Traveling by yourself? Meeting locals in Sayulita is easier than you think

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”green” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-question-circle”]Reader message via Instagram: Hi Trisha! I am traveling to Sayulita for 2 weeks on my own in November. Would love to hear from you on things to do and people to meet. I’m traveling solo so I’m quite nervous! Would appreciate your tips. Thanks!

– Aamir, USA[/vc_message][vc_column_text]Dear Amir,

Thank you for reaching out and I am glad that you decided to go to Sayulita for your solo travel trip. I got really excited when I read your message because Sayulita is the perfect place for solo travelers! You’ll never be alone! This post is not about guides on where to eat or where to go but this is more of a meeting locals in Sayulita post. Meaning, I will definitely give you contact numbers of the cool kids in town!

Good luck and please reach out via Instagram when you arrive. I would love to meet you!

Xx,
Trisha[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_btn title=”SEE ALL POSTS ABOUT SAYULITA, MEXICO »” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”green” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fpsimonmyway.com%2Fcategory%2Fsayulita%2F|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][mkdf_section_title position=”” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” tagline=”Meeting locals in Sayulita” title=”Sayulita and I: the love-hate relationship”][vc_column_text]I don’t want to start this article on a bad note but I recently published a blog post about why I left Sayulita. In June 2020, I started Sayulita Insider, a platform where you’ll get to see the very local life of town, I put all my energies and efforts to it. For me, Sayulita is not only about the beach or the luxury resorts (like what we always see on Google search) but the heart of the town is the people.

In this project, I went around town filming the stories of a lady selling the best fish tacos on the street for $25 MXN ($1.20 USD), people who have lost their jobs during COVID and re-invented themselves by selling food from home, creative individuals who are contributing on the growth of the community, and so much more. I had the urge to show Sayulita in this kind of imagery because the people here are really really really genuinely amazing.

When I first came to Sayulita, I never really expected to build these long-lasting relationships and that honestly made me stay. One of the pros of living in small towns like this is that you’ll never run out of people to be with. Everyone is always greeting you on the streets! I actually had that trouble moving to the city because I got used to saying hola to every single person. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work in the city where I am now. As you can imagine, people who live in the city always walk fast and are looking at their feet while walking. They will never engage in eye contact. I’m sure you’re familiar with New York and London lifestyles. I just moved to Nuevo Vallarta 3 weeks ago and I never had that vibe of familiarity where I am now.

But anyway, I like experiencing new things so this change was really something I needed. I still go to Sayulita every week and there were a lot of people who bet that I will not like Nuevo Vallarta and eventually move back to Sayulita. But I am on solid ground and I love the change I am currently experiencing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” style=”square” message_box_color=”green” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-plane-departure”]Stressed about your travel plans because of COVID? Let me help you. For the last 10 years, I’ve assisted, encouraged, and helped over 100 people plan their travels abroad, to almost any country in the world.

Find out how Trisha can help plan your trip to Sayulita, Mexico »[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][mkdf_section_title position=”” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” tagline=”Meeting locals in Sayulita” title=”WHERE TO STAY IN SAYULITA”][vc_column_text]I have an Airbnb in Sayulita for digital nomads and most of the bookings come from this blog, honestly! If you want to book it, let me know because I always give blog readers a discount.

I also have my very close friends who run their rental homes in Sayulita, and in this section, I will introduce them to you. They will only not give you a roof to stay in but they are also very attentive to their guest’s needs.

For long-term rentals: meet the Flores, Peralta, Plascencia family (they’re a big family LOL)

A little story on how I got to be part of this amazing original Sayulita family: after my hostel living gig in Sayulita for 5 weeks, I decided to be an adult and move to a real house. It was when I met Martin Flores. He was subletting his beautiful flat for 6 weeks as he was on his way for a trip to Madrid. The moment I saw his house, I took it right away because of his beautiful energy.

Read: Inside the most stunning Airbnbs in Sayulita, Mexico

I believe he still rents his apartment up to now but his place is always booked so get in touch with him! Martin is also a physical trainer. He can take you running in the jungles of Sayulita and just teach you how to be fit while you’re on vacation.

I fell in love with Martin’s place so much when he got back from his trip, I literally asked him if I could extend my stay. Unfortunately, it was also his personal home so I had to move out. However, he recommended his sister’s rental apartment which I ended up living in for 14 months! Now, this is pretty exciting because Martin’s sister, Yamara, and her husband Beto is the most Mexican family you’ll ever meet. They were living above me and in the beginning, I thought this was going to be a problem because of privacy. As it turned out, it was the best first home in Sayulita I could ever ask for because they treated me as part of their family.

Whenever they have parties in our shared backyard, I was always invited. I met their cousins, nieces, aunties, uncles, best friends – I swear, everyone was a part of my daily life! A little bit of a warning: they drink a lot so prepare yourself!

