Taking a bike ride in Sayulita is a great way to kick off a day—whether you’re using your wheels to get into town or out of town, you can steal a break from the beach routine, and see what else is around. If you’re here for a week or more, you might just need that change of scenery. On a more mundane level, for in town cruising, one- or three-speed fat-tired retro-style bikes are perfect, especially if you are staying somewhere on the flats, say, on the beach or near it at the north end, or back in Tamarindo. From these barrios a spin down Avenida Palmar or Pelicanos brings you right into the middle of things.
On the other hand, if you should want to get out of town, there are more rugged bike rental options, including serious mountain climbing machines. Whatever your preference or need, a bike can get you into and around town, and beyond.
And beyond can be seriously out there. There are multiple challenging bike trails and dirt roads carved through the jungle-clad hills surrounding Sayulita, so if you’re looking to get away while spinning your mountain wheels, it’s easy enough to get adventurously lost north and south of town. While a few of the trails are hard-core, most are relatively easy, but either way they’ll all get you out of town and into another world, a verdant, bird-filled world, or to a wild, deserted beach, in a matter of minutes. These mountain bike trails are easily accessed from all over town. Put on your helmet and rock n’ roll.
Then there is the in-between, the moderately easy cruise that takes you away from both town and beach–a bike ride back into the valley behind Sayulita. While almost everybody that comes here comes for some version of the same thing—going to the beach and getting toasted in the sun–if you’re a surfer and the waves are flat, or you like to get out and do something in the early morning and you’ve already done your dawn beach walks, consider a bike ride into the valley behind town. There is basically only one road leading back there, it’s easy to find and follow, and you can manage it on almost any kind of bike. Fat tires would be better, and maybe a high-priced, fragile, road-racing machine would not be such a good idea, but anything else will probably work, since the road is mostly flat with a few small hills, the bumps and holes aren’t too bad, and there is hardly any traffic. You won’t need any super-high or super-low gears to manage this ride just fine. And trust me, there is nothing to worry about back there. No banditos, narcos, rabid dogs, scary monkeys, or whatever else you might imagine is worth being afraid of here in Mexico. This is magical, benevolent territory, and there is nothing to fear.
As you can see from the photos, taken on a recent spin into the valley, it’s simply a beautiful ride down a country road, with horses here and there, dogs barking up on balconies and behind fences, gorgeous flowers growing everywhere, mango and coconut orchards flourishing all around, jungle-draped hills in the distance, and colorful, cool-looking houses and ranchos, ranging from old school Mexican to luxe contemporary Gringo in style, to check out. The road is called Manuel Plascencia, and is easy enough to find: heading out of town towards Highway 200, you turn right just before the Proteccion Civil (fire station), drop down and dodge the mud-wallow at the bottom, and go straight ahead. Now you’re on Manuel Plascencia. You’ll pass Sayulitanimals on your left, then cross a small creek, which may or may not have some water in it, depending on season. Shortly thereafter, the road rises up and crosses the Punta Mita Highway, then drops down and continues. After a moment, you’ll pass the Om Yoga Studio on your left.
Just keep going. Within minutes, you’ll be cruising—well, maybe bumping would be a better word–along in a pastoral paradise, in terrain that feels miles away from Sayulita. The road only goes on for a mile or so, but there is plenty to look at along the way. There are forks here and there, but the right choice is pretty clear at each one. Small hills require a little effort to climb, but there are none too strenuous. There are sandy patches, rocks and bumps and things to dodge, but nothing any kind of bike won’t handle. This is simply a lovely country road. You could walk it easily, or ride a horse. But sometimes just jumping on a bike and taking off feels like the way to go, when you want to get lost back in the valley.
At the end of the road, there is a gate, and a sign with no trespassing indicated. There is no lock on the gate, and while we don’t recommend invading private property, the road into the jungle back there looks very inviting, and after all, what harm could you possibly do, taking a walk or a bike ride into that untrammeled forest?
Maybe next time.
Meanwhile, here are a few safety tips: be careful riding bikes in town, especially in the evening. There are a few drunk drivers and there are small children driving golf carts and ATVs, often way too fast.
Don’t even think about taking a bike onto Highway 200, happy home to crazy drivers, no shoulders, and no space for bikes. You are possessed of a death wish or insane to try it. As for the road to Punta Mita, well, it, too, lacks shoulder space for bikes, and it, too, has some crazy drivers. While there are fewer of them, we can’t really recommend riding it either. But people do.
Better to ride in town, on the mountain bike trails, or pedal that mellow road leading back into the valley.
