Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas.  The altars have photographs of the deceased in addition to mementos and their favorite food.  Typically decorated with marigolds, the flowers are believed to attract the souls to the offerings being made in their honor.

Preparations for Dios de los Muertos begin many days in advance with the entire town gathering in the plaza to create the altars and decorate the square with flowers and candles.  It is a wonderful community effort where all ages come together to do their part in making Sayulita look as festive as possible.

Brightly colored flags (papel picado) are strung across the entire town and massive paper installations are created for the streets.  The profusion of color is such a shocking difference to how death is conceived in western countries. They choose to celebrate, versus mourn, the souls of their loved ones.

Families head to the local cemetery to clean and paint the gravestones.  Once decorated with fresh flowers, the families have a reunion of sorts where the deceased's favorite foods and beverages are brought and shared.  The hope is that the souls will come visit with them during this special time.

The plaza hosts various musicians and dancers in the evenings and the entire town comes out to enjoy the entertainment and reconnect.  Dios de los Muertos officially marks the beginning of the tourist season so many Sayulita residents, who tend to travel during the low-season, return during this time.

Founded by an American by the name of Brittney Borjeson, all of the products from the jewelry to clothing and textiles are locally made.  Brittney manages to source and design goods that feel authentic to the culture while still offering a modern spin.  I find the choice of colors particularly stunning.

Another inspiring store stocked with all local artisan made products with an emphasis on textiles and jewelry.  I particularly love their selection of Otomi embroidered pillows.  The indigenous Otomi people live in the central Mexican altiplano region and their work is so beautiful in its simplicity.

Probably the most famous store in Sayulita, Pachamama is the creation of the French sisters Nathelie and Marie Mignot.  Credited for being one of the first set of expats to really put Sayulita on the map, you will find mention of them in any article you read about the town. Their bohemian lifestyle brand is the definition of gypset living. Pachamama carries the latest boho chic tunics, handmade dresses and bags, as well as their trademark leather stringed Tahitian pearl jewelry.  It is easily the most expensive store in town.  But when you walk through their door and see the beautiful salesgirls in simple white dresses and the black pearl necklaces, it is hard to not throw down some pesos. Proceed with caution.

This little jewel box of a store may be the smallest tienda in all of Sayulita, if you blink, you will miss it.  They have beautiful things, mostly one-of a kind pieces, utilizing gorgeous semi-precious stones.  My favorite souvenir, jewelry lets you step back into daily reality with a sparkly reminder of vacations past.

A great place to find (relatively inexpensive) colorful mementos that will invariably remind you of Sayulita. From pom-poms to pillows and tote bags, they have a bit of everything.  I personally love the striped blankets they sell - very lightweight and in bright colors that are perfect for the beach!

Let me start with a disclaimer: I have literally surfed once in my life.  So am I really in a position to be recommending surf shops? Probably not.  But this one has the most beautiful boards in all of Sayulita, I promise you.  It is a worthwhile stop just to see the amazing craftsmanship!

This is my second mention of Sayulita Wine Shop for good reason.  Besides having an excellent selection of Mexican wine and mezcal, they also sell wonderful antique trinkets such as vintage flasks and leather jewelry. A must-visit.

A local favorite, Terrenal takes great pride in sourcing the best organic product in Mexico.  Whether it be fresh cheese made by a local French couple or the very best bacon around, they have got it.  My favorite find was their amazing local honey, it is literally golden goodness!  Trust me, bring some honey for a friend - by far a better souvenir than any magnet or t-shirt that you find.

Though I find very little reason to leave Sayulita, I do make one exception. A 1.5 hour drive south of Sayulita, Boca de Tomatlan is a quaint fishing village with hardly even a street to its name.  There is a small port with a few beach-side restaurants, but the the real draw is a beach club called Ocean Grill.

Ocean Grill is located on a remote piece of land about 2 miles from the main dock of Boca de Tomatlan.  You can either hike your way through the jungle (for an hour) or wait for their private boat to come pick you up.  I obviously went for the latter.  And taking a boat to lunch just feels extra special!

