So you planned a wonderful and much-needed vacation to Sayulita, now you just need to know what fun activities you can cram in while you are there. Here is a list of all the things you can do in Sayulita.
Things from sitting on the beach and enjoying a beachside margarita while watching the whales pass by, to other wild beachside escapes and of course some adrenaline-filled ATV tours.
Mexico is a wonderful country, filled with amazing people and to die for food. There is so much to see and do while you are there, that it is almost impossible to fit it all in, especially if you want to take a couple of days to do absolutely nothing.
Here Is A List Of All The Fun Things To Do In Sayulita
1. Whale Watching
Whether you want to spend the day out on a boat searching for whales or just back and watch them from the beach, Sayulita has you covered.
Mexico is known for its whale watching in the winter months (December – March). This is when the humpback whales migrate to the Mexican coast for breeding. It is very likely you will see whales if you visit during this time. It is one of the best things to do in Sayulita.
There are several companies that offer day trips to go out on the boat and get up close and personal. If boats aren’t your thing, you can still see them from the beach, you just won’t be up close and personal.
2. Surf Lessons or Surfing
Sayulita has an easy small wave with a beachy bottom, making it the perfect place to take surf lessons. For anyone who has never surfed before this is the perfect place to learn, the warm water also makes it very inviting.
For all the rest of my surfer buddies that know what they are doing, there are plenty of great surf breaks nearby that will be slightly more challenging. Mexico has some of the best surf spots around. Mexico is great for all levels of surfers and you can usually find some awesome waves all up and down the Pacific coast.
3. Visit San Pancho
San Pancho or San Fransico is a small town just to the north of Sayulita. It is the perfect escape for anyone looking for a semi-more relaxing day. Don’t get me wrong Sayulita is great, but sometimes you just want to sit on a beach and not be bothered.
San Pancho is a short 20-minute taxi ride away. It has great places to eat and only a couple of beachfront restaurants. So if you feel that Sayulita is a little too big, just head north for the day.
4. Ceviche or Taco Tour
Mexico is amazing. The food, the people and culture, it is why I keep on going back there. My favorite Mexican dishes include ceviche and tacos. It doesn’t matter how much of them I eat, I always want more.
That is why I love to create my own food tour when I am in a new town. I go around and test out the best tacos in town and pick my favorite.
It is a great walking tour you can do on your own or you can even sign up and join a taco tour in town to meet fellow travelers.
5. Get a Massage
I am no stranger to getting massages on vacation. I absolutely love them. It is the perfect way to relax.
Having a relaxing spa day is one of the best things to do in Sayulita. What is the point of vacation unless you are fully relaxed?
I recommend going to an actual spa and avoid the massages on the beach. It is never fun to have beach sand rubbed into your body while you are trying to relax.
Plus it is never relaxing when you hear the mariachi bands playing, baby’s screaming, and dogs barking.
Do yourself a favor and go to the local spa there and I highly recommended Nirvana Spa.
6. Work On Your Tan
What would a Mexican beach vacation be if you didn’t come back with a tan. It would be almost like you didn’t go on vacation at all. So why not head to the beach and rent a chair and umbrella for the day?
It is a great place to read a book, have a drink, or do both. Working on your tan is probably one of the most important things to do in Sayulita. Be sure to be careful with the sun, as it is stronger the closer you get to the equator. Make sure to pack your sunscreen, sunnies and hat to protect yourself.
For more ideas on what to add to your Sayulita packing list for Mexico. Nothing is worse than starting vacation realizing you left something behind.
7. Rent A Golf Cart
Sayulita is famous for its golf carts. They are everywhere and it wouldn’t be a vacation without spending at least one day zipping around in one. Yes, Sayulita is very small and easy to walk around, but it is also fun to just rent a golf cart.
I like to team up my taco tour day with renting a golf cart, that way you can get to the tacos faster and easier.
8. Go To The Hippie Market
Mexico is full of great cheap shopping, especially Sayulita. They have all sorts of markets, farmer’s markets, stands on the side of the road, but my favorite by far was the hippie market. All sorts of cool arts and crafts to bring home for your loved ones.
Everything at the hippie market is more unique than the typical stands you see in Mexico. So if you are looking for something a little different, you will want to head here.
9. Take Salsa Dancing Lessons
When is Mexico, why not learn how to salsa dance. It is fun for the whole family, especially after a couple of margaritas. Head to Don Pedro’s on Monday nights where they have free salsa dance lessons.
Get there early if you want to take a lesson. If you already know what you are doing you can stop by later in the night when the pros come out.
Even if you don’t like salsa dancing or you were born with two left feet like me, it is a great night to come out and watch the pros show off.
10. Day Trip To Puerto Vallarta
Most likely if you are vacationing in Sayulita rather than Puerto Vallarta you are trying to avoid the crowds. But there is still a lot that Puerto Vallarta has to offer that you can’t find in Sayulita. Puerto Vallarta has some amazing beaches that are worth checking out for the day.
It is also a great place to come and enjoy some livelier night-life or restaurants. It is about a 45-minute drive from Sayulita but makes for a great day trip before you fly back home.
11. Take Instagram Photos
Instagram has changed the way we travel. It is all about getting that cool Instagram shot that you can show off to all your friends.
