Sun, sand and surf. These elements alone can deliver personal renewal. Add in the scenic backdrop of a picture perfect beach town, with a combination new age/old surfer vibe, and you have the ideal setting to spend some time on yoga practice, meditation and personal rejuvenation. It is these elements that have made the Mexican beach town of Sayulita a regional epicenter for yoga and wellness. Here are four of our favorite places where practice and relaxation come together.

Yoga Los Sueños at Hotelito Los Sueños

The practice of yoga in all its diversity is the sole mission at Yoga Los Sueños. The owner is a yogi who came to Sayulita to transform a small hotel into a center for practice. This included the creation of a studio with padded floors, high ceilings and a soothing ambiance. Each day at this quiet retreat is filled with choices, from morning yoga to hatha/mediation practices, slow- pose yin, restorative practices, two-person acroyoga, core, and kundalini with chanting and pranayama. Special programs include yoga solar, which focuses on nature rhythms, seasonal changes and moon phases. Lodging choices include rooms, suites and villas decorated in traditional Mexican style, with the addition of modern comforts such as air conditioning and purified drinking water. In addition to practices, Los Sueños offers group activities such as cooking classes held on the hotel’s rooftop palapa kitchen.

Paraiso Yoga

Founded in 2006 by Argentine-born yogi Narayani, this intimate enclave centers around a palapa sheltered rooftop yoga space on Sayulita’s Calle Playa Azul. The center also includes lush gardens, a space for Thai massage, and rooms for physiotherapy and other forms of bodywork. Narayani teaches numerous yoga traditions, including hatha yoga, power yoga, and ashtanga yoga, but the emphasis at Paraiso isn’t just on the physical practice, but on the whole philosophy of yoga. To this end, practitioners of all levels are encouraged to work together, and welcomed in all classes. Yoga, tai chi and meditation sessions are available to walk-in guests on a day-to-day basis, and the center also offers accommodations in three modestly priced guest bungalows, each with private baths and access to a common area with a kitchen, lounge and hammocks for relaxation.

Haramara Retreat

The designers of this beachfront haven for yoga and renewal describe Haramara as a place “where Robinson Crusoe meets Architectural Digest.” Set on a hillside overlooking the ocean, the retreat’s cabañas are hand built from natural materials, and situated to offer privacy and seclusion while still taking advantage of the spectacular water views. The theme of rustic luxury takes in elements such as private hammocks for lazy afternoon naps, and oil lamps and candles for softly lit evenings. The retreat’s spacious open-air dining room sits high on the hill, facing west for jungle and ocean views. Here, delicious and healthful cuisines are tastefully prepared and artistically presented by an award winning culinary team. Daily practices take place in two yoga shalas set on separate knolls. Both feature high roofs and handcrafted hardwood floors, with open sides that invite ocean breezes. Wellness programs take place in a pavilion set in a secluded clearing near the ocean, where the rhythmic sound of surf and breezes through the trees invite a reconnection with nature.

Aurinko Bungalows

With bright colored stucco walls, rustic woodwork and vaulted thatched roofs, this boutique hotel epitomizes the Sayulita experience. The property is located in the heart of town, opposite the main plaza, and just a short walk from the beach. Aurinko’s six one and two-bedroom bungalows are cloistered into a courtyard setting, which also includes a small swimming pool. Guest accommodations showcase an eclectic regional décor and feature separate sitting areas furnished with couches, chairs and hammocks. Each bungalow also includes an open-air kitchen. This allows guests the option of shopping locally and preparing their own healthful meals. Daily yoga practice takes place at the on site Heart Shala. This elevated studio was designed to create a quiet oasis, with sliding glass windows, handcrafted wooden walls, and a soaring palapa roof. In addition to daily yoga practices, the Heart Shala hosts workshops and meditation sessions.