The Pueblo Magico of Sayulita, Mexico

Today we hopped on the local bus for $33 pesos ($1.50) and ventured down to the Pueblo Magico of Sayulita. We already had visions in our heads of what this charming little beach town was supposed to feel and look like from seeing blogs and friends’ pictures, as well as a certain show about bachelors and roses on ABC. (Oh crap, we just admitted our embarrassing guilty pleasure to all of you. ?‍♀️ Thanks in advance for not unfollowing us.)

Anyhow, for us Sayulita was cute, but quite disappointing and also a bit anxiety-producing. In addition, It was the first true tourist town we’ve visited since arriving and indeed was jam-packed with over-priced food options and gringos…who, unlike most of the locals here, all seemed completely oblivious to the pandemic. Needless to say, we’re glad we chose not to spend our additional beach week here.

It was about a 20-minute walk from the highway to official entrance to Sayulita. By the way, it’s pronounced sigh-you-LEE-tah, which is commonly butchered. It means “Place of Mosquitoes” in Nahuatl, the language of the ancient Aztecs, because of the marshland that surrounds. Fortunately we didn’t notice any day skeeters at least.

When you first get to the town, the Sayulita “hippie market” is on the right. We really appreciate how they don’t harass you to buy things in Mexico like in other markets we’ve been in throughout the world. A simple “no gracias” is all you need to say and it’s always met with a smile.

Although the hippie market offered some great merchandise, we chose to move on.

But, instead of making tacos, we decided to have some at this little street stand, which seemed like the best budget item after we glanced at some of the restaurant menus.

We settled on two shrimp, two chicken and three marlin tacos….$175 pesos or $9.

…and ate them in the park where we could remove our masks with ease! Marlin tacos were new for Mandy. It’s a very red meaty fish which are at the top of the food chain. Because of this, they can also be loaded with toxins and unhealthy levels of mercury and other toxins that may be harmful to humans. Of course, we read this AFTER we consumed them. Fortunately it wasn’t even that tasty so we’re happy to move forward in life without repeating.

One thing can certainly be said, Sayulita is definitely spotless. Even the riverbed that runs through town is virtually free of trash. Good for them!

Street scene.

There are scores of trendy bars and restaurants.

One thing that was prevalent in Sayulita that we hadn’t seen yet was Ojo de Dios crafts (God’s eye). Maybe because gringos are very familiar with them so Sayulita embraced the familial decor opportunity? We remember making these as kids, but didn’t really have a clue what they stood for.

God’s eyes were originally made by the Huichol, the indigenous people of what’s now western Mexico, and they appeared on everything from altars to large ceremonial shields. When the Spanish colonists arrived in the region in the 1500s, upon observing their ritual significance, the Spaniards named them, which still exists today. The four points of the “eye” were believed to represent the four elements (fire, earth, air, and water), while the center of it served as a portal between the spirt world and the mortal world. So, not only could the gods gaze through the eye and watch over their worshippers, but worshippers could use the eye to ask for help or protection from the gods, as well. (Refinery29.com) Now, they’ve mostly lost all original meaning as US Christian camps have taken them over for their own interpretation.

Have a doctor who won’t give you any more pain killers because they’re too addictive? Then, come to Mexico! Another marketing opportunity Sayulita (and any good tourist town in Mexico) has capitalized on, is their ability to sell prescription drugs by the boatload with no prescription needed.

There were hoards of people everywhere, so patience paid to get this shot.

They offer some lovely murals!

Sayulita is renowned for its beaches, which are idyllic for sunbathing and riding the waves. But, if you’re looking for serenity, this is not the place. Also, there are no sharks, jellyfish or rays, but there are plenty of hawkers trying to sell you stuff that you’d rather not buy. We couldn’t believe how packed the beaches were. And not a mask in sight. Okay, maybe one or two. Besides the ones on our faces.

Thus, we promptly took a couple pictures and turned around ?

Everything here is 100% catered to tourists, including lots of English signs and speakers. Definitely loses points in the authenticity category for this.