The Magical Town of Sayulita
If you had the choice of spending two weeks in one place in Mexico, where would you choose?
Having planned for Paulina to visit me, we had to choose a place to spend two weeks together. At the time, all European citizens needed to spend two weeks outside of Europe to be allowed into the United States.
My first response was revisiting the Riviera Maya. However, after giving it a greater thought, I decided to try somewhere new. I was searching somewhere less populated, inexpensive, and, of course… relaxing.
Puerto Vallarta seemed like an attractive choice, but its high population was not so appealing. After further research, I found that a so-called “Pueblo Magico of Sayulita” was close to Puerto Vallarta. I then watched a few YouTube videos and read some blogs to confirm the charm of this place. Having liked what I saw, I committed to visiting Sayulita. Now, with certainty, I can say that I could not have picked a better place.
Arrival
I took a one-hour Uber ride from the Airport to Sayulita. The ride was enjoyable, allowing me to experience a small slice of Mexican life as I observed locals going about their daily routines. The Uber driver was friendly and did not shy away from sharing about his private life with me. Paulina fell asleep in the car, but it was understandable after having flown from Europe.
Entering Sayulita Town, I was welcomed with a variety of restaurants, shops, and a colorful Sayulita sign. The taxi then took us through a narrow 2-way road that neighbored Sayulita beach.
Right before turning towards a graveyard that precedes Playa de Los Muertos, the driver announced that we had arrived. Lucky for me, this beach-front apartment became the place chosen for “quarantine”.
Sayulita Life
Sayulita is a beautiful beach town, where local and foreign people commingle to bring this place alive. Its high-energy vibe, beautiful beaches, and intimate experience with local people attract tourists from around the world.
The village itself is relatively small; it has a plaza, a church, a fascinating beach, and several avenues with restaurants and shops. But despite the town being small, it hardly felt like we spent too much time there.
Our Favorite Things to do
- Enjoying magnificient morning views. I began most days contemplating at the Sayulita beach while sipping a good cup of tea. I enjoyed reading a book while listening to the waves and going for a walk at the beach with refreshing drinks.
- Having a delicious coffee and croissant at Paninos bakery. After eating breakfast, I always craved eating something sweet. I discovered a very delicious bakery named Paninos, which served fresh made crossants and coffee.
- Early morning photoshoot. The best time for pictures is early in the morning when the sky is glowing orange and there is less people around. Sayulita has many colorful sights so it is a great place for photoshoots.
- Resting at Sayulita Plaza. I often bought either icecream, fresh juice, churros or marquesitas, and enjoyed them on a park bench in “La Plaza”. I listened to live music, watched people, and rested my feet.
- Cooking a tasty meal – We prepared chicken tacos, pasta, sandwiches, and eat the terrace.
- Picnic at the beach – I bought an styrofoam cooler and put drinks, sandwiches, sliced fruits, and yogurt inside. We also took some towels to lay on the ground and a bag of Mexican chips to snack with the drinks.
- Visiting nearby beaches – Playa de Los Muertos, Punta Mita, or San Pancho
- One day trip to Islas Marietas and Whale Watching
A day at Punta de Mita
Punta de Mita is an isolated beautiful crystal-clear beach located approximately 30 minutes away from Sayulita. The sand was mostly soft, but there some pebbles around. I used a private taxi to get there because the beach is a bit remote. There weren’t many houses or people around. Having cellphone is needed to call for a taxi back to pick us up. Despite these minor inconveniences, the beach was great to visit.
A day at San Pancho
San Pancho village offered the most fun at the beach. The high-energy vibe was projected in people’s loud music, families enjoying delicious snacks and drinks, and children actively playing in the refreshing water.
A day at Playa de los Muertos
Playa de los Muertos was my personal favorite beach. I loved having to go through a mysterious cemetery with enormous trees to arrive at the beach. Playa de los Muertos is small, cozy, and pleasant. It also tends to be less crowded than other beaches and offers plenty of shaded areas due to its surrounding hills and trees. The best part for me was that it was only a few minutes away from the apartment.
Day trip to Islas Marietas
I only did one tour to keep traveling costs low. Although a bit pricy, I did not want to miss the opportunity to visit the Marieta Islands. I was told we would be snorkeling and visiting three different islands.
Unfortunately, Sayulita beach waves were bigger than usual and the boat was not able to embark from here. We were transported to Punta Mita to embark on a small-sized boat. Inevitably, the ride was a bit rough due to the strong waves. However, our luck began changing when a beautiful humpback whale jumped backward out of the ocean.
Due to weather conditions, government officials were not allowing tourists to visit two of the three islands. We were only permitted to snorkel in one area but it did not bother us because the water was freezing and the waves too strong.
At last, they took us to the main site called Playa del Amor, where we had to swim through a long cave to get there. The beach was impressively located under a crater on the island.
Airbnb Apartment
I stayed at a place called Los Arcos and could not have booked a better Airbnb apartment for a two-week stay in Sayulita. It was located on a cliff directly above the beach and offered astonishing views of Sayulita beach.
The kitchen was spacious and fully equipped. This helped us save some money and eat healthier.
The swimming pool was small but very enjoyable on a sunny day. The patio had reclining chaise chairs to appreciate the majestic views.
The staff were attentive and provided daily apartment cleaning, including washing dishes, making the bed, and mopping the floor.
Grocery Shopping
There are no large grocery shops in Sayulita; only small convenience stores and fruit shops. I did most of our grocery shopping at a store called Mega Soriana in the town of Bucerias.
I took a 30-minute taxi ride on two occasions to Bucerias to buy groceries. Mega Soriana had everything needed for the 13-day “quarantine”; they offered great quality products and a large selection of things.
Thoughts
Initially, I was concerned that I was planning to spend too much time in one place. I was thinking I was going to feel tired of doing the same things. However, I loved my experience here. I had the opportunity to visit several beaches, relax in a majestic apartment with great views, and submerge in the local culture. This was the exact experience I was looking for.
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