Nayarit — The Complete Guide
Beaches, Surf & Things to Do
Mexico's Pacific coast at its most alive. Surf towns, jungle, whale watching, humpback season, and a food scene that keeps surprising people who thought they'd seen it all.
Why Nayarit?
The Riviera Nayarit stretches north from Puerto Vallarta along the Pacific coast — a string of surf towns, fishing villages, and jungle-backed beaches that somehow never got fully absorbed into the resort machine. Sayulita is the famous one. But San Pancho, Punta de Mita, Lo de Marcos, and Bucerías each have their own personality, and the further north you go, the fewer people you share it with.
The vibe here is different from Cabo or Cancún. Nobody's trying to sell you a timeshare. The restaurants are genuinely good. The surf is approachable for beginners and technical enough for experienced riders. December through March, humpback whales fill Bahía de Banderas and you can watch them breach from shore. If you want a beach trip that feels like an actual place — not a resort product — Nayarit is hard to beat.
Don't miss Mexico's most famous surf town. Read our complete Sayulita guide.
If you like the Mexican Pacific, you'll love it too. Check out the Los Cabos guide.
Explore Nayarit
Surf guideCOMING SOONSurf
Waves for every level. Sayulita to learn, La Lancha for intermediates, Punta de Mita for the perfect set. Nayarit is surf country.
15+ activitiesCOMING SOONThings to Do
Whale watching, sea turtle release, jungle hiking, Islas Marietas tours, and mezcal you'll remember for reasons beyond the morning after.
Beach Towns
7 sub-destinations
San Pancho
Sayulita's quieter neighbor. Artistic, laid-back, with surprisingly good restaurants and a beach that's never crowded. Ten minutes away.
Punta de Mita
World-class surf, luxury resorts, Islas Marietas access, and whale watching season. The premium end of Nayarit.
Bucerías
A fishing village with character — art market, wide beaches, and a food scene that's been quietly getting very good.
Nuevo Vallarta
The resort zone. All-inclusives, golf, marina. Most comfortable option for families who want the easy version.
Lo de Marcos
The best-kept secret. A long beach with almost no one on it, sea turtle camps, and a village that still feels real.
Rincón de Guayabitos
The family classic. Calm water, affordable hotels, a small island for kayaking. Where Mexican families from Guadalajara have been vacationing for decades.
Fishing in Nayarit
🎣 Mr. Playas Guide"Nayarit es el destino más subestimado del Pacífico mexicano. Pez vela, dorado, marlín... y casi nadie hablando de esto. Hasta ahora."
— Mr. Playas 🎣🌊 Current Conditions
🎣 Mr. Playas Fishing Score
💬 Viento offshore perfecto. Los peces están hambrientos y tú deberías estarlo.
What Can You Catch Here?
8 species
Pez Vela
Bait: Trolling
💬 "El pez bandera del Pacífico, todo el año"
Dorado
Bait: Carnada viva
💬 "El más bonito del Pacífico"
Marlín Rayado
Bait: Trolling
💬 "Menos fama que Cabo, misma calidad"
Atún Aleta Amarilla
Bait: Jigging
💬 "Siempre presente en aguas de Nayarit"
Wahoo
Bait: Trolling rápido
💬 "Rápido y delicioso"
Pargo
Bait: Jigs
💬 "El confiable del Pacífico"
Roosterfish (Pez Gallo)
Bait: Surfcasting
💬 "Único del Pacífico, peleador nato"
Cubera Snapper
Bait: Carnada viva
💬 "El tanque del arrecife"
Mr. Playas Fishing Spots
5 spotsPunta de Mita
OffshoreSpecies: Pez Vela, Marlín
Location: Marina Punta de Mita
💬 "El spot premium de Nayarit"
Islas Marietas
ArrecifeSpecies: Pargo, Pez Loro
Location: Reserva Natural
💬 "Dentro de Reserva Natural — respeto"
Sayulita
Orilla/KayakSpecies: Roosterfish
Location: Playa de Sayulita
💬 "Pesca entre surfistas, es lo que hay"
San Pancho
Arrecife norteSpecies: Variado
Location: Norte de Sayulita
💬 "Tranquilo y con resultados"
Litibú
OffshoreSpecies: Dorado
Location: Sur de Punta de Mita
💬 "Los yates salen de aquí"
Seasonal Calendar
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pez Vela | ||||||||||||
| Dorado | ||||||||||||
| Marlín | ||||||||||||
| Atún | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | ||||||||||||
| Pargo | ||||||||||||
| Roosterfish | ||||||||||||
| Cubera |
How to Go Fishing
Guided Charter
Premium experience with captain and full gear. From $3,500 MXN per half day. Includes bait, ice, and beer (sometimes).
