Sayulita Local Flavors

Sayulita Local Flavors is a food and culture day trip from Puerto Vallarta to the town of Sayulita, about 390 minutes in total. You meet at one of the designated meeting points in Puerto Vallarta and travel north in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with several tastings along the way.

The first stop is a cacao garden museum, where you learn about the cacao plant, its origins, legends and traditional uses. You see the plants up close, learn how they are grown and processed, and taste tropical fruit and chocolate flavors, including traditional cacao drinks and organic chocolate. The visit takes about 30 minutes, and the entrance fee is included.

Next comes a classic roadside stand, once an essential stop on the long road between Tepic, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. You taste seasonal fruits and Mexican sweets there, for around 20 minutes.

In Sayulita the tour turns to local dishes: a crispy red-tortilla birria taco, a Nayarit-style marlin empanada and aguas frescas made with tropical fruits, which you can sample before choosing a favorite to carry on the walk. A small restaurant called Mary's serves shrimp or fish tacos with a strong local flavor. Between bites you walk through the colorful streets and the artisan market, about 120 minutes in all, exploring the town's art, its beach atmosphere and its connection to Wixarika culture and meeting artisans from different crafts.

The day ends with about 45 minutes of free time to shop, relax or stroll along the beach before the return to Puerto Vallarta. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness, since much of it is on foot. Infants must sit on an adult's lap, and public transportation is available nearby. The price includes all the tastings listed, transportation and the museum entrance. Gratuities are not included.