Five Reasons Why Sayulita is a Great Family Vacation Location For You Too

Prior to having kids, I loved traveling and tried to fit it in whenever I could. During my teaching years when I had my summers off, I would spend a month plus abroad, mostly in Central America to learn Spanish (I suck at it still). When my husband gifted me a trip anywhere for my most recent birthday, I knew 2 things- I wanted to include the whole fam and I wanted us to go to a tropical, international destination. Living in Denver, we have quick access to Mexico. We decided on Sayulita via Puerto Vallarta, which was only a 3 hour flight- easy peasy. We knew it would be a fun trip, but having never traveled abroad with our kids, we were a bit nervous about safety, food born illnesses, getting around, etc. Turns out, we felt entirely safe and it was very easy to get from one place to the next. Here’s why I recommend traveling to Sayulita with your family.

1. Beautiful beaches: Sayulita is known for its beautiful beaches with soft white sand and clear blue waters. The main beach in Sayulita is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. I was a little nervous about what I read about the surf being too rough for kids, but honestly, my kids were totally safe splashing in the shore and going out with me and my husband into the waves. When the waves were big, which tended to be in the late afternoon, the kids worked on their sand castles and running from the incoming waves. It’s also worth mentioning that sunsets are gorgeous.
   
   

2. Family-friendly: Sayulita felt safe to us and has plenty of activities that are perfect for families. From surfing lessons and snorkeling to hiking and exploring nearby waterfalls, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Our favorite family activity was the whale watching trip we took with La Orca de Sayulita, which was led by a marine biologist who took us to see so many humpbacks and listen to them singing underwater. My kids LOVED it.
   
   And honestly, we never felt vulnerable or uncomfortable while wandering around with our kids. Granted, we were in our Airbnb by 8 every night (thus avoiding the night partiers, which go ALL night- our host supplied earplugs so we could block it out), but everyone was totally friendly and accommodating to us and our children.
   

3. Cultural experiences: Sayulita is a traditional Mexican town with a vibrant culture. Families can explore the town's colorful streets, visit local markets, and learn about the local customs and traditions. The street markets have so many fun treasures for children (and adults) and we enjoyed the kids’ SUP boarding races that brought a fun crowd to the beaches in the mornings. Mariachi singers will perform near restaurants and street artists abound. It was also fun to see people riding their horses and donkeys through the streets.
   

4. Delicious food: Sayulita is known for its delicious food, including fresh seafood, traditional Mexican dishes, and international cuisine. Families can enjoy meals together at local restaurants or take cooking classes to learn how to prepare traditional Mexican dishes. Our only issue occurred when my husband decided to eat the ice in his margarita at a local restaurant (DO NOT eat the ice). Otherwise, everything was great, including the oysters we bought from the friendliest girl ever on the beach (we watched them pull them in and shuck them). We especially loved the breakfast joint Yah-Yah Sayulita Cafe, which had the best croissants I’ve had in a long time.
   

5. Relaxation central: Sayulita offers a tranquil and laid-back atmosphere, perfect for families who want to relax and unwind. You can rent surfboards, get massages on the beach, or just wander around via golf carts to explore the town. Everyone is there to enjoy themselves and there’s a generally upbeat mood at all times. The only caveat for families may be nighttime- if you are in town, be prepared to hear noise all night long. We always use white noise machines on our phones wherever we go, so it was no problem for us.
   

   In the end, Sayulita ended up being the perfect tropical weeklong escape for our family. If you’d like to learn more about how to plan your own trip, get in touch! Also, Sayulita Life was an invaluable resource to us, so definitely check them out for planning your trip.
   
   Keep scrolling to see the pics I took on my Fujifilm X100v during our trip.