Main Beach - Where Beginners Stand Up

A stop on Sayulita: Surf Town Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Walk down to the town beach and you will see why so many people take their first surf lesson here. Inside the main break, the waves roll in over a sandy bottom and lose much of their punch, leaving slow, gentle whitewater that is forgiving to fall in. Rows of soft-top boards line the sand, and instructors stand waist-deep, pushing students into waves.

The beach is also the town's front yard, with fishing boats pulled up on the sand, vendors walking the shoreline and families under umbrellas. Remember that beaches in Mexico are federal property and open to everyone: you never need to buy anything to sit here.

If you swim, check for lifeguard flags when they are posted, stay inside your comfort zone and keep clear of the surfers' lane. The sun is strong all year, so find shade at midday and reapply sunscreen often.

Getting here: Walk southwest along the sand from the river mouth for about two minutes until you are in front of the center of town.

Did you know?: Under Mexican law, a strip about 20 meters wide along the shore is a federal zone, which is why no hotel or house can fence off the beach.

Photo op: Kneel low at the water's edge and shoot back toward town, with boards on the sand and the hills rising behind the rooftops.

Main Beach - Where Beginners Stand Up

Stops on this tour