detailed Sayulita itinerary is busy and does not have much time to rest and enjoy the relaxed beach culture. It does however have the best things to do – or “can’t miss” activities – in Sayulita.
This 4 day Sayulita itinerary is for those passing through with limited time.
ps – everything mentioned in this Sayulita itinerary is marked on my Mexico map
Assuming you arrive the day prior and leave the following day, this 4 day Sayulita itinerary is jammed packed with all the best activities to do in the area.
Day 1 in Sayulita
- Grab a filling breakfast at Cafe El Espresso (large portions, cheaper prices)
- Take a morning surf lesson. There are plenty of surf schools/board rental shops in the downtown area and along the beach you can choose from
- Grab lunch on the beach, get a massage, or simply enjoy swimming or taking a nap (the north end of Sayulita’s beach is quieter and less “touristy”)
- Watch sunset from Sayulita’s highest viewpoint
- Have dinner at Bichos (some of my favourite food in town)
- Optional: dance the night away at Yambak or do a tequila tasting at Sayulita Public House
Day 2 in Sayulita
- Get an early start to beat the heat and hike to San Pancho (stop at Playa Malpaso along the way and check out the caves)
- Grab breakfast in San Pancho – there are plenty of traditional and healthy options along the main road
- Relax at the beach and get a fresh coconut
- Take the bus back to Sayulita
- *Pack a bag and prepare food for day 3 of this Sayulita itinerary
- Walk to Playa Carricitos for sunset
- Optional: dance the night away at Yambak or take a salsa class at Don Pedro’s or Latitude 20
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)
Day 3 in Sayulita
- Grab a filling breakfast in town from Chocobanana or Organgy Smoothie
- Tour the local beaches to the south – Playa Patzcuaro Sur (caves) and Playa Patzuarito (black sand beach). This should take the majority of the day and there are no food services along the way (bring the bag you packed the day prior). More information about visiting the local beaches can be found in this post
- Optional: play beach volleyball before sunset
- Grab street tacos for dinner from Tacos Tal Ivan or Tacos Al Pastor Diaz
- Optional: dance the night away at Yambak or do a tequila tasting at Sayulita Public House
Day 4 in Sayulita
You can’t fit all the activities along the Riviera Nayarit in this 4 day Sayulita itinerary so you can choose between the following adventures for your last day in Sayulita:
- Hiking: Monkey Mountain in Higuera Blanca or Mirador Del Toro in Guayabitos
- Beaches: Playa Del Borro (healing clay in the earth you can use for face/body masks) or La Lancha (great surfing/nice coastal walk)
Recommended places to stay for 4 days in Sayulita: ITH The Amazing Hostel if you want a relaxed atmosphere to return to at the end of the day. La Redonda if you want a louder atmosphere with the chance to meet lots of lively travellers. Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita for a mid-range option right by the ocean. Nomada Wellness Hotel for the luxury 5 star experience.
1 Week Sayulita Itinerary
This 1 week Sayulita itinerary has a nice mix of the local highlights, day trips to towns/beaches nearby, as well as time to relax. At the minimum I recommend spending at least 1 week in Sayulita, but you’ll likely end up stretching your trip to look more like the 2 week Sayulita itinerary below.
I won’t mentioned places to eat in this Sayulita itinerary, but I will link you to this post which has my detailed list of where to eat in Sayulita.
ps – everything mentioned in this Sayulita itinerary is marked on my Mexico map
Day 1 in Sayulita
- Check into your accommodations (I recommend any of these hotels/hostels) and take a stroll along the beach. Use the first day to get acquainted with the town and grab any groceries you’ll need to cook throughout the week
- Explore the boutique shops in the “downtown” area, try some street tacos,
- Watch sunset from the main beach or from this spot which overlooks all of Sayulita
Day 2 in Sayulita
- Take a morning surf lesson
- Spend the day at the beach; grab lunch, play volleyball, or get a massage
- Walk to Playa Carricitos for sunset and have a bonfire (fully extinguish your fire when you leave)!
- Optional: dance the night away at Yambak or do a tequila tasting at Sayulita Public House
Day 3 in Sayulita
- Hike to San Pancho, but start early to beat the heat. Stop at Playa Malpaso along the way and check out the caves
- Grab breakfast in San Pancho – there are plenty of traditional and healthy options along the main road
- Relax at the beach and get a fresh coconut
- Take the bus back to Sayulita
- Free afternoon to go swimming, relax at your hostel, or prepare for the adventures the following days
Day 4 in Sayulita
- Take a bus to Rincón de Guayabitos and hike to Mirador Del Toro
- Afterwards spend some time at Playa Del Toro which is a secluded beach with calm water for swimming
- Check out the main beach in Guayabitos and grab some delicious beach food
- Take the bus back to Sayulita
- Optional: dance the night away at Yambak or or take a salsa class at Don Pedro’s or Latitude 20
Day 5 in Sayulita
- Take the bus/walk/hitchhike to Playa La Lancha – more information can be found in this post
- Take a surf lesson from the school right on the beach or walk further north toward Punta Mita to find secluded beach areas with beautiful white sand
- Return to Sayulita by bus and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the local shops and vendors down by the beach
- Play beach volleyball at sunset or go to San Pancho to see the turtle release (check this Facebook page for current updates)
Day 6 in Sayulita
*Ensure you pack a bag with food and water the day before and get an early start to beat the heat. There are no services along the way to these beaches
- Explore the beaches to the south; Playa Patzcuaro Sur (caves) and Playa Patzcuarito (back sand beach). More information about these beaches can be found in this post
Day 7 in Sayulita
- Visit the farmers market at 10:00am. The farmers market occurs on Fridays from November to April – tailor your Sayulita itinerary to match this
- Optional: hike Monkey Mountain,
- Participate in Temazcal (traditional sweat lodge ceremony). I booked with Nayarit Wild and had a lovely experience. They do a community Temazcal on Fridays for 500 pesos
Recommended places to stay for 1 week in Sayulita: ITH The Amazing Hostel if you want a relaxed atmosphere to return to at the end of the day. La Redonda if you want a louder atmosphere with the chance to meet lots of lively travellers. Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita for a mid-range option right by the ocean. Nomada Wellness Hotel for the luxury 5 star experience.
