Welcome to Huatulco in Mexico!
Huatulco is a stunning collection of beautiful pacific coastal bays for which the centerpiece is the town of La Crucecita, located on Mexico’s popular Pacific shoreline in the state of Oaxaca. Huatulco’s tourism nerve centers are its nine bays known as Bahias de Huatulco, which has been shortened to simply Huatulco in recent years.
You’ll find Huatulco is one of Mexico’s most relaxed destinations due to its amazing charm and warmth of the locals. Huatulco is just one of over 60 official online guides covering the whole of Mexico. If you´re planning a trip to Mexico and would like discover our fabulous nation before visiting or, if you´d like to visit a specific place in Mexico, then you´ve come to the right place.
The centerpieces of Huatulco’s charm are undoubtedly its nine pacific bays, encompassing no less than 36 beaches and numerous inlets and coves, each with its own unique character and ecology. All are noted for their dream-like beaches of golden sand and crystal clear water, yet the bays remain charmingly unspoiled, sometimes accessible only by boat, making these less prone to crowds but equally exquisite. Huatulco is one of Mexico´s most popular places, visited by millions of people over the last decade. When you travel to Huatulco you may wish to check out the Huatulco hotels we have available or maybe you´d like to rent a car in Huatulco? We also offer extensive day trips in Huatulco. This unique place has simply amazing things to see. We´ve also compiled a list of Travel books on Huatulco Mexico.
Huatulco offers a wide variety of accommodations from bed and breakfast rooms for rent, small economy hotels, luxury VIP oceanfront villas, vacation condominiums, as well as numerous luxury resorts standing on or near the seashore of Tangolunda Bay. To name but a few you have the Camino Real Zaashila, Quinta Real Huatulco, Las Brisas, Dreams Resort & Spa and the Barceló Hotel.
Huatulco is located in the state of Oaxaca where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains convene with the Pacific Ocean roughly 500 km south of Acapulco, Guerrero. The current population of Huatulco is around 50 000.
Whether you are visiting Huatulco in Mexico for business, pleasure or both, we´re sure that Huatulco will meet all of your expectations and that the people of Huatulco will make you feel welcome while sampling some of the unique cuisine on offer in the Huatulco Restaurant districts.
Huatulco Tourism
The Bahias de Huatulco, Bahia meaning Bay in Spanish, is divided into four specific districts. Tangolunda is the area where the large fashionable resorts are located.
Then there’s Santa Cruz, which is a quaint town with the main marina and the world renowned Santa Cruz beach. Finally there’s the crowning jewel town of La Crucecita, which is a small township just inland from the beach area which provides tourism services to the area, and the Chahue vecinity between Santa Cruz and Tangolunda.
The Bahias de Huatulco, (Bays of Huatulco) are actually made up of a sequence of nine bays and numerous small coves stretching along 26 kilometers of jagged coastline, including 36 white sandy beaches. The most popular bay is Bahía de Santa Cruz, which is just south of the town of La Crucecita. It is also the areas epicenter of commercial and tourist activities, with a big pier where cruise ships from around the world dock. Many tourist focused businesses can be found here such as; hotels, craft shops, discothèques, bars, restaurants, excursion agencies, sailboat excursions as well as scuba diving, snorkeling and jet skis for rent. Many weddings and baptisms are celebrated on the beach and coastal area called the Capilla de Santa Cruz. Playa Santa Cruz, is the best known of the beaches and can get quite busy at times.
Playa Santa Cruz is 250 meters long, with soft white sand, turquoise blue water and a myriad of services to suit all tastes.
Huatulco History
Local legend has it that under Spanish rule pirates looted Huatulco, but that they didn’t succeed in stealing its beauty. The warm Pacific Ocean washes the shores of Huatulco’s 36 stunning beaches, extending across nine bays boasting warm waters and golden sands. The area was a flourishing commercial port and favorite haunt of pirates and British navigators such as Sir Thomas Cavendish in 1587 and Sir Francis Drake in 1578. A famous deed happened during the War of Independence in January 1832, when the Mexican Picaluga brothers betrayed the revolutionary General Vicente Guerrero on the coast of Huatulco and sent him to a firing squad on the “La Entrega” beach found in this area.
The government tourism development agency (Fonatur) began planning the area’s main resort in the 1980s and in 1988 the Bahias de Huatulco (bays of Huatulco) National Park was declared a protected nature reserve with a world-class tourism infrastructure of luxury hotels, nightclubs, discos, restaurants, and golf courses and a the little gem city of La Crucecita.
