First trip with baby: Sayulita, Mexico
Hi there! Thank you for stopping by to read my article about my 2019 trip to Mexico with my newborn.
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When it comes to traveling with babies, choosing the right destination is essential. At four months old, babies still eat breast milk or formula, so food is not going to be an issue, and the other positive thing is that they don’t need to be constantly entertained. One negative aspect of traveling with babies, though, is that the sleeping routine will be off in the new place and they may get cranky as the days go by.
We chose Mexico because we wanted to go somewhere outside of the United States but close enough. On a side note, the process to get the passport can be long and tedious: both parents need to be present when they make the request at the office and taking the photo may take a while. We discovered that many places that take passport photos don’t take photos of babies, so call before going. It’s important to plan ahead and have a lot of patience.
Mexico is full of beautiful destinations, but distance can be an issue with babies. Traveling from Portland, sticking to the West Coast is ideal because the flight is shorter. We chose a small town, Sayulita, north of Puerto Vallarta. There are direct flights from Portland to Puerto Vallarta, and we arranged transportation to get to Sayulita (one hour drive). We traveled with my in-laws and brother in law, so we requested a big car with a car seat to ensure that we could all be comfortable.
I pumped milk before leaving and breastfed my son upon arrival at the airport. I had heard that it’s good to feed babies during take-off and landing, so they can remain quiet—and that’s what we did. Nolan slept a lot during the flight and only cried a little bit, so overall, it was a pleasant experience. The driver was waiting for us outside of the airport in Puerto Vallarta and promptly escorted us to the car. Margarito Gomez is the owner of the taxi company; he was nice and chatty. He gave us great recommendations for restaurants.
We stayed in an Airbnb walking distance from downtown Sayulita. We brought a portable crib with us and we placed it in our room, which was nice and clean, like all the rest of the house. We knew that Nolan’s sleeping patterns would affect our daily activities—that’s why we settled for a quiet vacation, which included short walks, good food, and beach time. And Sayulita is the perfect spot for these activities. It’s a small hippie town, community-oriented, well-known in the surfer’s community. It’s very walkable, and the beaches are close to downtown.
The main beach is crowded and filled with umbrellas and chairs, but there’s another beach, a ten-minute walk if you take Avenida Pescadores. The name is Playa de los Muertos because you walk through a cemetery to get there. Cemeteries may evoke sadness, but not this one. Mexicans revere people who passed away and celebrate them during Dia de Muertos (end of October - first days of November). They decorate graves with colorful images and flowers—it’s a feast for the eyes. Playa de los Muertos is less crowded than the main beach and there’s a lot of space to place your towels and belongings. Here currents are strong and waves are big. It’s easy to get swept away, so be extra careful—especially with babies.
There are many great restaurants in Sayulita, but I have to admit that we are picky. We tend to stay away from greasy food and huge portions. If you have a similar taste, you’ll certainly enjoy these:
Yah Yah Cafe
This is a lovely small cafe close to downtown. We had breakfast here every day because it was located right below our Airbnb. The food is healthy and delicious and the staff is wonderful. It’s an ideal spot for breakfast and a quick lunch. Everybody in the staff is nice, and they all work really hard to make clients happy.
Tacos Prieto’s
This restaurant makes the best tacos I have ever had. It’s a hole in the wall with a couple of tables outside, perfect for lunch. The menu is very small: tacos or doraditas (fried flat tacos) with meat, fish, or veggies; they are all delicious, and not greasy at all. You should get three of them if you’re hungry because they’re small. Their strawberry agua fresca is sweet and fresh, perfect to fight the heat.
Emilianos
This restaurant has a great atmosphere. The food is tasty and it feels very authentic; they also make delicious cocktails. We chose to come back here for our last night in Sayulita because we felt that it was the place that made us truly feel in Mexico. What’s better than eating delicious authentic Mexican food outside, sipping a delicious Margarita?
Don Pedro
This is a somewhat fancy restaurant, with an ocean view. If you’re looking for a romantic place with low lights where you can hear the sound of waves, this is the place. The food is good, international with a Mexican vibe. We had a pleasant night here, chatting, and feeling the ocean breeze on our faces.
Barracuda
This restaurant is located on the most touristy street in town, where everybody takes photos because it has colorful decorations hanging above. If you look for “Sayulita” on Instagram, you’ll see many pictures with this background. There are several restaurants here, but we really liked the atmosphere at Barracuda because there’s often live music, and the food is tasty.
El Conejo
We had a quick appetizer here before dinner. We loved their home-made chips and salsa, and we also had a Tahitian ceviche, very peculiar, probably the best ceviche I’ve ever had. We tasted the food while sipping a fresh and delicious watermelon Margarita. We didn’t stay for a salsa night, but it seemed a great spot to nibble, drink, and dance.
La Rustica
This is an Italian restaurant, so it can’t offer you a typical Mexican experience. You can eat here if you’re tired of tacos and burritos. We really like their pasta and pizza (and if I say so you can trust me because I’m Italian). The restaurant has many tables, outside and inside. it’s a good option to keep in mind if you’re craving international food.
Taxi Sayulita by Margarito Gomez:
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