2 Week Sayulita Itinerary
This 2 week Sayulita itinerary is the crème de la crème. In addition to the 4 day and 1 week Sayulita itineraries above, this 2 week Sayulita itinerary has more time to relax as well as special activities like Temazcal and more day trips down the Riviera Nayarit to explore some of the coolest beaches and hiking trails in the area.
I won’t mentioned places to eat in this Sayulita itinerary, but I will link you to this post which has my detailed list of where to eat in Sayulita.
ps – everything mentioned in this Sayulita itinerary is marked on my Mexico map
**For all nightlife, partying, and clubbing options in Sayulita, refer to this post. In this 2 week Sayulita itinerary I’ll specifically list daytime activities.
Day 1 in Sayulita
- Get acquainted with Sayulita’s downtown, beach, restaurants, and shoppings areas
- If you want to “treat yourself,” grab a massage on the beach
- Take a quick stroll up to Sayulita’s highest viewpoint for sunset
Day 2 in Sayulita
- Take a morning surf lesson
- Lounge at the beach and play a game of beach volleyball
Day 3 in Sayulita
- Spend the day at Sayulita’s black sand beach, Playa Paztcuarito
- On the way back to town stop at Playa Carricitos and have a bonfire (make sure your fire is fully extinguished when you leave)!
- *There are no services at these beaches – pack all the food and water you’ll need
Day 4 in Sayulita
- Get an early start and hike to San Pancho. Stop at Playa Malpaso along the way and explore the caves
- Once you’re in San Pancho you can grab a bite to eat along the main road or beachfront, go to the farmers market (Tuesdays at 10:00am – 2:00pm from November to April), or drink a fresh coconut on the beach
- In the evening you can participate in Temazcal (traditional sweat lodge ceremony) on Fridays with Nayarit Wild, or see a turtle release (updates can be found on this Facebook page)
Day 5 in Sayulita
- FREE DAY – spend day 5 of this Sayulita itinerary doing “whatever your heart desires”
- Optional activities: yoga (at The Rose Room), horseback riding on the beach, surfing, farmers market (Fridays at 10:00am – 2:00pm from November to April), hit the local beaches, or go for a sauna at Alchemize House
Day 6 in Sayulita
- Hike to Monkey Mountain in Higuera Blanca
Day 7 in Sayulita
- Take the bus to Los Lamos and explore Playa De Barro – a secluded beach with healing clay buried just beneath the earth’s surface
- You can also spend time at Playa Monterrey which is another secluded beach just around the corner
Day 8 in Sayulita
- Walk to Playa Patzcuaro Sur to explore caves on the beach
- Pack a lunch and spend a few hours as this beach is a 1 hour walk from Sayulita
Day 9 in Sayulita
- FREE DAY – spend day 9 of this Sayulita itinerary doing “whatever your heart desires”
- Optional activities: yoga (at The Rose Room), horseback riding on the beach, surfing, farmers market (Fridays at 10:00am – 2:00pm from November to April), hit the local beaches, or go for a sauna at Alchemize House
Day 10 in Sayulita
- Take the bus toward Punta Mita, exit when the highway intersects, then walk/hitchhike to La Lancha
- Take a surf lesson here or explore the beach. There are little crevasses in the seawall to explore to the south. To the north you can walk all the way to Punta Mita along the shoreline and find secluded beach spots with beautiful white sand along the way
- More information regarding getting to La Lancha can be found in this post
Day 11 in Sayulita
- Take the bus to Rincón de Guayabitos and hike to Mirador Del Toro
- Hike down to Playa Del Toro after for swimming at a secluded beach with calm waves
- Check out the main beachfront in Guayabitos, see pelicans up close, and grab some delicious beach food for cheap
Day 12 in Sayulita
- FREE DAY – spend day 12 of this Sayulita itinerary doing “whatever your heart desires”
- Optional activities: yoga (at The Rose Room), horseback riding on the beach, surfing, farmers market (Fridays at 10:00am – 2:00pm from November to April), hit the local beaches, or go for a sauna at Alchemize House
Day 13 in Sayulita
- Make your way to Punta Mita or Puerto Vallarta, then set sail to the Marieta’s Islands
- Go snorkelling and explore a hidden beach cave on the tour
Day 14 in Sayulita
- Spend the morning at the beach and prepare for your departure
Recommended places to stay for 2 weeks in Sayulita: ITH The Amazing Hostel if you want a relaxed atmosphere to return to at the end of the day. La Redonda if you want a louder atmosphere with the chance to meet lots of lively travellers. Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita for a mid-range option right by the ocean. Nomada Wellness Hotel for the luxury 5 star experience.
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 ♡
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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.
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