Unfortunately, the house I lived in is no longer available – it really is an awesome 2-bedroom house. But don’t worry! Yamara has lots of friends who have long-term rentals in Sayulita. She can definitely hook you up! Her husband Beto and her father-in-law Manuel do horse tours and fishing expeditions. I’ll talk about these two later in this post.

Finally, I also had a chance to rent Martin and Yamara’s mom’s house for my friends who are coming to Sayulita short-term. Doña Martha has treated me as her daughter during my stay here and her husband Martin (Sr) also did the same. They are very kind and they always have the intention to take care of you. Martin Sr is a surfer so you might want to tag along with him if you’d like to know about OG surf in Sayulita. At his age, he still goes out of the water every day to surf. You’ll always see him in the sea!

RELATED POST: P.S. I’M ON MY WAY’S TOP 30 THINGS TO DO IN SAYULITA

Martha and Martin Sr have several houses for rent so feel free to get in touch and see the availability! The one I rented from them has a courtyard and private parking in a very Mexican neighborhood and I really recommend you to stay in that space. It has AC, too! Doña Martha is more of a Facebook kind of person so if you shoot her a message, she’ll definitely answer all your questions![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_message message_box_style=”outline” style=”round” message_box_color=”green” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-envelope-open-text”]Get the latest updates about meeting people in Sayulita straight to your inbox by subscribing to my newsletter. NO SPAM. NEVER.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][mkdf_section_title position=”” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” tagline=”Meeting locals in Sayulita” title=”WHERE TO EAT IN SAYULITA”][vc_column_text]Now, this is going to be a little different because my where to eat in Sayulita list does not involve a lot of restaurants. I do have that post you can refer to if you feel like eating Western. I love all the Sayulita restaurants but I do not think that they still need the exposure. They are already established. The problem I’ve seen here while trying to study on how to promote Sayulita as a tourist destination was the lack of exposure of the street food vendors whom, through the years, I have become very fond of. If you truly want to support local, then you should visit all these places with all their amazing stories!

Churros and burgers with Tamara, Radaii, and Jenny

I have so much love for these guys! This trio was educated as real chefs but they woke up one day and decided to leave the rat race. Originally from Veracruz and Puebla, they bought a food cart and traveled every year in different cities mounting their pop-ups in every Mexican city they pass through. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3vPdGn-8wo”][vc_column_text]They ended up in Sayulita where they stayed longer because they loved the lifestyle. “It’s a place where we could be whoever and whatever we want to be,” they told me. I am not exaggerating but their churros are the best in town! If you are also a fan of meat burgers, I highly recommend their Hawaiian burger which has a touch of different cultures from their travels. It’s not your typical Hawaiian! These guys are truly generous and are very down to earth. I would love if you can give your support. Their food is not expensive!

You will find La Fogonera’s food cart at Calle Playa Azul 338. Also follow them on Instagram, @fogonera.sayulita.

Late-night eats with Diana

Now that I am writing this, I remember flashbacks of Haburguesa Papo’s after-party eats. I always come to Diana’s food stall because it is the only place open after curfew. Since COVID started, we had a midnight limit to all the bars and restaurants but Diana stays open to serve the drunk youngsters of Sayulita.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEe-oK6HUC8&t=1s”][vc_column_text]Diana and I first met when we did a best burger series with her at Sayulita Insider but after that, we’ve been in touch and have remained good friends. You can find Diana at the southside of Avenida Revolucion (near Chillum and Aaleyah’s). You won’t miss her spot especially if you watch her short video above! Diana doesn’t have a social media channel yet but I am currently helping her build her social profile! Will update this post when I’m done with it.

All-day breakfast? We have that, too!

Now, in this case, I would like to recommend a very sustainable restaurant to you. Chocobanana is an all-day breakfast restaurant by the plaza. You might wonder why I am asking you to support a restaurant while most of this list is street food vendors but the woman who owns this is a very interesting person.

SEE ALSO: WHERE TO EAT IN SAYULITA: MY TOP PICKS IN THE PUEBLO

Tracie Willis and I are soulmates and have been working on a lot of environmental projects in Sayulita. I will talk about that later but it is very important for you to know that if you eat at Chocobanana, you will be supporting our environmental endeavors. This is a very sustainable restaurant that doesn’t use plastics, imports biodegradable materials from the US, does not use takeaway cups (you have to bring your own), and basically just encouraging other restaurants to do the same. It’s not very hard to find this place – they are literally next to the plaza!

