Find out how to make the most of your time in Huatulco, a destination that caters equally well to surfers, nature enthusiasts, and foodies.
Huatulco is not so much a single location in Mexico as it is an area that encompasses that location. Bays of Huatulco is the correct name for this region, which is located along the rough Costa Oaxaquena. Bahias de Huatulco literally translates to "Bays of Huatulco." This is due to the fact that this well-known vacation spot is dispersed throughout nine bays that are located along the southern coastline of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. Each one has its own energy and character, but taken as a whole, the region is the ideal launching pad from which to explore the rest of the wild and untamed Oaxacan coast.
Bahias de Huatulco has long been an undulating length of coastline with beaches that are shaped like golden crescents, dense groves of palm trees that sway lazily in the breeze, and the verdant Sierra Madre del Sur and Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountains in the background. Oaxaca City, the capital of the mountain range, may be reached by bus from a strip of highway that winds its way up the steep face in a zigzag pattern.
But Bahias de Huatulco has just recently become popular as a tourist attraction. It was built some forty years ago by Mexico's National Tourism Fund with the intention of turning it into a tourist attraction, similar to Cancun in the state of Quintana Roo or Ixtapa in the state of Guerrero. In Huatulco, on the other hand, as opposed to Cancun and Ixtapa, you won't find any fancy retail malls or hotels with skyscraper-like towers. Instead, this area has a more laid-back atmosphere, and large tracts of land have been set aside as reserves in order to maintain the tropical rainforest ecosystem.
After building highways down the mountains from Oaxaca City and up the coast to the fishing village-turned-surf mecca Puerto Escondido, it was decided that Bahias de Huatulco would be spread across nine different bays and feature 36 beautiful beaches, resorts, restaurants, boutiques, and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. This decision was made after it was created that both highways down the mountains from Oaxaca City and up the coast to Puerto Escondido were built. The principal bays of Huatulco include Santa Cruz, Chahué, Tangolunda, Conejos, San Agustin, Chachacual, Cacaluta, Maguey, and orgáno. Santa Cruz Bay is the largest of the principal bays.
Today, it draws a diverse range of visitors, including surfers and backpackers, nature lovers and foodies, sailors, and people who are content with nothing more than a book and a chaise chair by the pool. It is a well-equipped home base from which to get out and see the wilder side of Oaxaca, whether it be exploring the various national parks in the area, swimming in bioluminescent bays, or exploring the bohemian beachside settlements that are close.
Here is a guide to organizing the trip of a lifetime to Bahias de Huatulco.
Instructions on How to Get to Huatulco
In spite of its location on one of Mexico's coasts that is less frequently visited, Bahias de Huatulco has excellent transportation connections. Flying into Bahias de Huatulco International Airport is the quickest and most convenient way to reach your destination. There are direct flights from Mexico City, Tijuana, and Oaxaca, in addition to seasonal direct flights from Dallas, Chicago, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Tijuana, Oaxaca, and Oaxaca are all served by this airport.
You might also take the ADO bus from Oaxaca City all the way down through the highlands for a more picturesque journey. This option is available. The trip takes approximately ten to twelve hours and includes numerous hairpin turns driven at breakneck speeds. However, you shouldn't worry about your safety or comfort on these buses because they have broad, soft seats that can be reclined. You can take a break from the journey by stopping at the mountain community of San José del Pacifico and renting a wooden house with a view of the surrounding mountains and forest. This will give you the opportunity to experience a very different side of Oaxaca.
