To Surf and Sand in Sayulita, Mexico

To Surf and Sand in Sayulita, Mexico

Tomorrow we will be sinking our toes in the sand on the beaches of Sayulita, a coastal village located about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Every trip we take with our little ones teaches us something new. We are continuously learning what works and, more importantly, what does not work when traveling with a toddler and infant.

Using this knowledge, we’re approaching this trip differently.

We don’t have much planned for the next few weeks in Sayulita, aside from lazy days on the beach, so we’re going to let this trip unfold naturally. It’s hard to predict a toddler’s behavior on a good day, so you can imagine how unpredictable his mood can be when he’s away from his normal routine.

We chose Sayulita for a few reasons…

First, we want to be on the beach.

The surf has been calling us lately, so it’s about time we answered. Initially we were going to stay at a friend’s apartment in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, but after looking at the travel time it would take to get there (three flights plus an overnight), we thought it best to hold off until our boys are a little older.

Secondly, we want direct flights from Vancouver.

We prefer to book direct flights when we travel with our boys, so we shortened the distance and looked for destinations that offered direct flights from Vancouver.

Puerto Vallarta satisfies most of our needs but, because we plan to visit for a few weeks, we didn’t feel like staying at an all inclusive resort or directly in the touristy town. So we researched nearby destinations and Sayulita jumped out at us (likely because it looks similar to San Juan del Sur).

A few of our friends have spent extended periods of time in Sayulita and have great things to say, so we thought we’d give it a try. It also appears to be family friendly and very laid back, which is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Thirdly, we want a destination that’s cheap.

Our trip to Las Vegas last month wasn’t cheap, so we’re looking for a place that’s easy on the wallet. Mexico fits this need quite nicely.

There are a lot of ways to save money in Mexico. For starters, traveling in the shoulder season means a reduction in hotel and apartment rental prices. Right now is actually a great time to take advantage of early summer sales and discounts. We found a great 2 bedroom condo with a big pool, located within walking distance to the beach and town.

Puerto Vallarta is a hugely popular vacation spot for Canadians, so we were able to find a direct flight using our Aeroplan miles, which obviously reduced our travel costs substantially.

Finally, we want a destination on the Pacific time zone so we don’t have to deal with jet lag. Babies and jet lag don’t mix well.

Our goal is to limit our online time while in Sayulita, so don’t expect much action on the ‘ol travel blog over the next few weeks. But I’m sure you’ll survive just fine without us.

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Have you visited Sayulita? Do you have any tips or advice on what we should see and do? How about restaurant recommendations?

Leave your feedback in the comments section below, we’d love to hear about your experience.