Oaxaca (Mexico)
Huatulco is a planned resort coast on the Pacific side of Oaxaca, nine bays and 36 sandy beaches strung along about 35 kilometres of shoreline, with a national park, a pre-Hispanic ceremonial site and coffee villages in the hills behind.
This guide covers the essentials: a boat tour of the bays, Huatulco National Park, the small and calm Playa La Entrega, the Copalita Eco-Archaeological Park, the Copalitilla waterfalls, a mountain coffee day, a food walk through La Crucecita, the turtle sanctuary and lagoon at Escobilla and La Ventanilla, a guided snorkel and a dolphin and whale cruise. It stays on the Huatulco coast and does not cover Oaxaca City. The five hotels range from a quiet adults-only resort and a boutique luxury hotel to a family all-inclusive and a simple base near the marina.
Bays of Huatulco Boat Tour
The classic way to see Huatulco: a full-day trip through the bays of the coast, with stops in Santa Cruz Bay, Huatulco National Park, Maguey and El Órgano, Cacaluta and Chachacual. It is the single best overview of what the coast looks like.
Copalita Eco-Archaeological Park
A pre-Hispanic ceremonial centre set in tropical forest on the hills above the coast, with temples, a ball court and a cliffside trail with sea views. It is Huatulco's one real history stop.
Copalitilla Magic Waterfalls
A small-group day trip with a jungle trek to a hidden natural pool and cascade in the hills behind the coast. It is Huatulco's most popular inland excursion and one of its best-reviewed.
Playa La Entrega
Huatulco's best-known small beach: a sheltered cove of calm water, simple beachfront restaurants and easy snorkelling, a short trip from Santa Cruz. Go early, because it fills up by midday.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The classic way to see Huatulco: a full-day trip through the bays of the coast, with stops in Santa Cruz Bay, Huatulco National Park, Maguey and El Órgano, Cacaluta and Chachacual. It is the single best overview of what the coast looks like.
A protected stretch of dry tropical forest, mangrove and coral coast that runs along much of the bay shoreline. Hike its trails, swim at its quiet beaches and look for birds, with a modest daily entrance fee.
FreeHuatulco's best-known small beach: a sheltered cove of calm water, simple beachfront restaurants and easy snorkelling, a short trip from Santa Cruz. Go early, because it fills up by midday.
A pre-Hispanic ceremonial centre set in tropical forest on the hills above the coast, with temples, a ball court and a cliffside trail with sea views. It is Huatulco's one real history stop.
A small-group day trip with a jungle trek to a hidden natural pool and cascade in the hills behind the coast. It is Huatulco's most popular inland excursion and one of its best-reviewed.
A half-day trip up a winding road into the Sierra Madre to a family-run coffee farm, with stops in mountain towns and time with the producers. A cooler, slower counterpart to the beach.
A three-hour walk around La Crucecita, the town behind the bays, tasting at least seven local snacks and seeing the plaza and the church. The best first evening or morning in Huatulco.
A day trip west along the coast to the La Escobilla turtle sanctuary and the La Ventanilla lagoon, with a guide and bilingual commentary. A real wildlife outing, with sightings that vary by month.
A small-group snorkel trip to the best sites in Huatulco National Park, led by naturalists and marine biologists who brief you before you enter the water. A wildlife outing rather than a party boat.
A two-and-a-half-hour sea cruise to look for dolphins, with humpback whales the main species during the migration season from late November into early April. Book later in the season if whales are your priority.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Conejos Bay
An adults-only, all-inclusive resort on Conejos Bay with swim-up pools, a private beach and a large spa. A splurge for couples who want everything in one place and a quiet, grown-up atmosphere.
Check rates →
$$$$Tangolunda Bay
A boutique luxury hotel in the Tangolunda zone, with all-suite rooms, a spa, a pool and direct beach access. It is the choice for travellers who want style and calm rather than an all-inclusive crowd.
Check rates →Tangolunda Bay
A beachfront resort on Tangolunda Bay with three pools, a spa, tennis and a free kids club. A comfortable, well-reviewed upper-mid-range base for families and couples.
Check rates →Santa Cruz
A family-friendly all-inclusive hotel in Santa Cruz with two pools, a waterslide, a free beach shuttle and a kids club. A practical mid-range base close to the marina and the bay departures.
Check rates →Chahué
A simple, well-reviewed hotel near the Chahué marina with a pool, a free beach shuttle and a walk to the plaza. The best-value base on this list for travellers who plan to be out on tours.
Check rates →What to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and where the headline sights fit on a first visit to the Huatulco coast.
A neighbourhood guide to Conejos Bay, Tangolunda, Santa Cruz and the Chahué and La Crucecita area, matched to five hotels that are open now.
