Whale watching season begins in December and runs through to March. You can even sometimes spot whales as early as November or as late as May. However, the best time to see humpback whales is during the months of January and February.
Punta Mita is a master planned, high end resort with the Four Seasons, St. Regis and state of art golf course. It's high security, golf cart living at its finest. This is NOT authentic Mexico, but is a very nice community if you are looking for the utmost in security, nice roads, golf course, high end facilities, homes and condos, etc. Punta DE Mita is the town located outside the secure Punta Mita, and most of the locals in Punta DE Mita work in Punta Mita.
You never really answered your own question - which is better? :) I believe that both Sayulita and SP have so much to offer, but in a nutshell - if you are looking for an extremely lively, loud with music, hip boho town that never seems to sleep - Sayulita is your choice. If you want a smidgeon of that vibe, and a more relaxed overall feel and a much smaller town - SP if your choice. I own in SP and wouldn't trade it for anything, anywhere else in Mexico. The reason it's still relatively unknown is that the drive to Sayulita and SP from the Puerto Vallarta area is along a 2 lane highway #200. You can reach these towns by bus, but... rental car is best. It can take 45 minutes with no traffic or, it can take 2 hours if there is an accident or overturned pineapple truck, etc... The area is in the process of building an entire new highway, the Auto Piste, which I believe will (once completed, likely 2023) connect PV to Guadalajara, and beyond. It will offer a fantastic option to our only road right now which is the 2 lane #200. Also, further north of San Pancho is Mandarina, which is a stunning 800 acre preserve, which is home to the One and Only Mandarina and the upcoming Rosewood Hotel (under construction now, 2022). The Auto Piste is open in this area, and I've driven it and it's absolutely a beautiful new highway.
You nailed it. We liked the liveliness of Sayulita and also the calm and quaintness of SP. It really depends on what you're looking for, can't go wrong with either. Very special that you have you're own place in SP, must be nice to have you're own piece of paradise!
If it's your first time visiting...we would stay in Sayulita and visit San Pancho. Sayulita is a lot more lively. Many more options for activities, eating, and shopping.
Puerto Vallarta is generally more busy because it's a big city. Also it's important to remember that when the big cruise ships return to full service in the near future it will be even busier around the Malecon Boardwalk area. Puerto Vallarta is a big stop for many of the cruise ships.
PV is a city with cruise ships, department stores, high rise buildings, and traffic. It's very nice, but busy. Sayulita is a quite large beach town, potholed roads, lots of speed bumps, hilly, crowded, hard to park beach town. San Pancho is a one main road, with side streets smaller, boho vibe surf town that is located about 10 minutes north of Sayulita. They are all unique and fun.
