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    Satellite view of Playa Patzcuarito south of Sayulita, Nayarit

    Photo by EOX IT Services, Copernicus Sentinel data 2016, CC BY 4.0, via EOxCloudless

    Playa Patzcuarito

    Beach Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit Municipality of Bahía de Banderas Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    A tiny wild beach of dark sand southwest of Sayulita, reached by scrambling over the rocks from Carricitos; few people and big sunsets.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 50 min by car (60 km by road) How to get there ↓

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    Plan your visit to Playa Patzcuarito

    Where to stay near Playa Patzcuarito

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Patzcuarito.

    Hotels in Playa Patzcuarito Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Patzcuarito

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Patzcuarito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Patzcuarito

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 50 min by road (~60 km)
    • Nearest airport: Puerto Vallarta (PVR), 41 min by car to Sayulita
    Rent a car at PVR Flights to PVR

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    About Playa Patzcuarito

    Playa Patzcuarito is a small, undeveloped beach on the open Pacific southwest of Sayulita, tucked between rocky points on the stretch of coast that runs from Sayulita toward the Punta de Mita peninsula. Its neighbor to the north is Playa Carricitos, a big-wave beach about forty minutes' walk from Sayulita's plaza, and to the south lie the two short beaches of Playa Pátzcuaro, whose name it shares in the diminutive. Maps place it a little over two kilometers from the center of Sayulita in a straight line, but there is no road to the sand, and the hills behind it are still covered in forest rather than villas.

    What sets it apart is the sand: a thin layer of black, volcanic-looking sand over golden grains, which visitors describe as dark or multicolored. The beach shelves steeply and the waves are strong enough to draw surfers, so it is not a place for an easy swim, especially on days with a bigger swell. Birds are common in the palms and scrub on the way in, and people sometimes ride horses along the shore in the evening.

    Local guides rank Patzcuarito among the area's quietest beaches: a longer walk, dramatic scenery and almost nobody there, and one of the best places near Sayulita to watch the sun go down in the dry season. There are no vendors, toilets or shade, so bring water and snacks, take your rubbish home and leave enough daylight for the walk back.

    How to get to Playa Patzcuarito

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 50 min, 60 km

    Patzcuarito is reached on foot. The usual way is via Playa Carricitos: from Sayulita take Avenida Revolución, turn right onto Niños Héroes and follow it about half a mile, then continue on the paved path into the jungle toward Punta Tokipa and down to Carricitos, about 40 minutes from the plaza; from the south end of Carricitos, climb over the rocks to Patzcuarito. Another option is the route to Playa Pátzcuaro: drive out of Sayulita toward Punta de Mita, turn right at the kilometer 5 marker (no sign) and follow the dirt track about 1 km past a ranch to the creek that leads to the beach.

    Directions to Playa Patzcuarito on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Playa Patzcuarito Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Patzcuarito. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Patzcuarito

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Playa Patzcuarito: hours, prices and tips

    Best time of day
    Late afternoon, for the sunset: Sayulita Life calls it the best sunset spot in the dry season, with dramatic colors and very few people. Sayulita Life · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Water and snacks: there are no vendors or facilities once you leave Sayulita's main beach. Sayulita Life · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Swim with caution, especially on days with heavier swell. Sayulita Life · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Playa Patzcuarito: what to see and do

    Scramble over the rocks from Playa Carricitos to reach the cove.
    Walk on the thin layer of black sand over golden grains.
    Watch the sunset from one of the least crowded beaches near Sayulita.
    Combine it with Carricitos and Playa Pátzcuaro for a day of quiet beaches south of town.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Patzcuarito

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa Patzcuarito.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Patzcuarito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at PVR (Puerto Vallarta): about 41 min by road to Sayulita, then 2 km more to Playa Patzcuarito, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 41 min by road from Sayulita, the base for Playa Patzcuarito.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Patzcuarito, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Sayulita: download a map of the way to Playa Patzcuarito before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa Patzcuarito warm

    Playa Patzcuarito shares the climate of Sayulita, 2 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa Patzcuarito is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (June, July, and August); in the rainiest ones (July, August, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.

    See the month-by-month climate of Sayulita

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Sayulita

    Palm-shaded street of shops and stalls in the center of Sayulita, Nayarit warm
    Nayarit Sayulita

    Sayulita is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Playa Patzcuarito, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Patzcuarito

    Near Playa Patzcuarito

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Lists with Playa Patzcuarito

    Beaches in Nayarit · 25 Beaches near Sayulita · 42 Beaches near Puerto Vallarta · 40

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.