The verdict on Playa Las Cuevas
- Who it suitsSnorkellers, strong swimmers and anyone who wants a quiet rocky cove away from the crowds of the main Sayulita beach.
- Best spotThe rocks at either end for the clearest snorkelling, on a calm morning at low tide when the water is at its cleanest.
- One thing to knowThere are no facilities, no shade to speak of and no lifeguard, so bring everything you need and read the swell before you swim.
Published 24 February 2026. Last reviewed 19 May 2026
Playa Las Cuevas is the kind of cove the concierge mentions quietly, not the one on the postcard. It hides along the rocky coast between Sayulita and neighbouring San Pancho, a small pocket of coarse gold sand held between two rocky points, with low cliffs and greenery behind rather than a single building. There is no sign, no road and no crowd, and that is precisely the point. You reach it on foot, picking your way along the coast path or over the rocks from the beaches on either side, and the reward for the small effort is a shoreline that feels found rather than served.
What earns Las Cuevas its name and its following is the rock. The points at each end shelter clear water over reef, and on a calm morning it is one of the better snorkelling spots on this stretch of the Riviera Nayarit, with fish moving through the shallows and good visibility when the sea is settled. Bring a mask and fins, time your visit for low tide and a small swell, and you can drift the edges in near solitude. It is a swimmer and snorkeller cove first, a sunbathing beach second.
The honest notes are about what is not here. There is no beach club, no vendor and no shade, so this is not a beach for a long lazy lunch or a day with small children who need facilities close by. When the Pacific swell builds, the same rocks that make the snorkelling turn the water rough and the entry tricky, so it rewards judgement over bravado, and it is no place to swim alone or to push past your depth. Footwear helps on the approach, and everything you carry in, including your water and your rubbish, comes back out with you.
Come to Playa Las Cuevas for clear water, quiet and a morning of snorkelling away from the scene. For the lively main beach and its surf lessons go to Playa Sayulita, and for the calm cove reached through the painted cemetery try Playa de los Muertos. For the full picture start at the best beaches in Sayulita, for loungers and dining see the Sayulita beach clubs directory, and to plan your timing read when to go to Sayulita.
There is no beach club at Playa Las Cuevas
This is a wild little snorkelling cove, so there is no formal beach club on the sand and we will not invent one. There are no vendors here at all, so bring your own water and shade. The beach clubs, bars and restaurants sit back in Sayulita town, a short trip away. Use the Sayulita beach clubs directory for the venues that do exist.
Photo: Blake Brattina via GoogleThe cove, not a club
The pleasure here is the snorkelling and the quiet, not a club on the sand. Bring your own mask, water and shade, work the rocks at either end on a calm morning, and save the long lunch and cocktail for Sayulita town. For loungers and venues that genuinely exist, browse the Sayulita beach clubs directory.
Playa Las Cuevas, Sayulita
Playa Las Cuevas lies on the coast between Sayulita and San Pancho on the Riviera Nayarit. There is no road to the sand and no car park at the cove itself, so plan to walk in along the coast path or over the rocks from a neighbouring beach, wearing shoes that cope with an uneven approach. Ask locally for the current easiest line in, as the best path shifts with the tide and the season.
Because there is nothing on the sand, bring water, snacks, sun cover, reef safe products and a mask if you want the snorkelling. Come early on a calm day for the clearest water and the softest light, snorkel within your depth as there is no lifeguard, and carry every scrap of rubbish back out. Conditions here are typical rather than guaranteed, and the swell can change the cove quickly.
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Playa Las Cuevas has no club of its own, so send your details and we will help arrange a table, a lounger or a sunset drink at the beach clubs and restaurants around Sayulita. We confirm current rates and availability with the venue before you commit. Nothing is charged here.
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Playa Las Cuevas FAQ
Where is Playa Las Cuevas in Sayulita?
Playa Las Cuevas is a small cove on the rocky coast between Sayulita and San Pancho on the Riviera Nayarit. It has no road access, so you reach it on foot along the coast path or over the rocks from the beaches on either side. Ask locally for the easiest current route in, as it varies with the tide.
Is Playa Las Cuevas good for snorkelling?
Yes, snorkelling is the main reason to come. The rocky points at each end shelter clear water over reef, and on a calm morning at low tide the visibility and the fish life are among the best on this stretch. Bring your own mask and fins, pick a settled day, and snorkel within your depth as the water can move with the swell.
Are there any facilities at Playa Las Cuevas?
No. There are no vendors, toilets, loungers or shade at this cove, so bring your own water, snacks and sun cover, and take all your rubbish back out. The restaurants, bars and shops are back in Sayulita town, a short trip away, so plan to eat and drink there.
Is Playa Las Cuevas safe for swimming?
It can be lovely on a calm day, but there is no lifeguard and the same rocks that shelter the snorkelling can make the water rough and the entry tricky when the Pacific swell is up. Treat calm conditions as typical rather than guaranteed, swim and snorkel within your depth, and never go in alone.
Is there a beach club at Playa Las Cuevas?
No, and we will not invent one. This is a wild natural cove with no development on the sand at all. For loungers, dining and the venues that genuinely exist, use the Sayulita beach clubs directory and the restaurants back in Sayulita town.