What makes Sayulita, Mexico so special?

Sayulita, Nayarit on Mexico's Pacific coast is a hotspot for tourists, retirees, and digital nomads. Why is everybody drawn to Sayulita and why is it so hard for many of them to leave? I spent a week in this beautiful beach town and documented my experiences.
I hope that this can serve as a guide to those thinking about visiting Mexico. Many people are considering moving to Mexico and, from the amount of expats living there, I can see that Sayulita is a popular choice, especially among those looking to retire in Mexico.
In this video, I interviewed, expats, retirees, and locals to find out what it's really like to live in Sayulita from different perspectives. I found out how the pandemic has affected tourism in Sayulita from a beach vendor and expats told me about their experiences living in Mexico.
If you are thinking about working remotely from Sayulita, I hope that this video can give you an idea about internet speeds and cost of living in Sayulita and also, where to stay and what to do once you are there.
Thinking about moving to Mexico?
💰 Find out about the cost of living per month in Queretaro 💸
• My monthly expenses - ...
🏠 Here we shared our story house hunting in Queretaro
• How to rent a house in...
Stay at the same Airbnb that we did:
www.airbnb.mx/rooms/24755447
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#Mexico #LivingInMexico #SAYULITA

[@byntaernest2324]

I LLLLLOOOOOOVVVVEEE SAYULITA!! I am from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia and fell in love with Mexico. I drove with friends from CDMX to Sayulita. I saw whales in Sayulita, had the best guacamole there, bought the most amazing hand crafted necklace!! I miss this place.

[@rubylace9963]

I've only been once, but it was sooo magical. I remember taking a bus there in the afternoon so by the time I got there wasn't a chair on the beach left (pre covid) but it didn't even matter. I walked around and made friends, people were so kind! I would go back in a heartbeat.

[@timelesstravelclub6240]

Great job representing Sayulita which is a perplexity for me. While I am there I become bored after about 4 days and want to move on. But when I'm not there I miss her so much! You're views help me to better sort through my own relationship with Sayulita. Thanks for the video.

[@nathangarza8104]

I appreciate you taking the time to show Sayulita from your point view. My wife and I will be visiting Sayulita for the first time in May for 9 days. We will for sure look into all your recommendations and partake in as much as we can during our stay.

[@hombrealfa8312]

I recommend you stay at Hotel Rosita in Puerto Vallarta ( pretty inexpensive, but good enough)then you can go to Sayulita for a few days, there’s a lot more to do in Vallarta. I think a day or two is good for Sayulita.

[@katedavy6272]

I love your interviews!

[@PrincessMar23]

Gracias Kar por mostrarnos Sayulita, hermoso!!!

[@TheTwoTravelersInMexico]

We’ve never been to Sayulita, now we will have to go. We always enjoy your videos.

[@patriciarussell7487]

Gorgeous.And town shops look fun!

[@kazzyburton196]

Interesting and fun video, thanks for sharing.

[@adobejuan2160]

I've traveled a lot. And it only took me 24 hours to realize how special the vibe and to fall in love with Sayulita. ( I am 74 yes old)

[@mirnaaldrete2909]

Ame Saluyita y ame este blog, gracias Karencita 🙌🏼

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Muchas gracias a ti Mirna por ver el vídeo. Qué tengas un gran día

[@CelineAdobea]

Wow! I want to travel there right now 😂😍 thank you so much for sharing 🙌🏾

[@dalializbe4504]

Son tan buenos tus vídeos que se me hacen súper cortitos Feliz tercer aniversario 💞

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Ah qué linda Dalia! Gracias por ver el vídeo hasta el final 😉 Estoy muy feliz de que lo hayas disfrutado.

[@proverbsthirty-one6531]

I've never heard of this place. It looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I like your braids and your lashes look good.

[@LaKarencitaMX]

🙂

[@GenXDriver]

A week from today I’ll be there too, thanks for the video 👍🏼👍🏼

[@EnglishSuelto]

I loved the wide range of people you interviewed. Sayulita has such a unique soul and energy.

