Written by the wonderful Sam Tatro of Undiscovered Path Home
When you picture your elopement day, do you picture white sandy beaches, delicious local food, and sprawling jungles? Then eloping in Sayulita, Mexico or eloping in Puerto Vallarta might be your dream elopement location! Puerto Vallarta and the smaller boho beach town Sayulita are both located on Mexico’s western coastline – and it’s a beach lover’s paradise. Picture endless sunshine, isolated beaches tucked away in between rocky coves, waterfalls in the midst of sprawling jungles, and all the delicious food your heart can desire. It’s almost like Mexico is calling… Let’s dive into everything you need to know when planning your Puerto Vallarta elopement or Sayulita elopement. After all, eloping in Puerto Vallarta doesn’t have to be just a dream!
Where to elope in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
There are dozens and dozens of breathtaking, wild and wonderful places to elope in Puerto Vallarta or Sayulita. Here are my top picks if you plan on eloping in Puerto Vallarta or eloping in Sayulita.
Where to Elope in Sayulita
Playa de Carricitos
Playa de Carricitos has to be one of the most beautiful spots in Sayulita. This hidden beach requires a 30 minute walk through the jungle, but the hike is totally worth it. Soft sands, clear waters, palm trees and dramatic scenery make this beach a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. There’s few better places to elope in Sayulita! And bonus: this beach has far fewer tourists – and the sunsets are spectacular!
Playa Patzcuarito
A short, 30 minute walk through the jungle lets you out at Playa Patzcuarito, a long stretch of coastline in Sayulita. Large boulders make for a dramatic coastline, nestled between black, white and golden sands. This is another wonderful sunset spot with some of the most insane beautiful waters.
Playa de Los Muertos
Playa de Los Muertos gets its name from the journey to the beach. To get to this beautiful beach, you have to walk through a cemetery. It’s a bit of a walk, but it’s a beautiful spot to explore with dramatic, jutting rocks and clear waters.
Villa Valentin
If you’re looking for more of a traditional wedding venue, Villa Valentin might be for you. This luxurious-yet-adventurous spot overlooks the ocean. It’s an intimate venue with two pools and an outdoor bar that only hosts 18 people maximum, with prices around $1,250 to $3,000 a night.
Where to Elope in Puerto Vallarta
Rent a yacht or sailboat
Is there anything better than sailing off into the sunset with the love of your life? Renting a yacht can be an epic way to celebrate your marriage seaside – all while taking in the beautiful coastline from the water. Opting to rent a small yacht or sailboat can be a fantastic way to have an intimate and intentional ceremony.
Cascadas de Mismaloya
If you’re like me, you love an epic waterfall – and the Puerto Vallarta region has lots of dramatic waterfalls tucked away in the jungle. Couples up for an adventure can tackle this difficult 12-mile hike to the Mismaloya waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with unbelievable views of the ocean below. At the end of the trail lies a big, cascading waterfall running through the mountains.
Yelapa
Yelapa Beach is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. This tropical paradise is only accessed by boat, making it the perfect choice for couples who want a little bit of that yacht lifestyle – but also want to stop on solid land. This exotic fisherman’s village is beyond beautiful, and the perfect spot to say your vows, soak up the sunshine, and spend the day relaxing.
If you do want to stay here, the village has plenty of restaurants and beach clubs to enjoy in the atmosphere as well as hotels. The village is famous for its homemade pies, which may or may not be better than a traditional wedding cake.
Adventurous couples will want to tackle the 40 minute walk to the town’s beautiful waterfall. The trek goes through the jungle, but at the end of the hike, prepare for natural pools of fresh and clean water.
Las Caletas Beach
Las Caletas is a gorgeous, private beach perfect for relaxing and chilling. Once, this dramatic beach was home to famous movie director John Huston.
Vallarta Adventure Tours hosts the access to this beach, accessible by a 1-hour boat ride. When you arrive, prepare for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding…and of course, your wedding ceremony! You can honor your love on the beach, but we can also have parts of the ceremony on the water.
Colomitos Beach
Is there anything better than a hidden, secluded beach? Colomitos Beach is located just south of Puerto Vallarta, accessible only by a 40-minute hike or water taxi. The small beach is surrounded by the exotic Sierra Madre Mountains, and it’s simply stunning here. There are no facilities on this beach, so prepare to bring your own food, champagne, water and umbrella.
