Sayulita is a village about 25 miles north of downtown Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...

 in the state of Nayarit

Nayarit

Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, with a population of approximately 4,000.

History

The pre-Columbian indigenous inhabitants of the area were most likely small bands of the semi-nomadic Cuyuteco. In 1530, Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán's account of his battle with the Cuyutecos at Valle gave name to the Bay of Banderas, as the natives carried colorful banners. Given the lack of interest in Occidental Mexican archaeology, only a small number of substantial civic sites have been identified in the region, namely at Ixtapa, Valle, and Ixtlan del Rio. These sites were most likely tributary outposts of the Aztatlan kingdom centered in northern present-day Nayarit. Like most of the greater Banderas Bay area, the sheer remoteness and thick jungle prevented permanent European colonization until the late 19th century. The ejido

Ejido

The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico...

of Sayulita was not established until 1941 when the first families arrived from the mountains of Jalisco.

Today

Known for its consistent river mouth surf break, roving surfers "discovered" Sayulita in the late 1960s with the construction of Mexican Highway 200. Today, Sayulita is a prosperous growing village of approximately 4,000 residents. Hailed as a popular off-the-beaten-path travel destination, Sayulita offers a variety of activities such as horseback riding, hiking, jungle canopy tours, snorkeling and fishing. Still a mecca for beginner surfers of all ages , the quaint town attracts upscale tourists with its numerous art galleries and restaurants as well . Sayulita has a curious eclectic quality, frequented by native Cora and Huichol peoples, traveling craftsmen as well as international tourists. Sayulita is the crown jewel in the newly designated "Riviera Nayarit", the coastal corridor from Litibu to San Blas. Its stunning natural beauty and easy access to Puerto Vallarta have made Sayulita real estate some of the most sought after in all of Mexico. With a growing ecological awareness and stricter zoning enforcement, development is being regulated to help safeguard the environment and quality of life of the community. Sayulita now has a medical office with an English speaking doctor and Pharmacist, a number of internet cafes and a wide variety of open-air eateries - some right on the sand beach. Sayulita has recently become a wedding destination with a Roman Catholic church and a number of local wedding planners.

Crime Rate

In Sayulita the crime rate is one of the lowest in Mexico. This is the case because of a strong Municipal Police force and the small village format. The two most commonplace crimes in Sayulita are underage drinking and marijuana use.