What to Do, Where to Stay, and What to Eat in Huatulco
Although there are a combined total of 36 beaches spread across the nine bays that make up the Bahias de Huatulco, there are also many activities that can be enjoyed away from the sand. A number of the bays appear to be virtually pulsating with activity, from the sailboats and catamarans entering and exiting the marina to the live music pouring out onto the streets from a number of bars and cantinas located around the area. Others are dotted with resorts that provide all-inclusive packages as well as condos that are available for rent. And then there are those that are, at best, sleepy, with nothing more than a row of seafood shacks shaded by palapa roofs, an atmosphere of kicking back with your toes in the sand, and no mobile reception. The main bays are Bahia de Santa Cruz, Bahia Chahue, and Bahia Tangolunda unless you really want to be off the usual route, which you might be. Bahia Chahue is the most remote of the three. And if you're not going to be staying in one of the all-inclusive resorts on the beach, many visitors choose to make the town of La Crucecita in the interior of the island their home base instead.
La Crucecita
Even though it is not formally considered to be one of Huatulco's bays, La Crucecita is considered to be one of the region's most important beating hearts. It's closest to Bahía Chahue and Bahía de Santa Cruz. La Crucecita is the most important gathering spot in the Bahias de Huatulco, as far as all intents and purposes are concerned. The bulk of tour agencies, the greatest variety of restaurants and pubs, the central square of the town, and a good number of locally owned boutique hotels can all be found in this area. It is very easy to get around on foot, and there is an abundance of taxis available to transport tourists to the bays and beaches that are further away. In addition, La Crucecita serves as one of the most important access points to Huatulco National Park, which has a tropical jungle, a dry forest, and a marine park. It's a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a great place for horseback riding, bird watching, canoeing, and hiking, among other outdoor activities.
Where to Get a Drink and Something to Eat in La Crucecita
At La Crucecita, you can find everything from backpacker bars serving low-cost shots of mezcal to elegant Haute Mexican food served on air-conditioned patios. The restaurant does a fantastic job of catering to both sides of the spectrum.
Rocoto, for example, is a hidden gem that serves up fresh seafood with an unexpected Asian touch, accentuating traditional Mexican flavors with dishes like tuna poke and mango Thai curry.
El Sabor de Oaxaca is the place to go for flavorful and substantial moles of every color, and they have them all. Colorful platters swirl with ropes of stringy Oaxacan cheese, crunchy tlayudas, and bean-smothered slopes while diners sit at basic tables on terra-cotta tile floors and enjoy their meals.
Alternately, you could blend in with the backpacker crowd at La Crema Bar, which is illuminated by black lights and decorated with rasta-inspired artwork all over the walls. People flock here because of the exceptionally potent beverages, the extensive menu of reasonably priced and delectable pizzas, and the weekly lineup of live music.
Healthy smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and ample acai bowls are served at Agave, a restaurant that caters to vegans and has an emphasis on serving juices. Those who are looking for a restaurant like this will find it at Agave.
What Restaurants and Bars Can Be Found in the Areas of Bahia de Santa Cruz, Bahia Chahue, and Bahia Tangolunda
Visitors are drawn to the mobile Marea Alta, which is located at the entrance of Marina Chahue, due to the breathtaking views it provides over the marina. The menu of delectably fresh seafood, on the other hand, is what draws and keeps customers coming back.
Finca de Vaqueros is making waves in the industry with its marinated flank steak, grilled sausages, and plenty of sides. This restaurant caters to individuals who want to sink their teeth into a truly fine steak. The parrillada gives you a taste of everything and ensures that you won't leave the restaurant hungry.
Following the passage of three decades, Ve El Mar on Playa Santa Cruz has evolved into nothing short of an establishment. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it's always bustling with customers indulging in mouthwatering regional specialties like chilaquiles, grilled octopus, fresh ceviche, and whole fish that are large enough to feed an entire family.
Bladu'Y focuses its entire menu on southern Oaxacan cuisine that originates from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and it is located not too far from the beaches of Bahia Chahue (picture corn tamales, fried chicken with onions and potatoes, and Garnacha topped with meat, cheese, and pickled cabbage). The walls of the restaurant are painted in a vibrant vermillion color and ornamented with spectacular murals that are much larger than life that depict scenes from everyday life in typical Oaxacan villages.
