Sayulita with Kids: Surf Lessons, Colorful Streets, and the Chillest Beach Town in Mexico
Why Sayulita is the perfect laid-back alternative to the big resorts - a bohemian beach town where kids learn to surf, streets burst with color, and the pace is gloriously slow.
I fell in love with Sayulita the moment our taxi dropped us on the dusty main road and a golden retriever wearing a bandana walked past carrying a surfboard in its mouth. Okay, the dog was not actually carrying the surfboard -- its owner was. But the dog was wearing a bandana, and the general vibe was exactly that carefree. Sayulita is everything the big Riviera Maya resorts are not: small, funky, colorful, and completely unhurried. And it turns out, it is also one of the best places in Mexico to travel with kids.
Why Sayulita Is the Anti-Resort Family Vacation
Sayulita is a small fishing village turned surf town on Mexico's Pacific coast, about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. There are no mega-resorts here, no all-inclusive buffets, no organized kids' clubs with name tags and schedules. Instead, there are taco stands on the beach, surf instructors who know every kid by name after the first lesson, and a town square where families gather at dusk to eat elotes (grilled corn) and watch their kids chase each other around the gazebo.
The beauty of Sayulita for families is that it forces you to actually be on vacation. Without the resort infrastructure telling you what to do every hour, you slow down. You eat when you are hungry. You surf when the waves look good. You wander the colorful streets and stumble on a gallery or a mezcal bar or a woman making fresh tortillas in her doorway. Your kids learn to be bored and then learn to not be bored, which is one of the most valuable skills travel can teach.
Kids Surf Lessons: The Main Event
Sayulita's main beach has gentle, consistent waves that are perfect for beginners. Multiple surf schools offer kids' lessons, and most will take children as young as five. WildMex and Lunazul are the most established schools with experienced instructors who specialize in teaching children.
A typical kids' lesson lasts about 90 minutes and includes beach instruction, practice on the sand, and time in the water with an instructor right beside them. Most kids are standing up (briefly) by the end of their first lesson. My six-year-old was addicted by day two and is still asking when we can go back.
Get your kids a UV-protective rash guard before the trip. Surf lessons mean hours in the water and the Pacific sun is no joke. The rash guard protects from both sunburn and board rash, and most surf schools require them anyway. For boogie boarding on their own, a lightweight kids' bodyboard is an investment that will get used every single day of your trip and many beach days after.
The Beaches
Main Beach (Playa Sayulita): The center of the action. Surf schools on the south end, calmer swimming on the north end, restaurants and bars lining the shore. The south end near the river mouth has smaller, gentler waves ideal for kids. The sand is golden, the water is warm, and the sunsets are spectacular. Set up a beach tent for shade and you can spend the entire day here.
Playa de los Muertos: A short walk south over the headland, this smaller beach is quieter and has calmer water. The walk takes about 10 minutes along a path through the jungle, which kids love. The beach is beautiful but there are no restaurants or services, so bring everything you need.
San Pancho (San Francisco): The next town north, about 15 minutes by car. San Pancho is Sayulita's quieter, more local cousin. The beach is wide and beautiful, the waves are bigger (not ideal for small swimmers), and the town has an artsy, community-focused vibe. Visit for a half-day trip and lunch at one of the excellent small restaurants.
Exploring Town
Sayulita's streets are an Instagram dream -- brightly painted buildings, street art on every corner, papel picado (perforated paper banners) strung between buildings, and shops selling everything from handmade jewelry to surfboard wax. Let the kids lead the walk and see what catches their eye. The town is small enough that you cannot really get lost, which gives everyone a bit of freedom.
The main plaza is the heart of town life, especially in the evenings. Food vendors set up around the square selling tacos, churros, fruit cups, and fresh juices. Street performers and musicians play on weekends. It is the kind of place where you sit on a bench with a cold beer while your kids play with local kids and nobody checks a phone for an hour.
The Friday night market is worth planning around -- local artisans sell handmade goods, food stalls serve everything from wood-fired pizza to fresh ceviche, and there is usually live music. It is crowded and vibrant and exactly the kind of sensory experience that makes travel with kids memorable.
Where to Eat
Sayulita's food scene is exceptional for a town this small. Here are our family favorites:
Street tacos: The stands on the main beach road serve the freshest fish tacos I have had in Mexico. Grilled mahi-mahi with cabbage, salsa, and a squeeze of lime, eaten standing up with sand on your feet. My kids ate these for lunch almost every day and never complained.
Chocobanana: A beloved local institution serving healthy-ish bowls, fresh juices, and the best banana pancakes in town. The treehouse-style seating is fun for kids and the portions are generous.
Don Pedro's: A slightly more upscale beachfront restaurant with incredible seafood. Go for sunset and sit with your feet in the sand. The kids' menu is solid, but honestly, the fish tacos from the appetizer menu are all anyone needs.
Mary's: In the center of town, serving traditional Mexican food that locals actually eat. The mole is outstanding and the prices are half of what the beachfront places charge.
Where to Stay
Skip the hotels (there are very few anyway) and rent a house or apartment. Sayulita is a vacation rental town, and you can find everything from simple apartments to stunning hillside villas with pools. The best locations are walking distance to the beach -- anything within a 10-minute walk of the plaza puts you in the heart of the action.
Look for a place with a pool if you have younger kids. After a morning of surf lessons and beach play, having a private pool for the afternoon is luxurious. Many rentals also have outdoor kitchens or patios with grills, which makes casual dinners at home easy and fun.
Getting There
Fly into Puerto Vallarta (PVR). From the airport, it is about a 45-minute drive north along the coastal highway. You can arrange a private transfer, take a taxi, or rent a car. We rented a car, which gave us flexibility for day trips to San Pancho and Punta de Mita, but a car is not essential -- Sayulita is entirely walkable and taxis are cheap for occasional outings.
Practical Tips
Waves: The south end of the main beach is calmer and better for small kids. The waves can get rough during Pacific storm season (June-October). Watch for red flags and always supervise closely.
Sun: Apply reef-safe sunscreen generously and reapply after every swim. The Pacific coast sun is intense, especially between 11 AM and 3 PM. Seek shade during midday -- the taco stands are helpfully positioned for this purpose.
Bugs: Sand flies (no-see-ums) can be annoying on the beach, especially at dawn and dusk. Bug spray helps, as does keeping moving. They are worse during rainy season.
Budget: Sayulita is significantly cheaper than the Riviera Maya resorts. A family of four can eat three full meals for under $40 USD. Accommodation ranges from $80-200/night for comfortable rentals. Surf lessons run about $50-70 per child.
Why We Keep Coming Back
We have been to Sayulita three times now, and each trip is better than the last. My kids have surf friends there. They have a favorite taco stand and a favorite beach spot and a favorite stray dog they feed tortilla scraps to every evening. Sayulita is not a place you visit -- it is a place that becomes yours. And for a family looking for Mexico beyond the resort gates, it does not get better than this.
Save this guide for later A waterproof phone case lets you take photos worry-free. A dry bag is a lifesaver for keeping valuables safe at the beach. Bring a reusable water bottle for everyone - staying hydrated makes a huge difference with kids.
Beach Day Essentials
Here are our tried-and-tested picks for this trip:
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