I have written posts about the other three main neighbourhoods in Sayulita being North End, South End and Gringo Hill. But I haven’t yet dedicated a post showcasing the area where most visitors will be spending their time. Downtown Sayulita is bursting with Life! Downtown is where the action is, restaurants are and definitely is the busiest part of town.
Most of these photo’s in this post have been taken early in the morning, in an attempt at giving a sense of what the streets are like, before they fill up with cars and people. The photo’s are real, unedited street views, not just the ultra insta worthy shots.
Town Square
Like every Mexican town, Sayulita has a town square and within it a church. The square is full of planters, palm trees, benches and flags. It is a nice place to have a seat and take in all of the festivities happening around you.
The church is quite small and very quaint. It has a sweetness within its simplicity. Outside the front door is garlanded with colourful scarves. Inside is a peaceful place of respite.
Streets
The downtown area is predominately two main streets that parallel the beach and Av. Revolucion that comes down from the highway at both ends and forms a ‘U’ in the downtown core.
The streets are super busy with vehicular traffic almost all day long. It gets so busy that traffic comes to a standstill and backs up all through town within a matter of minutes.
Restaurants & Shops
There is not really any housing downtown for residents. The few streets are full of small hotels, hostels, restaurants and retail shops. There is an OXXO (like a 711) and a Subway, the rest of the stores are boutique and unique.
Most of the shops have clothing and souvenirs geared towards tourists. The prices are high, the highest I have seen in Mexico for comparable items.
There is a good selection of restaurants in town. All are geared towards the tourist population. Two places serve exclusively Mexican fare and I found them equally delicious (Mary’s and Yeikame). I can find just about any type of food I fancy here. Italian (Trattoria Toscana), sushi, ribs, fries, burgers (Baby’s), ramen, high end dining (Xochi), street tacos, you name it, you can probably find someone making it.
Crowds, People & Visitors
The downtown neighbourhood is crowded, beyond what I find comfortable for any length of time. The area is packed, as is the beach in front, from mid morning until the wee hours. The atmosphere is vibrant and loud, people are out are having a great time.
If a traveller is coming to Sayulita to have rest and relaxation, I would definitely suggest you stay at least 10-15 minutes walk of the down town core. If you are early to bed and early to rise, or prioritize your sleep, I would also stay that far away.
However, if you are a night owl, this might just be the perfect neighbourhood for you! It will stay really loud, really late. There is a vibrant nightlife right in the core and the beach clubs stay open late into the night.
Sayulita really has the best of both worlds. There is enough real estate and neighbourhoods away from town, for visitors who are looking for boujie and luxury stays. Conversely, there are many rooms available for those who like to party or be in the thick of it all holiday long. Its a great little town to visit for a couple of days.
