Word on the street is that Sayulita is the new Tulum. This is 100% accurate and I’m here for it. For anyone living on the west coast, Sayulita is much closer, more affordable, and the perfect place to spend a long weekend. Here’s my travel guide to this laid-back little town.
Things to Know:
- Sayulita is still mostly Americans, but it’s not nearly as crowded as Tulum. Everything is walkable with the exception of the airport, which is a 40-min taxi/Uber ride away.
- ATMs are hard to come by/often broken, so stock up on pesos since most transactions happen in cash.
- Straws don’t exist here, so be prepared to drink from the glass or bring your own.
What to Pack:
- Beach stuff! The vibe is super super casual at all times.
- Sneakers in case you decide to go horseback riding or hiking.
- Sturdy flip flops; most of the streets are cobblestone.
- Light jacket for evenings (my denim jacket was perfect).
What to Eat/Drink:
- Palmar Trapiche: Nice spot for craft beers and a quick bite.
- Barracuda: We came here multiple times for their mango and passionfruit margaritas and seafood platters.
- El Barrilito: Tiny bar in the main square
- La Rustico: There are a surprising number of Italian spots in town, and we liked this one the best. When you get tired of eating tacos, they have great pizza.
- Wa Kika: For ice cream and paletas
- Yah-Yah Coffee Shop: A very hippie coffee shop up the street that serves amazing acai bowls. Come for breakfast.
- Mary’s: Traditional Mexican food; enchilada plates are excellent.
- El Itacate: Tacos
- Tacos el Ivan: Tacos part 2
- Yeikame: Tacos part 3 🙂
Things to Do:
- Beach: The main beach is the obvious choice, but walking 15 minutes leads you to a much quieter, kids-free beach called Playa los Muertos. Come here to avoid hecklers, although the guy selling donuts on his head will still swing by.
- Horseback riding: This was a totally random activity that happened by seeing some horses in town and then arranging the owner, Rancho Manuel, to give us a tour the following day. Manuel was super nice and we explored the jungle and hidden beaches up north. Highly recommend!
- Snorkeling: Marietas Islands are famous for snorkeling and diving. The hidden beach is here, although you need to book that in advance and aren’t guaranteed entry due to crowd control reasons. BUT you can still book a day trip to the islands. We went with this tour and loved it—they were efficient, and we saw a ton of fish even with snorkeling.
- Massage: There are tons of spots for massages, so shop around and find one you like. We went to Buddha Spa by the beach which we enjoyed.
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