Where to Stay in Sayulita: Downtown, North End, South End or San Pancho

Deciding where to stay in Sayulita comes down to one trade-off: how close you want to be to the plaza and its noise. Downtown is the choice for a first visit without a car; the North End, across the river, is quieter and still walkable; the South End climbs into the hills with villas and ocean views; and San Pancho, about 6 km north, is a separate, calmer town for people who do not need nightlife on the doorstep.

Sayulita is small: a few thousand residents, a grid of streets between the beach and the jungle hills, and a river (the arroyo) that cuts across the north side of town and meets the sea at the north end of the main beach. Almost every place to stay is a vacation rental, a small boutique hotel or a hostel; there are no big resorts in town. That makes the choice of area more important than the choice of hotel, because the area decides how much you walk, how well you sleep and which beach you use every day.

Downtown Sayulita: in the middle of everything

Downtown is the few blocks around the main plaza, running down to the main beach. Surf schools, board rentals, cafés, taco stands, bars and the Huichol art shops are all within a five-minute walk, and the beach in front of town has the gentle waves where most people take their first surf lesson.

The noise question

This is the honest downside. Bars around the plaza and along the beach play music late, Friday and Saturday nights are loud, and at Christmas, New Year and Semana Santa (Easter week) the town fills with visitors from Guadalajara and Mexico City. Roosters and dogs start early. If you are a light sleeper, ask the host which way the bedroom faces and how far it is from the nearest bar, or choose one of the other areas.

Getting around without a car

Downtown is the one area where you never need a vehicle. The flip side is that the streets are narrow and there is very little parking, so if you rent a car at the airport, check that your rental has a space. Golf carts are the usual way to move around town, and many visitors simply walk everywhere.

The North End: quieter, still on the beach

The North End is the residential stretch on the other side of the river, reached by the road bridge or on foot along the sand. It is mostly houses and vacation rentals, many of them close to the beach, and the evenings are much quieter than in the center while the plaza stays within a 10 to 15 minute walk. It suits families, longer stays and anyone who wants to surf the right-hand break near the river mouth before breakfast.

The river mouth

The one thing to know before booking here is that the sea water near the river mouth has a long-standing pollution problem, worst after heavy rain. In the rainy season (roughly June to October), swim further from the river and check local advice. Our guide to whether Sayulita is safe explains how to check the water before you go in.

Close to Playa Carricitos

The North End is also the closest base for Playa Carricitos (Malpaso), the wilder beach reached by a walk through the jungle north of town. It has almost no facilities and strong currents on swell days, but it is the quietest sand within walking distance.

The South End: villas and views

South of the plaza, the town runs along the beach towards Playa de los Muertos and then climbs into the hills. This is where most of the larger villas and hillside homes are, many with pools and terraces over the Pacific, which makes it the best area for groups and families sharing a house.

Hills and golf carts

The views come with steep, sometimes cobbled streets. A house that is "ten minutes from the plaza" may be ten minutes downhill and twenty back up in the heat. If you are booking a hillside villa, ask whether a golf cart is included or can be rented, and whether a taxi can reach the door. For anyone with limited mobility, the flat streets near the beach are the better pick.

Next to Playa de los Muertos

The South End's other advantage is the short walk to Playa de los Muertos, the small cove past the town cemetery where the water is usually calmer than on the main beach. It is the best swimming spot for children, so families often choose this side of town for that alone.

San Pancho: the quiet town next door

San Francisco, always called San Pancho, is about 6 km north of Sayulita on Highway 200. It has one main street that runs down to a long beach, a smaller choice of restaurants and a strong community life around the Entreamigos community center. Evenings are calm, and the sunset from the beach is the town's main event.

Who should stay in San Pancho

Couples, people working remotely and anyone who has already done Sayulita's nightlife will like it. It is less suited to beginner surfers and small children: the beach is beautiful but faces the open Pacific with powerful waves, and swimming is only comfortable on calm days.

Getting between the two towns

The drive takes around 10 minutes. Taxis and the local buses that run along Highway 200 connect the two, so you can stay in San Pancho and still spend a day surfing or eating in Sayulita. Without a car, check how far your rental is from the main street and the highway.

Where to stay in Sayulita: how to choose and when to book

• First visit, no car, here for surf and food: downtown, or the edge of downtown if you want to sleep.
• Families with young children: the South End near Playa de los Muertos, or a North End house close to the beach outside the rainy season.
• A group sharing a house: a South End villa with a pool, with a golf cart.
• Quiet and long stays: the North End or San Pancho.
• Book early for: December to April, and above all Christmas to New Year and Semana Santa, when the best houses go months ahead.
• Ask every host: the walking time to the plaza and the beach, whether there is air conditioning (essential from June to October), parking, and reliable internet if you need to work.

For background on how the town grew from a fishing village into a surf destination, see the Sayulita article on Wikipedia. Once you have picked an area, plan your days with our list of things to do in Sayulita, browse the hotels and hostels in our Sayulita directory and compare options on the Sayulita stays page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best area to stay in Sayulita?

For a first visit without a car, downtown, because everything is within a few minutes on foot. If you want quieter nights, the North End or the South End keep the plaza within walking distance.

Is it better to stay in Sayulita or San Pancho?

Sayulita if you want surf lessons, a choice of restaurants and nightlife; San Pancho if you want a calm town and long sunsets. They are about 10 minutes apart by road, so it is easy to visit one from the other.

Do you need a car in Sayulita?

Not if you stay downtown or close to it. For a hillside villa in the South End or a house in San Pancho, a golf cart, a car or taxis make life much easier.

Are there all-inclusive resorts in Sayulita?

Not in the town itself, which is mostly vacation rentals, boutique hotels and hostels. The large resorts on this coast are further south, around Punta de Mita and the north shore of Banderas Bay.