Sayulita Photo Spots
On Mexico’s Pacific Coast, in the state of Riviera Nayarit, you’ll find the small town of Sayulita. This laid-back beach town is known for its hippie vibes, boutique hotels, art galleries, vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and incredible surfing. Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. Today, we asked our local photographers to show us all the best places to take photos in Sayulita.
TLDR
(A little sneak peek just for you 😊)
- Old Town – Sayulita Plaza: An extremely colourful and vibrant area full of art, shopping, food stalls, dancers, skaters, and more.
- Sayulita Beach: A seemingly endless stretch of golden sand and turquoise water known for amazing surfing conditions.
- North End Sayulita Beach: Between late October and early December, you may find baby sea turtles being released into the water at sunset! 🐢🥹
- Playa De Los Muertos: While it may sound ominous, it’s a beautiful stretch of hidden beach more popular with locals than tourists, with calm water and rocky outcroppings.
- Playa Carricitos: The beach, along with the cobblestone road that takes you there, is surrounded by thick, vivid tropical forest.
Photo: Jenn in Sayulita for Flytographer. Sarah and family capture memories in Sayulita with a multigenerational reunion photoshoot.
1. Old Town – Sayulita Plaza
Sayulita Plaza is the main square in town, surrounded by food stalls, street vendors, bars, and restaurants—where the food ranges from tacos for USD 1 to beef bourguignon for USD 20. 🌮🥩
You want it; they’ve got it. It’s an extremely colourful and vibrant area full of art, shopping, dancers, skaters, and more.
Don’t miss the iconic Calle Delfines, locally known as “Slap Street,” which connects the main plaza to the beach. Full of rainbow-coloured flags strung between the tall palm trees, 🌈🌴 it’s super cute, totally Instagrammable, and a photo op you don’t want to miss.
Photo: Alejandra in Sayulita for Flytographer. Tara and family capture memories in Sayulita with a family photoshoot in Old Town Sayulita Plaza.
2. Sayulita Beach
Just a five-minute walk from downtown, you’ll find the seemingly endless stretch of golden sand and turquoise water of Sayulita Beach. It’s known primarily for its surfing; Sayulita is known as a surf town since it attracts surfers from far and wide. 🏄♀️ Even if surfing isn’t for you, be sure to check out this beach as it is one of the best places to take photos in Sayulita!
This is thanks to the shape of the beach – it’s only exposed to the north swells and protected from the south swells, which means the average swell size during surf season (November to April) ranges between 3 and 6 feet. Plus, the waves are extremely consistent. From beginners to pros, surfers of all skill levels will have fun here. And if you are a beginner, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for a surf lesson at one of the many surf schools.
But hey, if you’d rather recline in the sun, you can rent an umbrella for around 300 pesos for the entire day. Plus, you can order food and drinks right on the beach. Did anyone call for a margarita photoshoot? If the crashing, blue-green waves and radiant sunshine don’t put a smile on your face, the tequila certainly will! 🍹
Photo: Jenn in Sayulita for Flytographer. Emily and partner capture memories in Sayulita with a babymoon photoshoot on Sayulita Beach.
3. North End Sayulita Beach
If you’re looking for something a little quieter than the main beach (which does get quite busy), head right and you’ll be on your way to North Beach. Follow the seasonal Sayulita River, and you’ll find another phenomenal stretch of golden sand. The farther north you go, the fewer tourists there will be. 🏝
Use caution, as North Beach doesn’t have the kind of protection you can find at Sayulita Beach, but beyond the break, conditions are a lot smoother, so you can paddle board or lounge on the beach without fear of a school of children running through your photos.
If you visit between late October and early December, head about halfway up the beach at sunset to El Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita, where you (and your camera) may find baby sea turtles being released into the water! 🐢🐢🐢
Photo: Jenn in Sayulita for Flytographer. Polli and partner capture memories in Sayulita with a vacation photoshoot.
4. Playa de Los Muertos
While Playa de Los Muertos (or Beach of the Dead 💀) may sound ominous, it’s actually a beautiful stretch of hidden beach more popular with locals than tourists, so you won’t find crowds or many beach vendors here.
Playa de Los Muertos is only a 10- to 15-minute walk from the main Sayulita Beach, so you won’t need a rental car. It earns its name since the path to the beach cuts through the town cemetery. So, when you reach it, don’t worry; you haven’t made a wrong turn. Appreciate the effervescent, energetic colours of the painted gravestones as you respectfully walk through.
The beach itself is just a few minutes farther along. It’s a hidden gem surrounded by coconut palm trees and rocky outcroppings that you can explore if you’re feeling adventurous. The water is calm, clear, and full of unique rock formations, making it one of the best spots for snorkeling and one of the best places to take photos in Sayulita!
Photo: Alejandra in Sayulita for Flytographer. Cheryl and family capture memories in Sayulita with a family photoshoot.
5. Playa Carricitos
Playa Carricitos is practically in the middle of nowhere if you’re looking for seclusion. Depending on where you start, it’s a 45- to 60-minute walk from Sayulita. The beach, along with the cobblestone road that takes you there, is surrounded by thick, vivid tropical forest. Look for cute homes and farms along the way!
While it will make for a fun, adventurous day trip, use caution when swimming, as the waves can get quite big, and there likely won’t be anyone around to help you. ⚠️
You won’t find any vendors or corner stores out here, so bring food, drinks, towels, and beach blankets. Did someone say perfect picnic spot? Whether chilling with your friends or wrapped in your lover’s arms, Playa Carricitos is one of the best places to take photos in Sayulita!
Photo: Jenn in Sayulita for Flytographer. Deborah and family capture memories in Sayulita with a family photoshoot.
Capturing Memories in Sayulita
Packed with amazing golden sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise water, the small town of Sayulita is an Instagram destination not to be missed!
From San Francisco to Paris to Bangkok, Flytographer pairs you with travel photographers so you can have a professional photoshoot anywhere in the world. We have talented photographers located in Sayulita and dozens of other popular Mexican destinations, including Tulum, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta.
“Jenn was fantastic and very accommodating for our very large family group! We had multiple family members switch their travel dates, and therefore needed to request a few date/time changes, and Jenn was always more than willing to help us figure out a new plan. She knew the right times of day to get the beautiful sunlight and was amazing at wrangling our 15+ person group to make sure the photos were well posed. We would absolutely love to work with her again!”
Sarah
“Alejandra took amazing photos of my family and I! We went to Sayulita for a wedding and wanted to take family photos to make our trip even more special. This isn’t the first time that I’ve used Flytographer to take amazing photos and it definitely won’t be the last!”
Amanda
“Jenn was so easy to work with and accommodating. Our kids warmed up to her right away. We took pictures in a few different spots for various backgrounds in a short amount of time, especially with 2 small children. Our pictures are beautiful and we are so happy we booked with Jenn.”
Deborah
