One coast, six towns
All six sit along Highway 200 north of the airport. Base in Sayulita and the rest are day-trips; the map plots each town — tap a marker.
Sayulita
Bohemian surf village — the reason the whole region has a name. Colorful, social, walkable and busy, with beginner surf on the main beach and a calm family cove (Playa de los Muertos) a short walk south.
The break from above
A gentle main-beach break right in the bay — the classic learn-to-surf wave, busiest in high season. Live Google satellite imagery, from a wide bay overview down to the peak — click any frame to enlarge.
Satellite tiles: Google / Airbus / Maxar. Framed on Sayulita main beach at three zoom levels.
San Pancho
Sayulita's calmer, artsier neighbour 8 km north — the same jungle-beach feel with a fraction of the crowd, plus a serious little food scene and a gallery culture. Ocean is rougher; swim at the south end.
Punta de Mita
The luxury-and-gentle-surf headland. El Anclote is a calm, swimmable, scenic beach; La Lancha nearby is famously mellow, longboard-friendly surf; boats to the Marietas Islands leave from here. Upscale polish, relaxed local town.
Bucerías
The largest town in the pack and the most kid-safe swimming water: a long soft-sand beach with a gradual shallow entry. Widest dining scene, full groceries, a big winter snowbird community — and the closest town to PVR.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
The working marina and seafood village — sailboats, a fish market, and a well-known Sunday market. Fresh seafood is the headline and the harbor is the point; you come for the marina, not the shore.
Lo de Marcos
Low-key, traditional beach town — a wide, golden, mostly-empty stretch of sand with no party energy, only ~20 min north of Sayulita so it's a genuine day-trip. Retirees, RVers and Mexican families; deliberately peaceful.
Places to stay
Real, currently-listed family villas (whole place, 3+ bedrooms) near town, pulled live from Airbnb. Prices are per-night estimates from sample dates — a long winter stay should discount. Tap a card or a map pin to open the listing.
Pins are Airbnb's approximate locations (the exact house isn't shown until you book). Live prices/availability change — confirm on Airbnb.