Sayulita, Mexico is a small surf town located near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I’d only ever visited the little town on a day trip during a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, but I instantly fell in love with it. The cute Mexican flags overhanging the main streets, locals and tourists driving around in golf carts, and the vibrant energy of the town made it feel like a hidden gem. Street vendors sold fresh fruit and handmade jewelry, while the scent of tacos and grilled seafood filled the air. Plus, gorgeous beaches were only a short walk away, including the secluded Playa Carricitos. It had the perfect mix of laid-back beach vibes and lively culture, making me wish I had more than just a day to explore.
When my friend Christina suggested we visit Sayulita for a week-long vacation together, I was stoked. A longer trip would allow us to fully explore the area, including venturing out to some other more secluded beaches that you won’t find in the typical touristy areas. We visited a few different beaches during our time in Sayulita but our favourite was Playa Carricitos. If you’re visiting Sayulita, I highly recommend checking it out. Although it’s a bit of a hike to get there, the effort is definitely worth it! Keep reading for tips on how to get there, what to bring, and what to expect once you arrive!
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Related: Visiting Mexico? Read our post The Best Tacos in Puerto Vallarta for some delicious recommendations!
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Why Carricitos Beach Became our Favourite Beach
For our first day in Sayulita, we decided to visit the main beach, Playa Sayulita. This beach is definitely the most lively of them all with many surfers out on the water, beach clubs you can visit for a day party, and tons of beach vendors selling all sorts of souvenirs. It’s definitely a great beach but we loved the idea of hiking to a more private beach. One where we could relax and listen to the waves crash against the shore, suntan, and read our books away from the crowds.
A quick look at Google Maps and we decided to check out Playa De Los Muertos for our second day. Google Maps claimed it would only take us about 13 minutes to walk there from our Airbnb so we grabbed our beach stuff and set out. As we got close to the beach we encountered a couple from Canada, asking us if we knew how to get to the private beach called Carricitos. We hadn’t planned on going there, but their curiosity piqued our interest.
We had a quick look at Playa De Los Muertos, a beautiful beach but still busier than we had hoped, and decided to see if we could find Carricitos Beach instead. Luckily the walk wasn’t that much further, and we received directions from a few helpful people, leading us to a gorgeous private beach with only a few other people there. We laid out our towels, kicked back with our books, and soaked up the sun without the usual beachside distractions. It felt like our own little slice of paradise, exactly what we had been looking for.
How to get to Carricitos Beach
We had a bit of an adventure getting to Carricitos Beach, mainly because we didn’t do any research and spontaneously decided to visit the beach by just following word-of-mouth directions from friendly locals and other travellers. Looking back, it definitely added to the adventure, but we could’ve made it a lot easier on ourselves by taking the right path. We were told that when we got to a hole in the wall, we were to pass through it in order to get to the beach. We ended up bushwhacking a fair bit, scaling a steep ledge, and climbing under a barbed wire fence, which would have all been avoided had we taken the actual trail.
Before heading out for the day, I’d recommend downloading the Google Maps directions to Carracitos. This will make your walk pretty straightforward for the most part. Starting from Sayulita Plaza, you will head west on Niños Heroes street. Walk all the way until the end of the street and it will turn to the right on a steep uphill climb. Continue following the road, it will turn into a dirt road and you will need to watch where you’re stepping as there is construction happening along the road with large potholes.
As you continue following the dirt road you will come to a fork, if you go right it will lead you to Playa Los Muertos and left will be towards Carricitos. Continue following the road, you will come to a very steep uphill climb which means you’re headed in the right direction. After the steep climb, the road will eventually level out, and you’ll start to see signs confirming you’re on the right path. Keep an eye out for a wall with an opening that leads to the beach, it will have a sign stating its the entrance to Playa Carricitos.
What to Expect at Playa Carricitos
Since this beach is further out from town, you can expect to find less people and vendors, which was a huge appeal for us. There is a drink stand and we did get offered to purchase a beer from the man selling them in the late afternoon a couple of times, although we did not purchase anything. There were also a few beach chairs set up that looked like you could use for a fee. We just laid on our towels in the sand so I can’t speak to how much they cost. The beach itself is stunning with golden sand stretching out along the coastline, framed by lush jungle and palm trees. The waves here are powerful, making it a peaceful spot to watch and listen to the waves crashing against the shore, but it’s a little rough for casual swimming.
While Playa Carricitos isn’t officially a nude beach, the right side definitely has a “clothing optional” reputation. We figured, when in Rome…or in this case, when on a mostly deserted beach in Mexico. So yes, we may have embraced the ‘clothing optional’ vibe, at least from the waist up. And honestly? No regrets, no tan lines, 10/10 experience.
If you visit from December to April, keep your eye on the horizon, you might just spot some whales! We were lucky enough to see a few just off the shore, their tails flicking up before disappearing beneath the waves. It was such an unexpected surprise and made our beach day even more magical.
What to Bring to the Beach
As I mentioned earlier, there’s no amenities at this beach so bring enough snacks and water for the day. And as always, whatever you pack in, pack it out. Let’s keep this little slice of paradise as beautiful as we found it! I’d also recommend bringing beach towels (I love these packable microfibre ones) and a book. It really doesn’t get much better than devouring a great book to the soundtrack of waves crashing on the shore!
Where to Stay in Sayulita
There’s quite a few options for places to stay in Sayulita, on this trip we opted for an Airbnb near the main street. If you do choose to book an airbnb I’d recommend staying in one close to the main street but far enough away that you won’t hear the music from the late night bars and such. We were about a five minute walk away which was perfect to get some quiet at night. There are also a lot of hotels to choose from. Sayulinda Hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool and is located right near the beach and the main street. Another option that’s located right in the main square is Amaia, a lovely boutique hotel. If you’re looking for a beachfront option, I’d recommend La Esquina, its a gorgeous hotel right on the beach and rooms come equipped with a kitchen and a balcony overlooking the ocean. One of the better priced hotels located on the beach is the Hotel Vista Oceana Sayulita. So if you’re wanting beachfront but on a bit more of a budget, this hotel will give you your best bang for your buck.
Final Thoughts
I’m really glad we stumbled upon this beautiful little beach. It turned out to be one of our favourite parts of Sayulita. Although the waves were a little too strong to fully submerge ourselves and go swimming they were perfect for watching from the shore while we relaxed under the sun. Next time I visit Sayulita, I will definitely be back to soak in more of the peaceful vibes, watch the whales (hopefully!), and spend the day away from the crowds. If you visit Playa Carricitos, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments. Did you spot any whales, or maybe embrace the ‘clothing optional’ vibe? Let me know!
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