Best Beaches Near Sayulita

Sayulita packs a surprising range of beaches into a few miles of coastline — a lively main beach in town, a family-friendly cove, wild surf breaks, and quiet spots that most visitors never find. From Casa G Sayulita on Gringo Hill, most of these are a 10–20 minute walk, golf cart ride, or short drive away. A quick note on safety: only the main beach and Playa de los Muertos have calm enough water for casual swimming — the rest are beautiful for walking, sunsets, and photos, but carry real surf and undertow.

Playa Sayulita (Main Beach)

The town's main beach is the heart of it all: golden sand, gentle beginner-friendly waves, surf schools, boogie board and paddleboard rentals, and a row of palapa restaurants serving fish tacos a few steps from the water. It's the most convenient beach from Casa G, an easy walk downhill into town. It's also the busiest — for a quieter version of the same beach, go on a weekday morning before 9am, and keep an eye out for motorboats sharing the water with surfers and swimmers.

Playa de los Muertos

Just south of town, this sheltered, rocky-point cove is the best swimming spot near Sayulita — calm, protected, shallow water over a sandy bottom, and generally cleaner than the main beach since it sits away from the river mouth. It's popular with local families and good for a first snorkel too; head toward the rock island on the left for the best chance of spotting fish. Reach it via Calle Pescadores along the coast or Niños Heroes inland, about half a mile from the plaza. Go before 11am on weekends, when it fills in fast.

Playa Carricitos

For something wilder, Carricitos brings big waves, powdery white sand, and dramatic scenery, often with hardly anyone else around. It's fully exposed to the open Pacific, so swimming isn't advisable — this one's for bodyboarders, sunset watchers, and strong currents rather than a casual dip. There are no facilities, so bring water, and budget time for a dark walk back if you stay for sunset.

Playas Patzcuaro & Patzcuarito

A ten-minute drive toward Punta de Mita (or a scenic hour's walk), these two beaches are local favorites for their quieter, more secluded feel. Patzcuarito stands out for its patchwork of black, white, and gold sand around scattered volcanic boulders, plus striking blue water — it's at its widest around low tide, so time your visit accordingly. Farther out, Patzcuaro splits into a north and south stretch with big views of Monkey Mountain and a hidden rock formation on the south end that only shows itself at low tide; it's the least-visited beach on this list, which makes it a good pick if you want the sand to yourself. Like Carricitos, both are open-ocean beaches with real surf and undertow, so plan on beachcombing and photos rather than swimming.

Playa Norte (North Beach)

Cross the river north of the plaza — via Calle Miramar, Playa Azul, or Islas Marias — and the crowds thin out fast the farther you walk. This mile-long stretch is one of the best sunset spots in town, especially in the dry season, and has a left point break that draws more advanced surfers. From October through December, keep an eye out for the volunteer-run sea turtle release program near the north end. The water here is rougher than the main beach and only calm enough to wade at low tide.

Playas Las Cuevas & Malpaso

About two miles north of town, these rocky coves reward the effort of a short jungle hike with privacy, white sand, and clear water. At low tide, natural rock tunnels connect Las Cuevas to Malpaso — worth timing your visit around, since the tunnels close off at high tide and the alternative is a steeper trail over the headland. Las Cuevas itself is better suited to photos and advanced snorkeling than swimming, given the rocks and current. Malpaso is the quieter of the two, a nearly untouched mile of golden sand shaded by trees and almost always empty; the surf and undertow rule out swimming there as well, so treat it as a walking and shade-hunting beach, and pack in whatever food or water you'll want, since there's nothing out there.

Getting to the Beaches

Sayulita's main beach and Playa Norte are both walkable from anywhere in town. For the beaches further out, a rented golf cart is the easiest way to get around the hillier terrain around Gringo Hill and beyond (make sure how far the golf cart rental company allows you to drive outside of town and that you have enough charge to get home), though taxis or Ubers cover the same ground easily.

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