| Though not often marked in Sayulita, plenty of hiking trails offer visitors routes to secluded beaches and breathtaking views. The following hikes should get you going in the right direction but feel free to ask a local for additional information.
Monkey Mountain
Head south from Sayulita on the back road to Punta Mita. After approximately two mile, take a right towards Playa Patzcuaro. You will come to a ranch about ½ mile down this road towards the beach. An unused road will take you south from here through the jungle to the top of Monkey Mountain. Make sure to pack food and plenty of water for this 4-hour Sayulita hike.
Las Cuevas
Two miles north if Sayulita, surrounded by rocky cliffs, this tiny horseshoe-shaped beach is perfect for lovers. Carefully watch the ocean so you don't get washed when the tide comes in. Access is by a treacherous rocky path through the brush or through the rock arches on the south side of Playa Malpasos. To find it, walk inland along the arroyo after Sayulita's main beach ends and get on the jungle road until you see another arroyo after the barbed wire fences end. From town you can also reach Playas Cuevas and Malpasos by walking along Calle Las Palmas until it turns into the jungle road. Playa Malpasos is free of rocks and surrounded by palm trees. Unfortunately, Vallarta Adventures started bringing groups of tourists here daily. Come in the early morning or evening to enjoy solitude. Don't swim here, there is a dangerous undertow.
San Pancho
For real exercise, continue walking to the neighboring village of San Francisco AKA San Pancho four miles from Sayulita. One end of the beach is very swimmable and the other end is home to Costa Azul Adventure Resort, a nice place to have a drink and watch the sunset. In the middle lie the quiet cobblestone streets of San Pancho.
After Playa Malpasos, you'll pass the former estate of Mexico's former president. Here you might have to practice a bit of citizens' action because the new owners have blocked access, which is against Mexican law. People still cross by ignoring the "no trespassing" signs. If you're up for some risky rock climbing, it's possible to scale the rocks over the ocean at low tide. Hopefully by the time you arrive, this situation will no longer be an issue. San Pancho is accessible by Highway 200.
Playa de Los Muertos
In the other direction from Sayulita is Playa de Los Muertos, which is very popular with Mexican families and a safe swimming beach. Huge rocks protect it on both sides. Walk around the curved bay past Villa Amor and head up the hill through the cemetery. When you hit small river walk along it to the ocean. Las Cargadas is the tiny beach past the rocks to the south. There are other little beaches here that are best accessed by kayak from Sayulita..
Carrizitos
Here, you'll find huge waves and it's very possible that you'll be alone on this wild, windswept beach. There are homes here but most are well hidden in the wooded hill about the water. Taking the one-lane dirt road through the jungle is the best way to get here from Sayulita. Starting at the cemetery, its your second right turn. Through town, follow Niños Heroes until it enters the jungle and make the first left turn. This is an uphill 40-minute walk.
Playas Patzcuaro and Patzcuarito
From Gringo Hill in Sayulita, these beaches are an hour walk or 10-minute drive from town. Continue out of town on Revolucion past the cantina onto the road to Punta de Mita (Camino Punta Mita). Make a right at the first road and continue straight on it. The adventurous can also climb the rocks past Carrizitos.
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