SUYALITA, NAYARIT, MEXICO
Sayulita is located north of Banderas Bay on the coast of Nayarit, only 22 miles (45 minutes) from Puerto Vallarta along the coastal highway. It is a picturesque fishing village that has become known for its surf and snorkeling beaches and an old-Mexico atmosphere. Sayulita is surrounded by coconut palms and semi-tropical jungle vegetation. The rainy season from June to October brings refreshing rainfall and often thundering surf.
The town is small and basic, with burros and chickens in the dirt or cobbled streets and fishermen launching their boats or nets along the shoreline. There are a number of simple restaurants offering fresh seafood specialities as well as international fare.
In Sayulita the surfboard is seen everywhere - on the waves (where it should be), being transported on car roofracks or under the arms and on the heads of many of surfer strolling off to in hopes of catching a good ride - as well as the brilliantly painted remnants of broken or retired boards stuck into the sand or hung over doorways as signs. Boogie boarding, kayaking and snorkeling are also popular in the area, and the village offers horseback riding tours as well as whale watching and fishing excursions.