Huatulco Geography
Positioned on the coast of the state of Oaxaca at the edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Huatulco covers 20 miles of Mexico’s Pacific coastline, between the Coyula and Copalita rivers.
Huatulco is just 140 miles from the city of Oaxaca via a perilous winding mountain range. Extremely popular with Mexican tourists the bays of Huatulco are just a 50 minute flight from Mexico City.
Things to do in Huatulco
You should not miss a trip around Huatulco’s nine bays on a motorboat, an affordable excursion easily purchased at our Huatulco excursions link. These 2 to 3 hour trips provide an excellent tour of the hidden beaches, stunning surroundings, flora and fauna. The unadulterated beauty of this coastline while take your breath away.
At only 50 minutes by scheduled flight from Mexico city or 2 to 4 hours flight from southern and central USA, the area is one of the most endearing and unforgettable in Mexico. Huatulco’s success is partly due to its proximity to state’s capital, the magical and historic city of Oaxaca which can easily be included in any vacation plans, making Huatulco a true Culture & beach destination, which is not very common in Mexico, where tourists have to usually choose one or the other.
Furthermore, Oaxaca’s ancient archaeological sites, vibrant and colorful markets, rich colonial architecture and fascinating native cultures make a perfect match for Huatulco’s coastal attractions. Huatulco is also a perfect base from which to explore the villages of Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel, two of the state’s more rustic coastal diamonds.
Travelucion Guide Mexico Huatulco | Free Guide Mexico
Huatulco Mexico is just one of the websites Travelucion operates and is part of over 800 travel websites for over 130 countries worldwide. Our Mexico Collection of 70+ websites covers Mexican States, Cities and towns, along with 10 Mexico special interest websites. If you are traveling to Mexico, our websites will assist you in finding the right Mexican destination to suite your tastes and provide you with invaluable information before traveling to Mexico.
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 300 kilometers (190 mi) southwest from Mexico City…Visit the official Acapulco travel Website
Aguascalientes is the municipal seat for the municipality of the same name and, the Aguascalientes includes the metropolitan area which includes the municipality of Jesus María y San Francisco de los Romo…Visit the official Aguascalientes travel Website
Baja California stands for “Lower California” it is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Baja California is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico…Visit the official Baja California travel Website
Baja California Sur peninsula is bordered to the north by the state of Baja California and, to the west by the Pacific Ocean then to the east by the Gulf of California. The state has also shares maritime borders with Sonora and Sinaloa to the east from… Visit the official Baja California Sur travel Website
Campeche borders the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Tabasco, with the country of Guatemala to the south, Belize to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. The south border is the Petén department of Guatemala… Visit the official Campeche travel Website
Cancun is a major world-renowned tourist destination, as well as being the seat of the municipality of Benito Juárez. Cancun is located on the Caribbean Sea, and is one of the easternmost points in Mexico… Visit the official Cancun travel Website
Chiapas is located in Southwestern Mexico; it is the southernmost State of Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the north, Veracruz to the northwest and Oaxaca to the west… Visit the official Chiapas travel Website
Chihuahua is located in Northwestern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Sonora to the west, Sinaloa to the southwest, Durango to the south, and Coahuila to the east. To the north and northeast, it has a long line with the U.S.–Mexico border adjacent to the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas…Visit the official Chihuahua travel Website
Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí to the south, and Durango and Chihuahua to the west. To the north, Coahuila accounts for a 512 kilometers (318 mi) stretch of the Mexico-United States border, adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande… Visit the official Coahuila travel Website
Colima is a small state located in the Western Mexico region on Mexico’s central Pacific coast. It shares borders with the states of Jalisco and Michoacán. In addition to the capital city of Colima, the state’s main cities include Manzanillo and Tecomán. Despite being the fourth smallest entity in Mexico… Visit the official Colima travel Website
Comondú is a municipality of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. This beautiful region is formed by old populations of missionary origin and it constitutes an oasis in the desert where small places of great natural and cultural richness arise. It is a very favorable area for developing alternative tourism… Visit the official Comondu travel Website
The island of Cozumel is about 48 km (30 mi) long and 16 km (9.9 mi) wide, and is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island. It is Mexico’s third-largest island, following Tiburon Island and Isla Angel de la Guarda. It lies some 10 km (6.2 mi) from the mainland, and 90 km (56 mi) south of Cancun… Visit the official Cozumel travel Website
