Sayulita is a sleepy beach town along the Pacific coastline, known for its colorful streets, bustling nightlife, and laid back surfer vibes. It’s the perfect destination for a beach getaway—but there’s plenty of other activities here, other than soaking up the sun, from visiting the so-called “Galapagos Islands” of Mexico to ATVing through the jungle! Here’s 9 of the best Sayulita tours offering some serious adventures in this vibrant corner of Mexico!
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1. Marietas Islands: All-Inclusive Full Day Boat Tour
Length: 6 hours
If you’re going to just pick one option out of all of the Sayulita tours, I’d recommend this one that goes to the Marietas Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Nayarit that’s renowned for its incredible wildlife. In fact, it’s one of the only places in the world where you can see the famed blue-footed boobies (hence, the nickname the “Galapagos of Mexico!”).
On this tour, you’ll cruise to the islands on a comfortable boat, while enjoying a tasty breakfast. Once you land, you’ll have plenty of time to explore its main beach and snorkel through its coral reefs, where you’ll see tropical fish and, if you’re lucky, even giant manta rays.
On the way back, you’ll cruise through Banderas Bay, the second largest bay on the planet that also happens to be one of the best places to see humpback whales during the winter months. Bonus—cruising on the boat is fun in and of itself, thanks to its THREE water slides and diving platform where you can jump into the turquoise water of the Pacific Ocean.
Besides breakfast, you’ll also get a surprisingly tasty buffet lunch and an open bar while aboard. While the tour offers an incredible opportunity to observe the Marietas Islands’ wildlife, the knowledgeable and friendly crew really makes this tour a standout and are always going above and beyond to ensure your group is having the best time.
2. Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour
Length: 2 to 3 hours
Let’s be honest—one of the best parts of visiting Mexico is enjoying its amazing food and drinks. And on this tour, you’ll get to do just that, by getting seriously tasty tacos and cocktails made with traditional Mexican spirits at a whopping seven(!!!) different gems around Sayulita.
On this tour, you’ll also learn about the history and cultural significance of spirits, like tequila, mezcal, and raciliia—as well as taste them individually and as part of a cocktail. Beyond just having a lot of yummy Mexican food and drinks, you’ll also get insight into what it’s like living in Sayulita and the state of Nayarit from your friendly guide.
The guides with this group are absolutely incredible and the tour accommodates a variety of dietary needs, including vegan and gluten-free. As a vegan traveler myself, I’m all about it!
3. ATV Jungle & Beach Adventure and Tequila Tasting
Length: 2 hours
While Sayulita is known for its beaches, it’s also surrounded by lush jungles strewn across the Higuera Blanca mountains. And is there a better way to explore such an epic landscape than on an ATV?! I’ll wait.
So, if you’re up for trying one of the most adventurous Sayulita tours, you’ll depart from Rancho Mi Chaparrita, a locally-owned and operated ranch, and head out into the jungle on ATV, either riding solo or with a partner.
Your guide will be there to help you along any rough spots on the trail and to point out interesting flora and fauna of the jungle. Beyond just being incredibly informative about the native plantlife here, the guides with this company are friendly, welcoming, and attuned to tailoring the tour to match how much adrenaline you want pumping!
Along the tour, you’ll get some incredible vistas of the surrounding mountains and, of course, it wouldn’t be an adventure in Sayulita without zipping across a beach in your ATV as well.
After you’re done mastering the ATV, the tour ends back at the ranch with a tequila tasting to get a little taste of the local culture. Salud!
4. Hike and Yoga Experience in Sayulita
Length: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Looking for something a bit more chill to match Sayulita’s vibes?
Consider this small group tour (with just 12 travelers max!), where you’ll go on a moderate hike through the jungles of Sayulita, with peekaboo views of the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, your guide will point out local plants—and with any luck, wildlife—and provide fascinating information about Sayulita’s biodiversity.
Your hike will end at a hidden beach, with soft white sand and lush palm trees. Here, your instructors will guide you through a yoga session. And no worries if you’re new to yoga—all levels (including totally newbies!) are welcome.
After your practice, you’ll have some free time to explore the beach by yourself (or perhaps jump into the cool turquoise water to cool off!) before heading back to the trailhead along a different route.
These activities perfectly complement one another—the thrill of hiking through the jungle and the calmness and tranquility of practicing yoga on the beach. Plus the guides are welcoming, fun, and make sure that travelers of all fitness levels are having a good time.
5. Hike Through the Jungle, Mountains, and Hidden Beach
Length: 3 hours
Does the tour above sound awesome but you’re not super into yoga?
Consider, instead, this tour, where you’ll head out on an easy to moderate two and a half mile hike through the jungle, with a knowledgeable guide, who will point out interesting plants and any wildlife you might spot along the way. Beyond that, the guides on this tour provide incredible insight about Sayulita and the surrounding area, from how to support the local Huichol tribe to the impact of tourism on the local area.
