MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS: SAYULITA & PUNTA MITA
If you are looking for some travel inspiration where you can enjoy sunshine, tacos, and dreamy surf, look no further than Mexico, and not the more-popular the Caribbean side of Tulum and Cancun, I’m actually recommending the Pacific Ocean side! Here are my travel tips and recommendations for both a holiday, and working holiday if you are a digital nomad, trip to Sayulita and Punta Mita.
Sayulita and Punta Mita [both a 30 minute drive from one another] are located on the west coast of Mexico, in the state of Nayarit, along the Pacific Ocean. These beach towns are located approximately 40 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta, which is where we flew into after a stop in Mexico City.
Both Sayulita and Punta Mita are popular destinations for surfers, offering awesome waves for all skill levels. The region's consistent swells make it an ideal spot for those looking to catch some waves, with Sayulita having 2 main beach breaks, and Punta Mita having many surf spots [they are spread out in Punta Mita so you’ll need a car to get to all of these]. Check out this epic guide to all the surfing spots - my favourite was La Lancha as it was a stunning beach to chill at all day, [minus the crocodiles chilling in the nearby river!] as well as Alcote [when this works with the right swell it produces such fun mellow waves!].
Another perk of these locations is that they are part of the migration route for humpback whales - and it was not uncommon for us to see whale blows from the beach. I even spotted two whales when I was surfing one day, straight after a turtle popped up next to my board - that was a pretty good day!
We spent 10 days in Sayulita, and 10 in Punta Mita, so let me break down my recommendations for both locations:
SAYULITA
Sayulita has gained popularity for its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and vibrant surf culture - but it should come with a warning! if you are looking for a chilled time, Sayulita might not be for you. It is split up into the north and south, the north being the quieter end and where we stayed. Everything is walkable distance, and as you head south into the main town it is pretty chaotic, with lots of bustling bars, busy restaurants and hundreds and hundreds of parasols line this part of the beach. If you are looking for a night life and to meet people, then this would be right up your street! Also it’s worth bearing in mind that we visited during Christmas and New Year when the American crowds really descend for their holidays, so it might not be as chaotic during the rest of the year.
Here are my top tips for Sayulita:
Bar Cameron - good beach vibes, delicious ceviche! And it’s located on the beach in front of the left hand break so you can watch the surf as you enjoy a cold beer!
Yoga church - yoga
Burrito Revolution - apparently the best burrito in town!
Alchamise house - sauna and ice bath, as well as co-working
Mary’s Tacos - incredible tacos!
Don Bonito - stayed in, so quiet, really nice and vibey with a pool, and a cafe next to it with yoga on the terrace
El Itacete - a vibey dinner spot in town
La Rustica Sayulita - great wood fired pizza if you need a break from tacos!
PUNTA MITA
Punta Mita is located about 30 mins from Sayulita - so it can easily be reached on day trips, but if you are looking for a more relaxing stay then this may be for you. Punta Mita is situated on a private peninsula, creating a secluded and therefore a quieter vibe.
I had read that Punta Mita has many high-end accommodations and hotels, so was a little skeptical as I prefer the off-the-beaten track style of accommodation, but there was a real mix which was great. We stayed in an Air BnB called Punta Mita Suites which was an apartment block. It was nice to have the option to cook for ourselves in our apartment kitchen, but also get the ‘hotel’ perk of having the place cleaned everyday. Would highly recommend! it was also located on the same street as Teres’a Tacos, which was delicious for dinner.
Here are my top tips for Punta Mita:
La Cabana - a local restaurant on the beach serving the best Mexican food!
Teresa’s Tacos - a cute local restaurant [located on the street] serving authentic tacos
Wild Mex - to rent surf boards [this is located opposite the entrance to La Lancha]
All in all, we loved our trip to this part of Mexico, and would go back for sure. It was relaxing, with fun chilled waves, sunshine everyday, and the food is incredible. The weather was in the mid to late twenties, so it was perfect for all-day beach days, with chillier evenings [bring a jumper if you go in December!]. Downsides were that this area is expensive - I mean, we were quoted £300 pp for a 3 hour fishing trip for goodness sake! Our budget was limited, but if yours is not that there are lots of brilliant activities you could do including the Monkey Mountain hike, visit the Marietas Islands and snorkel, do a whale watching boat tour, or a spear fishing tour.
One thing we regretted not doing was visiting San Pancho, which is a super chilled next door town to Sayulita with apparently amazing sunsets! So, if you go there make sure to add that to your list. and for all my fellow digital nomads, Sayulita had a couple of co-working spots and plenty of expats living and working from laptops there. I had heard rumours that the wifi can go out in the town, but we didn’t experience this in the 3 weeks we were there, but its something to bear in mind - and make sure you get a local sim incase the wifi goes, this is something I recommend to anyone working whilst they travel.