Mexico DF was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, which was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan, and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards. In 1524…Visit the official Mexico DF travel Website
Durango is the fourth largest state in Mexico. The state is bordered to the north by Chihuahua, to the north-east by Coahuila, to the south-east by Zacatecas, to the south-west by Nayarit, and to the west by Sinaloa… Visit the official Durango travel Website
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico, the third-largest in Baja California. Located 125 kilometers (78 mi) south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula, it is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, “The Cinderella of the Pacific”… Visit the official Ensenada travel Website
Guanajuato is located in the North-Central Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Jalisco to the west, Zacatecas to the northwest, San Luis Potosí to the north, Querétaro to the east and Michoacán to the south. It covers an area of 30,608 km²… Visit the official Guanajuato travel Website
The state of Guerrero was named after Vicente Guerrero, one of the most prominent leaders in the Mexican War of Independence and the second President of Mexico. It is the only Mexican state named after a president. The modern entity did not exist until 1849, when it was carved out of territories from the states of Mexico, Puebla and Michoacán… Visit the official Guerrero travel Website
Hidalgo is located in Eastern Mexico. Hidalgo is bordered by San Luis Potosí and Veracruz on the north, Puebla on the east, Tlaxcala and México on the south and Querétaro on the west… Visit the official Hidalgo travel Website
Ixtapa is a beach resort in the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It is located 5 km (3.1 mi) to the northwest of the municipal seat, Zihuatanejo, and some 245 km (152 mi) northwest of Acapulco… Visit the official Ixtapa travel Website
Jalisco is one of the more important states in Mexico because of its natural resources as well as its history. Many of the characteristic traits of Mexican culture, particularly outside Mexico, are originally from Jalisco… Visit the official Jalisco travel Website
La Paz was founded by Hernán Cortés in 1535 and named Bay of Santa Cruz, though afterwards, the admiral Sebastián Vizcaíno baptized it as La Paz in 1596, currently the capital city of the state of Baja California Sur… Visit the official La Paz travel Website
Loreto is now a tourist resort, catering mostly to U.S. travelers, with daily flights from the U.S. state of California to Loreto International Airport. Many American tourists enjoy fishing in “pangas” for “dorado” Mahi-mahi or Dolphin Fish. Local restaurants will willingly prepare the daily catch of the tourists… Visit the official Loreto travel Website
Los Cabos is the tip of Baja California Sur. Wondering why they call it a dual destination? Part of the fun comes with exploring the region’s two dramatically distinct personas. Tranquil San Jose del Cabo retains the look and vibe of an authentic Mexican town… Visit the official Los Cabos travel Website
Manzanillo is well known internationally for deep-sea fishing and the green flash phenomenon during sunsets, as well as the warm waters of the ocean. The city is a destination resort and has many hotels and self-contained resorts, particularly built on the De Santiago peninsula… Visit the official Manzanillo travel Website
Mayakoba began as a vision; a dream inspired by its blue skies and its emerald beauty defining a ‘once in a lifetime destination in the Riviera Maya. A group of talented biologists, architects and designers persisted in the preservation of the flora and fauna of Mayakoba resort surrounded of sweet water lagoons… Visit the official Mayakoba travel Website
Mazatlan is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipio, known as the Mazatlan Municipality. Mazatlán was well regarded by film stars such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, John Huston, and others of their generation as a sport fishing Mecca… Visit the official Mazatlan travel Website
Merida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres and shops. Mérida retains an abundance of beautiful colonial buildings and is a vibrant cultural center with music… Visit the official Merida travel Website
Mexicali is one of most racially diverse cities in all of Mexico. The biggest festival in the region, the Fiesta del Sol (Festival of the Sun) is held each year starting at the end of September and continuing through mid-October. Popular dances and music provide a festive… Visit the official Mexicali travel Website
Mexico City´s Centro Historico is where it all began. Historic city center that is focused around the Zócalo or Plaza de la Constitución. The Zocalo is the largest square in Latin America and the third largest in the world after Moscow’s Red Square and Beijing’s Tiananmen Square… Visit the official Mexico City travel Website
Michoacan, formally Michoacán de Ocampo, its tourism board has divided the state into regions, mostly based on the major cities of Morelia, Uruapan, Lázaro Cárdenas, Patzcuaro, Zamora and Zitácuaro… Visit the official Michoacan travel Website