[@BarefootJeff]

I wish I visited this town when traveling and vlogging for 2 months this past winter in Mexico 🇲🇽. Now I will have to visit. A friend said I would love it as well. 👣

[@lizzy1bear]

I'll be in Puerto Vallarta in July. I hope it doesn't rain much. hoping to visit this place. Thank you for this video.

[@cindyhernandez5795]

My family is from Guerrero! I hope everyone is able to get by during these times.

[@guadalupesamano1748]

Buen vídeo Karencita gracias por mostrar México 🇲🇽 saludos desde Chicago 🇺🇸

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Saludos 🤗

[@alzmcfluffy]

Otro lugar que necesito visitar en ¡mi querida México!

[@boukmananddessalines5522]

Lovely, thanks.

[@canalsentir]

muy bien video! gracias! /great video! thanks!

[@isiserival]

Ya me antojaste otro lugar para hacer home office ☺️ se ve bien relax

[@karissadeleon7238]

Amazing video! So informative and inspirational 💜 please do a Guadalajara video next 🤗

[@LaKarencitaMX]

I'd love to, I just need time to travel. Hopefully, I'll be able to make more videos about different cities in Mexico

[@madeuh]

Estoy encantada con este paraíso. Definitivamente estaré en Sayulita pronto. Qué hermoso lugar, Dios mío… Brasil tiene lugares hermosos, pero siempre amé a MÉXICO. Y tal vez con suerte no encuentre a Fernando Stalla en la calle ni en la playa ... jajajaja

[@angelvpineda8148]

La Mera verdad que si a cambiado demasiado Mijita. Lol pase por esos rumvos asi 21 años atras y porlo que Miro en estos videos que El amviente si cambio. Very beautiful place still just cleaner God bless ❤️.

[@adriB40]

I love Gabby’s! I was just there last week and her fish tacos were my favorite thing I ate!

[@lupeochoa2442]

Love it even your accent gracias por compartir y Queretaro tienes video de q visitar en Queretaro?

[@zanepatterson1634]

Awesome vlog as always

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Thank you Zane! I'm glad you enjoy all the videos

[@zanepatterson1634]

@@LaKarencitaMX I've never been to Mexico its definitely on my travel list

[@leslyecruz5270]

Me gustó esta edición

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Muchas gracias hermana

[@dannygrissom1]

Very cool thank you

[@mercedes4328]

I would love to visit Sayulita!

[@lauraz3580]

I visited several years ago for a few hours as a day trip. I didn't make it into downtown. I visited an area that was filled with little shops that were owned by Americans and Canadians. The prices reflected it too. Very pretty jewelry, arts and crafts, but pricing was very expensive. This area definitely catered to tourists--not the locals. I was surprised at the amount of Americans and Canadians that live there. Not a bad thing--just surprising.

[@HELLREO]

Hola. Soy de Baja California pero vivo en Alemania. No hace mucho que descubri tu canal y me gusta como representas a nuestra tierra. Sigue adelante con tu proyecto y mucha suerte.

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Hola! Muchas gracias por apreciarlo. Me da gusto leer estos comentarios. Un saludo hasta Alemania!

[@foreskinjesus4719]

So beautiful the thumbnail 💞

[@dwalker6868]

Thank you

[@sellingsunshinecoast]

I want to move to Mexico.

[@treasurefunworld4767]

I'm from jamaica and I would love to visit soon.

[@NomadShifu]

We found it a little bit strange that people are very hesitant to visit Sayulita but the truth is, this is the best destination in the state of Nayarit. It's truly a magical place to spend your vacation in, especially we are fit for all travelers.

[@isabelheredia6415]

Muy bonito Vídeo. Oyes has escuchado de Chautengo guerrero el sur de Acapulco te animas a ir a explorar 🗺 por ahí?