What to do on your elopement day in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
There are PLENTY of things to do in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita! When planning your Puerto Vallarta elopement, why not plan something epic alongside it? Puerto Vallarta is known as an adventurous vacation destination with plenty of hiking, mountain biking, scuba diving and more. The vibe in Sayulita is a little different and centered much more around relaxing, self care and unwinding. Let’s dive into everything you can do on your elopement day in Puerto Vallarta or Sayulita to make it a special day to always remember.
- Skydiving: Thrill seekers, unite! If you want to see Puerto Vallarta from a whole new angle, why not try skydiving? Head to Skydive Vallarta in the Zona Hotelera Norte (North Hotel Zone) to jump with this company’s experienced instructors.
- Scuba diving & Zip lining: If you’re looking for something less intense than jumping out of a plane… Zip lining might be for you. You can book group tours or individual tours with tour companies in Puerto Vallarta to go ziplining, drive ATVs or go scuba diving.
- Cooking class: What better way to connect with the place you’re visiting than taking a cooking class? Puerto Vallarta is located in the state of Jalisco, a fast-rising foodie destination in Mexico. Most people come to Mexico in search of tacos, but in reality, the food in each region is so much more than just tacos. A cooking class in Puerto Vallarta can open your eyes to a whole new world of food – and you can bring home recipes to replicate on your anniversary, too!
- Learn to surf: Sayulita is one of the best beach towns in Puerto Vallarta, and they’re famous for their surfing. This laid-back, boho beach town offers one of the most famous stretches of surf in Mexico – the perfect place to learn how to surf.
- Relax on the beach: There’s no need to do anything specific on or around your wedding day. In fact, some couples really just want to relax, spend more intentional time together, and soak up the atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to do just that!
The best time to elope in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
If weather is important to you, you’ll want to consider eloping during the best times in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta. Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta is in a tropical climate right by the beach, so the weather isn’t always perfect. The region has periods of heavy rainfall, especially during the late summer months. Let’s break it down.
The rainy season: Expect some rainfall from July to October, with September taking home the medal for rainiest month of the year.
The sunny season: The warmest month of the year, on average, is in July with temperatures around 90 degrees. However, you’ll likely encounter some rain as well. The sunniest months are July and August.
The cheapest season: The cheapest time to visit Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta? It can be busy around the holidays, but December remains one of the cheapest times to visit Sayulita – especially with flights. Temperatures linger around 75 degrees, which is still pretty warm, especially if you’re coming from the northern parts of the US. This makes Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta the perfect winter elopement location!
Keep in mind: weather is, at the end of the day, outside of your control. If it does end up raining on your elopement day, don’t worry – I am down to shoot in any and all conditions, and I actually LOVE shooting in the rain.
Where to eat in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is located in the state of Jalisco – and as I mentioned earlier, this region of Mexico is quickly rising as one of the country’s best foodie destinations. So if your travel tends to revolve around the search for epic, one-of-a-kind food…You’re in the right place.
Puerto Vallarta
- Birrieria Isordia
- La Palapa Restaurant
- La Leche
- The Blue Shrimp
- Restaurante Barcelona Tapas Puerto Vallarta
- Porfirio’s Puerto Vallarta
- El Dorado
- Tuna Azul
- Meño’s Place
- Tacos Revolucion
- Tacos Sonorita Olas Altas
- Pancho’s Takos
Sayulita
- Sayulita Café Casa del Chile Relleno
- El Itacate
- Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine
- Don Pedro’s Restaurant & Bar
- La Rustica Sayulita
- Restaurant Yeikame
- Tacos Al Pastor Tal Ivan
Where to drink in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
There’s nothing like a great cocktail to cap off a wonderful day. Here are the best places to drink in Puerto Vallarta and the small beach town of Sayulita.
