Sayulita is a small surf town on Mexico's Pacific coast, about 40 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta. It has the kind of laid-back character that draws people in for a day and keeps them for a week: colorful buildings, a long sandy beach, reliable surf, good tacos, and a town square where the main activity is sitting and doing nothing in particular.
It isn't undiscovered — the cobblestone streets fill up on weekends and the high season brings crowds — but outside peak periods Sayulita remains genuinely unhurried. It works well as a base for exploring the Riviera Nayarit coast, or simply as a few days' escape from the noise of Puerto Vallarta.
The surf break here is consistent and beginner-friendly, which makes Sayulita a good place to take a first lesson. More experienced surfers will want to head to La Lancha nearby for faster, less-crowded waves. When the surf is flat, boat trips to the Marietas Islands fill the gap — the hidden beach inside the sea cave and the blue-footed boobies on the cliffs are worth the 30-minute crossing.
The social life of the town rotates around the Plaza Principal and the flag-draped Calle Delfines. The Friday farmers market on Avenida Revolución is excellent for provisions and prepared food, running from November through April. The walls of the back streets are covered in murals, much of it influenced by Wixáritari (Huichol) art traditions that run deep in this part of Nayarit.