Nine Bays on Oaxaca's Pacific Shore
Huatulco is a resort region on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, known for its nine bays, 36 beaches and a coastline of rare calm and scale. Developed as a planned destination from the 1980s, it set aside a large share of its shoreline and hills as the Huatulco National Park, so that rainforest still meets the sea in most directions. The result feels more like a coastal journey than a single resort strip, with small bays reached by road, by boat or by short coastal paths.
Each bay has its own temperament. Santa Cruz is the lively marina village, with a harbour, a small chapel and restaurants facing the water. Tangolunda is the resort bay, home to hotels and a championship golf course. Chahué has a modern marina and a long, easy beach. Further along, La Entrega, Maguey and Órgano are the snorkelling beaches that boat captains love, with clear water and rocky headlands. Neighbouring Ixtapa shares the same Pacific coast, but Huatulco offers a gentler, more natural scale.
Mezcal, Mole and Mornings Among the Coffee Farms
Oaxacan culture is what makes Huatulco more than a beach. The cuisine of the state is among the most celebrated in Mexico: tlayudas with asiento and quesillo, black mole, tamales wrapped in banana leaf, and fresh Pacific fish served simply with lime. Mezcal, distilled from agave in the surrounding valleys, appears on tasting menus and in village palenques. Inland, the Sierra Sur hills grow coffee, and visits to plantations around the town of Santa María Huatulco combine a walk among the shade trees with a tasting at the source.
Active days come easily. Kayaks and paddleboards launch from Santa Cruz, boat trips thread the bays for snorkelling, and the Copalita Eco-Archaeological Park gives a window onto Zapotec heritage, with its ceremonial platforms, trails and river views. For a tourist board, Huatulco is a natural showcase for nature-led, culture-rich travel. Many guests add Oaxaca city, with its markets and colonial streets, and Mexico City is a straightforward onward connection for travellers continuing deeper into Mexico.
Read the full Huatulco guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitHuatulco.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.