Where to Stay in La Crucecita, Bahía de Santa Cruz, Bahía Chahue, and Bahía Tangolunda
If you don't mind being away from the beach, La Crucecita has scores of quaint boutique hotels that are within easy walking distance of all the action in town. One of the more traditional possibilities is the Mision de Los Arcos, which is located only a few blocks away from the town plaza. Bright and airy, the rooms vary from standard to junior suites, and many of them include tiny terraces. Although it is not quite a five-star luxury hotel, the rooms are extremely comfortable, and the location of the hotel cannot be surpassed for the price.
If you would like to have direct access to the beach or at least a view of the water from your room, you should look into staying at one of the resorts that are located closer to Bahia Chahue, Bahia Tangolunda, or Bahia de Santa Cruz. The Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa is situated on a length of golden sand that is just picture-perfect. Each of the hotel's 421 rooms is all-inclusive and features a balcony as well as an abundance of natural light. Inquire about the rooms that feature whirlpools and views of the ocean. Other conveniences include a total of six swimming pools, of which three feature infinity edges. One of the most well-liked aspects of the resort is its beach, which is adorned with a row of thatched palapas that provide shade for chaise loungers.
Quinta Bella Huatulco includes 44 rooms, seven restaurants, a stunning beachside spa, and a full-service fitness center. It is perched above the sugary stretch of Playa Chahue, with heaps of green-carpeted mountains in the background. Although Quinta Bella is not located immediately on the beach, it is only a short drive away (about five minutes).
The beachfront and sophisticated Quinta Real Huatulco may be found directly above Playa Tangolunda. Only 27 rooms at this cozy resort, which is famous for its handcrafted palapas and tall dome tops, offer breathtaking vistas of the surrounding water. Even though it is not located immediately on the beach, it offers a free shuttle service, and the rooms are absolutely breathtaking with exquisite marble bathrooms that come equipped with soothing hot tubs. Some rooms even have private pools.
Although it is technically located in Bahia de Santa Cruz, the Hotel Binniguenda Huatulco has a far more convenient location in relation to La Crucecita. The resort offers 77 guest rooms, a big list of restaurants, a private beach club, and a spa. Additionally, the resort is all-inclusive.
Other Beaches and Bays in the Huatulco Area
None of the bays in Bahias de Huatulco are very far from one another, despite the fact that some of them are more popular than others. Taxis are not only risk-free but also reasonably priced, making it possible to go quickly between beaches. For instance, Bahia San Agustin is not much more than an undeveloped length of stunning coastline with a few seafood shacks and simple hotels. If all you want is a dish of really fresh ceviche and a frosty cerveza, then you've come to the wrong place. This establishment does not offer signature services.
Although it is one of the most remote bays from La Crucecita, Bahia Conejos may still be reached from La Crucecita in a taxi for less than $5 USD. Be sure to let people know that you will be going to the public beach rather than the beach at the Secrets resort. One of the most stunning beaches in all of Oaxaca may be reached by a relatively short trail that is not paved. There aren't many amenities available in this area, but the fact that it hasn't been developed very much contributes to the fact that it's one of the most beautiful in the region.
There is no question that the beach towns and natural wonders located farther up the coast along Highway 200 is absolutely enchanted, provided that you have the time and energy to continue your research. An unlimited variety of seaside eateries, crystal stores, yoga studios, tattoo parlors, and juice bars continue to attract a bohemian-chic audience to towns such as Mazunte and Zipolite.
Two hours beginning from Huatulco is the growing surf town of Puerto Escondido, which began as a fishing community and is on the verge of bursting into one of the next hot locations for design hotels, gastronomy, and nightlife. Huatulco is located in the state of Guerrero in Mexico.
Outside of Puerto Escondido, natural wonders such as the Laguna de Manialtepec are known for their bioluminescent bay, and the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park is so remote that it beckons nature lovers to get lost on a boat ride through the thick mangrove canals. Both of these parks are located in the Lagunas de Chacahua Biosphere Reserve.