First time visiting Sayulita? These super local tips will help!
These Sayulita travel tips are from my 2 years living in Sayulita. Sayulita is not a hard place to travel to because itโs a small town. Here are my tips for first-timers to Sayulita!
Hey Sean,
Thank you so much for supporting the blog!!! I would love to meet you but I am in La Paz, Baja California in the summer. Visiting Sayulita in the summer is not a good idea (first tip, there you go!) thatโs why Iโm in Baja for a bit.
I do have a lot of insider Sayulita travel tips that I will share with you in this post. They are very specific and I am very sure that they will help you have a great trip.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to e-mail me or get in touch via Instagram! Enjoy Sayulita!
Xx,
Trisha
See also:
- How to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport
- The best things to do in Sayulita, Mexico
- The ultimate Sayulita travel guide
- Sayulita solo travel safety
- The digital nomad guide to Sayulita
- Sayulita nightlife guide
โจ Sayulita travel tips from a local
#1: Atm take out in Sayulita
If you can do this at the airport, do so. Although I must warn you that US bank cards are charged higher at the airport. I donโt understand why they do this while the same banks outside the airport charge normal rates.
There is actually no great explanation about getting the best currency in terms of withdrawal in Sayulita or Puerto Vallarta Airport in general. You can bring USD too but exchanging them here will not give you a better rate either.
There are many ATM machines in Sayulita but they are often out of cash! Withdrawing every Monday is a pain because these cash machines are not filled out until the evening (of Monday).
The best place to take cash is at the Intercam bank, the only bank in Sayulita. Everyone goes there to take cash so I canโt really guarantee there will always be cash available.
Another good ATM machine is inside Don Pedroโs restaurant. They have two cash machines there that dispense Mexican peso and USD. Itโs also a very safe place to withdraw since itโs inside the restaurant. You can withdraw there even at night!
As for the bad ATM machine, I always have had bad experiences with the ATM machines outside Hotel Oz. The first time I took cash there, the machine ate my card. The second time, they did not give me the same withdrawal amount and yet my bank was charged!
When I asked the guard at Oz if they can help me take my ATM card from the machine, they said they donโt have control of the machine even if itโs within their premises. I still needed to report it by calling the number on the machine.
#2: There are no supermarkets in Sayulita
As soon as you land Puerto Vallarta, ask your taxi driver to swing by a supermarket. Just give him an extra $5 USD tip for waiting. The best supermarket that is in between Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta Airport is Walmart (Nuevo Vallarta/Mezcales).
La Comer and Mega are both in Bucerias so theyโre also good choices. Theyโre right next to each other and there are more parking spaces there for the taxi driver.
Since youโre on a vacation, you may not need to hoard a supermarket if youโre going to eat out. There are many restaurants in Sayulita Mexico so you wonโt really need to stock food.
However, you might want to stock up on alcoholic beverages in your accommodation. Beers, liquors, and wine are way cheaper in supermarkets.
#3: Do not pay more than $50 USD for an airport taxi service
Like all airports in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta International Airport only allows VIP taxi services that have licenses. The license, according to my source, is really expensive so the minimum amount you will pay is $125 USD.
The van service to Sayulita can take up to 7 people and costs $220 USD. Fortunately, I have a local taxi friend that only charges $45 USD to get you to Sayulita.
Heโs a local that I met when I first moved to Sayulita Mexico and I am helping him promote his services through my blog. If you want to support local, you can book my localโs taxi service.
Heโs a good guy and I am vouching for him. Sometimes, when his schedule is tight, I call my other taxi friend, Michelle which you can also book using Juanโs taxi service link. Go read client reviews and see what visitors think about their services!
If you donโt want a pre-arranged airport taxi service, there are many ways to go to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport. You can check out that post and see what fits well on your budget.
#4: Best stores to buy alcohol in Sayulita
I have two favorite places to buy beers in town because theyโre cheaper. One is Camachoโs, which is in the southern part of town (at Niรฑos Heroes Street).
For the northerners, buy your beers at Chewbacca. Camachos and Chewbaccas are not big places but are mini-markets. They are what we call โmini super tiendaโ in Mexico.
La Selecta also sells craft beers and there are lots of wine selections. Another place for wines is El Coyul (also in the north). The wine here is as cheap as the supermarket! El Coyul is my favorite and I exclusively go here!
If you search on Google, it will suggest Sayulita Wine Shop but this is a fancy place that offers wine and tequila tasting. I never tried them myself and I only go there if I want to buy fancy wine for gifts for friends.
#5: How to check the location of your accommodation (before booking)
I stopped supporting Airbnb in 2021 because of its high fees but Airbnb is still the platform that everyone uses in Sayulita Mexico. But the thing that many Airbnb hosts donโt tell you is the road conditions where their property is located.
I get it. You want to book a place with a pool and a view but these properties with a view are in the jungle and are not close to town. Before booking, ask your host what street the property is in. You do not need to know the number.