Morelos State of Mexico has rich cultural traditions and well preserved at museums across the state. Notable museums include the Museo Cuauhnahuac (the oldest civilian building in Mexico) as well as the Museo Robert Brady, named after an American art collector who fell in love with Cuernavaca in 1959… Visit the official Morelos travel Website
Mulege is a beautiful oasis town located along the tranquil shores of the Sea of Cortez. This small town enjoys a typical mild Baja climate that many travelers find to be exactly what they are seeking. Many of the campgrounds and RV… Visit the official Mulege travel Website
Nayarit is located in Western Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Sinaloa to the northwest, Durango to the north, Zacatecas to the northeast and Jalisco to the south. Tourism is increasing and Nayarit’s coastline is still relatively undeveloped, enabling visitors to surf and swim on beautiful, un-crowded beaches… Visit the official Nayarit travel Website
Nuevo Leon ranks above all Latin American countries in the Human Development Index. With world leading companies such as Cemex, Bimbo, Maseca, Banorte, ALFA Ternium, i-service, Vitro SA, Coca-Cola, and Cervecería Sol, Tecate, Bohemia, Indio and Nochebuena are just but a few multinationals located in Nuevo Leon… Visit the official Nuevo Leon travel Website
Oaxaca is also incredibly important to Mexico’s food traditions being the birthplace of the “mole,” a very popular Mexican sauce that is used in many traditional cuisines. Culture and history are rich in the Oaxaca region. Ruins from the ancient tribes that used to inhabit the region are plentiful, as are museums that celebrate the history of the region… Visit the official Oaxaca travel Website
Playa del Carmen is a city located along the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico. Locally known as just “Playa”, has undergone rapid development over the past few years with many new luxury residential condominium buildings, restaurants, boutiques and entertainment centers. Currently there are plans to develop over 10 luxury boutique hotels. World renowned chain restaurants including PF Changs, Hard Rock Cafe, Ruth’s Chris, the Cheesecake Factory a but just a few… Visit the official Playa del Carmen travel Website
Rosarito, Baja California is located 20 minutes south of the border from San Diego, California, this proximity to the border and scenic location between the Pacific Ocean and coastal foothills, makes Rosarito Beach (or Playas de Rosarito) one of the leading resort towns in Baja California… Visit the official Rosarito travel Website
Puebla City and State, formally Puebla de los Ángeles, is one of the five most important Spanish colonial cities in Mexico. The historical and cultural value of Puebla’s architecture is a major reason the city was chosen as a World Heritage Site. Various styles and techniques such as Baroque, Renaissance and Classic are represented here in over 5,000 buildings… Visit the official Puebla travel Website
Puerto Vallarta is a city and popular vacation resort on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Around its coastal bay lie beautiful beaches, lush jungles and sparkling waterfalls offer many options for the adventurous travelers, while five star resorts, world-class shopping and gourmet restaurants satisfy even the most sophisticated traveler. Stretching from the south end of Old Town to central downtown… Visit the official Puerto Vallarta travel Website
Queretaro is located in North-Central Mexico, in a region known as Bajío, bordered by the states of San Luis Potosí to the north, Guanajuato to the west, Hidalgo to the east, and Michoacán to the southwest. The Centro Histórico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes the Cerro del Sangremal, crowned by the Convent of the Holy Cross and the flat area on the east that extends into the Cerro de las Campanas… Visit the official Queretaro travel Website
Quintana Roo is located in Southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula, bordered by Campeche to the west. To the north, Quintana Roo borders the Gulf of Mexico and to the south, Belize and a small border with Guatemala. Quintana Roo is home of the world famous city of Cancun, the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, the towns of Bacalar, Playa del Carmen and Akumal, as well as the ancient Maya ruins of Chacchoben, Coba, Kohunlich, Muyil, Tulum, Xel-Há, and Xcaret… Visit the official Quintana Roo travel Website
Riviera Maya or the Mayan Riviera, is a tourism destination following the coastal Highway 307 which parallels the Caribbean coastline of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. Tourism started at the city of Playa del Carmen and ended at the village of Tulum, although the towns of Puerto Morelos situated to the north and between Playa del Carmen and Cancun as well as the town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto situated to the south of Tulum are both currently being promoted as part of the Riviera Maya tourist corridor… Visit the official Riviera Maya travel Website
San Luis Potosi stretches across the windswept, sun-baked plains of north central Mexico. It is one of Mexico’s most picturesque towns, whose central historic center features tiered esplanades, several handsome plazas, flower-filled parks, and an active cultural scene. Its importance in Mexican history spans four centuries of influence, making its capital city of the same name a fascinating destination… Visit the official San Luis Potosi travel Website