After a quick 10 minutes of bopping along the coastline, the boat turns to reveal what I swear must be the closest thing to a real life Swiss Family Robinson home.  Set along the cliff, the Ocean Grill restaurant is perfectly situated to take in the views of the ocean and provide true outdoor dining.

I am always a bit skeptical about the quality of food at places that are high on the location factor.  Ocean Grill actually blew my mind. Super high quality seafood, prepared in a flavorful and sophisticated way.  The menu is not extensive so order it all if in a group. The marlin tostadas and margaritas are a must!

How many lunch spots can boast that they have a private beach for you to spend the afternoon? The beach next to Ocean Grill has gorgeous blue water and soft white sand.  It is great fun seeing boats pull up with people jumping into the ocean and heading for lunch.  It all feels like something out of a dream.

Key Lime Pie!  After a few hours at the beach, I always head back to the Ocean Grill lounge area and treat myself to a little dessert and another margarita.  The motto of this place is 'Live. Love. Grill.' and spending a few hours here is a true embodiment of that philosophy!

Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, Christopher and Marina, the hotel feels like an extension of their own home (which I can only imagine is fabulous).  There is no lobby per say, just a simple desk on the ground floor where a single receptionist will greet you with a smile and a key.  Throughout the property, you will find little nooks with seating that invite you to take it all in.

Each of the eight rooms is washed in bright white paint from the walls to the furniture.  The one pop of color are the beautiful bedspreads, handmade by local Mexican artisans.  The blankets are sold in the shop downstairs so it's a perfect way to take a bit of Hafa home with you!

By far the absolute best thing about this property is its rooftop.  The large seating banquet is filled with colorful pillows and guests are invited to partake in tequila (compliments of the hosts). Get a cheese plate going, and you will be socializing with all your new friends into the wee hours of the morning.

Both owners hail from Europe (France and Mallorca) and are passionate travelers who have lived all over the world.  Hotel Hafa is a Mediterranean home that infuses the brightness of Mexico with the beautiful details of Morocco.  It will have you feeling bright and happy every day, the perfect feel-good vibes!

I will start with what I personally think is the best taco in town!  The sayulita taco at Mary's is quite possibly the most perfect combination of flavors - fresh corn tortilla topped with grilled shrimp, roasted poblano peppers, corn, sauteed mushrooms, a healthy dose of melted cheese and topped with fresh avocado.  You can easily fill your tummy with just one of these darlings, especially if you start off with their fresh guacamole.  Mary's is a local restaurant (not fancy) but they serve nice clean food.  You can easily walk out of there spending less than $5 for lunch so what more can a girl ask for?
DISCLAIMER: Given the tablecloth is different in each photo...doesn't take a genius to figure out I went there often.  The staff kinda knows me (and my order)!

Another daily favorite were the smoothies from Orangy.  Owned and operated by a husband and wife team, who are the cutest surf couple ever, this small shop pushes out amazing breakfast bowls, juices and smoothies.  I went here religiously every morning and loved sitting at the bar chatting it up before getting the day started.  With the heat of Mexico and knowing you will be in the water soon, it is nice to have something a bit lighter to start the day.  They are super knowledgeable about their ingredients and most things are organic.  I have even come home and started making my favorite Orangy smoothie - Cocolada with fresh ginger...definitely not as good as theirs but will hold me over until I return!

If you enjoy empanadas, a flaky pastry turnover filled with either savory or sweet ingredients, you must try La Empanaderia.  More of a take-out window than a restaurant, this tiny shop with attached kitchen makes them fresh every morning and once they run out, they are out.  I loved the mushroom and cheese empanada as well as their shredded chicken.  Located directly across the street from Orangy, I must say that a smoothie and empanada make a pretty amazing combo!

Another classic taco spot in town, this tiny restaurant located near the main plaza was started by a chef from Mexico City.  They have a great range of tacos to choose from and are always generously filled.  Tacos come with grilled veggies and salsas to doctor them the way you like.  They also have an option where you can get grilled cheese added to your taco, which is obviously amazing!

