If I were to visit Sayulita again I would not hesitate to stay at La Joya again. The hotel had some sort of retreat while we were there but other than that, we felt like we were some of the only other guests. The accommodation, restaurant, and pool was quite enjoyable. While the beach is beautiful, it isn’t too calm (which is perhaps a given)? We hiked to playa carricitos and took a cab to San Pancho to swim.
The location is a roughly 20-minute walk from town, however it’s a bit of a workout going up and down the hilly terrain. I enjoyed the walk however I know some people wouldn’t. If you hike walk to town, have good shoes and bring a flashlight if you’re traveling during the evening. You can just as easily enjoy food at the restaurant however it’s a bit more expensive than in town. For the 4 days we were there, we ate at both the restaurant and in town toto save on money and to also enjoy exploring and trying new things.