Sayulita is a great place to take photos. It is so colorful and there are so many cool places to take some.
Wander around the town and have a fun Instagram photo shot. You won’t be disappointed.
12. Watch The Sunset From A Beachside Bar
Sunsets on the Pacifico coast of Mexico are incredible, nothing really beats them. With the pinks, purples, and oranges, the sky turns into a beautiful rainbow. When I am on vacation in Mexico, I make it a point to pretty much go down and watch the sunset every day.
You can’t come to Mexico without adding watching a sunset from the beach to your things to do in Sayulita.
It is the perfect time of day to head down to the beach enjoy a nice cocktail, share some guacamole and just take a moment to be present. Enjoy your surrounding and realize how lucky you are to be there.
13. Take A Spanish Lesson
Even though I lived in Costa Rica for 6 years my Spanish could use some freshening up. I love to plan a private Spanish lesson when I travel.
It gives me a chance to practice, get some comfortable with my Spanish, and even learn a few new local phrases.
No matter where you are with your Spanish anyone can benefit from taking a lesson, especially if you are a beginner. Embrace yourself in the culture of Mexico and learn a few things.
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14. Enjoy Yoga
Sometimes it is important to remain healthy during your vacation. Life is all about balance. Why not start your morning off on a good start and enjoy a yoga class.
You will feel yes guilty when you decided to drink all those margaritas later on in the day.
Do your mind, body, and soul a favor and take some time to be healthy los suenos has some great opitions.
Mexico is full of amazing yoga retreats. If you are looking for a healthier vacation, you might want to consider doing one.
15. Horseback Riding
I hardly ever ride horses, except for when I am on vacation. Somehow I always tend to gravitate to a horseback riding tour. Something about them just appeals to me.
The fact that you are one with nature and get to see the place from a different perspective. I also really enjoy the speed and acceleration of the horses.
16. Zip-lining
Ok, this one I didn’t do in Sayulita, but I have done it several times before. Zip-lining is a great experience, but I feel it is something that once you do once you don’t need to do it again. Unless you absolutely love zip-lining.
It is a fun and adrenaline-pumping good time.
17. Walk to Los Muertos Beach
Just around the corner from Sayulita’s main beach is Los Muertos Beach. It is less crowded and tends to be quieter. The beach itself is great for swimming and snorkeling as it is slightly more protected than the main beach in Sayulita.
What makes this beach very interesting is the fact that it is right next to a cemetery, which is how it got it’s name. If you want directions on how to get there you can find them here.
It is also a very interesting beach given the fact that
18. Turtle Tour
Depending on when you visit you might be lucky enough to play part in releasing some turtles. From the months of August – December baby turtles are released nightly so they can find their way safely back into the ocean.
If you would like to take part in releasing the turtle check out the Sayulita turtle camp so you can book your turtle tour through them.
19. Shopping
Mexico is full of great cheap shopping, especially Sayulita. There are all sorts of great things to buy and take back home if you have the space for them. Sayulita has great markets and vendors selling stuff on the street.
Take some time to dedicate to just shopping, window shopping if you don’t want to buy anything. You will find all sorts of cool arts and crafts.
It is a great way to spend a few hours, walking the streets of Sayulita and seeing everything it has to offer.
20. Margarita Tour
Similar to the taco tour mentioned before, but with alcohol. Plan a fun-filled day hopping around from place to place drinking margaritas.
In the end, you will have a favorite place you can go back to with your favorite margarita. It might end up being the last margarita you drink, but either way, it is fun and educational.
21. Take a Cooking Course
I am a chef, so I always love doing cooking courses no matter where I travel. You can learn to cook like a local or perfect your favorite local dish, and the best part about it, is you get to eat it in the end. It is always a good time and usually ends up being one of my favorite meals of the trip.
Be sure to book ahead of time!
What Is The Best Way To Get To Sayulita?
The best way to get to Sayulita is to fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). There is no airport in Sayulita. From Puerto Vallarta, it is about an hour’s drive to Sayulita. You can either take an Uber, shuttle or bus.
🚗 Uber – From the airport to Sayulita you are able to take an Uber for around $50 – $65 USD, but it is going to be harder to find an Uber back to the airport.
🚕 Taxi – You can take a taxi from the airport, but it is going to cost you around $80. I don’t really recommend this option as there are cheaper alternatives and taxis tend to try to charge more money to tourists.
🚌 Shuttle – There are several shuttle companies that work from PVR and will run you straight to Sayulita. They are safe and easy to use. However, you might have to wait around a little bit when you land.
🚍 Bus – If you are tight on money and not looking to spend much. You can take a local bus to Sayulita. The bus leaves about every 30 minutes and costa about $3 USD.
Conclusions
That’s it. I am sure with these 21 ideas you will have plenty of things to do in Sayulita.
It is a magical place and still semi-off the tourist hotspots in Mexico.
There is no doubt in my mind that you’ll enjoy your time in Sayulita.
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Some people arrive in Sayulita in search of a digital nomad spot. Others come to take a breather, but most come to enjoy the hipster feel and the very relaxed atmosphere. This is a complete list of things to do, places to see and activities in Sayulita.
Thanks 🙂
Any recommendations on where to take a cooking course while visiting?
I’m sorry the one I did while I was there seems to be closed. Not sure where to send you.