How to Find the Secret Mud Beach Near Sayulita? Healing Clay
The secret mud beach near Sayulita (aka Playa De Barro) is literally a hidden slice of paradise. I accidentally stumbled across this location when I was looking for secluded beaches near Sayulita. When I arrived at Playa De Barro I saw people digging greenish clay out of the earth and knew I hit the jackpot. In this post I’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Sayulita’s mud beach, where to find Sayulita’s clay beach, and how to use the healing clay.
Playa De Barro is off the beaten path and requires some work to access. It’s not difficult to get to Playa De Barro, but you should plan to pencil in almost a full day for this adventure.
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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)
What is Sayulita’s Mud Beach / Playa De Barro?
The mud beach near Sayulita is a secluded beach with healing clay buried just below the earth’s surface. The beach sees very few people so it’s a nice place in general to spend the day away from the crowds of people that flock the busy beachfronts of Sayulita and San Pancho.
Just beware that the waves and the tide are super strong at Playa De Barro. Pack snacks and everything you need for the day as there’s no amenities close by.
How to Use the Clay from Sayulita’s Mud Beach
The healing clay from Sayulita’s mud beach is buried in the earth at the south end of the beach. At the end of the beach you’ll see fairly large holes in the wall where other people have already dug some out. Get right in there and start digging!
Aim to get the clay that’s more greenish in colour and has a more “clay-like” texture opposed to a gritty, sandy texture. As you pull it out there’ll be larger rocks in the mix. Remove those and when you have enough start lathering it all over your face and body.
Let it dry, then hop in the water, use the sand to exfoliate, and enjoy the smooth texture of your skin.
I don’t know exactly what type of clay is at Sayulita’s mud beach, however all natural clay is rich in minerals and has detoxifying properties which is why it softens your skin and gives it that airbrushed glow.
Where is the Mud Beach Near Sayulita?
Sayulita’s mud beach (aka Playa De Barro) is located in nearby Los Lomas along the Riviera Nayarit. There’s another beach close by called Playa Monterrey too. Both are quiet, beautiful beaches.
How to get to Sayulita’s Mud Beach / Playa De Barro
As mentioned the mud beach near Sayulita is located in Los Lomas which is accessible by bus. You can purchase a ticket to Los Lomas from the main bus station in Sayulita for 37 pesos one-way. It takes around 20 minutes and the bus will drop you off on the side of the highway at the main road going through Los Lomas.
It’s around a 40 minute walk along steep dirt roads to the mud beach from the highway. You’ll come across “private property” signs, but you can ignore these. I’d recommend using Google Maps along the way. You mostly follow the main road, however there’s a couple turns you’ll need to make in order to find the beach – I have the turnoffs marked in my downloadable Mexico map.
Following the main dirt road all the way to the beach brings you to Playa Monterrey, whereas if you turn left here you’ll find Playa De Barro (mud beach).
For the return journey follow the same route back to the highway, then flag down the Green Compostela bus to connect you back to Sayulita. Easy-peasy.
Where to Stay Near Mud Beach in Los Lomas
The closest lodging option to Mud beach is the beautiful Punta Monterrey which a wellness retreat just steps away from another secluded beach nearby called Playa Monterrey. If you’d prefer to stay in a more traditional accommodation I’d recommend staying in Sayulita, then taking the bus over to Los Lomas.
Where to Stay in Sayulita
Hostels in Sayulita: ITH The Amazing Hostel (quieter, nice facilities, personal favourite), La Redonda (most social), Casa Pepe and Viajero (upscale options), and My Sister’s House (female-only).
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.
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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