Digital Nomad in Sayulita, Mexico: A Complete Guide

Why Sayulita?

For me, there are three main reasons that I loved being a digital nomad in Sayulita, Nayarit.

The first one is surfing. Jack and I are not good, but we love trying. Sayulita is a great place for beginners. The beach is right in town and the waves are consistent. The area for beginners is on the left, and an area for more advanced surfers is on the right. The surf is best at low tide.

Mexican food is my favorite cuisine and another reason why I loved working remote from Sayulita. Tacos, spicy salsa, tequila… am I in heaven?

Finally, I just love the vibes. It’s such a chill town; a lot of expats end up here to live the ‘slow life‘.

My day-to-day consisted of yoga in the morning, work, surfing in the afternoon, work, tacos for dinner.

A Digital Nomad’s Guide to Sayulita, Mexico

Things to Do in Sayulita

My favorite activities in Sayulita were eating tacos, surfing and practicing yoga; but there are plenty of other things to do.

Puerto Vallarta is only 45 minutes from Sayulita, which is one of the most popular Mexican cities among tourists. You know there’s going to be tons of excursions from Puerto Vallarta like snorkeling trips, scuba diving, whale watching, and boat trips.

There are also other beaches near Sayulita that are worth visiting like Punta Mita and Isla del Coral. Or if you like hiking, Cerro del Mono and Vista Bahia Cabañas would be worth a visit.

Here are some exciting adventures in Sayulita to keep you busy:

1. Surfing: Sayulita is renowned for its surfing scene, attracting surfers of all levels. Take a surf lesson or rent a board to catch some waves at the beach.
2. Beach Time: Spend relaxing days on the beautiful sandy beaches of Sayulita. Whether you’re sunbathing, swimming, or enjoying a beachside massage, the beach is the perfect place to unwind.
3. Explore the Town: Wander through the vibrant streets of Sayulita and discover its colorful buildings, shops, and art galleries. The town has a bohemian atmosphere with a laid-back vibe.
4. Yoga and Wellness: Sayulita is home to numerous yoga studios and wellness centers. Join a yoga class or indulge in a spa treatment to rejuvenate your mind and body; I loved practicing at The Rose Room.
5. Jungle Hiking and Nature Walks: Venture into the jungles surrounding Sayulita, such as Monkey Mountain, to explore the trails, encounter diverse flora and fauna, and enjoy stunning viewpoints.
6. Ecotours and Wildlife Encounters: Take part in ecotours to explore the local ecosystems, spot wildlife such as sea turtles, or go on a whale-watching excursion (during the season).
7. Dining and Nightlife: Sayulita offers a variety of dining options, from traditional Mexican cuisine to international flavors. After sunset, enjoy the vibrant nightlife with live music, bars, and beachside bonfires.
8. Shopping: Explore the local markets and boutiques for unique handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs.
9. Day Trips: Take a day trip to nearby attractions such as Punta de Mita, Marietas Islands, or the charming town of San Pancho (San Francisco).
10. Discover your favorite street taco spot, but how can you just pick one…

No matter what your interests are, Sayulita provides a mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences that will make your visit memorable.

How to Get to Sayulita

Sayulita is located about 45 minutes northwest of Puerto Vallarta, on the pacific coast of Mexico. The easiest way to get there is to fly into Puerto Vallarta, and get a ride or drive to Sayulita.

There is currently a highway under construction between Sayulita and Guadalajara which will eventually make that a viable option as well. But as of now, it takes way too long to make sense.

Uber

Uber is available in the area, and is a great option if you are coming from Puerto Vallarta. Going the other way however, Uber is more scarce and its more reliable to call a taxi so you aren’t left in a situation where no cars available.

All the taxi’s line up near the main square.

In Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita, Ubers may ask you to pay them in cash and cancel your ride on the app. They say it is just a way to get all of their money so Uber doesn’t take a cut, but I have since learned it is a Narco scam. Use your own best judgement if you get into this situation.

Either way, Ubers are usually much less expensive than taxi’s assuming you can find one.

You can also book shuttles in advance to meet you at the airport, but all the one’s I’ve researched cost a lot more, so I would just stick with Uber or a taxi.

Getting Around Sayulita

Sayulita is so small you can definitely walk most everywhere. However, golf carts are also a popular mode of transportation, especially if you live up on the hill or on the outskirts of town.

Golf Cart Rental

There are many golf cart rental places in town that are popular among vacationers.

In my opinion, it is a bit pricey to rent for the long term. But it is really fun to get one for a weekend, although finding parking is another issue. We had some friends visit us one weekend so we got one of the extra long golf carts and had a blast driving it around.

But be warned…

The golf carts are electric and require time plugged into an outlet to charge. When we rented our golf cart, the cables we were given were faulty and didn’t actually charge the cart, so we almost got stranded outside of town in the middle of the night.

We barely made it home with some pushing, a downhill slope, and a lot of luck.

Where to Stay in Sayulita

Sayulita is a very small town, so there aren’t too many options.

Unfortunately on google maps there isn’t a rooster locator. In both places we stayed in Sayulita, the roosters would wake us up in the middle of the night, and disturb our conference calls during the day.

