Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Mexico

Sayulita

Stay 2–3 nights: surf in the morning, eat in the plaza at night. Skip if you want quiet — the town is busy and the water is not always clean.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season, small beginner waves Jan–Mar)
avoid Jul–Oct (rain, humidity, storm risk)
Airport
PVR
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Sayulita is a small surf town on the Nayarit coast, 23 mi (37 km) north of Puerto Vallarta on Highway 200. It is walkable end to end, has 40-plus restaurants for a village of about 3,400 people, and works as a beach base for 2–3 nights or a day trip from Puerto Vallarta. The trade-off is crowds and occasional water-quality problems near the river mouth.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Sayulita, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or breakfast bowlMXN 60–150
  • Sit-down mealFish taco plate at a sit-down placeMXN 120–220
  • Street or quick mealStreet tacoMXN 20–40
  • Beerbottle from a shop / beach barMXN 25–40MXN 60–100
  • Metro or bus rideCompostela bus to Puerto VallartaMXN 50–60 (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekMXN 300–600
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personMX$350 (≈ US$19)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per roomMX$2,500 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per roomMX$6,000 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$900 (≈ US$50) · Mid MX$1,800 (≈ US$100) · High MX$4,000 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Beginner surf breakPlaya SayulitaTaco stands and seafoodDay trips from Puerto Vallarta
Airports
PVR Puerto Vallarta (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz) (About 23 mi (37 km) south; green-and-white Compostela bus from the highway outside the airport, or a taxi)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sayulita: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

27°C

16°C

1 rd

Feb

27°C

16°C

1 rd

Mar

28°C

16°C

0 rd

Apr

29°C

17°C

0 rd

May

30°C

20°C

1 rd

Jun

31°C

23°C

8 rd

Jul

31°C

23°C

15 rd

Aug

31°C

23°C

16 rd

Sep

31°C

23°C

15 rd

Oct

31°C

22°C

6 rd

Nov

30°C

19°C

2 rd

Dec

28°C

17°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is a few blocks wide and everything is walkable. Buses run to Puerto Vallarta every 10–15 minutes from the Terminal de Autobuses on Revolución, and to San Pancho about every 30 minutes. Taxis and app cars cover the highway strip. Rent a car only if you are staying more than a mile or two out.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
San Francisco (San Pancho)go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Bus from the Sayulita terminal, about every 30 min

Quieter beach and a jungle-backed village; easy half day.

Buceriasgo

Door to door: About 40–60 min

Compostela bus south on Highway 200

Long sand beach and a bigger market scene.

Puerto Vallartago

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Compostela bus from the Sayulita terminal

Second-class bus with many stops; allow 60–120 min.

Lo de Marcos

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Bus north on Highway 200

Small, slow beach town; good for a quiet afternoon.

San Blas

overnight

Door to door: 2.5–3.5 h

Bus via Tepic, or drive Highway 200 north

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night.

Tepiccaution

Door to door: About 2.5–3 h

Second-class bus from the Sayulita terminal

State capital, 130 km inland; only worth it if you are heading further north.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (around the plaza)

Walk to beach, restaurants and bus terminal; noisier at night.

North side / Playa Sayulita north end

Quieter, still a short walk to the plaza.

South hill and Playa los Muertos side

Views over the bay; steep streets and steps, not good with heavy bags.

Highway 200 edge

Cheaper, but you will want a car or taxi for every trip into town.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
MXN 700–1,200 excl. bed
Mid
MXN 1,200–2,500 (≈ US$65–140) excl. bed
High
MXN 2,500 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, guesthouse or small hotel1 × 3 nights × MX$2,500MX$7,500
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MX$1,800MX$10,800
Compostela bus, PVR airport ↔ Sayulita, both ways2 × MX$120 · checkMX$240
Surfboard rental, one day2 × MX$400 · checkMX$800
Beginner surf lesson, about 2 h2 × MX$900 · checkMX$1,800
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$400MX$800
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$2,194
Trip total≈ MX$4,022 per person per day, bed includedMX$24,134≈ US$1,400

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Street tacoMXN 20–40
Fish taco plate at a sit-down placeMXN 120–220
Coffee or breakfast bowlMXN 60–150
Beer: bottle from a shop / beach barMXN 25–40 / MXN 60–100
Margarita at a beach barMXN 100–180
Compostela bus to Puerto VallartaMXN 50–60 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekMXN 300–600

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Generally safe and busy with visitors; the real risks are stingrays in the shallows, sewage near the river mouth after rain, tampered street ATMs and unlit beach access at night.
  • Shuffle your feet in the shallows — stingrays rest in the sand.
  • Sewage has reached swimming areas near the river mouth at times since 2022; check local water-quality notices before swimming, especially after rain.
  • Street ATMs can be tampered with; use one inside a shop or bank during the day.
  • Do not swim past sunset at Playa los Muertos — the access road runs through the cemetery and there is no lighting.
  • July–October is rainy season: some beach businesses close and roads can flood.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / SECTUR)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SayulitaSayulita

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance (SECTUR)078

Embassy

No embassy in Sayulita; the US has a consulate in Puerto Vallarta, and most other countries handle Nayarit from their embassy in Mexico City (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • PVR airport → Sayulita, Compostela bus: about MXN 60, 60–90 min (check)
  • Sayulita → Puerto Vallarta, Compostela bus: about MXN 50–60, 60–120 min (check)
  • Taxi Sayulita → Puerto Vallarta: MXN 700–1,200 (check)

Say or show

  • Disculpe / Perdón — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh / per-DOHN)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH la PLAH-yah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)

Second-class buses may not suit travellers with several suitcases or no Spanish.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sayulita. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, small beginner waves Jan–Mar) · avoid Jul–Oct (rain, humidity, storm risk) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PVR: last Compostela departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: plaza and beach, north end, south hill, highway strip.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (surf schools, Playa los Muertos, cemetery, whale-watching season) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Water-quality and rainy-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources