Sayulita's walls have become a canvas, and wandering the back streets to find the murals has turned into one of the better ways to see the less-visited parts of town. The most striking piece — a large whale covering an entire building side on Calle Niños Héroes — is visible from half a block away and has become something of an unofficial emblem of the town.
The murals range from indigenous-inspired designs in the Huichol (Wixáritari) style to brightly colored abstract work and political imagery. Huichol art is particularly meaningful here: the Wixáritari people have a deep connection to this part of the Nayarit coast, and their beadwork and yarn-painting traditions influenced several of the larger murals.
There's no formal mural tour, though the central streets from the plaza toward the cemetery and the area around the market street are the most rewarding for walking. The concentration of color on the buildings — even apart from dedicated murals — makes the whole town feel like it's been decorated rather than merely built.