It’s not a guarantee, but I think staying on the east or west sides of the town, where more expats live, might have a lower chance of roosters. Whereas staying on the southern edge of town, where we stayed for a month, is a high chance of roosters.

Airbnb

If you are considering being a digital nomad in Sayulita, I suggest you book your accommodation ASAP. Especially if you will be overlapping with the high season.

Airbnb’s will average $1200-$2500 a month, but they quickly sell out.

If money is less of a concern, you can also rent beautiful villas for $3500+ a month, most with breathtaking views of the ocean.

Where to Work Remote in Sayulita

The WiFi in Sayulita is overall decent, but it tends to get slow during peak seasons when the town is bombarded with visitors.

The town is also prone to occasional power outages. When we were working remote from Sayulita for about 5 weeks, it happened a couple times, but only once was for a significant amount of time.

Although Sayulita is a fairly small town, there are quite a few options of cafes and coworking spaces for working.

Read it now: Best Coworking Spaces in Sayulita for Digital Nomads

What to Eat in Sayulita

The food in Mexico is hard to beat. And it’s one of the reasons I loved working remote from Sayulita so much. It’s a small town, but don’t let that fool you – there are tons of places to eat! These are only a few of my favorites…

Street Tacos

Toñas Tacos (the actual best)

Tacos Al Pastor Tal Ivan

Taqueria Los Reyes

Restaurants (Mexican)

Khalo Cucina

El Itacate

La Katrina Restaurant & Bar (also a KC Chiefs bar)

El Tiburón

Chaman

Burrito Revolution

My favorite tacos are actually from Tacos Prietos, but apparently they closed 🙁

Restaurants (if you get sick of Mexican food)

Achara (Thai)

La Rustica (Italian)

Restaurante Trattoria Toscana (Italian)

Henshin Sushi Restaurant

Atico Breakfast Cafe & Bar (also serves poke bowls and hamburgers)

Is Sayulita Safe?

There’s no denying there is a cartel presence in Mexico, but unlike other major tourist areas, Sayulita is much safer.

According to one of our taxi drivers, areas like Cancun are highly sought after by the different cartels due to the mass amounts of tourists and potential money to be made. They fight amongst themselves over who will have control.

But in Sayulita and the surrounding areas, it is all under the ‘jurisdiction’ of one cartel, therefore there is no violence or clashing between groups.

Furthermore, unlike Cancun or even Playa del Carmen where you will frequently be offered “coke, molly, weed” while walking around, Sayulita is at least less in your face about it. You can still find drugs for sure, but you wont get harassed on the streets about it.

I joke that Sayulita almost feels like its getting ‘gentrified‘, but it kind of feels that way. It’s growing in popularity and attracting expats from the USA and Europe, specifically women and families.

On a positive note, that also means it feels generally safe. And the large number of single and independent women in town signals to me that others feel safe there as well.

As the town grows and attracts even more expats, this all may change. But for now and the foreseeable future, I’d say it is a pretty safe place to live, work, and even raise a family.

Best Time to Work Remote in Sayulita

In terms of temperature, Sayulita is an amazing place to visit year round. Average temps fluctuate slightly between seasons, but generally stay somewhere in the 80s, or low 90s in summer. However, here are a few seasons you might want to avoid…

Tourist Season

Speaking from personal experience, peak tourist seasons are something I would avoid.

Christmas break sees a huge increase in visitors resulting in crowded surf breaks, expensive accommodations, and sold out yoga classes. The WiFi also slows down city-wide due to this influx.

This lasts from early December to mid January; once school starts back up in the US, the crowds seem to dissipate.

Hurricane Season

Another time to exercise caution is hurricane season. Maybe you were like me and didn’t realize hurricanes hit the pacific side of Mexico. I mean, they don’t hit California? But sadly they do, and just this year there were actually several hurricane scares, resulting in damage due to high winds and flooding.

Hurricane season usually lasts from June through November.

Rainy Season

Coinciding with hurricane season, is the rainy season in Sayulita. It tends to last from June to it’s peak in September. Many of the roads get washed out, and the river that runs through town occasionally floods.

So when is the best time to visit Sayulita?

I think the best time to digital nomad in Sayulita is right after the winter tourist season until mid-summer (mid-January to mid-June). But in all honesty, any time will be amazing in a place like Sayulita.

What to Pack for Sayulita

Sayulita is a very relaxed place with a yogi-backpacker-surf vibe so pretty much anything goes. Being a surf town, many people walk around town barefoot – which personally grosses me out – and wear swimming suits.

I always kept my shoes on, but got to the point where I was just wearing my bikini around town if I was heading to the beach.

Make Sayulita Your Next Digital Nomad Destination

Sayulita, Mexico is a true gem for digital nomads seeking a laid-back and inspiring destination to work remotely. With its charming bohemian vibe, picturesque beaches, and vibrant community, Sayulita is the perfect blend of productivity and relaxation.

Whether you’re spending your days surfing the waves or immersing yourself in the local art and cuisine, Sayulita is a place where work and play seamlessly intertwine. Sayulita truly embodies the essence of the digital nomad lifestyle, making it an unforgettable destination that will leave you feeling energized, inspired, and grateful for the opportunity to live and work in such a captivating place.

I hope you are convinced to visit Sayulita, Nayarit during your digital nomad journey. It is a great town with a great vibe, and even better food!