Tacos al pastor with Brandon

The guys at Tacos Ivan are my first friends in Sayulita. Brandon, the son of the owner (Ivan) has been in Sayulita for a long-time serving the best al pastor tacos in town. You will normally find them by the plaza and they also have another stall in the center, in front of Telmex. Aside from al pastor, they also have adobada, gringa, tripa, and all the traditional Mexican tacos that you need to try. Like Diana’s burgers, they are also the go-to stall for late-night eats but for me, I can have their tacos anytime of the day![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=323r2zKPS9I”][vc_column_text]Tacos Ivan is a family-run restaurant so when you go visit them, you will see Brandon’s sisters, cousins, nephews, uncle – it’s a whole family affair! I am also very close to them so I got to know their family better. They love what they do and I feel that’s what’s most important in small family-run businesses like this. You’re going to love their staff, too! My second mom, Tia Angelica will take care of you when you come. Just tell her you are my friend and she will be all in!

Javier and Francisco, the guys at Alquimista

Another small restaurant at the corner of Libertad and Revolucion, Javier and Francisco are very fond of me because I always go there for their chilaquiles and their milanesa! These guys are only open at a certain time of the day but Alquimista surely is a digital nomad hang out. They have decent wifi and their tables and chairs are by the streets so it really is a great place to have a meal. I really love their aguas frescas, too![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZw5PgCUn0&t=1s”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_message style=”square” message_box_color=”green” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-wifi”]Stay connected when you travel to Sayulita, Mexico! Rent a portable wifi device that works in over 100 countries in the world. Use the code PSIMONMYWAY for a 10% discount.[/vc_message][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][mkdf_section_title position=”” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” tagline=”Meeting locals in Sayulita” title=”NIGHTLIFE IN SAYULITA”][vc_column_text]I already have a post about Sayulita nightlife but this time, I will give you a list of all the cool people to connect with when you want to party in town. I need to tell you though, it’s not that hard to go partying in Sayulita. If you go out on your own and go to the plaza, you will definitely meet a lot of interesting people!

In one instance, when I was new here, I literally just sat down at Public House (it’s a sports bar), and the next thing I knew, I was eating and drinking with 4 other people. Sayulita is a very open society. All you have to do is start with small talks and you’re good to go. You will be surprised how many people you will meet here just by small talks!

The bartenders

DAVID VERGARA (@DEMVH)

David Vergara works at Cava and Don Pato’s. He’s a very approachable guy and will also do anything for you! He’s been my friend for a long time now and he’s someone who will definitely jump a cliff with me. He recently started a tequila tasting company so if you are up for joining his groups, this will be a great way to meet more people in town!

MIGUEL ANGEL

Miguel Angel will definitely give you a great time if you visit him at Cava. Just sit on the bar and say hello and he will definitely chat with you all night while at shift! He’s also very good at doing cocktails and I recommend you try his Marta e Ines, a mezcal cocktail that I really really love.

FRIENDS AT YAMBAK

Kevin, Vanessa and Sebastian from Yambak are really beautiful people! You will definitely not miss Yambak because it’s where everyone goes at night. If you find these three, please tip them well because they really work hard! Apart from serving you craft beers, they will definitely give you some tips in Sayulita. Who knows, you may even end up being friends with them!

NUBE HIRSCH (@NUBEHIRSCH)

Nube Hirsch from Atico, an all-female run bar is a delight! I’ve worked with her many times, in many instances. She’s one of the organizers of the COVID free food drive in the pueblo where they served free food for everyone for 6 months. She really is very special to me and I hope you can pop by her workplace and have a chat with her!

The DJs

If I haven’t told you yet, Sayulita is a party place so if you’re looking for insider events on the coolest after-parties, sunset parties, house parties, etc, these DJs should be on your contact list! They are all good friends of mine and believe me, even if I don’t live in Sayulita anymore, they still send me daily party updates on Whatsapp! Additionally, you can even get them to play at your private parties. I am vouching for these people – they really are professionals!

RELATED: SAYULITA COVID TRAVEL – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

MAX MIGNOT (@MAX.MIGNOT)

Max is Sayulita’s favourite DJ (mostly because he gets the crowd going after hours). If he’s not playing in a yacht, you’ll probably find him in some private house parties. He organizes a lot of secret events at Public Secret. You better be in the loop!

ALEJANDRA LEON (@DJ_ALE_BITCH)

Ale is amazing because she can play anything! I was really surprised when I contacted her for a job to ask what’s her music specialty is and she said anything. Cumbia, house, salsa – she’s very flexible!

DJ VAN (@VANESADEBRAEKEELER)

Vanessa is also everywhere, more like the female version of Max. However, she’s very popular with the after parties in secret hostels and bars. Get in touch with her via Instagram and she will surely give you more details! She is also a very good friend of mine so I am sort of required to go to her gigs. And man, they are always packed!

NIXS DIAN (@NIXSDIAN)

Slow tunes? Leave it to Nix. You will find Nix during the day when people are day drinking at the beach bars. If you want a little more beachy-chilly-sandy music feels, Nix is your guy!

