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    Dirt road through the forest toward Playa Pátzcuaro, Nayarit

    Photo by t0mmy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Mapillary

    Playa Pátzcuaro

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

    A quiet, unsigned local favorite on the open coast just southwest of Sayulita, reached by a dirt track and a creek off the Punta de Mita road.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 55 min by car (63 km by road) How to get there ↓

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    Plan your visit to Playa Pátzcuaro

    Where to stay near Playa Pátzcuaro

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Pátzcuaro.

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    Tours to Playa Pátzcuaro

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

    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Pátzcuaro

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 55 min by road (~63 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 Pátzcuaro

    Playa Pátzcuaro is a small beach on the open Pacific coast about three kilometers southwest of Sayulita, between Sayulita and the Punta de Mita peninsula. Maps show it as two short stretches of sand, Pátzcuaro and Pátzcuaro Sur, set between rocky points, and a tiny neighbor called Patzcuarito can be reached by scrambling over the rocks from Playa Carricitos.

    It is a local favorite precisely because so few people find it. There are no signs: from Sayulita you take the road toward Punta de Mita and, at the kilometer 5 marker, turn right onto a dirt track that leads about a kilometer to a ranch, beyond which a creek runs down to the beach. It is about a ten-minute drive from Sayulita or roughly an hour on foot. The scenery is wild and green, and the atmosphere is peaceful and secluded, a contrast with the crowds on Sayulita's main beach.

    The surf here is that of the open ocean, so swim with care, especially on days when a swell builds heavier waves. A steep, hard-to-follow back trail also links the beach to the hiking routes in the hills behind Sayulita, but it crosses ranch land and is easy to lose; most people come by the road.

    How to get to Playa Pátzcuaro

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 55 min, 63 km

    From Sayulita, head out of town on Avenida Revolución toward Punta de Mita. At the kilometer 5 marker turn right toward the sea (there are no signs) and follow the dirt track about 1 km to a ranch; just beyond it a creek leads down to the beach. It is about a 10-minute drive or an hour's walk from Sayulita.

    Directions to Playa Pátzcuaro on Google Maps

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

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

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Pátzcuaro

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

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

    Rules
    Swim with caution on days when the swell brings heavier waves. Sayulita Life · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa Pátzcuaro: what to see and do

    Spend a quiet beach day away from the Sayulita crowds.
    Scramble over the rocks from Playa Carricitos to tiny Patzcuarito.
    Walk from Sayulita, about an hour each way, or drive in ten minutes.
    Swim only when the sea is calm; heavier waves come with the swell.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Pátzcuaro

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

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Pátzcuaro; 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 3 km more to Playa Pátzcuaro, 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 Pátzcuaro.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Pátzcuaro, 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 Pátzcuaro before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa Pátzcuaro warm

    Playa Pátzcuaro shares the climate of Sayulita, 3 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa Pátzcuaro 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 Pátzcuaro, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Pátzcuaro

    Near Playa Pátzcuaro

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

    Lists with Playa Pátzcuaro

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

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.