Sayulita With Kids (2026): Where to Stay, Eat & What to Do
The kids walking to Sayulita Beach to enjoy sunset
We got married in Sayulita ten years ago. We’ve been back more times than we can count. This spring break we brought our girls — ages 4 and 7 — and showed them one of our favorite towns in Mexico for the first time. Sayulita has changed over the decade since our wedding. It’s more crowded, more developed, and harder to book in peak season. But it still has the surf town soul that made us fall in love with it — the cobblestone streets, the taco stands, the square at night, the way the whole town seems to move at a pace dictated by the ocean. It’s still worth it, especially with kids.
Here’s what we know after years of coming here.
View from Villa Corazon, a two-bedroom unit at Villa Amor
Where to Stay
Our pick for families. A condo hotel with one, two, and three-bedroom units — we stayed in Villa Corazon, a two-bedroom with a view over the town and ocean that’s hard to beat. There’s a good pool on property and the location puts you in easy walking distance of both the main beach and Playa de los Muertos. The right choice if you want space, a kitchen, and flexibility over a traditional hotel room.
About five minutes from the center of town with its own private beach — which in Sayulita is a significant advantage. Quieter than staying in the heart of things, better for families who want a beach they don’t have to share with the whole town. Beautiful property.
Nomada Wellness Hotel- A beautiful boutique option with a pool overlooking the town and sea. The right choice if you want a more hotel-like experience with a wellness focus.
A stunning five-bedroom villa on the quiet north side of Sayulita, directly on the beach but still walkable into town. The decor is beautiful and the location is the best of both worlds — peaceful enough to feel like a retreat, central enough not to feel isolated. Ideal for larger families or groups. See on casarosadasayulita.com.
Enjoying the pool at Villa Amor
Where to Eat
Sayulita has excellent food at every price point — taco stands, sit-down restaurants, fresh juice carts, and everything in between. We have a dedicated Favorite Restaurants in Sayulita guide here with the full breakdown. The short version: eat tacos from the stands in the square at least once, find a spot on the main street for dinner with a view of the action, and don’t skip the fresh oysters at Playa de los Muertos if the vendors are out. Find the list of our favorite places to eat here.
Best Beaches
Playa de los Muertos — Our beach for this trip and the one we’d recommend for families. It’s south of the main beach — you walk through the Villa Amor property and through a small cemetery to get there, which sounds odd but takes five minutes and is entirely worth it. Once there: lounge chairs and umbrellas for 300 pesos, food and drink service, and vendors walking the beach selling oysters fresh from the bay. We arrived early enough one morning to watch the divers coming up from the water and bought oysters directly from them minutes after they swam ashore. One of those genuinely memorable moments that doesn’t come from planning.
Sayulita Main Beach — Gets very crowded during peak season, which is worth knowing before you commit to a full day here. That said, it’s the best place on the beach for surf lessons — the waves are consistent and beginner-friendly, and there are multiple schools operating right off the sand. Good for a morning of lessons, less ideal for a full relaxed beach day with young kids in July or August.
Enjoy the many restaurants on Sayulita’s main street
Things to Do
Surf Lessons — The waves at Sayulita beach are genuinely well-suited for beginners, which makes it one of the better places in Mexico to put kids on a board for the first time. Lunazul has been operating here for years with a surf shop right on the beach. Our 7-year-old went twice.
Ally Cat Sailing — We’ve done this three times now and it’s delivered every time. Ally Cat runs whale watching trips through mid-March and sailing excursions beyond that. The whale watching season is worth timing a trip around if you can manage it — the Sea of Cortez and surrounding waters have excellent sightings. Good for kids from about age four upward as long as they’re comfortable on a boat.
The Square at Night — Not an activity in the organized sense, but worth putting on the list. The main plaza fills up every evening with families, food vendors, churro carts, and live music. Letting kids run around the square while adults eat tacos from the surrounding stands is one of the better evenings Sayulita offers and costs essentially nothing.
Day trip to San Pancho — About 20 minutes north, quieter than Sayulita, with a good beach and a handful of excellent restaurants. Worth an afternoon if you want a break from the Sayulita pace.
Looking for whales on Ally Cat Sailing trip
View of Sayulita Beach
Things to Know Before You Go
ATMs — Can and do run out of cash, particularly in peak season. Get pesos at the Puerto Vallarta airport or at a bank on the highway on your way into town rather than counting on finding cash once you arrive.
Groceries — Most transportation from Puerto Vallarta will stop at a large grocery store on the highway if you ask. Worth doing — stock up on water, snacks, and basics before you get into town where options are smaller and more expensive.
Water — Drink bottled only. This applies everywhere in Mexico but particularly here.
Coatis — On our most recent trip we had multiple encounters with coatis — raccoon-like animals that have learned to break into hotel rooms and steal food. We hadn’t noticed them on previous trips but they were a genuine nuisance this time. Keep food secured and room doors closed.
Sewage — Sayulita has been dealing with sewage issues affecting ocean water quality for several years. We were told on this visit that the system has been fully rebuilt. We didn’t notice any issues during our stay, but it’s worth checking current water quality reports before booking if this is a concern, particularly for families with young children who will be in the water constantly.
Getting there — Puerto Vallarta is the nearest airport, about 45 minutes to an hour from Sayulita depending on traffic. Most hotels and vacation rentals can arrange private transfers.
When to Visit
December through April is peak season — weather is reliably excellent, the town is busiest, and everything needs to be booked well in advance. Whale watching runs through mid-March. We went over spring break, which is peak of peak — beautiful weather but the beaches were crowded. May through November is the off-season: hotter, more humid, some rain, and significantly fewer people. Late October and November can be a good window if you want the town at a slower pace.
FAQs About Sayulita With Kids
Is Sayulita safe for families? Yes — it’s a well-established family destination with a relaxed, low-crime feel. Standard Mexico travel precautions apply: drink bottled water, keep valuables secured, use reputable transportation.
How do you get to Sayulita? Fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport, then it’s about 45 minutes to an hour by private transfer or taxi. No domestic connection required.
Is Sayulita good for young children? Yes — the surf lessons, the beach, the square at night, and the sailing work well from about age three or four upward. The town is walkable and the pace is relaxed enough that it doesn’t feel like logistics management.
How many days do you need in Sayulita? Four to five days is the sweet spot — enough time to settle into the pace, try both beaches, do a sailing trip, and eat well without running out of things to do.
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