You may click on street view to see what the streets are like. You can also check the distance by putting the street name then get directions toย Sayulita plaza. This is the center and from there, youโll know if you need to rent a golf cart.
Most properties in Sayulita are under the name โcasaโ (i.e. Casa Cielo, Casa Petra, Casa Jungla, etc) and if you type those casa names, they will appear on Google.
Airbnb hosts also put their property names as โcasaโ so you wonโt have a hard time looking for them on Google maps. If itโs within walking distance to the plaza, then thatโs a good accommodation.
#6: Change your USD in this store
There is a money exchange center in Sayulita Mexico but the rates are so low I donโt really exchange USD there. I change my USD in a store called Jhoul Foods.
I used to live next to this store and got to know the owner. He gives me a better USD exchange rate to peso so make sure you are friendly enough so heโll give you better rates!
Jhoul foods is also a great place for shopping for fruits and vegetables. They have high-quality products and this is one out of two stores that I go to in Sayulita.
Alternatively, you can also go to Intercam bank to exchange USD but donโt expect a higher conversion rate.
#7: Support local when visiting Sayulita
I told you there are many restaurants in Sayulita that are modern and more upper-class but donโt forget about our street food vendors who are locals in Sayulita!
In myย things to do in Sayulitaย list, you will also see a lot of local people organizing tours and you wonโt find their tours on any other websites. I also added short stories about them so youโll gain confidence in taking tours with them.
Big tour companies have taken over Sayulita Mexico so if you check my adventure tours, you will see a lot of locals there together with their personal stories!
#8: Thereโs a market open every Friday
Well, itโs only open during the high season which is November to May. During the summer, itโs too hot to be in Sayulitaโs Friday Market so if youโre here in the high season, this is a must!
It is guaranteed that only locals of Sayulita Mexico sell in the Friday market. You will find stuff here that is not usually available in Sayulita like farm-fresh vegetables and other Mexican products.
Thereโs also a Oaxacan cheese store here and I often order from them! The Friday market is also a great place to eat. Paella, Argentine bbq, fresh Chilean bread โ this can be a great Friday brunch activity!
#9: Donโt visit in the summer
It is too hot and humid from June to October. Locals of Sayulita leave and go to their second homes (like me inย La Paz). Some even go back to the USA and Canada because itโs just too hot!
Another reason not to visit in the summer is most restaurants and bars are closed. The weather is just too harsh to open and fewer people are in Sayulita Mexico.
However, the summer is also a good opportunity to see the swarm of fireflies in the jungle (August) and the bioluminescence (between June โ September).
You can still visit in the summer although when people ask me in this blog, I donโt really recommend it. The summer season is also a time when accommodations in Sayulita are cheap so take it as your budget vacation!
#10: Wifi could be a problem
One of the reasons why I left this town is because Sayulita wifi is really a pain, especially for digital nomads like me. I tried to survive 2 years living here but I couldnโt take it. Paying $100 USD a month for fiber optic was too much.
If you want to be a Sayulita digital nomad, it could work for you but bear in mind that if you need fast upload/download speeds (i.e. Youtubers, vloggers), itโs going to be hard.
If youโre just doing calls like Zoom or e-mailing, the speed is fine but if your job requires high-speed Internet, then Sayulita is not for you.
There are many other digital nomad destinations in Mexico you can check out that have better infrastructure and are close to the ocean. However, I must warn you that none of these compare to Sayulita. Sayulita is the best!
#11: The cheapest and best fruit and vegetable store is Carolinaโs
I exclusively just go to Carolinaโs because their fruits and vegetables are good and new. Not only that โ for some reason, they are the cheapest vegetable place in town!
I also can request special vegetables here (like Asian squash). One time, I asked them why they donโt sell this kind of squash (Mexico only uses the zucchini) and the owner told me he can get it for me with 2-day notice!
Carolinaโs is next toย Tortilleria Calamar. For some reason, they donโt have their location on Google maps yet but theyโre one of the oldest stores in Sayulita!
#12: Every Tuesday, itโs 2 for 1 (beers) in Yambak
Yambak is a great place to drink and socialize every night but Tuesdays are different. We locals prepare to go to Yambak because of 2 for 1 on local beers โ all night!
This is like a social gathering in Sayulita. I see all my friends whom I havenโt seen for the whole week. Everyone just appears out of nowhere because itโs Tuesday.
As a tourist, this is your best chance to see the local life in Sayulita and at the same time, meet people, socialize, engage, and drink for cheap all night!
This is a Tuesday tradition for locals and I promise, you will enjoy the Sayulita nightlife in Yambak!
โจ Extra local tip: You can also order beers to take on the beach during the day. The growlers are about US$15 and their bottles are super easy to bring!
