Best transportation with surfboard from Lakeside to Sayulita/Punta Mita?

Hello all fellow beach lovers!

We are moving soon to Lakeside for our retirement. My husband is wanting to travel frequently from ournew home, to surf around Sayulita and/or Punta Mita, just north of Puerto Vallarta.

Has anyone done this trip to Sayulita, with a surfboard? Should we fly Aeromexico or take a bus? If you like the bus option, please tell us more about how to do that. Safety is a concern, and so is the possibility of being denied check-in of the surfboard just prior to the trip. We'd think the airline would be pretty consistent with the baggage policies they post online, but wonder if the bus will be hit or miss, when it comes to checking a surfboard. Would anyone say that the bus is just as expedient as air transportation, by eliminating check-in and TSA at the airport?

What moderately priced hotels or B&B's can you recommend in Sayulita or Punta Mita?

Would anyone know of a Lakeside based "surf club" (geared at somewhat "mature" surfers) .... a club or association that shares transportation to Sayulita and/or Punta Mita, from Lakeside? Could non-surfers (such as wives) ride along? Would the group all stay at the same hotel, to keep things simple? Perhaps a group discount could be negotiated for multiple rooms?

Thank you everyone for your thoughts!

Hi again!

Would it be safe to drive a rental car from Ajijic to Sayulita? Would two gringo women be safe making this drive in daytime hours?

Thanks for your thoughts!
~MM

Yes, it is safe to drive from Ajijic to Sayulita. I drive that way 3 or 4 times a year. I do recommend that you stick to the toll roads and travel during daylight hours. It is about a 5 hour drive to Sayulita. As for the surfboard, I'm sure you could take it on the bus. Mexicans are pretty accommodating and creative. They will find a way to fit it in.

Agree with Bob.  I, or other family members, make the trip about once a month.
Both routes are reasonably safe (as safe as hiway travel is anywhere), but for new people, I think the cuotas through Compostela would be the better option as Mascota requires a lot more attention due to curves, the up and down, and all two lane.
Hiway 200, past Compostela , isn't any bargain either, but the 4 lanes on hiway 15 (cuota) to 200 is easy for new aspirants.
This would be even more true if you are going to Sayulita as opposed to El Centro in PV.
Daylight hours is better, in  all regards, for anybody, just for the convenience of services open and available if needed, aside from safety.

Once you have been a few times it is a nice scenic change to try the Mascota route. It is less kilometers and about the same travel time (5 1/2 hours) from PV to here (assuming you are starting from PV Centro). While slower and much curvier, the scenery is unbelievable, particularly when you cross the Sierra Madres. It would take about 45 minutes longer than the other route to Sayulita.

CanuckBob wrote:Once you have been a few times it is a nice scenic change to try the Mascota route. It is less kilometers and about the same travel time (5 1/2 hours) from PV to here (assuming you are starting from PV Centro). While slower and much curvier, the scenery is unbelievable, particularly when you cross the Sierra Madres. It would take about 45 minutes longer than the other route to Sayulita.

And also much less expensive Bob.  I figure the savings to be about 700 pesos (500 tolls, 200 gasoline, on a round trip) but you lose some back on food as all that "driving" through the Mascota route makes you hungrier.  

Good point and if you travel very early in the morning like we do, the traffic is really not that bad and the trouble makers are asleep......jaja.