Sayulita, Mexico Travel Guide: What to Pack, Where to Eat, and When to Visit 🌞

Sayulita.

Hola! Estoy en Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico.

Over the past year, I’ve spent about three weeks in this charming, lively surf town, and I’ve come to appreciate its vibrant local culture. If you’re dreaming of barefoot beach days, colorful streets, farmers markets, a town that comes alive in the night and all with the sound of waves crashng in the distance, Sayulita might be calling your name.

Sayulita has become a tourist hotspot in the past decade or two however it has not become so Americanized that it lacks its original charm. Much like other ex-pat destinations such as Costa Rica, tourists have come, fallen in love, and decided to make this their home.

Today I want to share a few tips and trips for your journey here from packing to cafe’s (my favorite part of traveling) to local restaurants.

When to Visit

I’ve visited Sayulita in December, January, and April. If you’re looking for the perfect weather window, I’d recommend coming in mid-to-late April when the Spring Break crowds have thinned out, but before the intense summer humidity settles in.

🌞 Ideal Time: Mid-April to early May (quieter weekdays, vibrant weekends)

🌊 Surf Season: Year-round, but winter months bring more consistent swells

☀️ Avoid if You Hate Humidity: Late May through September can be oppressively humid, with little relief at night

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What to Pack

For reference, I’m a 27-year-old woman with a smaller frame.

Here’s what I packed, and what I wish I had:

Clothing:

• Two pairs of jeans shorts, one light denim and one dark denim.

• A pair of casual jeans. (Sayulita is very casual for the most part)

• A dress that can also be worn as a maxi skirt

• One small t-shirt with a fun print on it (not necessary, but doesn’t take much space)

• One large t-shirt that I can also wear to bed as well as with shorts or a skirt. (I actually bought it last time I was in Sayulita, and ended up buying a new version on this visit).

• 3 bikini’s (one with strings/ one strapless, and one with no strings that is more secure in case you want to go surfing)

• A surf shirt (mine is cropped, I would recommend a full length shirt if you plan to go, I have gotten rash on my abdomen from exposure)

• A linen button down (it is very common to wear your bikini around the town, I like to throw this on over.)

• A light weight kimono (I have one with Frida on it and it goes over very well with the locals as there are a lot of Frida Kahlo inspired places in Sayulita.) (not a necessity, but fun and can be used as a swim coverup!)

• One “heavier” button down for night time. It really is not cold here at this time in my opinion, if you go towards the end of April or May onward I doubt you will need any jacket BUT it’s always better safe than sorry in this case.

• One crochet sweater that is perfect for the beach style here. (anything crochet honestly)

• A baseball style hat.

• A fun bucket hat (also goes over well). Mine is from Earthbound linked here.

• A pair of light linen style pants (bonus if they are flowy!)

• A pair of “sweat-shorts”, I ended up wearing these all the time, in the morning before you get ready for the day, and throughout casual days walking through town with a bikini top. (Link to Joah Brown here)

• Two nice dresses/outfits for dinner’s out. There are a few “nice” places in town, that you may want to dress up for. Casual is always welcome but for Don Pedro’s, La Rustica, and Alto Alto, you could have fun with a fancier outfit. (I only ended up wearing one, multiple times, if you don’t wear it at home, you probably won’t want to wear it on vacation 😉)

Accessories + Essentials

✅ A few scarves (worn as hair accessories or tops)

✅ A debit card and some cash (most places take cards, as well as Tap-To-Pay, but some smaller shops and food stands are cash-only (efectivo = cash))

If you don’t bring pesos with you, you will want to visit the bank in town, Intercam Banco Sayulita, do this instead of using the ATM’s around town which make their money off of fees. If you bring American Dollars, make sure you bring your passport to the bank with you. You can also use their ATM, just make sure to choose “no conversion” or something along those lines, yourr bank will likely do the conversion for you.

✅ A Portable Charger

✅ First aid kits (yes, plural):

• One small, keychain-sized kit for on-the-go, here is mine - KeepGoing Small Travel First Aid Kit

• One full kit for the room (came in clutch when someone in our group walked into a glass door—avoided a hospital visit!) - here is mine KeepGoing Travel First Aid Kit for Kids

What I added to my first aid kit:

• Acetaminophen / migraine meds

• Ear drops

• Eye drops

• UTI meds

✅ Passport, ID, and a photocopy of your passport (stored separately from your actual passport)

What I Wish I Had Brought:

• Sweatpants or comfy athleisure for lounging

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Café Culture in Sayulita ☕️

One of my favorite parts of traveling is exploring the café culture. I’m often still working while I travel, which is the difference between “travel” and “vacation” for me—I’m taking my life to new places, instead of using new places to escape my life. 😊

Miscelánea

Without a doubt, my favorite café in Sayulita was Miscelánea. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might miss this hidden gem—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, right? I found myself coming back here about four times during our last 10-day visit.