Sinaloa is located in Northwestern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Sonora to the north, Chihuahua and Durango to the east and Nayarit to the south. To the west, Sinaloa has a significant share of coastline on the Gulf of California… Visit the official Sinaloa travel Website
Sonora is a major tourist attraction due to its pristine beaches of; San Carlos, Puerto Peñasco, Bahía Kino, also the Gulf of Santa Clara in San Luis Río Colorado. San Carlos has a large variety of sea life off its shores, making it popular for sports fishing and scuba diving. One of its main attractions is the Playa de los Algodones, called such because its sand dunes look like cotton balls. Puerto Peñasco has no less than 110 kilometres (68 mi) of beaches, which have calm seas… Visit the official Sonora travel Website
Tabasco is home to ancient Mayan empire called Comalcalco. The city’s architecture is unique among Mayan sites in that brick was used in place of stone. Comalcalco’s ruins include three large ceremonial complexes: the Grand Acropólis, the North Group and the East Acrópolis. Due to the prominence of the Olmec culture in Tabasco, the state dedicated a museum, the Parque-Museo La Venta, to the Olmec civilization… Visit the official Tabasco travel Website
Tamaulipas is one-third the size of the state of Chihuahua and fifteen times larger than Morelos. The Tamaulipas International Festival is held each October, features cultural and artistic events that include exhibits, plays, concerts, and cinema. The Tampico Port in Tamaulipas is one of Mexico’s first exporting ports. While oil is the primary commodity exported from Tampico, it also ships silver, copper, lumber, wool, hemp… Visit the official Tamaulipas travel Website
Tecate is a small city in Baja California located on the border with California, United States in the San Diego and in Tijuana metropolitan area. There is a small port of entry between the cities that serves as a calmer alternative to the bustling port of Tijuana. The Tecate brewery is the centerpiece of the town and it stands out more than any other landmark in the city. They have been making beer here since 1943… Visit the official Tecate travel Website
Tijuana´s skyline is the third largest in Mexico and is located in the Zona Rio and Playas de Tijuana. In the Zona Rio the buildings are concentrated on the Tijuana River parallel to the river and on the edges of the Tijuana Country Club. In Playas the high-rises are currently focused on the coast… Visit the official Tijuana travel Website
Tlaxcala is Mexico’s smallest state, was once home to the ancient Olmeca and Xicalanca civilizations. Tlaxcala is home to three famous bullrings. The most famous being the Jorge “El Ranchero” Aguilar plaza, built in the 18th century in the heart of Tlaxcala City. Today it’s known for its farms and textile industries and tourism… Visit the official Tlaxcala travel Website
Veracruz is located in Eastern Mexico, bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north, San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo to the west, Puebla to the southwest, Oaxaca and Chiapas to the south and Tabasco to the southeast. Veracruz continues to be a very important part of Mexico’s economy. The state is rich in natural resources and represents approximately 35 percent of Mexico’s water supply… Visit the official Veracruz travel Website
Xcaret is a natural park that treasures the best of the traditions and culture of Mexico, a paradise that combines the natural beauty and cultural wealth of the country and the region. Located 45minutes from Cancun, Mexico, Riviera Maya, in Xcaret you will find underground rivers, natural pools and a myriad of attractions… Visit the Xcaret Park Website
Xelha is located south of the modern town of Playa del Carmen, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Xel-Ha is an ecological theme park or natural aquarium. Here you can swim with dolphins, see sea turtles, bicycle, snorkel, cliff-dive, and scuba. If you choose to scuba you will get to pet stingrays and see larger fish. This park is large, so bring good shoes to walk up river, you bag your dry belongings and they will be driven back to the main area… Visit the Xelha Park Website
Yucatan is located in Southeastern Mexico, on the north part of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is bordered by the states of Campeche to the southwest, Quintana Roo to the northeast and the Gulf of Mexico lies off its north coast. Home to the restored Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá and the Pyramid of Kukulcán… Visit the official Yucatan travel Website
Zacatecas Colonial Center contains many notable structures, including the Plaza de Armas or Main Square with its magnificent stone façade. The Palacio de Gobierno, the Residencia de Gobernadores and Palacio de la Mala Noche (Palace of the Bad Night) are also located in the Center… Visit the official Zacatecas travel Website
Zihuatanejo evolved from a quaint fishing village to a backpackers’ hotspot, to today’s incarnation of winding streets of galleries and folk art shops, small boutique hotels and palapa-style seafood restaurants serving the fresh catch of the day. Backpackers still holiday in Zihuatanejo, but share the experience with honeymooners, snorkelers, swimmers, and cultural travelers who appreciate “Zihua’s” laid-back vibe and postcard-worthy scenery of rocky cliffs, sand and sea… Visit the official Zihuatanejo travel Website