Hotel Villas Sayulita

Located off a dirt road on the outskirts of downtown Sayulita, Hotel Villas Sayulita feels like an oasis in the middle of the jungle. Tall palms, bright foliage, and thatched roofing shroud the property from its neighbors, and only a hand-painted sign marks its entrance. “Papel Picado” (colorful Mexican flags) hangs above the entryway as a sign of welcome. It’s immediately apparent that Hotel Villas Sayulita is a laid-back place. Surfboards rest against an exterior wall, the manager walks barefoot across the property, and guests hang wet towels and bathing suits outside to dry. Some travelers may find the property somewhat run-down -- its lazy atmosphere can also be interpreted as unkempt. The back garden is muddy, and always buzzing with flies, noisy ducks roam the grounds, and the temezecal looks more like a construction project than a usable amenity. But despite its haphazard appearance, the property attracts young health-conscious travelers looking to spend their vacations practicing yoga and eating plant-based meals. 

Hotel Villas Sayulita is located on a quiet street on the outskirts of downtown Sayulita -- about a 10-minute walk from the area’s most popular shops, bars, and restaurants. The beach is less than a five-minute walk from the hotel, but the center of the action (where surf lessons take place) is about 10 to 15 minutes away. Sayulita is a small, charming beach town about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. Considered one of Mexico’s “pueblos magicos” (magic towns), Sayulita enchants travelers with its cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and storybook town squares. The town is also known for its abundant “papel picado,” colorful paper flags that are often strung between buildings. Sayulita attracts a young, bohemian surfer crowd, and has a more rustic feel than Puerto Vallarta. The road conditions around town are horrendous, and driving is often comically inconvenient. Travelers with cars are better off parking their vehicles at their hotels, and walking to restaurants, shops, bars, and the beach. Because of Sayulita’s increasing popularity, many travelers lament that the town has become overrun with tourists. Those looking for a subdued setting might prefer the less crowded San Pancho (San Francisco), about a 10-minute drive north. The town of Sayulita is about a 50-minute drive from the nearest airport in Puerto Vallarta. 

Rooms at Hotel Villas Sayulita are spacious, and simply styled with Mexican-inspired decor. Terra-cotta floors and boveda ceilings give rooms a rustic feel, while white walls and bedspreads keep the look simple. Rooms are equipped with one king- or two queen-size beds, and feature kitchenettes with gas burners, full-size refrigerators, and a few small appliances like blenders and toasters. While rooms lack TVs, they do connect to the hotel's free Wi-Fi, and closets are stocked with electronic safes and extra blankets. Bathrooms, done up in hand-painted tile work, offer broad sinks and large shower stalls. (There are no bathtubs.) Outside, each room is fronted by their own outdoor table and chair set on the shared patio or balcony space. All rooms are air-conditioned, but guests are asked to be mindful of their electricity usage.  Besides its standard rooms, Hotel Villas Sayulita has two penthouses that can accommodate up to six people. The penthouses have indoor and outdoor living spaces, larger kitchens, and TVs, but they’re a bit more rustic, and have lofted layouts that may be inconvenient for some travelers.

Yoga is the main focus at Hotel Villas Sayulita. As such, the hotel has two yoga studios -- one inside and one outside. The indoor studio is where most of the regularly scheduled classes are held. Classes are open to hotel guests and community members, and are taught by English-speaking instructors. Outside, the thatched roof open-air studio is known as the yoga palapa. The palapa is much smaller than the indoor studio, so only select classes are held here. Hotel Villas Sayulita hosts its own weeklong yoga retreats throughout the year, but is also available for rent if international teachers would like to host their own retreats. For those participating in retreats (whether sponsored by the hotel or an outside teacher), healthy, all-inclusive meal plans are available. Though Villas Sayulita doesn’t have a full service restaurant, it has an on-site smoothie bar that also serves breakfast. The smoothie bar is open from morning until mid-afternoon, and it serves a variety of fruit and vegetable-based smoothies and juices. Breakfast is included in some nightly room rates, and typically covers dishes such as eggs with beans and tortillas, acai bowls, or yogurt and fruit parfaits. Guests can order their breakfast at the juice bar and eat it at one of the outdoor tables in the back garden. Villas Sayulita has a small kidney-shape pool in its front garden. The pool is surrounded by towering palm trees and a few canvas lounge chairs, but it’s hardly ever crowded. The majority of guests choose to swim at the nearby beach, a five-minute walk from the property. Even though it looks more like an ongoing construction project than a sauna, the hotel’s on-site temezecal is available for guests to use. (A temezecal is a dome-shaped Mexican sweat lodge that’s said to promote healing for its users.) Villas Sayulita’s sweat lodge is covered in tarp and hidden in the back corner of the property. It’s not the prettiest, but it’s there if guests want to use it. Wi-Fi is free and works well across the property. Guests with cars can park on the street for free.