There are a surprisingly large amount of Italian restaurants in this Mexican town.  So if you are looking for wood oven fired pizza or home made pasta, Ino is a great choice.  They have more of a California-style with simple but fresh ingredients, limited menu, and lovely flavors.  Ino is also the new kid the block so lots of people (including the locals) have not heard of it yet, which makes getting a table here a bit easier than some of the other places in town.  The design of the restaurant is slightly more elevated than some of the rest, which is also a nice treat.  I really enjoyed their gazpacho, grilled octopus, and the mushroom pizza with truffle oil (but frankly anything with truffle oil is great).

Owned by Chef Calixto Gattas, of the very popular Bistro Organico in San Pancho, Sayulita Wine Shop is a must-do in my opinion.  Calixto is passionate about exposing guests to the wonders of local wine, mezcal, and tequila and has done a wonderful job curating high quality, sustainable products from Mexico.  The wine shop offers a variety of tastings and you can even choose a charcuterie pairing.  The staff is super knowledgeable about their wine and clearly proud of their offerings.  Whether you go by yourself or with a group of friends, this is a really nice experience when in Sayulita, and stands out from many of the typical activities.

The best bar in town, hands down.  A beloved favorite of tourists and locals, Zouave is located downstairs to the boutique hotel Petit Hotel Hafa and shares the same owner.  They have specialty menu with a variety of margaritas and each one is more delicious than the rest (passion fruit is my fave).  As a self-proclaimed margarita connoisseur, the fact they freshly squeeze the lime for each drink is what makes it so delicious!  The main plaza has many bars, all blaring loud music, but Zouave is really so different than everything else in town.  Super chic, great music, lots of choice when it comes to alcohol and always filled with the cutest people in town.  Sometimes it feels like you are in a photo shoot when hanging out there, the people watching alone is reason enough to go!

Ask anyone in town and most people will direct you towards Rustica as their favorite restaurant in Sayulita.  They have amazing wood-oven fire pizzas and an extensive range of pastas.  I also really enjoyed that you can get gluten free pasta which is equally delicious.  The restaurant is always hopping, strategically located on a popular corner of town, it is not rare to have to wait for a table.  Because of it's popularity, it doesn't have the charm of one of the smaller restaurants in Sayulita, and felt impersonal to me in a way.  But that being said, the food is always consistently delicious!

A health food cafe & restaurant with the ethos that food is medicine.  The are open throughout the day so a great place to start off with a smoothie or juice in the morning or a more substantial meal for lunch/dinner.  They clearly care about the food they serve as each of the ingredients is extremely fresh and of great quality.  Unlike many 'health cafes', the food has a tremendous amount of flavor and really unique combinations.  I loved all of their salads and wish I could bottle their green goddess dressing.

There is nothing more satisfying in the middle of a hot afternoon than a popsicle!  Wakika has the best ones in town, and frankly there is no where else to go.  With dozens of flavors, they are frequently changing based on what fruits are in season.  As they are pretty inexpensive, I would suggest trying a few before you settle on a favorite.  The colors alone create endless photo opportunities!

In what seems like a town of just 4 streets, all roads truly lead to the beach.  Playa Sayulita is a natural extension of the town and the main hub of activity.  Always busy, it is home to local surfers and tanning tourists.  There are plenty of restaurants on the main drag in addition to a few surf schools.  The consistent surf break is what attracted surfers to Sayulita many years ago and continues to make this the best place to take your first surf lesson.

Located a short walk to the south of town, Los Muertos is named for the cemetery you walk through to reach it.  Though it may sound sad, like all things in Mexico, even the cemetery is a bright and colorful place.  The beach is in a protected cove making it one of the safest places to swim.  You generally will not run into large crowds here so this was always my favorite beach to go for a morning swim and a fresh coconut!

You could easily mistake Carricitos for being a private, secluded beach.  On the far southern side of the peninsula, the beach is a 45 minute walk from town or a 10 minute golf cart ride.  Walking through a dense jungle, your first peak at the ocean is nothing short of magical. 

If you head north across the river that runs past Sayulita’s main beach, you will find the beautiful stretch of North Sayulita.  It is wonderfully maintained with far less beachcombers than you will find closer to town.  The waves are a bit rougher here so it makes for a better destination for sunbathing than swimming.  The sunsets are the most beautiful around, so I suggest you grab a drink and finish your day here.

