The Most Beautiful Beaches Near Sayulita Mexico

You could easily while away all your beachside hours in Sayulita, with its many activities, good food and margaritas – though if enjoying yourself in town proves too much, there’s always the beauty of the surrounding area to take in. Here are some of the best nearby beaches perfect for day trips, picnics and sun fests.

San Francisco

Lovingly called San Pancho by its fans, this small, touristy beach town is just up the road from Sayulita and has a number of good places to eat as well as small, local hotels. The town is a favorite with internationals, many of whom are full-time or part-time residents here. The immediate beachfront is bordered by a handful of beach shacks and lounge chairs for rent, but walk just a little north or south from the main town beach entrance and you’ll find yourself in the companies of just handful of other swimmers and surfers.

San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico

Marieta Islands

Created thousands of years ago by volcanoes, the Marieta Islands are home to a ‘hidden beach’ – a sun-drenched opening in the middle of one of the islands only accessible through a watery tunnel and then only at low tide. This place is a popular tourist destination, but access is controlled to the point that it is never crowded. Its draw is not just its virgin splendor, but also the vast quantity of marine life within its waters.

Marieta Islands, Mexico

Punta Mita

What was once a small fishing village is now an exclusive resort and residential development that forms part of the Riviera Nayarit, with some of the world’s biggest names in hotels situated on this small peninsula. There are lots of beaches to explore, the most exclusive being those private beaches in front of five-star hotels that look out over the ocean. A few great surfing spots ensure that the place holds on to at least a little bit of its bohemian vibe.

Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico

2. Las Animas, Las Caletas, and Majahuitas

These three ‘virgin’ beaches are located just south of Puerto Vallarta, and are only accesible by taking a boat ride from Boca de Tomatlan, a little fishing town with local pangas boat taxis that will take you to the first beach, Las Animas, in about 45 minutes. The beaches have a handful of small restaurants but no hotels to speak of, and are each tiny strips that fill up on the weekend and holidays with mostly national tourists, but during the week are mellow spots to sip out of a coconut and play in the water.

Las Animas, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas │© Andy Blackledge / Flickr

Yelapa

Another delighful beach town reachable only via the ocean, Yelapa has stunning isolated beauty combined with a few very high-end boutique hotels and beachy restaurants. The isolation is not for everyone – there’s no cell service for example – but for those wanting to get away from it all, it’s the perfect place. You can take a water taxi from either Boca de Tomatlan or the Playa los Muertos dock right in the heart of Puerto Vallarta.

Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico

Punta Raza

Passing through the quaint town of El Monteón, Punta Raza is on its way to be becoming a tourist hotspot with hotels and developments. But it’s not there yet, and there is still time to enjoy its secluded beauty and its main attraction, the sea turtle camp. The new Punta Raza tourist club just recently opened up here with swimming pools, eateries, bathrooms and shops.

Punta Raza, Nayarit, Mexico

3. Las Cuevas and Mal Pasos

These two beaches just north of Sayulita are two of the truly virgin beaches on this list. There are no restaurants and no shops, so come with what you need for the day. Las Cuevas is formed by massive rocks beaten smooth by the ocean – Mal Pasos can be reached by a passageway through the rocks. These beaches are accessible by land but are much easier reached by sea on a local water taxi. Be careful of the strong rip tides here, but enjoy the isolated glory.

Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.