#13: Thereโs a Whatsapp group for female entrepreneurs
The Witches of Sayulita Whatsapp group is a fruit of our digital nomad event held in 2021. It was the first of its kind and there were many digital nomads in town who participated.
Only women are allowed in this Whatsapp group but if you are traveling solo in Sayulita, this is the best group to get to know people. Yoga retreats, last-minute events, and secret parties are always announced first in this group.
#14: You wonโt get easily accepted in Sayulitaโs Facebook group
Even I who was already living in Sayulita took time for them to accept me in the Facebook group. If your name does not ring a bell to the admins, then you wonโt get accepted.
There are already a lot of members in the Sayulita People Facebook group so theyโre trying to maintain its exclusivity by only accepting people vouched for other members of the community.
Most information about town is in this group but word goes out so fast in a small town in Sayulita โ you donโt really need a Facebook group to know that.
Although you must know that this is where all the news and events are posted first.
โ๏ธ Ready for your solo trip to Sayulita Mexico? This blog thrives on reader questions so feel free to leave a comment below if you need more Sayulita travel tips.
๐ฒ๐ฝ Sayulita Travel Planning
๐ Do I need insurance to travel to Sayulita Mexico?
Yes, you do! This is the number one requirement when traveling to Mexico. I use SafetyWing and I only pay $40 USD per month for my digital nomad travel insurance!
โ๏ธ Where can I find cheap flights to Sayulita?
You can find cheap flights to Sayulita Mexico by using WayAway. This is my current flight search favorite and I have proven that flights on this website are way cheaper!
๐๏ธ Where can I find cheap hotels in Sayulita?
Budget travelers, use Hostelworld when looking for accommodations in Japan. A bed in a hostel dorm starts at $25 USD per night. Booking.com is best for boutique hotels while you will find many luxury hotels on Expedia.
๐ How do I get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport?
You can book with a local driver here for as low as $69 USD! Use my code PSIMONMYWAY10 to get a 10% discount upon checkout.
I love how specific your content is! It’s very clear and it makes me feel I really know Sayulita through your posts. Do you think it is better for me to exchange USD while here in the US? Do you have experiences with rates? It’s my first time in Sayulita and by the looks of it, I won’t have a lot of options for money exchange. Let me know what’s the best deal! Thank you Trish
I love all the tips! We are coming in 2 days. We are very worried that everything will be closed because of summer? I hope I had read your tips before booking the flight! Please advise if everything is open because you said don’t visit in the summer. Gracias!
Half of the bars and restaurants are closed but you can still go around! A lot remain open during the summer but it’s not as loud and lively as compared to the high season.
Your images of Sayulita are incredible. Love that you are able to support a friendโs taxi service and save readers some money on their airport transfer! Great advise to use the airport ATM, it would be stressful to be running around town looking for one that has cash during a vacation. The tip to stop at the grocery store for snacks, water and alcohol is also a huge stress reliever and a $5 taxi tip to wait is more than worth it.
After 2 years, I am sure you had many Sayulita travel tips to share with visitors. Fascinating to read that there are no supermarkets. A bit like many in Europe who shop more regularly. And I now know where to go for fruits and veggies! A great tip to look at how your accommodations look before you get there. Far less surprises too.
Wow so cool that they have a Whatsapp group for female entrepreneurs. Its good to know so many things to consider for visiting Sayulita. I would love to visit it but not having a good wifi could be an issue. Also I will make sure I remember to stop by at the super markets after landing and its interesting that there are no super markets in Sayulita.
I guess the summers must be too hot to encourage much activity in Sayulita. I just spent a few days in Bahia de los Angeles, and it was also very hot there! (Over 100 degrees Fahrenheit!) Luckily there was plenty of water to get in to cool down! I enjoyed your very informative post.
How interesting to hear there are no supermarkets in Sayulita. Or that you won’t be easily accepted in their Facebook group. It must be a very small place, where everybody knows everybody and if you are an outsider they won’t let you in. I’ve been in Sayulita once, over 25 years ago, and I remember it like a very small village with not very many attractions. I remember they had wonderful Margaritas, though!
Well isnโt this a dreamy place! I love all the tips you shared and how you did it. It serves as a quick guide. Definitely love that there is a market every Friday, that Caroline is the best deal and there are no supermarkets.
I am sure to love this place. I love doing my shopping from a variety of shops by going around rather than being in a supermarket. Although initially I used to be excited. Great tips for Sayulta and very well thought out.
Loving all of your posts about Sayulita! They are honest and helpful. Super appreciate the tips.
Just like you, I also don’t understand why rates at the airport are higher. ๐
This was a great post and so informative. We are heading there in 3 days for a week for our son’s wedding. Flying into PVR, getting a few groceries then heading to Sayulita. Wondering where is best to get Pesos as all US airport currency conversion shops are closed due to covid. Also, how recent is your information regarding covid testing to return to US? Thanks in advance and I can’t wait to read more!