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Me animaría a ir a cualquier parte de México. Es una laguna verdad? Me encantaría conocer muchísimo más de Guerrero

[@kimberly5928]

This place low-key reminds me of a really less crowded Chiang Mai…just need more places with good internet for digital nomads…good surfing, great food, low key vibe, wonderful locals.🇲🇽❤️

[@N3v3rAround]

I'm watching this thinking the same thing. I fell in love with Chiang Mai.

[@rwilliams7306]

Me too!! I was thinking of Chaing Mai

[@adambomb619]

i want to visit now 😁

[@TravelingEddie]

La Karencita thank you for your vlog. Now I'm planning to visit it on Saturday the 20th next week so i can experience that ionic energy la gringa was talking about. I'm a gringo paisa and the Paisa is from Medellín, Colombia.

[@josem6761]

Haven't been to Sayulita, but I hear it's small, and the internet is bad. On the plus side - it's very chill and nice. I'd have to find some time when I don't have to work to go there. Christmas?

[@janejetson88]

Sayulita is the most beautiful!!!!!! And we dint even ge to get in the water!!! I want to live there.

[@mr.adventure3327]

Hola Karen, very good, I was captivated by your vlog again great context. The beach looks beautiful...not quite as lovely as that of Asia but beautiful in its own right. you are more beautiful than ever Dave is a lucky man and you a lucky woman. thank you great video. I love strangers being interviewed , that's what I do when I go on vacation, love to meet new people. take care be safe. P.S. don't forget to find out about your grandfather.

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Hola Luis! Thanks for enjoying the video. Yeah, this beach isn't the most beautiful around the world but what makes this places unique, is the relax environment and people are very nice. Thanks for all your nice comments.

[@rockerobertson4002]

Hola, me gusta mucho. Aye muchos touristos? Creo que Sayulita es mas pequena de Puero Escondido? Me parece que también hay muchas comida de la calle! Como Puebla o Oaxaca :) Yum.

[@angelvpineda8148]

Mijita por favor pudieras darme la informacion de El Airbnb where you stayed at please and thank you.

[@beastarentertainment4926]

You are beautiful ❤️ and very good video we are thinking to visit from the USA

[@tylordid2695]

I like San Pancho better, it is way more relaxed. You should check it out it only 10 minutes North.

[@emiliae1166]

Hola Karencita! Me gusta mucho tu canal porque es una forma de aprender inglés, disculpa me podrás decir como es que das clases de español y en que plataforma, gracias!

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Gracias Emilia. La plataforma en la que enseño se llama Italki. Échale un ojo si te interesa. Hay dos opciones, profesor de comunidad (solo platicas con extranjeros) y la otra es profesor profesional (tienes que enseñar y tener una licenciatura)

[@emiliae1166]

@@LaKarencitaMX muchas gracias!

[@maryfreedom5]

Karencita hermosissima ♡♡♡♡♡♡ love your videos. Please tell where ist less air humidity in Mexico

[@lookissjaxin]

What’s the cost of living there? Rent, electricity ⚡️ etc.,? What would y’all estimate the REASONABLE minimum for an expat 2B?$?$ aproximadamente? Gracias 🙏🏻. ( another great 👍🏻 video)

[@LaKarencitaMX]

I'm not sure because we were only there for s week. It seemed much more expensive than Querétaro in general though.

[@Ohoracio300]

hola, soy de ciudad de mexico quiero hacer home office en sayulita me podrias recomendar algun lugar con buen internet?

[@SweeetClarissa]

I’ve been wanting to come Here for a very long time… more than a decade

[@anaaranda9459]

😍💕

[@kita3256]

As a Mexican, I’m surprised you’re confused about the pharmacies. Every place in Mexico I’ve gone to has pharmacies super close together.

[@danapatricia123]

Do you recommend that foreigners eat the street food seafood? Is it possible to get sick?

