Welcome to Sayulita, a small town of approximately 5,000 inhabitants located along the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Nayarit, Mexico. Positioned just north of Banderas Bay, the town transitioned from historical coconut oil extraction and livestock ranching into a fishing and agricultural community. Following the construction of the La Varas-Puerto Vallarta highway in 1965, infrastructure developments including paved streets, public squares, kiosks, markets, and sidewalks helped establish Sayulita as an accessible coastal destination.
Sayulita offers a classic Pacific oceanfront setting that has drawn surfers to its shores since the 1960s. Thousands of tourists visit the town annually as they travel to and from Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. The surrounding coastal waters support a long-standing fishing industry, providing abundance in local marine life. Visitors experience an authentic Mexican coastal town atmosphere shaped by decades of maritime heritage, public gathering spaces, and strong roots in local trade.
The area surrounding Sayulita suits surfers, winter vacationers, and nature enthusiasts interested in regional fauna. Terrestrial wildlife local to the region includes armadillos, coatis, iguanas, rattlesnakes, chachalacas, wild boars, and deer. Waters off the coast are rich with game fish and seafood, including dorado, tuna, marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, snapper, grouper, shrimp, lobster, and oysters, making it a vibrant destination for angling and local seafood traditions.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highway | Accessible via the La Varas-Puerto Vallarta highway. |
| Route | Situated along the travel route to and from Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Best time to visit & the water
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Winter months | Tourism in Sayulita is at its highest during the winter season. |
Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-12
04 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- Tourism peaks significantly during the winter season.
- Local wildlife in the surrounding area includes rattlesnakes and wild boars.