A beautiful, white sand beach that will make you think you are in the Caribbean.  Close to a mile long on the bay north of Punta Minta, it's a popular destination for surfers in the know.  A 20 minute drive from Sayulita, it makes for a perfect day trip when you just want to get away from the crowds.

Though it is hard to believe, I promise you that any beach you go near Sayulita will be great.  If you have a few days in the area than I highly encourage you test drive them all out and find the perfect fit for you!  Happy Beaching....

I always believe that you want to find a place to stay that has the true essence and energy of the destination you are visiting.  Sayulita is all about being in nature, a colorful town with a vibrant community where ultimately everyone is in love with the ocean. 

This stunning home truly embodies 'outdoor living'.  Built on one of the highest hills in the area, there are amazing 360° views. Consisting of two buildings, both 3-stories high, the top floor serves as the communal space for the living room, dining room and kitchen.  This way you are maximizing the view in the spaces where you spend the most amount of time - how genius is that! 

As is always important when traveling with a large group, it is nice to get a little solo time.  The house had lots of private nooks that you can retreat to - hammocks for swaying, lounge chairs for reading and of course your room for a nap.  Also nice, the bedrooms were on different floors giving each couple lots of privacy.

Cris, the wonderful housekeeper of my apartment in Buenos Aires.  She insists on taking photos (on her flip phone) of all the guests before they leave  so she can remember you.  Instead of 'say cheese' she proclaims 'say whiskey' before snapping your photo, adorable!

A sweet sales girl in a boutique in Palermo Soho.  I loved the beautiful mandala tattoo design on her arm which she generously allowed me to take a picture of.  I found sales people in Buenos Aires to be very helpful but never pushy, it made shopping so much more fun!

Some of the best musicians in Buenos Aires can be found in the subway.  This singer was so passionately into his music, he may as well of been playing Madison Square Garden.

His guitar is not plugged into any speakers but I don't think he knows that.  Rocking out with his father in San Telmo, he is destined to be a great musician - look at that hair!

Cleaning the fountain with his Beats headphone.

Co-workers taking an afternoon lunch break in Plaza San Martin.

Dog walkers in Buenos Aires have at least a dozen dogs.

The staff at Braserio Atlantico, you could taste their joy in the food they served.

He is wondering if I am actually going to buy a popsicle instead of just taking pictures of them?

People watching in the colorful La Boca neighborhood.  How this little one actually got up here is a mystery?

A little girl on her way home from school.  She was excitedly telling her mother all about her adventures that day.

A lawyer turned maker.  After taking a class, he made his first leather bag and realized it was pretty darn good for a lawyer so maybe this was his real calling.

A jeweler in Palermo Soho that makes custom silver pieces.  He was so happy to show his workshop where he forges all his treasures.

Owner of a shop that makes custom leather riding boots.  On his desk was a proudly framed letter from Laura Bush thanking him for hers.

Brasero Atlantco is an extension of Floreria Atlantico, the speak-easy next door that is one of the top bars in Buenos Aires.  I loved the small but open space where everything is cooked in a wood-fire oven.  They served the best steak I had during my entire trip, which is pretty impressive given how much I had tried!  Portions are generous, bring a friend.

There were many times during my stay in Buenos Aires that I would forget which city I was in.  Some moments felt like Paris, some moments felt like Madrid but the entire city has a wonderfully familiar European feel.  Coco Café is the epitome of Parisian dining with their outdoor cafe seating and glorious quiches.  This is a perfect spot for brunch or a casual lunch.

Mishinguene, which means 'crazy' in Yiddish, is an upscale Jewish eatery located in the affluent Palermo Chico neighborhood.  The chef aspires to do a modern take on traditional Israeli and Middle Eastern dishes.  They also have great cocktails which perfectly compliment the menu. 

Until I made my way to The Cream Lab (TCL), which made up for all the rest.  In a beautiful white space, home to multiple Kitchen Aid mixers, the staff combine fresh ingredients with liquid nitrogen to create the most perfect scoop you will ever have.  The early grey with coco nibs is worth missing your flight for (which I almost did, oops)!