We picked our clients up at the RIU Jalisco in Nuevo Vallarta and loaded 2 scooters, a wheelchair, and 4 passengers into our wheelchair accessible van. Yes, we were loaded and dragged across a few of the many speed bumps, between here and there. We were happy at how the 2 scooters fit side by side and everyone still had plenty of room.
Some time last season, we rented a beach wheelchair to a nice family who were staying in Sayulita. We met at the Mega in Bucerias, so we never got a chance to see the Debug around Sayulita. At Beach Crossers, we try to match people and chairs and knowing what the area is like is really helpful. They told us that the chair worked out really well on the uneven pavement and that they would definitely recommend it as an option for Sayulita.
Yesterday, we did not spend the day with our clients, but we saw them a number of times as our paths crossed in this small Mexican Magical City. Our clients were able to take a few steps, so here and there they would stand up and some nice people would show up to help them over a bump or down a step. That's one nice thing in Mexico, people will come to assist you without hesitation. On the other hand, there is a lot of help needed.
When we arrived in town, we pulled down a very narrow street that there is no way in the world I would have driven down, but Sheri is an expert at squeezing the van through tight spaces so she didn't even hesitate. We pulled to the end of the street, stopped right in the middle (no one was likely to come down that street behind us) and dropped the ramp. We unloaded the 2 scooters and off they went. Sheri and I drove around town a few times before heading out of downtown to find parking. We ended up parking on a dirt road that would have been passable for the scooters, but not good for them. I wish clients wouldn't take our equipment on roads like that.
It wasn't too far to walk back to town. I should have taken pictures, but as Sheri and I walked around we saw that most ramps had cars parked in front of them, or sign boards standing in the middle of them. In a town that is so parking congested I don't think this can really be helped. It was interesting to see ramps that lead down to steps, or a ramp on one side of the street and a curb on the other. There is a bridge in Vallarta like that. They call it the "Miracle Bridge" You can roll up one side and you must be healed at the top to get down the other side where there are about 30 stairs.
So, I don't think there was any area of Sayulita that I would say was accessible. With that said, we did see one restroom in the downtown that was accessible. I didn't go in, so I have no idea if there were support bars, but the door was wide enough for a wheelchair and there was no step. Like most restrooms in Sayulita, there was a $5 peso fee to use it. There is a fee for most everything in Sayulita, I don't really mind paying $5 pesos to use a clean bathroom that has paper, soap and towels, but where we stopped yesterday for $5 pesos had none of the above. We got paper and if you didn't mind reaching over the dirty dishes you could wash your hands at the restaurant sink, but there was no option for drying them.
There were many restaurant choices as most have tables in the street. The streets are cobble stone. There is some random water running in there street here and there. We haven't had any rain, so I'm not sure of the source. The traffic moving quickly so it's not a casual stroll down the street. Some of the side streets are too narrow for a car, but perfect for a wheelchair. As you get close to the beach there are some streets that have big speed bumps. I don't think it would be possible with a scooter or wheelchair, but the beach wheelchair would go over it without any problem.
Overall, I think the beach wheelchair would be a must. It would allow you to cross the small curbs, maneuver the cobble stone, and access the beautiful beach. Unless you have an all terrain wheelchair I wouldn't recommend anything else. The dirt, water, cobble stone, and random obstacles would make a visit to Sayulita frustrating.
At this time we deliver and pick up from Sayulita for a $40 fee, (that's $20 USD each trip). That is added to your shopping cart when you make your reservation.