Puerto Vallarta
- Bar La Playa
- Twisted Palms Rooftop Lounge
- Bar Morelos Mezcaleria
- Elixir Mixology Bar
- El Colibrí Cocktail Bar
- Piano Bar & Jazz Garbo
- The Top Sky Bar
Sayulita
Where to stay in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
When you’re celebrating your wedding, you want to stay someplace wonderful and romantic. Puerto Vallarta hotels and Sayulita hotels offer plenty of luxury, relaxed vibes and beachfront views. These accommodation options are beautiful places to connect, just the two of you.
- Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
- One&Only Mandarina
- Conrad Punta de Mita
- Las Alamandas
- Four Seasons Punta Mita
- Marriot W in Punta Mita: Jayne stayed here on a recent trip to Mexico. As she says: This amazing hotel is definitely out of our budget, but I am a long time loyal Marriott member and credit card holder, so we booked this entire trip on points.
- Hotel Ysuri Sayulita
- Sayulita bungalow (Airbnb)
- Sayulita apartment (with a pool!) (Airbnb)
- Mountainside hotel in Sayulita (Airbnb)
Vendors I recommend in the area
Florist
Hair and Makeup Artists
Bakery
Officients
Catering
- HOECK Catering & Service Puerto Vallarta
- Chef Erik Torres
- Caio Tres, Catering & Eventos
- Catering Puerto Vallarta
How to get to Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita land at Puerto Vallarta’s international airport, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport.
To get to Sayulita, you will fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport. You can fly into Puerto Vallarta directly from multiple major US cities. The winter tends to be the cheapest time to fly to Puerto Vallarta.
Sayulita is a small beach community located 21 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. To get to Sayulita, you can take an Uber or taxi to the region. An Uber will cost you around 500 pesos, or $25 US Dollars. Once you order your Uber at the airport, take a left out of the airport and walk across the pedestrian sky bridge to meet your driver – Uber drivers can’t enter the terminal.
Alternatively, you can also take a public bus to Sayulita. The bus (heading in the direction of Compostela) costs around 35 Pesos, or 1.70 US Dollars. This is a great option if you don’t have a ton of luggage and want to opt for a more environmentally conscious option. The buses run every 20 minutes and you’ll find them across the pedestrian sky bridge. Keep in mind: these buses are meant for commuters, so there are no luggage racks or places to store big items, like a surfboard.
How to legally elope in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
To legally elope in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta, you have two options. First, you can skip the headache of a legal foreign marriage and instead make everything legal back home. With this situation, you’d have your celebration and vows in Mexico. I always recommend this option to my couples so they can avoid the headache and focus on their elopement!
If you DO want to have a legal marriage in Mexico, you can have a civil ceremony in Mexico. If you do pick this path, you need a valid passport and a marriage permit from Mexican Immigration officials. The marriage will then need to be performed at the Civil Registry Office, located in Jalisco, with four witnesses present. In addition, every state in Mexico requires a blood test before marriage – and some require chest x-rays as well, conducted within Mexico. This process will need to be started months in advance to avoid delays.
My tips for exploring Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta
If you’re heading to Sayulita or Puerto Vallarta for your elopement, use these miscellaneous tips to make it a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip.
- Don’t be afraid to leave your resort: Look, I get it. Resorts are kind of the best. You want that relaxing experience. But some of the best travel experiences happen outside of your hotel or accommodation. From new foods to new adventures, remember that it’s totally okay to take a taxi and explore surrounding areas. In fact, I recommend it!
- Pack for the outdoors: Puerto Vallarta tends to experience warmer temperatures year-round, even in the winter. This makes it an absolutely fantastic place to elope – but just double check the weather and the temperatures before arriving for your Puerto Vallarta elopement.
- Don’t be afraid to go local and eat street food: Sometimes, the best places to eat and drink aren’t necessarily listed on Google Maps. Don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and find those truly local spots – you won’t regret it!
- Tipping is common: In Mexico, it’s common to tip around 15% to 20%. It’s not mandatory, of course, but it is expected.
- Buy coral reef safe sunscreen: Did you know that most sunscreens have ingredients that can damage coral reefs? If you’re planning to venture out to snorkel (and you should!!), make sure to buy sunscreen that will better preserve the coral reefs you’re seeing. It’ll make sure thousands of other people can also enjoy those coral reefs later, too.
- Don’t leave garbage on the beach: Always make sure to pick up after yourself and leave each place the way you would like to find it.