The endpoint of the trail is a beautiful, secluded beach, where you’re welcome to take a dip to cool off from the heat or simply take in the beautiful views. This is an incredible option for families, who are hiking with a group of travelers with different abilities, or travelers looking for something slightly different than the typical snorkeling tour.
6. Trip to the Best Surf Break in Sayulita
Length: 4 hours
One of the best things to do in Sayulita is to surf—after all, that’s the reason this sleepy town was put on the map in the first place. So why not get first hand experience riding the waves?
On this small group tour, you’ll meet at the Marea Surf School in Sayulita, pick out your surfboard, and get shuttled to the best surf break in the area between the small fishing village of Bucerias and the glitzy resort town of Punta de Mita. You can either choose from just booking roundtrip transport to the surf break and a board rental (in which case you’ll have about three hours to enjoy the surf break on your own) or, alternatively, opt to get a surf lesson as well.
If you pick the latter option, you’ll get a 20 minute lesson about surfing basics on the beach from your patient instructor before heading out to take on the waves! For the next hour and a half, your instructor will stay with you out in the water, helping you pop up and, with any luck, ride your very first wave. Afterwards, you’ll have about an hour to either try surfing solo or just laze about on the warm sand of the beach instead.
In terms of getting a surf lesson, this is a pretty affordable option, especially given Sayulita’s reputation as one of the best places to surf on the planet. Plus the instructors are highly skilled as both surfers and teachers and can help even the most uncoordinated people (*raises hand*) get up on that board!
7. Private Surf Lesson at La Lancha Beach
Length: 3 hours
If you think you might need a bit more hands-on attention, consider, instead, booking a private surf lesson with the WildMex Surf School and Adventure Center.
With this tour, you’ll pick up all the surfing gear you need, like a board (of course!), a rashguard, and surf booties, from their surf shop in Sayulita. You’ll then be transported in an air-conditioned vehicle to La Lancha Beach, which is beloved by both professional and beginner surfers alike. In fact, many consider La Lancha to be the best beach to learn how to surf in the area!
Your International Surfing Association-certified instructor will spend the first portion of the lesson, teaching you the basics about surfing, like how to position your body on the board, when to stand up, and how to ride a wave. Once you have a handle on the foundation, you’ll head out to the water to try out catching some waves yourself!
This is renowned as one of the best surf schools in Sayulita—the instructors are patient, friendly, and excellent at tailoring the lessons for each individual student.
8. Scuba Diving at Marietas Island
Length: 4 hours
If you’re traveling in a group that’s a mix of certified scuba divers and snorkelers, this is an excellent option for everyone to have an incredible time exploring the underwater world around the Marietas Island.
On this trip, you’ll be provided scuba diving gear (for certified divers) or snorkeling equipment and then be taken out in a boat for two immersions in the water. The water around the Marietas Islands was actually recognized for its incredible biodiversity by the famous diver, Jacque Costaeu and, true to its reputation, is absolutely teeming with wildlife, like eels, turtles, and even manta rays.
Between your time in the water, you’ll have the opportunity to cruise around the islands and get the chance to spot some of the wildlife above water as well, including the famed blue-footed boobies.
If you’re a certified diver but haven’t been in a while, the instructors on this tour are incredibly patient and carefully go over the basics of scuba before diving in. Their enthusiasm and passion for marine life is completely infectious—you’ll walk away from this trip, itching to come back and explore more of Sayulita’s underwater world.
9. Marietas Islands National Park Excursion for Certified Divers
Length: 5 hours
If you’re looking for a tour just for certified divers, this small group tour (limited to just four people!) is an excellent choice.
On this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to dive at two different spots in the Marietas Island National Park and visit the islands between dives. Throughout the tour, you’ll see incredible wildlife both above and below the water, including endangered birds, tropical fish, sea turtles, manta rays, and even dolphins..
This tour includes roundtrip transportation via boat to the islands, all scuba equipment, and complimentary lunch and drinks at a local restaurant. This tour group uses quality gear that’s on the newer side of the spectrum.
Plus, the guides are incredibly professional and ensure you’re having a ton of fun throughout the tour. For example, if you’re visiting during humpback whale season, the crew will go out of their way to drive the boats towards these magnificent creatures, so you’ll have a chance to see their impressive acrobatics for yourself.
I hope one of these Sayulita tours is the adventure you’re looking for! Do you have any questions about any of these options? Let me know in the comments below.
Pssst… looking for more adventures in Nayarit, Mexico? Be sure to also check out:
- Visiting Islas Marias in Mexico: How to Stay at the Alcatraz of Latin America
- Jala Nayarit: The Best Hidden Gem in Mexico
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