Basic Spanish for your trip to Sayulita: the words you'll actually use
You don't need Spanish to enjoy Sayulita. Most restaurants, shops and tour operators speak some English, and our own team does too. But a few words go a long way. Say "buenos días" when you walk into a shop, "por favor" and "gracias" everywhere, and a friendly "no, gracias" to the beach vendors. Learn your numbers so you can follow a price, and remember that a "$" sign in Mexico usually means pesos, not dollars.
I'm Canadian, so I grew up with French, and I've slowly worked on my Spanish over the years. It does get better. These days I understand a lot more than I can say, and hand gestures fill in the rest.
You don't need to be fluent to have a great time here. A few words and a smile get you a long way.
Do you need Spanish in Sayulita?
No. Sayulita sees a lot of visitors, and most restaurants, shops, surf schools and tour operators speak some English. At a small taqueria or in a taxi you may need a few words of Spanish, or your hands.
Our team speaks English too. Tony, who looks after the homes, taught himself English and speaks it brilliantly. Maria and Dani take English classes and get better every year. They'll always appreciate you trying a little Spanish with them.
The phrases you'll use every day
| Spanish | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | Anytime |
| Buenos días | Good morning | Until about noon |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | Noon until dark |
| Buenas noches | Good evening, good night | After dark |
| Por favor | Please | Always |
| Gracias, muchas gracias | Thank you, thank you very much | Always |
| De nada | You're welcome | When someone thanks you |
| Con permiso | Excuse me | Squeezing past someone |
| Perdón | Sorry | Bumping into someone |
| No hablo mucho español | I don't speak much Spanish | Before you try anyway |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? | When you're stuck |
At the taqueria and the beach bar
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Una mesa para cuatro, por favor | A table for four, please |
| Quiero... | I'd like... |
| Dos tacos de pescado, por favor | Two fish tacos, please |
| Una cerveza, una margarita | A beer, a margarita |
| Agua sin gas, agua mineral | Still water, sparkling water |
| ¿Pica? | Is it spicy? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? |
In Mexico the bill usually doesn't come until you ask for it, so nobody feels rushed. When you're ready, catch the waiter's eye and say "la cuenta, por favor".
Taxis, shops and prices
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| ¿Cuánto es a...? | How much is it to...? (in a taxi) |
| Aquí, por favor | Here, please |
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? |
| el baño | the bathroom |
| la playa | the beach |
| el cajero | the cash machine |
Agree the fare before you get in a taxi. And remember that a "$" sign in Mexico usually means pesos. A price of $150 on a menu is 150 pesos, not 150 dollars.
Numbers for prices
| Number | Spanish | Number | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | uno | 10 | diez |
| 2 | dos | 20 | veinte |
| 3 | tres | 50 | cincuenta |
| 4 | cuatro | 100 | cien |
| 5 | cinco | 200 | doscientos |
| 6 | seis | 500 | quinientos |
| 7 | siete | 1,000 | mil |
Saying "no, gracias" to beach vendors
On the beach, vendors walk up and down all day selling all sorts of things. It's polite to always acknowledge them, even when you don't want anything. A smile and "no, gracias" is all it takes, and they'll carry on along the beach.
Mexican Spanish you'll hear around town
- ¿Mande? A polite "pardon?" or "sorry, what was that?". You'll hear it all the time
- Ahorita. Literally "right now", but it can mean now, soon or later today. Don't be surprised if "ahorita" takes a while
- Buen provecho. "Enjoy your meal". People say it as they pass your table, and you can say it back
- ¿Qué onda? A casual "what's up?" between friends
- Órale. "OK", "wow" or "let's go", depending on the tone
Learning Spanish in Sayulita
If you're staying a while and want proper lessons, La Mexicana Spanish School teaches in Sayulita and is rated 4.8 out of 5 from about 170 Google reviews (October 2026). We haven't taken a class there ourselves, so read the reviews and see if it suits you.
Before you come, ten minutes a day on a language app is a good start. Once you're here, the camera in Google Translate reads menus and signs. After that, the best practice is having a go.
Last checked by our team on 29 October 2026. Things change in a small town, so if something here is out of date, tell us on WhatsApp.
