ABOUT SAYULITA

Incredible beaches, lush jungles, and a taste of rural Mexico - that's what you'll find when you visit Sayulita. Until the Aztecs arrived around the 12th century, the area was dense, remote, uninhabited jungle. European missionaries came in the 1800s, but it wasn't until around 1941, when the first families arrived from the mountains of Jalisco, that Sayulita got its official start. The government provided ejido land, or land to be communally shared, to the new arrivals. For the next twenty years, Sayulita was not much more than coconut palms and fishing palapas. But in the late 60s, when a nearby highway was constructed, surfers arrived and began to tell their friends about the pretty village with its warm water and consistent waves. Still, for many years, Sayulita remained a quiet, picturesque fishing village. Today, however, the town has nearly 4,000 residents. While still off the beaten path, Sayulita has begun to attract upscale tourists and adventurers from all over the world thanks to the variety of shops, galleries, restaurants, and available activities. Thanks to its proximity to Puerto Vallarta and the natural beauty of the area, Sayulita now has some of the most sought-after real estate in all of Mexico, and along with its growth, the town has a new ecological awareness.

Location, Weather, Time

On the central west coast of Mexico, just 35 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita is on the 100-mile “Riviera Nayarit,” Mexico's hottest new destination. Located on the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands, Sayulita's sub-tropical climate with 345 days of sunshine a year is often compared to Hawaii's. During the summer, temperatures reach 90 degrees F with high humidity and rain June through September, but there's always a cooling breeze from the Bay of Banderas. In the winter, the Bay of Banderas offers shelter from harsh winds and hard weather, and days are generally warm, sunny, and dry, with balmy nights. Peak tourist season is December and January.

Maps: www.sayulita.com/maps.htm
Weather: www.sayulita.com/information.htm
Current Puerto Vallarta time: worldtimeserver.com/weather_in_MX.aspx?forecastid=MXJO0047
Current Sayulita time: virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Mexico/Estado_de_Nayarit/Sayulita-925711/TravelGuide-Sayulita.html

Ambiance

Sayulita is an eclectic destination. Look around and you'll see Mexicans who live and work in town, tourists from around the world, North Americans who own second homes, and even Huichol natives-descendents of the Aztecs who sell their wares daily in the town square. While there are authentic, hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants, there are also galleries with fine art, stores with Mexican folk art, textiles, sculpture, and jewelry, as well as clothing boutiques, spas, and upscale restaurants serving French, Italian, Argentine, and fine Mexican food. Beach vendors sell silver jewelry, Mexican blankets, and souvenirs of all kinds. At night, you'll find strolling musicians, dances, live bands of all kinds, plus the occasional outdoor movie or town fiesta.

Despite its growth in recent years, Sayulita is still a world away from the huge resorts of Puerto Vallarta. It's a charming and welcoming town with the feel (and the cobblestone and dirt streets) of rural Mexico, but with more than enough amenities to please every kind of traveler.

Basics

You can use US dollars and credit cards at many of the stores and restaurants, and Sayulita now has a money exchange and several ATM machines. The electrical current is the same as in the U.S. and Canada (110 volt 60), so you can bring your iPod or mp3 player, and you'll be able to keep it charged. You can find food, beverages, and basic supplies at the tiendas (small grocery stores). There are Internet cafes so you can keep in touch with home (about 20 pesos or $2 per hour), and payphones that use phone cards available at the grocery store (about 50 pesos or $5 for a five-minute call to the U.S). Some cell phones work in Sayulita but others don't, so call your service provider before you bring your cell phone with you. Should you need medical attention, there's a 24-hour doctor who speaks English located right next to a pharmacy where English is also spoken, and a basic hospital in the nearby town of San Pancho.

Currency converter: www.xe.com/ucc

On Arrival

You'll be given a tourist card on the plane to fill out. Show your passport on arrival, and turn in the top portion of your tourist card, keeping the bottom portion for departure (don't lose it, there's a fine if you do, and you'll have to get another in Puerto Vallarta at the Mexican Immigration office before you can leave). Then you claim your bags and go through Customs. You'll see a push button there, and if you get a green light, proceed; if you get a red light, your bags will be searched. Then exit into the main lobby of the terminal, where you'll find your Villa Amor shuttle driver.