Sayulita Trails and Beaches: Day Hiking and Jungle Walks

1.  The easiest is from beyond Villa Amor. Follow the beach side road to the south (left when facing the sea) and walk until you arrive to the arch before the cemetery. From there you will have a good view of Sayulita beach. 

2.  For a grander view of Sayulita, start in the plaza and take Calle Marlin (the street leading towards Don Pedro’s) and take the first left. Walk one block and you will be at Calle Caracol (the first street you come to). Directly in front of you, between Nomada Wellness Hotel (with the mural on the wall) and Casa Santander (big white gate) you will see a driveway and some stairs.  Walk up the driveway or steps and take the floral zigzag path up the hill and you will be afforded a great view of the town and bay.

3.  Another great view of Sayulita is from beside the top of Villa Amor. A 15/20 minute walk from the plaza take Av. Revolucion passed El Espresso, then take the first right on Niños Heroes and follow the road straight for about ½ a mile. The road then turns sharp right and up a short hill where it turns left and splits. Take the right fork and follow the road for outstanding views of Sayulita and the bay.

4.  Gringo Hill lies behind the Sayulita plaza. Take Calle Marlin up the hill and take the first left following the road all the way to the top. Excellent north facing views over the town. Views directly over town and out to sea are not so easy to find, but a helpful home owner/tenant may allow you to take in the view from their balcony.

5.  Nanzal Hill provides the best view of Sayulita, but the hike there is quite difficult. The view is breathtaking – literally. The climb is very steep but the panorama is exceptional, with views of Sayulita town and the bay, Punta Sayulita, Monkey Mountain and beyond to Punta Mita. Take Av. del Palmar, the street which parallels the beach, north across the river and passed the campgrounds. After the elementary school, take the second right onto Calle Saylo (just before Don Bonito), then the first left, and follow the main road to the top. Be careful not to get side tracked onto Calle Loma Alta which has no outlet though offers  beautiful clear views. Take some deep breaths and push on to the top of Calle Nanzal. At the top of the hill, past the houses, there is a dirt path that will lead you to an empty platform overlooking Sayulita. Take a seat, watch the sunset, and rest and recuperate with the most commanding view available of Sayulita.

Hiking Monkey Mountain in Sayulita is considered sacred to the Indigenous Huichol people and is one of the most distinctive features of the surrounding landscape. In order to have the best experience, we recommend hiring a guide. There are two ways to hike Monkey Mountain, with one entrance by Playa Patzcuaro and the other through Higuera Blanca. The back route through Playa Patzcuaro is steep and difficult to find the path as you will have to pass through a ranch property to get there. The trail that begins in Higuera Blanca is easier to find and the trail is more clearly marked. Make sure to pack food, repellent, sunscreen, and plenty of water for this 4-hour Sayulita hike

Another jungle hike from Sayulita is towards San Pancho, off of Playa Malpasos. There are two ways to get to Malpaso. The inland route and the beach route. For the beach route, simply walk to the end of the North side beach and climb over the rocks that are in front of the house on top of the rocks. This will lead you to a narrow trail that brings you along the cliff’s edge and down to Playa Malpaso. 

Inland route: From town walk along Av. del Palmar (which parallels the beach) across the river, past the campsites and school until the road ends and you see a few small boulders with a dirt path behind them. Start on the dirt path that follows above the shore line. You will cross a small river (dry in the winter) where the main path appears to go up the river to the right, but look straight ahead and you will see several large boulders. Clamber over or go around the rocks and follow the path across a cobblestone road (which is a private road from the beach-house to the main highway) and continue straight. You will continue up a small hill and a dirt road will join from the right. Stay to the left. As you continue down that path you will see a gate which is the beginning of the construction zone. On your left hand side, just before the gate, you will see a big yellow sign that says “Camino a la Playa”. Take this path. Approximately 50 meters further the path splits; left goes to Las Cuevas Cove, which is a small beach before Malpaso. For Malpaso, when the path splits, go up to the right. You will arrive at the top of a hill and see stairs leading you down to the beach. Take the stairs down and you have arrived at Malpaso!

BE AWARE THAT SWIMMING AT PLAYA MALPASOS IS NOT RECOMMENDED, THERE ARE STRONG UNDERTOWS AND RIPTIDES. USE EXTREME CAUTION.

Construction at Malpaso has affected the inland jungle route. The best way to get to San Pancho is by waiting for a low tide period. This low tide will allow you to walk all the way to the end of the beach. There you will see a dirt path up above what looks like an old sewage system. Take this path which will shoot you out on the highway just before town. Exercise caution when walking along the highway which you will do for about 7 minutes before you reach the entrance to town. 

Please note that due to the construction and private properties nearby, access to San Pancho via the trails changes frequently. 

Make sure to see our Sayulita Beaches section for six additional great Sayulita hikes. Also, read an article on Sayulita's most popular trail hikes: Sayulita Jungle Hikes.