Sayulita, Mexico

Photograph by Ashley Gordon

In January, when much of the Northern Hemisphere is huddled down in the cold winter, the small bohemian surf town of Sayulita, Mexico, shows off its full colors and is ripe with bone-warming heat. Away from the tourist-trinket masses, the locals and visitors to Sayulita come and relish in its simple and natural yet stunning assets: sun, surf, salt, and sunsets. Are you sighing in awe? So was I. A winter or any view has rarely looked this good.

(This photo and caption were submitted to the 2011 National Geographic Photography Contest .)