Sayulita, Mexico
Above: Sayulita is a laid-back beach town on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, just north of Puerto Vallarta
Sayulita Lifestyle Highlights
* Rub shoulders with an eclectic mix of expats, tourists, locals, artists, musicians.
* Catch a sunset or sunrise from your rooftop palapa overlooking the Pacific Ocean
* Enjoy a wide range of dining and night life without the crowds or high prices found in most resort communities
* Skip in to nearby Puerto Vallarta for U.S. style shopping, diverse entertainment options, activities and events.
About Sayulita, Mexico
Sayulita is a funky mixture of easy going California surf culture, a dose of traditional Mexican heritage, a sprinkle of outdoorsy, affluent American tourists, and a sub-culture of Mexican artisans, traveling musicians, and backpackers. Well to do retirees from the U.S., Canada and Europe also enter into the mix, some of whom live in nearby Puerto Vallarta and other surrounding villages such as Punta de Mita and San Francisco (aka San Pancho). Sayulita features a beautiful clean beach infront of town with consistent surf breaks and a modest level of foreign tourists.
Above: Sayulita really does feel like California during the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The locals in Sayulita are warm and seemingly appreciative of the foreign influence. The overall vibe of the place is reminiscent of Southern Cal in the 60s and 70s. Fine dining, live jazz, traditional Mexican music and even hip hop and break dancing all thrive here in small doses. Well removed from the highway traffic, the air fills with musical notes, children’s laughter and birds singing and squawking amongst the surrounding vegetation.
Sayulita is not as neatly pruned as more established beach resort towns, which lends to its charm. Stray (but friendly) dogs roam the town and ramshackle housing blends eccentrically with elegant boutique hotels. Espresso bars, taco stands, and cafes serving vegan wraps and organic burritos all compete successfully for tourist dollars. Sayulita is a fusion like none other.
Above: The crown jewel of Sayulita would be living in one of the many hill top homes dotting the landscape.
Like most of Mexico, tourism in Sayulita peaks in the winter months of December – April. Most tourists only stay for a few days, but there exists a core group of expats who live here for at least six months per year. The whole area feels very safe… the area in and around is about as safe as it gets in Mexico.
Real estate is reasonably priced, with many properties reduced from the high levels reached in 2007. Sayulita real estate tends to track the California real estate market to some degree and this is why prices have been dropping for the past couple of years (there are a lot of California license plates found around town). Nice two bedroom homes on the hills surrounding the town with ocean views start at $300,000. A more modest two bedroom home centrally located near the town without the views can be found for under $200,000.
Above: The skyline of Sayulita is an eclectic mixture of roof top patios, thatch covered restaurants and sun-drenched palm trees.
There are quite a few good restaurants with decent wine selection. Overall the village offers a great balance of surf, dining, social ambiance but still quiet with hardly any traffic.
The small size of the Sayulita community makes it easy to meet people and make friends. Everyone from retired financial planners to surf-hippies, to 30-something escapees seem to dwell in harmony along with peaceful Mexican families. Gone are pesky street vendors, timeshare pushers, greedy taxi drivers and other annoyances you might find in Puerto Vallarta. Located just 40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta international airport and all of the amenities provided by a large resort city, Sayulita is a world of its own.
Retirees will be hard pressed to find a more attractive place to spend the winter in terms of value, amenities, convenience, health care, safety, climate, and cost of living. It’s draw backs would be the hot and steamy summers, at times making the afternoons unbearable without air conditioning. The affects of package tourism can be felt in the heart of Puerto Vallarta (pesky street vendors, crowded beaches, etc.) but this is largely absent in Punta de Mita and north toward Sayulita. The area offers something for everyone and, combined with its convenient access, scores big points as one of the top retirement destinations worldwide.
Around Sayulita
San Pancho, the next town north of Sayulita, harbors an even lesser known expat community. Real estate is for the most part even pricier than Sayulita as San Pancho has positioned itself s one of the more exclusive residential settings. While Sayulita attracts a fair number of tourists during the peak months of December to April, San Pancho stays relatively quiet. Sayulita offers many more restaurants, nightlife and shops and those living in San Pancho will often visit Sayulita for its amenities and its more consistent surf break.
Beyond San Pancho to the north is Lo de Marcos, up until now, relatively undeveloped for tourism or expat life. Properties in Lo de Marcos are significantly cheaper than in Sayulita. Lots near the beach can be had for $80,000 and homes are found (Mexican style and needing TLC) from $150,000. These prices are long gone in neighboring San Pancho and Sayulita.
Above: Puerto Vallarta remains a popular retirement destination and the smaller towns to the north make for a quieter, more serene existence.
The construction boom rages on in Punta de Mita at the north end of Banderas Bay about 15 minutes south of Sayulita. Punta de Mita has been opened up with a new road and infrastructure with the blessing of Mr. Vincent Fox, Mexico’s former president. Construction of a Jack Nicholas golf course and accompanying low rise condo dwellings are under development on a large scale. Nearby Litibu, hosting of the finest white sand beaches in the region, has also been earmarked for development, with ¼ acre beachfront lots on sale for $1 Million.
Bucerias, just beyond the Puerto Vallarta airport to the north is slightly more laid back than central or Nuevo Puerto Vallarta, retaining some of its original Mexican charm and Mexican cost of living. Properties here are more affordable to purchase or rent than nearby Nuevo Vallarta and many expats consider it an attractive and cheaper alternative to being right in the heart of Puerto Vallarta.
Above: Shot from the beaches of Bucerias with Puerto Vallarta and magnificent mountain tops in the distance
In general, the area surrounding Puerto Vallarta within one hour to the north offers a comfortable and relatively modern standard of living. The economy is for the most part healthy, although some overbuilding of condos may occur, the fact that it is an established international travel destination close to the U.S. border and very safe by Mexican standards lends to the inherent value of the area.
Location Map of Sayulita, Mexico
Sayulita, Mexico Basic Facts
Population: 2500
How To Get There: Direct Flights to Puerto Vallarta from many U.S. and Canadian cities. 45 minute drive from Puerto Vallarta airport to Sayulita.
Travel Time From Nearest U.S. City: 3 hour flight + 45 minute drive from Los Angeles = 3.75 hours
Average Cost to Buy a 2 Bedroom Home in Prime Central Area: $300,000
Average Cost to Rent a 2 Bedroom Home in Prime Central Area: Varies throughout season but furnished homes can be found for under $1500/month
Primary Advantages: Accessibility from U.S., Proximity to major city, (golf, shopping, conveniences), Beach and coastal lifestyle
Primary Disadvantages: Immediate services and conveniences are limited (no major supermarket in town), Cost of housing
Climate (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)
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Places To Stay
Sayulita offers a wide range of homes for rent nightly, weekly and monthly. Being within a short walk to the town square is a major benefit unless you prefer something more secluded and private. See www.sayulitalife.com for further details.
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