What I love most about Miscelánea is the atmosphere. The staff are incredibly warm, no matter how much Spanish you speak, and the menu is fresh, local, and consistent. You’ll find creative coffee concoctions, herbal elixirs, and health-focused bites that are perfect for a workday away from home. They’re also laptop-friendly, which can be a godsend to know in advance when you are traveling and working. (When we visited Paris, most cafe’s have a “no-laptop” rule and it is posted on every table.)

For health reasons, I have recently switched to decaf espresso to help reduce my migraine frequency and ease my PMDD symptoms, so I gravitated toward their herbal drinks. My go-to orders included the Matcha Latte, Turmeric Latte, and surprisingly, the Charcoal Latte (all delicious and unique). Decaf espresso isn’t really a thing in Mexico, so these were my lifesavers.

To save you some time, here is an easy coffee order in Spanish:

Puedo tener una latte con leche de avena con hielo - Can I have an iced oat milk latte?

Leche is just milk, and almendra is for almond if you’d like almond milk.

While your Spanish is not required, I find that they appreciate your effort and it is a sign of respect to attempt the native language of the country you are visiting.

A few other things we tried:

• House-made pastries

• Corn Pancakes (I ordered these multiple times) 👇🏼

• Ginger Shots

• Beet burger

Pa’Lú Café

My runner-up is Pa’Lú, a sort of collective nestled in a little courtyard behind two art stores. It’s a collaboration between two businesses, creating a unique space that’s perfect for a quick coffee or a few hours of laptop time. They don’t serve food, so plan accordingly, but the atmosphere is so relaxing it’s worth the visit.

Anchor Café

We also checked out Anchor Café based on its glowing online reviews. The breakfast was tasty and healthy (no seed oils, organic ingredients), and I grabbed a smoothie to go to get a full taste of the menu. However, it didn’t quite match the vibe or flavor experience of Miscelánea, so we only visited once.

Pakeke

While not technically a café, Pakeke deserves a mention. They specialize in tiny pancakes, but we stopped by for a light breakfast to go (bagels, potatoes, and lattes), and the staff were incredibly kind. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a quick, casual bite, and as you will notice it is filled with locals, both humans and roosters.

Honorary Mentions - Restaurants

These spots have earned their places on my must-visit list for a reason:

La Rustica - Pasta, Pizza + Seafood. It’s busy every night, and you will see why.

Mary’s - It’s hard to walk five feet without someone telling you to try their tacos, it is best that you do!

Don Pedro’s - If you’ve never had a Tuna Steak, that’s about to change. Also ask them about their Salsa lessons! 💃🏻

The Dock - Highly recommend going at Sunset.

Sayulita Café - Don’t let this small place fool you, it highly exceeded our expectations one night when the wait at Mary’s was too long, it did NOT disappoint. I reccommend the fajitas.

Mexicolate- Cacao lovers unite! The cocoa water is delicious. They work with the highest quality cacao in Mexico, promoting native cacao, which has a large number of health benefits.

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A Peek Into Sayulita’s History… 🌞

Before Sayulita became the colorful surf town it is today, it was a small, tranquil fishing village with deep indigenous roots and a strong sense of community.

The region that Sayulita sits on—part of the Riviera Nayarit—has been home for centuries to the Wixárika (Huichol), Cora, and Tepehuano peoples. These indigenous groups have long practiced rich spiritual traditions, many of which still influence the area today. Their signature beadwork, textiles, and visionary artwork (often seen in Sayulita’s markets and murals) aren’t just beautiful—they’re deeply symbolic, reflecting cosmology, nature, and a reverence for the elements.

For most of its early life, Sayulita was known for fishing, coconut harvesting, and cattle ranching. It remained relatively untouched by modern infrastructure until the mid-20th century. In the 1940s and ’50s, a nearby coconut oil factory offered employment to local families, and fishing was still done with hand-thrown nets and wooden boats launched right from the shore.

It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that Sayulita first appeared on the radar of surfers and free-spirited travelers. Drawn by the consistent waves and the warm, friendly locals, early visitors camped on the beach and spread the word. Paved roads didn’t reach Sayulita until the 1990s, which meant its growth was slow—and intentional. This helped preserve its small-town authenticity even as expats and digital nomads began to move in.

Interestingly, Sayulita’s wave breaks are partly due to the offshore reefs and river mouth, making it a natural magnet for surfers. This is still a huge part of what brings people here today.

In 2009, Sayulita was officially named a “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town) by the Mexican government—a designation given to towns that offer cultural richness, historical relevance, and natural beauty. This recognition helped boost eco-tourism and community efforts to preserve the town’s unique spirit.

Even now, as Sayulita evolves with boutiques, wellness studios, and fusion food spots, there’s something timeless about it. The cobblestone streets, the mix of Spanish and Huichol influence, the daily rhythm of surf and sunset—it still feels like a place where time slows down and soul comes alive.

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Signing Off.

Sayulita is one of those places that has a way of finding a special corner of your heart and staying there. Whether you’re visiting for the surf, the sunsets, or the slower pace of life, this little town has a way of making you feel like you’ve found a second home.

Until next time, enjoy 🌊💛

Sending you all my healing energy,

✴ Aleca ✴

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