MATTI ZAIZ (@MATTZAIS)

Go to Sayulita main beach for sunset and you will surely spot Matti. Not playing, but walking his dog. HAHAHAHA! Matti is a friend of mine and is the sweetest person I know. He’s played a lot in our private party between friends but you will also find him around the bars in town.

Just the cool kids who are always out and about

Whenever I am asked which friends I do recommend when in Sayulita, I always have this list in my head and it always fits. They never fail to deliver! These are my very close friends who have been living in Sayulita for a while now and they will definitely show you a good time. Honestly, I am not sure why I am making this list when you can easily spot them drinking by the plaza! But it would be nice to connect you to them because they also have very interesting stories.

RELATED: THE DIGITAL NOMAD GUIDE TO SAYULITA, NAYARIT, MEXICO

GENARO ZUÑIGA (@GEN_ARZA)

G is my best friend and is the best person you will meet in Sayulita. In our group, he’s in charge of all things gay so you can imagine how funny this person is. He is a private chef at @marialalafood so if you’re up to some culinary adventures, G is your guy! Hire him, hang out with him, drink with him – name it, he will have it!

RODRIGO DRAGONETTI (@RODRIGODRAGONETTI)

Rodrigo is also part of my solid group and is an Executive Chef at one of the fine dining restaurants in Sayulita. He can be having fancy dinners with you and at the same time can be drinking a beer from the store with you in the plaza. He can also offer private chef services!

JULIA CHERBIT (@JULIACHERBIT)

Julia and I met in Bolivia in 2014 and she’s come to visit me in Sayulita in March 2020. From then, she never left! Julia and I go a long way back and now that she loves living in Sayulita, she will give you all the insider tips on which beaches to go. She’s into the beaches and the outdoors so hanging out with her is always a great time!

AMANDA KUSOVICH (@AMANDA.KUSO)

Amanda is a party organizer in Sayulita and when you don’t know where to go after hours, she will take you to jungle parties, secret house parties, and more! Amanda and I are good friends and she’s really the go-to person for anything about Sayulita nightlife.

LUANNE CORRIENTE (@LEAVE.IT.TO.LU)

Lulu is my first Filipina friend in Sayulita! She moved her last January with her partner, Mike, who is as equally charming. This couple is very friendly and they love to eat. They’ve probably been to all the bars and restaurants in town, more than I did. If you want to know about food, Lu documents her food adventures in Sayulita on her Instagram.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][mkdf_section_title position=”” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” tagline=”Meeting locals in Sayulita” title=”Connecting with digital nomads, artists, and creatives”][vc_column_text]Finally, if you are a digital nomad, you would definitely love to connect with like-minded individuals. Sayulita’s wifi is not that strong to be a digital nomad base but many creatives opt to stay here because of the lifestyle. Have a chat with these guys and plan your move to Sayulita!

SPENCER HARRIS (@SPENCERIANHARRIS)

Spencer is my super friend and is a great photographer. He does a lot of water photography (surfing, paddle boarding, etc). Tourists normally contract him to be a surf photographer because he’s really good at it. Do check out his work!

MIKE VIRUET (@MIKEVIRUET)

Mike is crazy about creating! You will definitely love his energy. Mike specializes in Facebook Marketing so if you’d like to know more about his work (or if you’re in the same industry), he’s your guy!

MADY HAIKE (@MADYINMEXICO)

Mady is a social media manager and has been working with different companies in Sayulita for years now. She works 100% online and she knows this town very well. You will probably see her drinking beers at Barrillito – she’s not very hard to spot!

JENN FARMER (@JENN_FARMER_PHOTOGRAPHY)

Like Spencer, Jenn is equally good with water photography. She’s been living in Sayulita for over 4 years and is really in love with this town. Jenn does a lot of surf photography as well so take a look at her work and see if it fits!

Overall, meeting locals in Sayulita is not really hard. Sayulita has a very outdoorsy lifestyle so I really recommend you to go out there and drink a beer by yourself. You will be surprised how you will end up the night with 100 other people.

If there is anything else that I forgot to include in this post, please feel free to leave a comment/question below and I will definitely add them! Good luck on your solo travel to Sayulita and may the force be with you! I only live 30 minutes away from Sayulita and I go there often so if you are here, hit me up on Instagram.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_message message_box_style=”solid-icon” style=”square” message_box_color=”green” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-mug-hot”]Do you like what you’re reading? Does it help? I take a lot of time creating valuable and meaningful content. If you like to support my content creation and my blog, consider donating to my coffee fund. Thank you in advance![/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

MEETING LOCALS IN SAYULITA ON PINTEREST: SAVE IT FOR LATER!

How do you meet locals when traveling? Is this something that you do? If you’ve been to Sayulita, I’d love to hear about your experience, too! What are your tips for travelers who want to have a local experience in their travels? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below! Let’s chat!

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