Fishing Tour
Shared with other anglers. More affordable ($800-1,500 MXN). The guide knows the spots and provides all gear.
Shore Fishing
Free and effective. All you need is a rod, bait, and patience. Corvina, yellowtail, and sierra come in without a boat.
Water Sports in Nayarit
🏄 Mr. Playas Guide"Sayulita es el surf capital de México. Pero si no surfeas, no te preocupes — también hay mil cosas más."
— Mr. Playas 🏄🌊 Water Conditions
💬 Worth heading out today? Olas limpias con viento offshore. Día de surf épico. Snorkel en Marietas también viable.
Available Sports
7 sportsSurf
Best spot: Sayulita / La Lancha
💬 "Ola perfecta para aprender Y para intermedios"
Buceo
Best spot: Islas Marietas
💬 "Playa escondida + vida marina increíble"
Snorkel
Best spot: Islas Marietas
💬 "Tortuga, mantarraya y peces tropicales"
SUP
Best spot: San Pancho
💬 "Aguas más tranquilas que Sayulita"
Kayak
Best spot: Bahía de Sayulita
💬 "Remos con vista a la puesta del sol"
Kitesurf
Best spot: Punta de Mita
💬 "Viento del noroeste — temporada Nov–Mar"
Avistamiento de ballenas
Best spot: Bahía de Banderas (Dic–Mar)
💬 "Ballenas jorobadas — espectáculo garantizado"
Best Spots
4 spots📍 Playa Sayulita
🔴 HighAccess: Directo, pueblo
💬 "Llena de surfistas y turistas, pero la ola lo vale"
📍 La Lancha
🟡 MediumAccess: Caminata 10 min desde Sayulita
💬 "Para los que ya saben. Ola izquierda potente."
📍 Islas Marietas
🟡 MediumAccess: Lancha desde Punta de Mita
💬 "Reserva protegida. Cupo limitado. Reserva con tiempo."
📍 Playa San Pancho
🟢 LowAccess: Directo
💬 "Más tranquila que Sayulita. El hermano relajado."
Surf School Finder
Sayulita es la capital del surf en México. Escuelas para todos los niveles: principiante (olas suaves de la bahía), intermedio (punto central), avanzado (La Lancha). Clases desde $500 MXN/hora con tabla y instructor. Mr. Playas recomienda ir temprano — las mejores olas son antes de las 10 AM.
Mr. Playas Safety Guide
⚠️ ImportantGetting There
Flights & Main Routes
Frequently Asked Questions
Sayulita if you want surf, nightlife, more restaurant options, and a social scene. San Pancho if you want quiet, art, good food, and a beach that's actually empty. They're 10 minutes apart. Mr. Playas' move: sleep in San Pancho, day-trip Sayulita.
November through May: dry season, 77–90°F, consistent surf. December through March: humpback whale season in Bahía de Banderas — boats go out daily. June through October: rainy season, prices drop 30–40%, and the jungle turns an almost unreasonable shade of green.
Yes, and Sayulita might be the best place in Mexico to do it. The main beach break is forgiving, waves are consistent, and there are a dozen surf schools. Expect to spend $35–50 USD for a 1.5-hour lesson with board. Most people stand up on day one.
Budget: $50–70 USD/day (hostel, tacos, local spots). Mid-range: $120–180 USD/day (boutique hotel, good restaurants). Nayarit is notably more affordable than Los Cabos and Riviera Maya — and the experience is just as good.
Not in Sayulita itself — everything is walkable. For exploring nearby beaches (La Lancha, Lo de Marcos, Punta de Mita), a rental car or scooter is useful. From PVR airport, Uber works reliably to Sayulita ($25–35 USD).