[@LaKarencitaMX]

The place I mentioned, the seafood was super fresh. I saw foreigners eating there as well so yes, I do recommend street seafood in Sayulita

[@davidcarter5329]

Hello I was moving to Mexico in December. So you still live there? I have some questions

[@miguelrubio2186]

Hola karencita nosotros somos de Querétaro miramos un video de sayulita que hiciste nos gustaría si pudieras asesorarnos un poco sobre sayulita

[@christinec.2376]

Hola, I am planning to move to MX. How do I get in touch with you for Spanish lessons?

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Send me an email! [e-mail]

[@bananapatch9118]

The gringos there seem very California-ish. Any cool beaches u like in the Gulf of Mexico ?...close to Queretaro ? Thx !

[@LaKarencitaMX]

All the beaches are a long way from Querétaro unfortunately. At least about 7 hours away by car.

[@kiqyou]

*i'm an american raised, half mexican* i have a difficult time appreciating these americans in such a beautiful place in mexico. fml.

[@tavomaravilla6300]

What is the name or site for this Airbnb ?

[@genericdeveloper3966]

Nice to visit, but expensive to live there

[@prime8nate]

11:21 What she's afraid to say is that cartels and gangs control a lot of the agricultural areas of Guerrero and some of the areas as you head inland from Acapulco. She's definitely not saying "tranquilo" in reference to roosters and mariachi bands.

[@canalsentir]

Mexico has a mild climate year round. A lot of the drugs are grown on the west coast, (on the pacific side) in the mountains, because it is the most favourable conditions there. I made a video on the 43 students which disappeared in Guerrero, from a small town called Ayotzinapa, and 1.5 million people showed up in CDMX to protest it.

[@LouQuillio]

Sayulita is nowhere near Guerrero. It's in the orbit of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, slightly across the border into Nayarit. Guerrero and Acapulco are unrelated to Sayulita.

[@prime8nate]

@@LouQuillio The woman literally says she's from Guerrero and had to leave it. But thanks for the geography lesson.

[@-whackd]

Cartels hardly grow drugs. They import fentanyl and precursors for meth in the Western ports and then manufacture them. Heroin is a small trade compared to fentanyl and meth. Acapulco kicked out the federales because the police are corrupt murderers, and institute citizen check points outside their city to make sure no politicians and police enter.

[@prime8nate]

@@-whackd They control large rural areas in places like Guerrero and Michoacán which has prompted the autodefensa groups to emerge and you get a ton of violence from that. They grow poppies and marijuana although the latter doesn’t make much on the market currently. Fentanyl is synthesized from opium. In Michoacán they were branching out and taking over avocado farms which resulted in a lot of violence a couple years ago.

[@32hernandez93]

😊

[@patrickbranin7065]

Ionic energy?

[@YourMajesty143]

I guess she means the negative ions released from the ocean mist, which is in fact a real scientific thing. The air after it rains is the same.

[@cindykawa2492]

Sayulita looks like a very pretty area. I feel bad for the vendors, Covid is affecting everyone.

[@williamwoods2547]

The last time I visited Sayulita was in 1974. To get to the small village one had to cross a stream several times (5? 7? I forget the exact number of times). The village women (and I) washed our clothes in the stream, pounding our clothing on the various rocks there. Nothing you showed in your enjoyable video existed back then. I don't recollect a single hotel or restaurant, although a very nice woman had a small stand on the beach and sold soft drinks. For a dollar a night she would rent campers a spot on the beach. Half of the village's houses had thatch roofs and stick or board walls. The other half had plastered brick walls and tile roofs. The latter belonged to families who traded their ejido land to the government in exchange for the more modern houses. The original village was near the rocky point. The new Sayulita may occupy the former ejido land. I camped on the beach for a month, driving into Puerto Vallarta once a week for supplies. The men made a living by fishing. They used the big fiberglass ponga boats, and I often helped drag them into the water and then back up onto the beach again. When the men were done fishing I could hire a boat and two men for $3-$4 for a couple of hours. Everyone was friendly. It was wonderful, but as much as people like it now I'm afraid it has changed too much from the village I loved for me to want to revisit it. For comparison sake, I'll point out that Punta Mita did not have a single building on it. There was a small colony of hippies camped there, most of them nude most of the time. Now I understand Punta Mita is covered by an exclusive resort. As for Cancun, which I visited the same year, there were a total of seven hotels completed and open for business, although more were under construction. I'm so glad I went when I did, Very few tourists, fewer amenities, but a few hundred dollars could last for months and there was an opportunity to see a vanishing Mexico. Thank you so much for the video and a chance to reminisce.

[@LaKarencitaMX]

Thank you very much for your comment. It sounds like you had an amazing experience. I loved my time in Sayulita but it sounds like I would have preferred it even more at the time that you visited.

[@Alejandro-rh4ck]

Is it safe to travel there by bus from texas ?

[@prime8nate]

It's not safe for you sanity. That's a long ass bus ride. A cheap domestic flight from Juarez or Monterrey to Puerto Vallarta might make sense.

[@Alejandro-rh4ck]

@@prime8nate 😆😆😆 yes I agree. Personally I'd like to take my time exploring the cities along the way to my destination. It would probably take 2 months before I get to my final destination. I would just be worry for my safety along the way.

[@prime8nate]

@@Alejandro-rh4ck That actually sounds like a lot of fun.

[@Alejandro-rh4ck]

@@prime8nate that is the plan my good sir. My only concern would be entities such as the narcos targeting me because they assume I have money and they can harm me to take whatever little I happen to have.

[@prime8nate]

@@Alejandro-rh4ck Some guy on a bus is usually small potatoes for narcos. Pickpocketing is a serious possibility though. Keep valuables safe and in sight. You might want to keep a dummy wallet with twenty pesos in it to give up in case someone really robs you or tries to shake you down. I’ve never had any problems in about fifteen trips to Mexico but you never know. I DID get robbed in Guatemala once.

[@christinec.2376]

..found it in dropdown. I would love to live there, but it seems it may eventually too" young american".

[@onehappykamper]

Saludos desde Ubud, Bali 🙏. I've travelled to Sayulita a few times... and all the other beach towns north. Guayabitos is my favourite. Beautiful beaches cute town... But crazy expensive. 90 pesos for soup. No thanks. 😎👍. Querétero is a great place to live, but nowadays taking a vacation in México has gotten to be very expensive for me. Your mileage may vary 😊👍

[@strada21_]

Hola eres muy linda , ven a visitarme a Arizona hay muchos lugares bonitos y interesantes puedo ser tu guía 😊

[@fretstain]

why are energy people so attracted to Mexico?

[@blindfowlindoor84]

Hello I'm looking for a place to retire I'm a divorced wanting to enjoy the beach

[@reinadelmar11]

Great video, thank you! The seafood stand looked amazing but I wish they wouldn't use Styrofoam! Cardboard or hey, even (unsprayed) banana leaves would be much better!

[@jeronimomuniz3358]

I have 20 injurious,

[@fazequeso1247]

once upon a time there was the question of how long would it take to get a person to speak english, to which I said that if they were willing it would take three years in the most, and for the unwilling person it would take twenty five years, well I have to admit that I was wrong in both counts for now I seen it happen in two years for one and 30 some and counting on the other, but hey to err is human, hmmmmm I think I'm posting in the wrong video, creo que mi comentario original era que queria preguntarte mijita que comes para ir y traerle a mi ????????? pa que se le suelte la lengua

[@ginnieporter641]

If you want to have everything to eat and drink and stores to shop for things you would also get in the usa and all at not much cheaper, then this is the town for you. If you want a place that is not a big tourist trap and a lot more authentic go north to any of the towns past san poncho. I guess you can see i am not really a big fan of sayulita.

[@AdamFrancisco]

Are you still here? Let’s collab!

[@LaKarencitaMX]

I'm not there anymore sorry. It would've been a good idea

[@JamesBond-pb2qy]

A little under $600 a week that's cheap

[@luzdelalbacarrera891]

Karencita, todo está muy chido, pero no entiendo porque hablas en ingles estando en México y siendo mexicana. Soy de tus primeras subscriptaras, desde antes que te fueras a Vietnam. Pero me desilusiona.

[@elmoney4348]

Why not?

[@keilaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Su canal es más para la gente extranjera que quiere conocer Mexico y irse a vivir

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

Wish I could retire there even though at my age I am too old for that.I already spent my first ten years of retirement here in San Jose Ca. When I have to brave traffic and long lines for everything I really long for a place like this to get way from it all.

[@jjrossitee]

This town ain’t what it used to be, go up the coast farther and find some places that haven’t been overrun.

[@jeronimomuniz3358]

Do not buy drugs in zipolite

[@whoisdanna]

Hola me gustaría que las tomas fueran más profesionales, me refiero a que de ve como que pixeleado

[@LaKarencitaMX]

En serio? Tengo bastante cuidado con eso y la cámara que tengo no es tan mala. ☹️ Así sale en todos los videos?

[@whoisdanna]

@@LaKarencitaMX No sé si sea mi celular, espero que sí porque son impresionantes como resaltan la belleza de México, sigan así, les mando un abrazo a los dos y feliz aniversario 💗

[@sirena11]

@@whoisdanna definitivamente es tu celular porque en el mio se ve complemente nitido el video... Excelente calidad Karencita!

[@jeronimomuniz3358]

Be careful Manding stabed me from the back

[@PampItPapi]

No need to wear masks? Fking awesome!

[@LaKarencitaMX]

When you go into a place, you have to wear them but yeah, the rules are more relaxed over there.

[@mattiusvalentine3199]

You spent 500 dollars American a night??

[@LaKarencitaMX]

500 pesos a night

[@mattiusvalentine3199]

@@LaKarencitaMX duhh.. My bad. Thanks for the video!

[@aiver.a]

14:22 actually quite a lot of Americans experience poverty. As a matter of fact 34 million do ( as to when this comment was made ) so please stop using that as a ‘ reason ‘. Then if that’s true go live in the USA as a ‘poor’ because according to you it’s so much relaxed, care feee to live that way.

[@YourMajesty143]

I think he meant that DESPITE being poor, people in Sayulita choose to be content with what they have whereas in America, poverty leads to depression and discontent -- which is shown statistically. However, I don't know that an outsider like him can know whether people are truly content or not, bc I think foreigners handle public displays of depression -- and the vocal expression of mental health issues -- differently than we do. Also, I find that "gringos" tend to be out-of-touch and view the world from a privileged lens, which makes them oblivious to the struggles of other people around them.

[@belle8935]

How do the foreigners dare to live in a country that is very dangerous because of the drug war?

[@oscarnavarro5279]

Sayulita está sobrevalorado, muchos gringos fumando mota, las cosas si son caras y sólo tienen una o dos calles turísticas y lo demás no vale la pena

[@LaKarencitaMX]

If you've been to Sayulita, let me know what you liked about this town. Would you live here? 💰 Find out about the cost of living per month in Mexico💸 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3vCe5uGo7d0mM0 ** No se olviden de activar los subtítulos a español**

[@dougsmuaythai]

I love Saulita. You should have seen it 30 years ago. Punta Mita, which is a big resort now and threw out the ejitarios, was beautiful. The government selling out to foreigners ruined that part of the area.

[@LaKarencitaMX]

In Sayulita I saw a lot of businesses in downtown belonged to foreigners

[@williamwoods2547]

@@dougsmuaythai I agree. I spent a month there in 1974. Please see my comment below.

[@williamwoods2547]

@@dougsmuaythai I agree. I spent a month there in 1974. Please see my comment below.

[@elmoney4348]

Why is noone wearing masks? Curious

[@drSamovar]

too late.....ruined like tulum.....vloggers have been a big contributor to its loss.....

[@edpp6572]

Nothing special, backpackers and beach bums, food is not good either,

[@johneynon7018]

There is nothing special about Sayulita.